Vladimir Bagirov
- July 21, 2000
- 63 years
- heart attack
About Vladimir Bagirov
Vladimir Bagirov, 63, Soviet-Latvian grandmaster of chess, chess author, and trainer, heart attack.
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Full Biography
|Vladimir Konstantinovich Bagirov (Russian: Влади́мир Константи́нович Баги́ров; Latvian: Vladimirs Konstantinovičs Bagirovs; August 16, 1936 – July 21, 2000) was a Soviet-Latvian chess player, author, and trainer. He played in ten USSR Championships, with his best result being fourth place in his debut in 1960. Bagirov was world senior champion in 1998.
He was the coach of Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov, both of whom are considered to be among the greatest chess players of all time.
Biography
Vladimir Bagirov was born to an Armenian father and a Ukrainian mother in Baku. He showed chess talent as a youth, and came under the wing of the master and trainer Vladimir Makogonov. He made his debut in the semi-finals of the Soviet Championship in 1957, but did not advance to the final. Bagirov qualified for the final for the first time in 1960, and finished in 4th place at the 27th USSR Championship in Leningrad, which was won by Viktor Korchnoi.
In 1961, he was selected to play for the Soviet team in the European Team Championship at Oberhausen 1961 and at the World Student Championship in Helsinki. Bagirov was awarded the title of International Master by FIDE in 1963 and that of Grandmaster in 1978.
Bagirov moved into training work in the 1970s, and for a short time in 1975, as Azerbaijan national coach, was the sole trainer of future world champion Garry Kasparov. Following a dispute with chess officials, Bagirov moved to Latvia in the late 1970s, and coached former world champion Mikhail Tal, and future grandmasters Alexei Shirov and Alexander Shabalov.
Bagirov was also an openings theoretician, with one of his favourites the uncommon Alekhine's Defence. He published two books and a CD-Rom from 1994 to 2000.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Bagirov played more tournament chess than he ever had before, taking part in many open tournaments in Europe. He won the 1998 World Senior Championship at Grieskirchen, Austria, with a score of 8½/11.
Bagirov played for Latvia in Chess Olympiads:
- In 1992, at fourth board in the 30th Chess Olympiad in Manila (+1−1=6);
- In 1996, at third board in the 32nd Chess Olympiad in Yerevan (+3−2=3).
Bagirov played for Latvia in European Team Chess Championships:
- In 1992, at second board in the 10th European Team Chess Championship in Debrecen (+1−1=4).
Bagirov played for Latvia in World Team Chess Championships:
- In 1993, at fourth board in the 3rd World Team Chess Championship in Lucerne (+0−0=5).
Bagirov died while playing a tournament in Finland in 2000. He had started the Heart of Finland Open event with three straight wins to take the lead and, after a time scramble, had an extra pawn in round four against Teemu Laasanen, but suffered a heart attack, and died the next day, on July 21, 2000.
Publications
- English Opening: Classical and Indian, by Vladimir Bagirov, translated from the Russian by Ken Neat, London, Cadogan Chess, 1994, ISBN 1-85744-033-1.
- English Opening: Symmetrical, by Vladimir Bagirov, translated from the Russian by Ken Neat, London, Cadogan Chess, 1995, ISBN 1-85744-032-3.
- Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation, CD-Rom by Vladimir Bagirov, Amsterdam, New In Chess, 2000.
Notable games
- Leonid Stein vs. Vladimir Bagirov, Leningrad 1963, French Defense: Tarrasch, Closed Variation (C05), 0–1
- Vladimir Bagirov vs. Karen Ashotovich Grigorian, URS 1976, Nimzo–Larsen Attack: Indian Variation (A01), 1–0
- Vladimir Bagirov vs. Mark Taimanov, URS 1977, Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation (D37), 1–0
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Bagirov
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Vladimir Bagirov's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of birth of Vladimir Bagirov?
- A.July 21, 2000
- B.July 21, 1936
- C.August 16, 1936correct
- D.August 16, 1930
Vladimir Bagirov was born on August 16, 1936.
Source: Biography introduction
2.In which city was Vladimir Bagirov born?
