Boris Gelfand (born 1968 in Minsk, Belarussian SSR) is an Israeli super-GM of remarkable consistency. He represented the Soviet Union and Belarus before moving to Israel in 1998. He's known for his accurate positional play.
Boris Gelfand has been among the world's elite grandmasters for many years. Here are a few highlights:
- In 1988 he tied for first in the World Junior Championship (though Joel Lautier ultimately won the title).
- He finished joint second (behind victor Viswanathan Anand) with then-champion Vladimir Kramnik in the 2007 World Championship tournament.
- In 2009 Gelfand won the Chess World Cup.
- That victory qualified him for the Candidates' Tournament for the 2012 World Championship, which he won through matches against Mamedyarov, Kamsky and Grischuk.
- His 2012 match against the world champion Anand was tied after the full slate of twelve classical games was played. Anand's single victory in the rapid play tie-breaks was enough to deny Gelfand the crown.
