

Adrian Mikhalchishin
Number of games in database: 535
Years covered: 1973 to 2017
Last FIDE rating: 2481 (2538 rapid, 2516 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2543

Overall record: +126 -67 =310 (55.9%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 32 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (37) 
    B33 B92 B30 B81 B82
 English (22) 
    A15 A17 A14 A13 A11
 Slav (19) 
    D12 D17 D11 D10
 King's Indian (18) 
    E60 E62 E97 E63 E81
 Queen's Pawn Game (18) 
    A46 A40 E00 D02
 Queen's Gambit Declined (17) 
    D37 D38 D30 D31 D35
With the Black pieces:
 Grunfeld (39) 
    D85 D97 D87 D94 D86
 Ruy Lopez (37) 
    C78 C92 C70 C69 C67
 Queen's Gambit Accepted (23) 
    D20 D21 D27 D26 D25
 Petrov (21) 
    C42 C43
 Sicilian (18) 
    B33 B84 B40 B22 B83
 Two Knights (17) 
    C55 C59 C57
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Mikhalchishin vs Pavasovic, 1999 1-0
   Mikhalchishin vs Shirov, 1988 1-0
   Klementiev vs Mikhalchishin, 1974 0-1
   Mikhalchishin vs Kasparov, 1978 1-0
   Mikhalchishin vs Kasparov, 1980 1/2-1/2
   B Abramovic vs Mikhalchishin, 1993 0-1
   Mikhalchishin vs N Miezis, 2002 1/2-1/2
   S Makarichev vs Mikhalchishin, 1978 1/2-1/2
   Mikhalchishin vs G Agzamov, 1981 1-0
   Mikhalchishin vs Kupreichik, 1981 1/2-1/2

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Bled Olympiad (2002)
   36th Olympiad (2004)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Baku 1980 by suenteus po 147

   Mikhalchishin vs Pavasovic, 1999

   🏆 European Rapid Championship
   Mikhalchishin vs M Sieciechowicz (Dec-17-17) 1/2-1/2, rapid
   V Sakalauskas vs Mikhalchishin (Dec-17-17) 1/2-1/2, rapid
   Mikhalchishin vs J Worek (Dec-17-17) 1-0, rapid
   P Dobrowolski vs Mikhalchishin (Dec-17-17) 1-0, rapid
   Mikhalchishin vs C Troyke (Dec-17-17) 1-0, rapid

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FIDE player card for Adrian Mikhalchishin

(born Nov-18-1954, 64 years old) Ukraine (federation/nationality Slovenia)

[what is this?]
Adrian Bogdanovich Mikhalchishin (Mihalcisin) was born in Lviv*. He was awarded the IM title in 1977 and the GM title in 1978. In tournaments he was 1st= at Nikolaev 1983 and 2nd at Hastings 1985-86. Slovenian champion in 2002. He became a FIDE Senior Trainer in 2004.

