Early Life and Career
Korchnoi graduated from Leningrad State University with a major in history.
He learned to play chess from his father at the age of five. In 1943, he joined the chess club of the Leningrad Pioneer Palace, and was trained by Abram Model, Andrei Batuyev, and Vladimir Zak. In 1947, he won the Junior Championship of the USSR, with 11.5/15 at Leningrad, and shared the title in 1948 with 5/7 at Tallinn, Estonia. In 1951, he earned the Soviet Master title, following his second place in the 1950 Leningrad Championship, with 9/13.
Read more about this topic: Viktor Korchnoi
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