Leonid Zakharovich Stein was a Soviet chess Grandmaster from Ukraine. He was born on November 12, 1934 and died on July 4, 1973. Stein won three USSR Chess Championships in 1963, 1965, and 1966, and the European Team Championship in 1970. His playing style was highly imaginative, and he was known for his expertise in executing attacks. He was greatly admired by the 12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov.
Despite his successes, Stein didn't become a well-known international player due to restrictions on Soviet players traveling abroad. His performance at the 1967 Sousse Interzonal earned him a spot in the Candidates Tournament, but Brezhnev-era regulations restricting Soviet players hindered his participation.
After serving in the Red Army, Stein started his chess career relatively late. He won the Ukrainian Championship in 1960, which launched him onto the broader chess scene. He earned the Grandmaster title in 1962.
His career was impressive but short-lived due to his untimely death in a hotel room in 1973 at age 38. Despite his death, Stein had a significant influence on the chess community and he was considered one of the best players not to have the opportunity to play for the World Championship title.
His best games have been compiled into a collection called "Leonid Stein - Master of Attack". His career continues to draw attention from chess enthusiasts, and efforts have been made to keep his memory alive.