Korchnoy, Viktor

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KORCHNOY, VIKTOR

KORCHNOY, VIKTOR (1931– ), Russian chess master. Korchnoy was one of the top prizewinners in international tournaments and was three-time champion of U.S.S.R. In 1970 he defected to the United States, after he lost a match to Anatoly Karpov. He claimed that he was forced to lose by pressure of the Soviets, because Karpov was their favorite, and because he was a Jew. In 2001 he settled in Switzerland, was awarded citizenship, and represented the country in international chess tournaments.