Mark Tseitlin


Mark Tseitlin is a Soviet-born Israeli chess player. He was awarded the title of International Master in 1978 and that of Grandmaster in 1997. Tseitlin is a four-time European seniors champion.

Career

Tseitlin got acquainted with chess in Leningrad's Pioneers Palace. He is self-taught, having studied without a coach. He was Leningrad champion in 1970, 1975, 1976, and jointly in 1978.
During his playing career he defeated Viktor Korchnoi four times and beat many famous grandmasters. His best tournament achievements include first place at Polanica Zdroj 1978, and second at Trnava 1979. Tseitlin is the many-time Beer-Sheva chess club champion.
Tseitlin won the European Seniors Championship four times: in 2004 in Arvier, 2005 in Bad Homerg, 2008 in Dresden and 2013 in Plovdiv.
In 2004 Tseitlin won the first World Senior Team Championship, held in the Isle of Man, playing for team Israel together with Jacob Murey, Yair Kraidman and Yedael Stepak.

Trainer

There are many international grandmasters and masters among Tseitlin's apprentices. Among his pupils are such famous chess players as grandmasters Alexander Finkel, Boris Avrukh, Ilya Smirin, Victor Mikhalevski and Dimitri Tyomkin. Mark Tseitlin assisted the rise of former world champion Anatoly Karpov, and strong Soviet grandmaster Rafael Vaganian.
He is known for his sharp tactical vision at the chessboard, and is an acknowledged expert in many chess openings, such as the Grunfeld Defence.

Personal life

Born in Leningrad, Tseitlin immigrated to Israel in 1990, and is currently a trainer at the Beer-Sheva Eliahu Levant chess club.
Tseitlin has a daughter, Ira, and two granddaughters, who are living in Germany.

Notable chess games

The following game illustrates Tseitlin's sharp tactical style.
Tseitlin - V. Karasev
Severodonetsk, 1982
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cd4 5. Nd4
a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 h6 8. Be3 e6 9. O-O Nc5 10. Qf3 b5 11. b4!? bc4
12.bc5 dc5
13. Nf5! Bb7
The following line illustrates dangers of Black's defence: 13... ef5 14. ef5 Ra7 15. Rfe1 Be7 16. Bc5 Rd7 17.Be7 Re7 18. Qc6+ Nd7 19. Nd5! Re1+ 20. Re1+ Kf8 21. Qd6+ Kg8 22. Ne7+ Kh7
23. Qg6+!! fg6 24. fg6!#
14. Rab1 Qc8 15. Ng3 Be7 16. Na4 Nd7 17. Nh5 Kf8
Black cannot castle because of 18.Qg4
18. Nb6 Nb6 19. Rb6 g6 20. Rfb1 Ra7
21. Nf4 Kg7 22. Bd2 Bf6 23. Qg3 Kh7 24. Re6 Bg5 25. Reb6 Be4 26. h4 Bd8
27.Rb8 Qf5 28. Bc3 Bf6?
In time trouble Karasiev fails to find best defence 28.... Re8
29. Nh5!! -It is impossible to fend off such surprise even with
enough time. If 29.... gh 30.Rh8+ Bh8 then 31. Rb8 is winning.
29.... Rb8 30.Nf6+ Qf6 31. Rb8 1-0