*Wikipedia article: Lviv

Wikipedia article: Adrian Mikhalchishin

 page 1 of 22; games 1-25 of 535  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Nunn vs Mikhalchishin  0-1411973FranceB03 Alekhine's Defense
2. Tseshkovsky vs Mikhalchishin  ½-½311973URS-ch sfB40 Sicilian
3. Mikhalchishin vs G Timoshchenko  1-0381974URS CupB33 Sicilian
4. Klementiev vs Mikhalchishin 0-1271974CorrespondenceC57 Two Knights
5. Chekhov vs Mikhalchishin  1-0181974Lvov U18B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack
6. G Timoshchenko vs Mikhalchishin  1-0351974URS CupB93 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4
7. Anikaev vs Mikhalchishin  1-0341974Ch URS (young masters)D86 Grunfeld, Exchange
8. Mikhalchishin vs Beliavsky  ½-½221974URS-ch Young MastersB69 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 11.Bxf6
9. G Timoshchenko vs Mikhalchishin  1-0391974URS CupC15 French, Winawer
10. Mikhalchishin vs Z Mikadze  1-0331974Match-Tournament(Team)B03 Alekhine's Defense
11. Bronstein vs Mikhalchishin  ½-½41197513th Soviet Team-ch final AB96 Sicilian, Najdorf
12. Mikhalchishin vs G Timoshchenko  1-0411976URS-ch otborB33 Sicilian
13. K Commons vs Mikhalchishin  1-0331976PrimorskoA16 English
14. Mikhalchishin vs C Braga  1-034197722nd StudWTCh qual group 1E97 King's Indian
15. Kupreichik vs Mikhalchishin ½-½64197846th URS-ch selectionC45 Scotch Game
16. Chekhov vs Mikhalchishin  0-1311978URS-ch U26A34 English, Symmetrical
17. Mikhalchishin vs Yusupov  0-1391978URS-ch U26E06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3
18. V Vorotnikov vs Mikhalchishin  0-129197846th URS-ch selectionC26 Vienna
19. E Vladimirov vs Mikhalchishin  0-1421978URS-ch U26A06 Reti Opening
20. Mikhalchishin vs B Taborov ½-½30197846th URS-ch selectionB82 Sicilian, Scheveningen
21. Mikhalchishin vs Jansa  1-0411978Vrnjacka BanjaD83 Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit
22. Mikhalchishin vs Kasparov ½-½17197846th URS-ch selectionB18 Caro-Kann, Classical
23. Mikhalchishin vs Kholmov  ½-½23197846th URS-ch selectionA17 English
24. Tseshkovsky vs Mikhalchishin  0-184197846th URS-ch selectionC87 Ruy Lopez
25. A Kochyev vs Mikhalchishin  ½-½131978URS-ch FL46B33 Sicilian
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Mikhalchishin wins | Mikhalchishin loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: Georg Mohr's writings for Mikhalchishin's 50th birthday:

This time I decided, that I will not just praise, even though I love Adrian very much and I regard him as a chess brother, father and teacher - all in one. But Adrian Mikhalchishin is also:

- a person, who thinks he's the most handsome and smartest there is, which is certainly (at least the first) not true

- a person, who thinks he's the most talented player of the 20th Century

- a person, who consequntially, thinks everydody else are just "patzers"

- a person, who has his personal opinion on every matter, and if for some reason he doesn't have one, he can produce it in a record time, so he gives the impression he knows everything about something for a long time,

- a person, who is, after every Slovenian standard, a pure "alcoholic"

- a person, who wishes to have every title there is and preferably all at once

- a person, who is always late and will definetely be late for his funeral as well and finally

- a person, who is so in love with himself, that he doesn't tolerate any criticism

All bad things, right? But have you ever asked yourselves, how many of those things can you identify with? And some other things as well?

Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: The list of virtues is much, much longer. And among them are many that we can't find in a "regular" person. For example, he's a workaholic - it's difficult to find someone, who is prepared and really works as much as Adrian. This results in his hyperproductivity - mountains of articles, books, students all over the world <e.g. Arkady Naiditsch, Monika Socko, Mateusz Bartel, Peng Zhaoqin are some I (TheAlchemist) know of>, friends all over the world, playing in tournaments (in recent years mostly team tournaments)...

Furthermore, his immense knowledge which he must acquire somehow. It's true he's extremely talented and has a great memory. All the data he acquires, just keeps storing somewhere in his sub-conscience and then emerges in more or less appropriate moments.

He's very kind and that has made him one of the most popular figures in the chess world. He's good acquaintance with almost everybody and knows almost everyboy personally. He used to play cards with Kasparov, he was a second to Karpov, a captain to Kramnik and Anand, he trained Judit and Leko. He used to train under Botvinnik, Smyslov was his mentor, he used to drink with Tal, he went to Petrosian's dacha, he also hung out with Spassky. He doesn't perosnally know only Fischer and maybe that's hwy the American became his secret idol...

He has a great sense of humour, which results in us laughing almost half of the time we spend together.

