GM Kaidanov

Gregory Kaidanov helps create positive image of chess
Posted: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 11:52 PM EDT

It was a real treat to watch grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov move his chess pieces with an air of certainty on a strategic plan to counteract his opponents moves.

The 30 simultaneous games of chess he played Tuesday night at Wabash College proved him to be the master of the game.

Kaidanov, 48, became a grandmaster chess player in 1988. He was born Oct. 11, 1959, in Berdichev (Ukraine) and has lived in Lexington, Ky. since 1991. He teaches private chess lessons, competes in national and international tournaments and presents exhibitions throughout the U.S.

While this highly competitive person has not lost a tournament game for a very long time, he still showed a softer, gentler side by helping pupils at Tuttle Middle School better understand the game and even played a chess match with several of the participants.

It was fun watching him interact with the kids and to give them encouragement to continue and improve themselves.

My father taught me how to play chess. Like any beginner, it was frustrating to continue to lose matches until I began to understand how strategy and watching what my opponent does become important parts of the game.

I did have an opportunity to play with a friend who was a very good opponent. He beat me every time we played, but it was still fun to watch him set up his moves and keep his king out of trouble.

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