Kira Zvorykina
When Kira Zvorykina was 16 she won first place in one of the tournaments the members of her family held from time to time. This victory over her constant rivals filled her with confidence, and she decided to enter school tournaments. To her surprise, she found she could make a good showing against her school champions and in inter-school tournaments.
She learned a great deal from classes at the chess club of the Leningrad Palace of Young Pioneers. Lectures by Pyotr Romanov-sky cleared up many points for her.
In 1937 Kira Zvorykina, then 17, became school-girl champion of Leningrad, winning all her games in the tournament.
After entering the Institute of Cinematography she kept up with chess in her spare time. Her first big success carne in 1946, when she took second place in the Leningrad Championship and was promoted to first category rating.
In 1951 Kira Zvorykina scored 11 Va points out of 17 and won the U.S.S.R. women's title. She was awarded the title of Master.
Competing in the Moscow International Women's Tournament in 1952, Kira Zvorykina played in her usual active combinative style and produced a number of fine fighting games. She tied for fourth place with Valeniina Borisenko (U.S.S.R.) and E. Keller-Hermann (German Democratic Republic).
F.I.D.E. made her an International Master.
Kira Zvorykina brilliantly confirmed her high standard of plav when she regained the U.S.S.R. title in 1953 and then in 1956.
Today Kira Zvorykina lives in Minsk, where she takes an active part in the work of the Byelorussian chess organization.
The following game illustrates her resourceful playing.
K. Zvorykina F. Heemskerk The usual move is 5 Kt—
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