Evgeny Ellinovich Sveshnikov is a Russian grandmaster of chess, renowned for his contributions to chess as both a player and a coach. He was born on February 11, 1950, in Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union.
His early chess career took off after he won the Latvian Championship in 1973, followed by obtaining an International Master title in 1975. His International Grandmaster title, a significant milestone in any chess player's career, was earned in 1977. Sveshnikov has had notable wins such as the 1979 Soviet Championship semifinals and the 1990 Roseto tournament.
Sveshnikov's contributions to the advancement of chess strategies cannot be overlooked. He is credited with significant developments in chess opening theory, particularly the Sveshnikov Variation of Sicilian Defence and the Alapin Variation. Both are widely recognized and frequently adopted by top grandmasters.
Apart from playing chess, Sveshnikov has also worked as a coach to other chess players. His coaching role in the School of Young Talents in Riga helped train many successful players such as Alexei Shirov.
Despite suffering a stroke in 2007, Sveshnikov continued his involvement in chess, authoring a book about the Sveshnikov Variation of the Sicilian Defence. He remained active in chess games, participating in the 2017 World Senior Teams Championships, and becoming the winner of the European Senior +65 Championship in 2018.
He married his wife, Regina Rabinovich, in 1978, and they have two sons Vladimir and Nikolai. On August 18, 2021, Sveshnikov passed away.