BCN sends greetings to GM Alexander Cherniaev on his birthday.

Alexander Sergeevich Cherniaev was born on Tuesday, August 26th 1969 in Arkhangelsk, Western Russia.

He became an International Master in 1993 and a Grandmaster in 2004.

He became a FIDE Senior Trainer in 2016.

His peak FIDE rating (according to Megabase 2020 and Felice) was 2509 in July 2002, aged 33.

(Gaige is silent on Alexander).

Alex is registered with the Russian Federation and plays for Hackney, Wood Green, Russia (unsurprisingly!) and 4NCL Barnet Knights and makes regular appearences in Richmond, Golders Green and other rapidplay events, the London Chess Classic and 4NCL amongst others.

He made his first appearance in a UK event in 1991 at the Lloyds Bank Masters whilst a revolution was in progress in the USSR.  His first appearance at Hastings was for the 1991/92 event in the Open section and then in Hastings 1993/1994.

Since 1999 he has been London based playing in many UK events.

He won the Coulsdon Easter Congress in 2007 with 7.5/9 and the Canadian Open in 2019 with 9/9

As the first player Alex mainly champions the Ruy Lopez and with the Black pieces he enjoys the Sveshnikov Sicilian and the Old Indian Defence.

Alex is a well-known player on the English chess scene and has enjoyed a lively relationship with organisers and arbiters alike.