Alexander Sergeyevich Morozevich is a Russian chess Grandmaster who was born on July 18, 1977. He is renowned for his audacious and fierce playing style, opting for intricacy and complication over comfort. Morozevich was among the world's leading players from the late 1990s to the late 2000s, attaining a career high world ranking of No. 2 in July 2008.
Although aggressive and unpredictable, Morozevich is a versatile player who excels in a variety of game formats. He is recognized for playing uncommon chess openings and for occasionally reviving obscure ones. Some of his notable achievements include winning the Russian Championship twice, in 1998 and 2007, and the Biel Grandmaster Tournament six times.
His other significant victories include the Pamplona tournament in 1999, the Linares tournament in 2004, and the Bosna tournament in 2000. Morozevich also represented Russia, winning team and individual gold and silver medals in four Chess Olympiads from 1994 to 2000. He has published several books on chess and occasionally provides commentaries on the sport for Russian television.
His FIDE ratings in classical, rapid, and blitz chess significantly dropped after 2012 because of his decrease in participation in world class tournaments due to health problems. Despite the setbacks, he still regularly contributes to the Russian chess scene.