How the Early Soviet State Turned Chess Into a Tool

A look inside the origins of Soviet chess culture. These articles trace how early USSR institutions and political leaders transformed chess into a tool for education, discipline, and national development, setting the foundation for decades of dominance in world chess.

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Igor Glek

Moscow-born grandmaster Igor Glek rose through the Soviet chess system and reached No. 12 in the July 1996 world ranking. His career also encompassed tournament victories, opening theory, coaching, European club chess, and advocacy for professional players.

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