- A.Bakucorrect
- B.Helsinki
- C.Riga
- D.Leningrad
Vladimir Bagirov was born to an Armenian father and a Ukrainian mother in Baku.
Source: Biography section
3.Which player won the 27th USSR Championship in Leningrad where Vladimir Bagirov made his debut in the final?
- A.Mikhail Tal
- B.Garry Kasparov
- C.Alexei Shirov
- D.Viktor Korchnoicorrect
The 27th USSR Championship in Leningrad was won by Viktor Korchnoi.
Source: Biography section
4.In what year was Vladimir Bagirov awarded the title of International Master by FIDE?
- A.1960
- B.1998
- C.1963correct
- D.1978
Vladimir Bagirov was awarded the title of International Master by FIDE in 1963.
Source: Biography section
5.What is the correct year Vladimir Bagirov received the title of Grandmaster?
- A.1963
- B.1961
- C.1991
- D.1978correct
Vladimir Bagirov was awarded the title of Grandmaster in 1978.
Source: Biography section
6.Which chess player did Vladimir Bagirov coach while serving as the Azerbaijan national coach in 1975?
- A.Garry Kasparovcorrect
- B.Alexander Shabalov
- C.Mikhail Tal
- D.Alexei Shirov
In 1975, Vladimir Bagirov was the sole trainer of future world champion Garry Kasparov.
Source: Biography section
7.What was one of Vladimir Bagirov's favorite openings?
- A.King's Indian Defence
- B.Caro-Kann Defence
- C.Alekhine's Defencecorrect
- D.Sicilian Defence
Vladimir Bagirov was an openings theoretician who favored Alekhine's Defence.
Source: Biography section
8.Which tournament did Vladimir Bagirov win in 1998?
- A.Heart of Finland Open
- B.USSR Championship
- C.World Senior Championshipcorrect
- D.European Team Championship
Vladimir Bagirov won the 1998 World Senior Championship at Grieskirchen, Austria.
Source: Biography section
9.In what city was the 32nd Chess Olympiad held where Vladimir Bagirov played in 1996?
- A.Manila
- B.Debrecen
- C.Lucerne
- D.Yerevancorrect
Vladimir Bagirov played for Latvia at the 32nd Chess Olympiad in Yerevan in 1996.
Source: Biography section
10.Which of these books was published by Vladimir Bagirov in 1994?
- A.Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation
- B.English Opening: Classical and Indiancorrect
- C.Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation
- D.English Opening: Symmetrical
English Opening: Classical and Indian was published by Vladimir Bagirov in 1994.
Source: Publications section
11.Who was the translator of Vladimir Bagirov's book published in 1995?
- A.Viktor Korchnoi
- B.Teemu Laasanen
- C.Ken Neatcorrect
- D.Vladimir Makogonov
The English Opening books by Vladimir Bagirov were translated from Russian by Ken Neat.
Source: Publications section
12.During which event did Vladimir Bagirov suffer a heart attack in 2000?
- A.Heart of Finland Opencorrect
- B.World Senior Championship
- C.32nd Chess Olympiad
- D.European Team Chess Championship
Vladimir Bagirov suffered a heart attack while playing at the Heart of Finland Open event.
Source: Biography section
13.Who was the opponent against whom Vladimir Bagirov had an extra pawn before suffering a heart attack?
- A.Teemu Laasanencorrect
- B.Leonid Stein
- C.Karen Ashotovich Grigorian
- D.Mark Taimanov
Vladimir Bagirov had an extra pawn against Teemu Laasanen in round four when he suffered a heart attack.
Source: Biography section
14.What is the ISBN for Vladimir Bagirov's book titled 'English Opening: Symmetrical'?
- A.1-85744-030-0
- B.978-0-1234-5678-9
- C.1-85744-033-1
- D.1-85744-032-3correct
The ISBN for English Opening: Symmetrical by Vladimir Bagirov is 1-85744-032-3.
Source: Publications section
15.At which board did Vladimir Bagirov play for Latvia in the 10th European Team Chess Championship?
- A.First board
- B.Fourth board
- C.Second boardcorrect
- D.Third board
Vladimir Bagirov played at the second board in the 10th European Team Chess Championship in 1992.
Source: Biography section
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