Alexander Ipatov

Alexander Ipatov (Ukrainian: Олександр Іпатов, Oleksandr Ipatov; born 16 July 1993) is a chess grandmaster and one of the top chess players in Turkey.
He played for the Turkish National Team in the Chess Olympiads of 2012, 2014 and 2016. As of October 2016, he is ranked 89th in the world rankings and 1st in Turkey with 2660 ELO rating.

Ipatov was born on July 16, 1993 in Lviv, Ukraine. His father taught him how to play chess when he was four, and his mother brought him to the local chess club at the age of six. He trained there for four years.

In March, 2003, Ipatov became the under-10 vice-champion of Ukraine. This made him eligible to participate in the World Youth Chess Championship (U10 section), which took place in Greece. Ipatov finished in 11th place out of 133 players.

In 2007, he finished second in the under-14 Ukrainian championship, and therefore qualified for the world U14 championship in Turkey, where he finished in 8th place, entering the top 10 for the first time.

In 2008, Ipatov gained 207 Elo rating points, became twice vice-champion of Ukraine (U16 and U20), and was awarded the titles of National Master and International Master. From January 2009 to February 2012, he represented Spain.

In 2011, Ipatov finished third in the Cappelle-la-Grande Open, where 573 players competed in, of which 85 were grandmasters.

Since February 2012, Alexander Ipatov has represented the Turkish Chess Federation. In August 2012, he became the World Junior Chess Champion in Athens ahead of Ding Liren, Richárd Rapport, Yu Yangyi and Wei Yi. This achievement made him eligible to participate in the 2013 FIDE World Cup. In the latter he was knocked out in the first round by Wesley So.

Garry Kasparov gives Alex Ipatov his reward at 2013 WJCC

In February 2013, he took the bronze medal in the Turkish Chess Championship. In September 2013, he won the silver medal at the World Junior Chess Championship in Kocaeli with 10.5 points out of 13, just half a point behind the actual winner Yu Yangyi. Alexander Ipatov became Turkish champion in 2014 and 2015. He scored a phenomenal 12.5 out of 13 at the latter, 1.5 points ahead of the runner-up Dragan Solak.

In March 2015, Alexander finished 7th at the European Individual Chess Championship and qualified for the World Cup 2015 in Baku. At the FIDE World Cup 2015 he eliminated Ivan Cheparinov in round one to progress to round two, where he was knocked out by Pavel Eljanov.

At the Baku World Chess Olympiad in September 2016, Alexander Ipatov helped Turkish team to finish on their historically highest, the 6th place, by defeating the Georgian Grandmaster Mikhail Mchedlishvili in the last round when the score in the match was 1.5-1.5.

Ipatov attained his bachelor's degree from the National University “Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy of Ukraine” in Kharkov in 2014. He is fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, English and Turkish.

Alexander Ipatov has played for the following chess clubs in various international leagues throughout his career :

• 2016 – Deniz Su Aquamatch Satranç Gençlik ve Spor Kulübü (Turkey)
• 2012 – Bois Colombes (France)
• 2012 – 2012 Niş (Serbia)
• 2011 – 2015 İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi Spor Kulübü (Turkey)
• 2011 – 2016 SK Turm Emsdetten (Germany)
• 2010 – 2014 Law Academy Chess Club (Ukraine)
• 2007 – Club d’Escacs Barberà (Spain)

• Ipatov vs Sergei Zhigalko, 27th Cappelle-la-Grande (2011), Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Nimzowitsch Variation Timman's Line
• Nils Grandelius versus Ipatov, World Junior Championship (2012), Indian Game: Anti-Nimzo-Indian (E10)
• Ipatov versus Sergey Volkov, Moscow Open (2010), Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom. Stonewall Variation Portisch Gambit (D31)