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International Grandmaster Jaan Ehlvest was born 14.10.1962 in Tallinn, Estonia to a family of doctors.
His mother taught him the game of Chess when he was six years old. While attending high school is Estonia, he also attended a Chess academy. From 1981-87 he studied and graduated from Tartu State University with a degree in Psychology. He became an international master in Chess in 1983 by winning the European Junior Championship.
In 1987 he tied for second place in the Zagreb Interzonal and became a grandmaster. In the first series of the World Cup tournaments, Ehlvest came fourth after World Champions Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, and grandmaster Valery Salov. In 1989, he won the Regio Emilia supertournament ahead of grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk and Karpov. Ehlvest's highest international rating was 2660, and he has been one of the top five players in the world.
Professional chessplayer
International Grandamaster of chess in World elite level from 1987.
European Junior champion in 1983. Estonian Champion in 1986. Member of the Soviet chess team winning the World team championship in 1989 and the Chess Olympiad in 1988. Estonian Sportsman of the year in 1987 and 1989 elected by journalists. Winner of many international tournaments: Vrshac 1987, Tallinn 1989, Reggio Emilia 1989, New York Open in 1994, World Open 2003 among others, Winner of US Grand Prix in 2005.
Professional chess coach
Coaching chlidren and proffessionals. Second and coach of former World Champion Anatoly Karpov in 1995. Second of Alexander Khalifman during the Las Vegas World Championship in 1999 when Khalifman took the title. Among other students were Kazakhstan number one Darmen Sadvakasov and Indian Grandmaster Sandipan Chanda who was co-winner of All Indian Championship in 2006.
Working in international sport organizations
President of FIDE (World Chess Federation) zone 1.7 (Baltic states) 1998-2002
Member of FIDE medical commission in 2002-2006
Jaan Ehlvest wrote books about chess theory for Batsford publishing house in 1991. Published his own autobiography "The Story of a Chess Player" in 2005.
The "Chess Gymnasium" is a manual for children.