Igor Arkadyevich Zaitsev is a Russian chess Grandmaster and trainer who was born on May 27, 1938. He has had a substantial career in chess, first becoming an international master in 1965 before achieving grandmaster status in 1976.
In the field of chess-playing, Zaitsev has several noteworthy accomplishments. He has won numerous competitions, most notably the 1970 Trade Unions Chess Championship, the 1971 Alekhine Memorial in Moscow, and the 1972 Capablanca Memorial in Havana.
In addition to his playing career, Zaitsev has had a significant influence on chess in other ways. He was one of the seconds for Anatoly Karpov during twelve of his world championship matches from 1978 to 1996.
Zaitsev is also a recognized chess theoretician of the middle and end game, and has contributed to chess theory, most notably the Zaitsev Variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez, which is one of the most important systems in contemporary chess theory. Even today, this variation is frequently seen at both club-level and in world championship matches.
He has written a variety of chess books, including 'The Path of Chess Improvement' and 'The Complete Zaitsev System'.
In 2005, Zaitsev was awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin for his significant contribution to the development of physical culture and sports in Russia.