Oleg Mikhailovich Romanishin will again play in the Open Group of the 18th Univé Chess tournament this year. The popular grandmaster from Ukraine already took part here in 2004, 2008 and 2009, scoring 6.5, 6 and 5.5 points respectively. The fighter from Lviv will doubtlessly try to reverse this trend in 2014.

Romanishin became European Junior Champion in 1972/73 and won countless tournaments after that, including Moscow 1985 and Reggio Emilia 1986. His second place in the championship of the Soviet Union in 1975 was sensational. He shared this place with, among others, Mikhail Tal, behind Tigran Petrosian, whom he beat in their individual game. Also his second place in Tilburg 1979, behind Anatoly Karpov, was a top result.

Now 62, the chess globetrotter has played with many champions and defeated several of them. He is well known for his original ideas in the opening and his enormous fighting spirit at the board. In an interview during an Italian tournament in 2010 he said: ‘When I play with caution I do not always fare well.’

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