His complete honesty towards chess, which results in his desire to make chess and players improve constantly. His awkwardness, when he can't explain things that are crystal clear to him...

Adrian is undoubtedly one of the best coaches today, although that isn't so under the standard criteria for usual coaches. Adrian doesn't know anything about didactics or methodics. He doesn't have a clue about systemathics. He despises computer assistance. So, why? Mostly because he know everything about what he's talking about. And stands behind each and every word. And only great players can put into harmony every information, served here and there, by the way.

He also possesses many human qualities. He's a devoted and loving husband, a great and loyal friend - he interpretes friendship as something unconditional and complete. He speaks fluently about 10 languages. He has a very distinctive artistical spirit and completely understands conventional aesthetic norms. After looking at any modern painting, he can tell you instantly and unmistakably, if it's worth something or not.

He also has some weaknesses, some very serious ones. I'm just sorry for one - he can't take serial stressful situations. And he didn't succeed in competitive chess because of that.

Oct-31-05  Karpova: He was the only onbe not to win against fake GM Crisan at the Vidmar Memorial 2001. Mikhalchishin drew all of his games in that tournament.

Mikhalchishin vs A Crisan, 2001

Oct-31-05  Steppenwolf: He won a game against Kasparov in 1978.
Nov-18-06  BIDMONFA: Adrian Mikhalchishin


Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: Happy Birthday Adrian!
May-29-09  myschkin: . . .

He is Vice-chairman of FIDE Trainer Committee:


"Decison making in chess" (video lecture excerpt): *

* featured game: Botvinnik vs Levenfish, 1937

Premium Chessgames Member
  vonKrolock: An article by him on Viktor Kart (born 19-vi-1929), turning 80 today - here in Russian, with photos
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: This was an article written by Mikhalchishin when he turned 50. I apologize in advance for any typos and other mistakes, hopefully there won't be too many.

<Part I>

The Golden Chess Age - The 20th Century!

Dr. Milan Vidmar wrote the brilliant book "Goldene Schachzeiten", which describes the 1920's and 30's. Vidmar, among other things, predicted a world crisis and that it would all lead to a catastrophe (which indeed happened with WWII). The crisis took a great toll in Western Europe, where many great chess patrons disappeared. The leading role was thus taken over by Eastern European countries, with great support from their state economies.

The second half of the 20th Century was thus influenced the most by the Soviet Union and some big events, especially the matches between Fischer and Spassky in Reykjavik 1972 and Kasparov and Karpov in London 1986, which was opened by the prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

I have actively taken part in the last part of the 20th Century in many different roles. "My Century" is slowly drawing to a close, its leading protagonists are slowly leaving the stage. Their places are being taken over by young, so very different people. Not gentlemen anymore, not highly educated, cultured chessplayers. There are hardly and top chessplayers who finished college (even though even the players from the NBA "manage" to do it!). The best players today are armed with different knowledge: Fritz, endless variations through and through. Their conversations are pessimistic, mostly about money, like in football...

How different was the chess world when Mikhail Botvinnik, upon becoming World Champion, received a sum of money much smaller than a winner of an average open tournament today. The photos tell everything, the first one where the elegantly dressed Botvinnik receiving a laurel wreath in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans and the second one, where at the end of an open tournament today only the ten prize winners remain and all the others have left. Their attire - jeans and a t-shirt. The players complain that they don't receive any time on TV. To show such behaviour, such people?

My mind wanders to Paul Keres, always elegant, a gentleman from his head down to his shoes. I knew millions of stories about him, but saw him only once, in the USSR Spartakiad in Moscow 1972 (teams competed with 6 men, 3 women and 3 juniors - for Ukraine Romanishin, Beliavsky and Mikhalchishin and two junior girls!). I don't know why, but I only saw him at that event. Like I had a feeling I was seeing him for the last time. In 1975 Romanishin wrote him a letter, asking him for some lectures in Lvov. Paul didn't even manage to answer. After a long journey his heart had given out.

