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Nigel ShortEnglish grandmaster
Date of Birth: 01.06.1965
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Nigel Short
Early Life and Chess CareerNigel David Short was born on June 1, 1965, in the city of Leigh, Lancashire, in the United Kingdom. He hails from a family of chess players, with many of his relatives, such as Miles, Nunn, Speelman, and Chandler, being members of the England national chess team in the 1980s. Nigel showed exceptional talent in chess from a young age, defeating not only his peers but also older children. Surprisingly, his father, the founder of the Atherton Chess Club, did not immediately include Nigel in the club, considering him too young for membership.
Nigel spent his childhood and youth in Atherton, attending Bolton School and later studying at Leigh College. Despite his surname, which means "short" in English, Nigel stood at an impressive height of 1.9 meters. He possessed a wide range of abilities and interests beyond chess. At a young age, he became passionate about playing the guitar and quickly mastered the instrument. He even formed his own rock band. Nigel was so attached to his guitar that he would bring it with him to important chess tournaments.
Chess Achievements
Nigel Short made a significant impact on the history of chess with a few remarkable achievements. Firstly, he became the youngest grandmaster in the history of chess, earning the title at the age of 19. Secondly, he became the first foreign chess player to challenge the dominance of the Soviet chess school. In 1993, Short defeated Jan Timman in the semifinals and Anatoly Karpov in the finals to become the challenger for the World Chess Championship title against Garry Kasparov. Although he ultimately lost to Kasparov, Short's performance shook the entire chess elite.
Current Activities
Currently, Nigel Short rarely plays chess, and when he does participate in tournaments, he prefers the Asian Championships. He has shifted his focus away from competitive chess and has diversified his interests and activities.
Personal Life
Nigel Short is married to Ria, a Greek art historian. They have two children, a daughter named Kiveli and a son named Nicholas Darwin. The family resides in a prestigious neighborhood in Athens, Greece.
