childhood
Born on 24 June 1968 in Minsk, Belarus, into a Jewish family.
His passion for chess started early: at age 4, his father gave him a book by Yuri Averbakh called Journey to the Kingdom of Chess.
He read the entire book and was immediately captivated. His obsession grew so intense that the wife of his first coach told him: "Soon people will be asking for your autograph too!"
From ages 11 to 15, he studied four to five times a week at a chess program for Olympic Reserve run by Eduard Golovey.
He attended the Tigran Petrosian School of Chess three times and was deeply influenced by the great World Champion. He recalled: "I remember Petrosian saying to me that I shouldn't make a single move without having an idea: 'Even when you're playing blitz, always think!'"
education
Studied at the Tigran Petrosian School of Chess in the 1980s, where he absorbed Petrosian's philosophy of thoughtful, idea-based play.
He read Akiba Rubinstein's collected games as a youth, sitting on a couch and going through game after game without a board — a formative experience that shaped his positional understanding.
career
One of the strongest players in the world for over two decades, ranked in the top 10 for much of his career.
Won the World Junior Championship in 1988, ahead of Viswanathan Anand and others.
A World Championship Candidate in 1993, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2011. In 2012, at age 43, he reached the World Championship final, losing to Viswanathan Anand in a tiebreak after a 6–6 draw.
Won the World Cup in 2009 and the Candidates Tournament in 2011.
Two-time winner of the European Club Cup and a member of the Israeli national team.
Known for his deep opening preparation, positional understanding, and endgame technique. He is also a highly respected chess author and trainer.
stories & anecdotes
Gelfand's rise to the 2012 World Championship final at age 43 is one of the great late-career achievements in chess history.
His book Positional Decision Making in Chess is considered a modern classic, offering a rare look into the mind of a top grandmaster.
He was mentored by the great Soviet trainer Mark Dvoretsky and has trained several top players himself.
He is known for his humility and intellectual depth, often quoting literature and philosophy in his writings.
quotes
"Even when you're playing blitz, always think!" (quoting Tigran Petrosian)
"Chess is a game of understanding, not just calculation."
publications
Positional Decision Making in Chess (2015) — widely regarded as one of the best modern chess books.
Dynamic Decision Making in Chess (2016) — the follow-up volume.
Technical Decision Making in Chess (2019) — completing the trilogy.
My Most Memorable Games — a collection of his best games.
Play through Boris Gelfand’s games
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Editorial note: this profile was adapted from supplied research notes. Historical details and attributed quotations should be fact-checked before formal publication.