At this Spartakiad the Ukrainian team was supposed to be led by another giant - Leonid Stein. But in 1971 Vladimir Savon from Harkov achieved his greatest success, although he never again managed to get even close to the Soviet champion title. In 1971 he succeeded and Stein, a legend of Ukrainian chess, generously offered him the first board. Even on the second board Stein demonstrated all his class, where he outclassed Smyslov in one of the greatest games of all time (Stein vs Smyslov, 1972) and won several more brilliant games. Unfortunately he didn't convert some positions, mainly because of his incredibly fast play (the only one who got close to him was Anand). He lost an important half point against Armenia's Karen Grigorian, who would die tragically a few years later while jumping from a bridge in Erevan...

At that time the seventh World Champion Vassily Smyslov seemed very inaccessible, but only a few years later we would be traveling (and winning) together to "Politiken-open" in Copenhagen. There Smyslov told me of some fantastic things from the chess history of the USSR, events behind the scenes of the world championship matches. There I also saw how Smyslov plays the endgame and the thing I remembered the most was how he would often sacrifice a pawn to improve the position of his king and pieces. Our flight back home was delayed by 5 hours, so we took a walk to the North sea. A fishing boat had just arrived and Smyslov bought about 10 silver fish and brought them home. That evening his Nadezhda Andreyevna mad a fantastic fish dinner at their dacha. Smyslov and his wife live in complete harmony. Both are deeply religious and Smyslov could be - with his life story - a role model for many a chess player...

(I have to wrap this one up, other parts coming shortly)

Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: <TheAlchemist> <(I have to wrap this one up, other parts coming shortly)>

Shortly? It's been 1 year and 7 months :-)

Happy Birthday GM Mikhalchishin!

Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: It's been so long overdue, I can't even begin explaining or have any excuses. Anyway...

<Part II>

Botvinnik will be remembered for other things - his focus towards his goal, his analytical approach towards any problem.

Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian was in many ways reminiscent of the Caucasus philosopher Nasreddin Hodja, who always had many ideas and witty remarks about any subject. His playing of blitz chess, with the mandatory short and incredibly funny quips is surely one of the all-time highlights of chess art. Once upon a time in Vilnius, Petrosian caught three young masters "in the act". Iosif Dorfman and Tamas Georgadze were throwing coins as close as possible to the line (with the winner taking all) and me - the referee and "secretary" of the duel. We were so ashamed we wanted the earth to swallow us whole, but Petrosian quickly comforted us and started telling us stories of similar games he used to play in his youth in Tbilisi. He then offered to be the referee himself, delighting us with his witty remarks in the process...

In those years (the 70's) gambling games were really popular during tournaments. Their biggest proponent was the young Leningrad grandmaster Alexander Kochiev, at the time one, if not the youngest grandmaster in the World. And one of the most talented. Where have those time gone and where are the talents of then: Ernest Kim, Vladimir Taborov? Of all, only Maia Chiburdanidze went all the way, only she became truly great. And what about the record chasing of today, when nations compete for the youngest grandmaster in the World? We all see it, yet do nothing about it. And read every line about the new record...

Nobody has written about the role of Belot in Soviet chess. Vladimir Tukmakov brought it from Odessa at the end of the 70's. During (literally!) every chess tournament a "B" tournament in Belot was held and participating and doing well was almost as prestigious as in the main tournament. Everyone played, even "arch-enemies". I have a photo at home from a London-Leningrad flight in 1986. Karpov and Kasparov's teams shared the same plane. Naturally, we played Belot and the teams were all mixed-up... Or another photo, this time from Tbilisi in 1978. My room, 10 AM. The nightly tournament is still going on, with Beliavsky, Tukmakov, Tscheshkovsky and Zaichik at the table... Or Efim Geller and his superb play paired with his son, who accompanied him on the biggest tournaments.

