Valery Salov

Born on 26 May 1964 in Wrocław, Poland, but his family soon moved to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia.

Learned to play chess at age 6.

As a young player, he came under the tutelage of the famous coach Vladimir Zak, who also trained Boris Spassky and other top Soviet players.

Won the U-17 World Youth Chess Championship and the European Junior Championship in 1983–84.

Trained in the Soviet chess system under Vladimir Zak, one of the most respected coaches in the country.

He studied the game with exceptional depth and became known for his thorough opening preparation.

One of the world's top players in the late 1980s and 1990s, ranked third in the world in 1995.

World Championship Candidate in 1988 and 1994.

Won the World Junior Championship (U-17) and the European Junior Championship in the early 1980s.

Served as Anatoly Karpov's second (assistant) from 1985 to 1986 during the Karpov–Kasparov World Championship matches.

Won numerous international tournaments, including Tilburg and Buenos Aires.

Known for his deep understanding of the game and his uncompromising approach to chess.

After retiring from competitive chess around 2000, he became a political scientist and writer, authoring works on chess politics and history.

Salov's role as Karpov's second during the epic Karpov–Kasparov matches gave him a unique insight into the highest levels of chess preparation.

He famously refused to accept a draw that would have qualified him for the next round of the Candidates Tournament, choosing instead to fight for a win — a testament to his competitive spirit.

After retiring, he wrote critically about the chess world and its politics.

He has lived in Spain since 1991.

(On his approach) "I play to win, not to draw. A draw is a sign that both players have failed."

Valery Salov: Over 100 Victories — a collection of his best games, arranged by opening.

He has also written articles and essays on chess politics and history.