MASTERS

Well known as a King’s Indian Defense expert, Smirin has represented Israel in no less than 12 Olympiads since 1992, including a bronze medal in 2010. His playing is tremendously entertaining, as both White and Black, always looking for attacking option, and usually succeeding.

At his peak, Ivanchuk was considered a World Champion level player, well known for his brilliant and creative ideas. With the amazing record of 8 Olympic medals (for the USSR and then Ukraine) “the genius” can win against any player in the world.

One of his most unforgettable moments, was the 14.Qxe6 against Karjakin in 2008, sacrificing a piece for just a pawn (!), but crashing Black’s king’s position.

A chess talent from a young age, he was the youngest Israeli Champion in history, at only 17 years old in 2006. As a member of the National Team, he won two medals in the Chess Olympiads: a silver medal in the 2008 Chess Olympiad and a bronze medal in the 2010 Chess Olympiad.

He also was one of the few Israeli players to cross the 2700 Fide rating at his peak.

An eight-time Russian Chess Champion, he reached the 4^th place in the Fide list of January 2004.

In 2011, he won the World Cup, beating Fabiano Caruana, Gata Kamsky, Judit Polar and Alexander Grischuk, among others.

Besides being a top player, Svidler is also a great chess commentator in big events, always explaining each position clearly and deeply, in a way every chess lover can understand.

A constant member of the Israeli National Team, Postny has been a professional chess player for his entire adult life, playing in numerous different leagues and tournaments and keeping his passion both for the game and for representing his country.

Dubov was a chess prodigy from a young age, winning 2 medals in the European youth championship.  He achieved his final norm for the Grandmaster title at the age of 14 years and 11 months in 2011.

Dubov served as one of Magnus Carlsen’s seconds for the World Chess Championship 2018 against Caruana and again in 2021 against Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Avital Boruchovsky is a member of the Israeli chess team. He was European Champion for youth under the age of 18 in 2014. In the same year, he achieved the record of the youngest Grandmaster in the history of Israel until then – achieving this rank at the age of 17 years and 7 months.

Being a top player for almost 20 years, with his peak in 2010 (6^th place in the world), Eljanov is a player that every team is happy to have in the league. His professionalism is well known, and he worked as a second in the World Championship for Boris Gelfand and Magnus Carlsen, in 2007 and 2013, respectively.

Ido is the current Israeli Champion, and part of the new generation of players rising in Israel.

Playing on the second board of the Israeli National Team in the Olympiad, the young Grandmaster has a great future ahead of him.