Generally speaking, the "golden age" of chess is an amalgam of the greatest and unforgettable chess people from the 20th Century, without whom we couldn't really call it the "golden age" in the first place. Millions of their matches, games - they're being eaten away by time with lightning speed, our humble duty is to try and preserve at least the most beautiful, importand and interesting of it all. I have prepared some of it in the form of short excerpts...

Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: ...The great duel Karpov-Kasparov, the great seconds - Tal, Polugaevsky, Smyslov, the jokes about the two champions, who had been playing for too long, the "attack" of Alla Pugacheva (the most popular pop singer at the time in the USSR) on the hotel "Ukraine", where Karpov resided. The Secretary of the Party and the Mayor from Lvov begging me on their knees for tickets, which were harder to come by than those for the Bolshoi Theatre. How could I not help them, those great chess enthusiasts (Nikolay Abashin and Vladimir Pehota), who used to play chess for whole nights, with Vyacheslav Mikhailov, the future Soviet Minister of National Affairs, acting as the "servant". The same Mikhailov who led our delegation to the Universiade in Mexico City, without any doubt the best leader of any Soviet delegation ever by far. Our road to Mexico lead us through Havana. I remember how Rafael Vaganian was denied acccess in a night club for foreigners only. Apparently the Armenian and Cuban people look too much alike...

...The President of one of the biggest banks in the World, Credit Suisse, Willem Wirth playing blitz tournaments and listening with his mouth agape at grandmasters' stories...

...Groningen 1993, the very ill Lev Polugaevsky is trying to convince me about starting the "best" chess magazine in the World, with Joop van Oosterom as the financier. van Oosterom represented the Netherlands many years ago in the World Junior Championship (won by Boris Spassky) and is an an avid correspondence player and great chess sponsor to this day...

...The great Mikhail Tal, one of the biggest chess enigmas of all time. What drove him to so systematically destroy himself? Boris Spassky at the rematch with Robert Fischer in Montenegro in 1992. In the toughest moments, he and his second Yuri Balashov took a taxi and found the company of Soviet grandmasters who were playing at the Yugoslav team championship in Cetinje. All of the greats - Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Korchnoi - has many ideas and many small weaknesses. People - legends...

(lunch break for me)

Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: ... Our Lvov school - Litinska, Romanishin, Beliavsky, Mikhalchishin - grew up following Leonid Stein, three times Soviet champion. How many schools developed similarly following the various champions: Tal, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov. The role of these chess superstars is thus immeasurable and their contribution to chess can hardly be evaluated completely...

... Chess history, which is so strongly intertwined with history in general. Look at the influence of World War II: during those years, only one World class player was born - Robert James Fischer. But immediately afterwards, in 1946-49, we were gifted with many future top grandmasters, but the real explosion was in 1951, when the following players were born: Karpov, Timman, Andersson, Vaganian, Ribli, Sax, Adorjan, Torre, Ljubojevic! Each of them was among the best in the World at some point. We never had a "vintage" like that again...

... FIDE Presidents from Max Euwe onwards were famous chess personalities (the previous ones were officials first, players second). I received my grandmaster badge from the hands of Euwe's successor Fridrik Olafsson, who went on to become an important politician in Iceland and as President of the Parliament probably occupied the highest office among all grandmasters ever...

... Stations and airports at home and abroad. The Russian winters were responsible for long delays, it sometimes happened in the West as well. Rafael Vaganian and I once arrived in snowy Milan a day late and were greeted by a strike by the airport staff. We were out of money, but were saved by Edik Gufeld, who was nice enough to provide us with Stefano Tatai's number - Tatai owed him money for some articles...

...The most famous coaches: the highly principled Zak, the all-understanding and ever friendly Konstantinopolsky, the legendary Russian junior team coach Golenischev, who died too young; the author of the best training programs, "soft as wax", well-intentioned Koblentz, with his famous quips: "Misha, you are a genius!" or "Misha is sawing the branch on which he is sitting." The inteligent but very nervous Kapengut, the deep Oleg Dementiev, Mark Dvorecki, who pulled me into coaching waters and taught me a lot, the legendary Russian team and Burevestnik coach Oleg Postovski, nowadays in the US nad nice as always, and, of course, Anatoly Bikhovski, the greatest junior coach, who supervised so many genrations - from Vladimir Tukmakov to Alexander Grischuk.

