Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

[Denis Allan]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

While on the interesting topic of chess-playing families, are there many chess-playing couples (married or otherwise)? The only one that immediately comes to mind is Canada's Nava and Sasha Starr, who have recently both played in a tournament again. Many years ago, there was Lawrence Day and his then-wife Angela- both members of Canada's Olympiad teams. Also I recall Kevin Spraggett dating another member of the Canadian women's team for a while. Internationally, there's Pia Cramling of Sweden and her Spanish GM husband, Juan Bellon- the strongest chess couple, maybe? I recall reading about other top woman players being married to competitive chess players, but the names escape me now.

Kevin may or may not have been involved with Vesma but he certainly married a member of the Portugal women team who he met in Dubai in 86, which is why he lives in Portugal.

[Denis Allan]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

While on the interesting topic of chess-playing families, are there many chess-playing couples (married or otherwise)? The only one that immediately comes to mind is Canada's Nava and Sasha Starr, who have recently both played in a tournament again. Many years ago, there was Lawrence Day and his then-wife Angela- both members of Canada's Olympiad teams. Also I recall Kevin Spraggett dating another member of the Canadian women's team for a while. Internationally, there's Pia Cramling of Sweden and her Spanish GM husband, Juan Bellon- the strongest chess couple, maybe? I recall reading about other top woman players being married to competitive chess players, but the names escape me now.

Names that shouldn't escape you are Goran Milicevic and Natalia Khoudgarian, and Vojin and Smilja Vujosevic

[Denis Allan]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

I remember a year when Abe and Harry Yanofsky played in the Manitoba Open. Unless my memory is playing tricks.

Maybe you're thinking of the 63 Canadian Closed?

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

It would appear we had a little chess history in Beijing today. The Muzychuk sisters finally had their first decisive sibling result in R16 of the World Mind Game 2014 Blitz Women. According to chessgames.com, they had drawn their 3 previous Classic and 2 Rapid encounters, all in 25 moves or less (25, 21, 21, 13, 9), but today they played for real and Anna prevailed in 25 moves.

And on a grander non sibling scale, Yifan Hou is dominating the event and has tacked on 42.6 points to cross the 2700 threshold at 2704.6. She's leaving Fabiano Caruana, rated 2679 at Blitz, in her rear view mirror (:

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

It would appear we had a little chess history in Beijing today. The Muzychuk sisters finally had their first decisive sibling result in R16 of the World Mind Game 2014 Blitz Women. According to chessgames.com, they had drawn their 3 previous Classic and 2 Rapid encounters, all in 25 moves or less (25, 21, 21, 13, 9), but today they played for real and Anna prevailed in 25 moves.

And on a grander non sibling scale, Yifan Hou is dominating the event and has tacked on 42.6 points to cross the 2700 threshold at 2704.6. She's leaving Fabiano Caruana, rated 2679 at Blitz, in her rear view mirror (:

[Frank Dixon]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

I would think the peak ratings for the three Polgar sisters would total over 7600, with GM Judit at 2700 , GM Susan in the 2550 range, and IM Sofia in the 2400 range. :)

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

The Kaminski's brothers are still playing chess? Do they? I haven't heard about them for a long while!

[Vadim Tsypin]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Married Couple?

The late Elena Akhmilovskaya (Donaldson) - 2430 (?).
Her third husband Georgi Orlov - 2478.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

While on the interesting topic of chess-playing families, are there many chess-playing couples (married or otherwise)?

I didn't even tell my wife I played chess until AFTER we were married. Only that I could play the game.

Before many years passed she was doing most of the secretarial work for the CCCA.

We've been married very close to 50 years and she still doesn't know how to play. Not interested.

[Bob Armstrong]

Strongest Chess Playing Married Couple?

While on the interesting topic of chess-playing families, are there many chess-playing couples (married or otherwise)? The only one that immediately comes to mind is Canada's Nava and Sasha Starr, who have recently both played in a tournament again. Many years ago, there was Lawrence Day and his then-wife Angela- both members of Canada's Olympiad teams. Also I recall Kevin Spraggett dating another member of the Canadian women's team for a while. Internationally, there's Pia Cramling of Sweden and her Spanish GM husband, Juan Bellon- the strongest chess couple, maybe? I recall reading about other top woman players being married to competitive chess players, but the names escape me now.

The strongest couple I know of (they are married) is Alexander Grischuk



and Natalia Zhukova.




Bob A

[Ken Kurkowski]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

While on the interesting topic of chess-playing families, are there many chess-playing couples (married or otherwise)? The only one that immediately comes to mind is Canada's Nava and Sasha Starr, who have recently both played in a tournament again. Many years ago, there was Lawrence Day and his then-wife Angela- both members of Canada's Olympiad teams. Also I recall Kevin Spraggett dating another member of the Canadian women's team for a while. Internationally, there's Pia Cramling of Sweden and her Spanish GM husband, Juan Bellon- the strongest chess couple, maybe? I recall reading about other top woman players being married to competitive chess players, but the names escape me now.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

The Marks family may well be on the chess radar screen to eventually become the strongest composite chess playing siblings - if only on sheer numbers (:

http://www.bennettcountyboostersd.com/news/1007-going-for-the-gold-marks-family-takes-chess-world-by-storm

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

At their peak in the 1960's, the Rubin brothers (Gerald and Robert) of Montreal would both have been in today's 2300-2400 range. A younger brother, David, played in an (adult) tournament at the age of 4. A sister, Barbara, played in some scholastic events. The father, Philip, was a Montreal TD in the late 50's and early 60's. (Gerry was playing tonight at the Cafe Pi)

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

three CAN brothers: Nikolay (~2600), Sergey (~2000), and Ivan (~1100 CFC) Noritsyns. A sister Liza (~1300) does not play these days. Are they the strongest family (by rating sum) in CAN?

more than 2 chess players in family:

Giblons family (~1400-1800) - sisters Melissa and Rebecca, and a father Andrew

Mine - me (~2200), a son (~1100), a daughter (a pawns destroyer), a wife (the best supporter, and who had real in-class chess lessons) LOL

[Michael Yip]

Re: Strongest Chess Playing Siblings?

More Hungarian sibling/family members

IM Anita Gara and WGM Ticia Gara(sisters)
GM Josef Horvath and GM Csaba Horvath(brothers)
GM Zoltan Almasi and IM Istvan Almasi(brothers)
FM Laszlo Mihok(father) and Olivier Mihok(2450-ish son)
Kristof Juhasz(2350) and Armin Juhasz(2200-ish) brothers
Victor Erdos(2647) and his sister around 2200