- Ilya Kan
Ilya Abramovich Kan ( _ru. Илья Абрамович Кан;
4 May 1909 –12 December 1978 ), was a Russian / SovietInternational Master (IM) of Chess.He played ten times in Soviet Championships. In 1929, he took 3rd in
Odessa (6th URS-ch;Boris Verlinsky won). In 1931, he took 7th inMoscow (7th URS-ch;Mikhail Botvinnik won). In 1933, he took 9th inLeningrad (8th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1934/35, he tied for 9-12th in Leningrad (9th URS-ch;Grigory Levenfish andIlya Rabinovich won). In 1937, he took 13th inTbilisi (10th URS-ch; Levenfish won). In 1939, he tied for 13-14th in Leningrad (11th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1945, he took 17th in Moscow (14th URS-ch; Botvinnik won). In 1947, he tied for 13-15th in Leningrad (15th URS-ch;Paul Keres won). In 1952, he took 18th in Moscow (20th URS-ch; Botvinnik andMark Taimanov won). In 1955, he took 17th in Moscow (22nd URS-ch;Vassily Smyslov andEfim Geller won).In the 1931 Moscow City Championship, he took 2nd, behind
Nikolai Riumin . In the 1932 Moscow City Championship, he took 3nd, behind Nikolai Riumin and Duz-Hotimirsky. [http://www.geocities.com/al2055km/nat_tour/1932/moscow32.html] In 1933/34, he took 5th in Moscow–ch (Riumin won). In 1934, he took 5th in Leningrad (Botvinnik won). In 1935, he tied for 6-7th in Moscow (2nd it; Botvinnik andSalo Flohr won). In 1936, he tied for 7-10th in Moscow (3rd it;José Raúl Capablanca won). In 1936, he tied for 1st-2nd withVladimir Alatortsev in Moscow–ch. In 1937, he took 4th in Moscow–ch (Alatortsev andSergey Belavenets won). In 1937, he took 2nd, behindReuben Fine , in Moscow.He was awarded the IM title in 1950. His opening theory contributions were mainly in the
Sicilian Defence variation which bears his name: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6. [http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/041001_anti_sicilians_4.html] This flexible line has been adopted frequently by top players since 1950, includingAnatoly Karpov , World Champion 1975-85, and English GrandmasterTony Miles . The line is sometimes called the Paulsen Variation in the West, for German MasterLouis Paulsen , who played it earlier in the 1800s. Kan scored several victories over Botvinnik early in his career; Botvinnik became World Champion 1948–1957, 1958–1960, and 1961–1963.He is named as the editor of the "Shakhmatny Bulletin" issue 6. [http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz66.pdf]
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