Mikhail Chigorin

Born on 31 October 1850 in Gatchina, near St. Petersburg, into a family of a minor official. His father was a senior gunpowder master.

Orphaned early and raised in the harsh environment of the Gatchinsky Orphan Institute, where corporal punishment and a brutal disciplinary system were routine.

He learned chess at age 16 from a tutor at the institute, about a year after arriving. He was immediately captivated.

His school years were difficult; he often remained in the same class for several years and only reached the fifth grade by 1867.

Received a basic education at the Gatchinsky Orphan Institute.

He was largely self-taught in chess and did not pursue higher education. He worked as a clerk and later devoted himself entirely to chess, becoming Russia's first true chess professional.

The first great Russian chess master and the founder of the Russian chess school. He was a leading world player from the 1880s until his death in 1908.

Played two World Championship matches against Wilhelm Steinitz (1889 and 1892), losing both but winning several games and proving he belonged at the top.

Known for his brilliant, intuitive, and romantic style, in contrast to Steinitz's scientific approach. He championed the Evans Gambit and other sharp openings when they had fallen out of fashion.

Founded the St. Petersburg Chess Society and the magazine Shakhmatny Listok, nurturing a generation of Russian players.

His famous quip: "Even a bad plan is better than no plan at all."

The Chigorin Memorial, created in 1909, is one of the oldest and most prestigious chess tournaments.

Chigorin was famous for his intense concentration and would often sit with his hands in his pockets to prevent himself from making impulsive moves. He said: "In especially sharp positions I always tried to keep my hands in my pockets so as not to make a hasty move."

He was a fierce patriot and believed deeply in the Russian school of chess, which emphasized creativity and fighting spirit over dry positional play.

Despite his success, he died in relative poverty in 1908, largely forgotten by the wider public, though revered by chess players.

"Even a bad plan is better than no plan at all."

"In especially sharp positions I always tried to keep my hands in my pockets so as not to make a hasty move."

Mikhail Chigorin: The Creative Genius by Jimmy Adams — a comprehensive collection of over 200 games with annotations by Chigorin and contemporaries.

Mikhail Chigorin: The First Russian Grandmaster by Alexander Khalifman and Sergei Soloviev — a detailed biography and game collection.