My coaches, whose knowledge I absorbed - the slow but thorough Viktor Kart and his opposite, the practical Viktor Zheliandinov. Meeting the great coaches of the World champions Isaac Boleslavsky and Igor Bondarevsky, which were, unfortunately, merely coincidental, as both passed away prematurely. I only analyzed with Boleslavsky once in 1976 in Lvov - a fantastic game from the junior Spartakiad. We were introduced by his pupil, later coach of Bulgaria and author of one of the best books about endings - Mikhail Shereshevsky. The always happy and full of anecdotes Alexander Kotov, of whom we thought he would "live forever", and the unpredictable Slava Chebanenko, who was reincarnated through his pupils Viktor Gavrikov and Viorel Bologan...

...The unforgettable receptions at the Lvov airport after Ukraine's win at the USSR Spartakiad in 1979 or the World student championship in 1977, when four Ukrainian players were from Lvov: Beliavsky, Romanishin, Dorfman, Mikhalchishin and even the team captain was one of our own: Vyacheslav Mikhailov...

...The euphoria at the opening of the fantastic chess club in Lvov in 1982. Even the president of the Soviet Chess Federation Vitaly Sevastianov attended the opening ceremony , hand in hand with the World Champion Anatoly Karpov. A few years later Artur Yusupov and I attended the opening of another chess club in Chernovtsy. They opened it in a former church!! Whoever thought of such a strange idea? In just a few years, during the perestroika, the chess players were thrown out of the church and one of the chess centres of Ukraine slowly died away...

... Traveling with different groups of Soviet athletes to various countries, among them were Rodnina, Skoblikova, Saneev and many other legends. Visiting museums across the World - such a reward, gifted to us by chess for all of our sacrifices. Thank you!

... Through chess I met many giants - not just of chess - politicians, directors of banks, sportsmen, artists...

And for all of this I can only bow all the way to the ground to - chess - the most beautiful game in the World. Not a game, but a way of life, of course!


Ok, this is it. I apologize for all the time it took, I hope it isn't too messy and is clear enough, as I've had trouble with how to convey many of his thoughts and I hope I've done a decent enough job. If not, feel free to ask.

Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: Happy birthday GM Mikhalchishin!
Jan-01-14  waustad: He's on the list to play in Graz at the Internationales Casino Open Graz 2014 A-Turnier. It will be interesting to see how he does OTB. I hope there will be some live games from there, since several players I am interested in will be playing. He's better known now as a coach and commentator, though I'm not a big fan of his commentary. The chess is fine but I think he's the one who asked Anna Muzychuk if she shouldn't be out shopping. That level of condescencion is a little hard to take. He also went on some sort of tangent complaining about the shoes players wear. Who cares?
Nov-26-14  Yopo: Old age little affected his playing strength J Smeets vs Mikhalchishin, 2004
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <Another very crucial aspect is the ability to develop an individualistic approach for every pupil. Group work is nice, but trainers need to devote some specific time to each pupil. This demands more energy, but individual training is more useful for each student. Trainers are generally lazy about it, analyzing the games of the students with just the computer. This is the greatest sin because the pupil might not be able to improve without his hands making the moves. There is a similar thing in tennis, where if you develop a hand, you have a greater tendency to make the right move, as if intuitively> - Adrian Mikhalchishin.
Premium Chessgames Member
  ChessHigherCat: <TheAlchemist>

<- a person, who is always late and will definitely be late for his funeral as well But have you ever asked yourselves, how many of those things can you identify with? >

I can definitely relate. I came so late to my own funeral that I was cremated before I got a chance to kiss myself goodbye but I still had to pay for the whole thing!

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