Mark Tseitlin

Full name	Марк Данилович Цейтлин
Country	Soviet Union Israel
Born	September 23, 1943 Leningrad, USSR
Title	Grandmaster

Mark Danilovich Tseitlin (Hebrew: מארק דנילוביץ צייטלין‎; Russian: Марк Данилович Цейтлин; born on September 23, 1943 in Leningrad), is an Israeli International Grandmaster of chess of Russian origin.

Mark Tseitlin got acquainted with chess in Leningrad's Pioneers Palace. He is self-taught, having studied without a coach. His peak FIDE rating was 2545 in 1995.

He was awarded the title of International Master in 1978, and became a Grandmaster in 1997.

Tseitlin immigrated to Israel in 1990, and is currently a trainer at the Beer-Sheva Eliahu Levant Chess club, a world-renowned club frequented by many of Israel's finest players.

His chess credo Mark Tseitlin expresses as pursue of relentless attack against opponent's king, usually through material sacrifices.

Tseitlin has a daughter Ira and two granddaughters, who are living in Germany.

Tournament results

Tseitlin was Leningrad City champion in 1970, 1975, 1976, and jointly in 1978.

During his playing career he defeated Viktor Korchnoi four times and beat many famous grandmasters. His best tournament achievements include first place at Polanica Zdroj 1978 (ahead of Andersson), and second at Trnava 1979 (after Plachetka). Tseitlin is the many-time Beer-Sheva Chess Club Champion.

Coach and assistant

There are many international grandmasters and masters among Tseitlin's apprentices. Among his pupils are such famous chess players as grandmasters Alexander Finkel, Boris Avrukh, Ilya Smirin, Victor Mikhalevski and Dimitri Tyomkin. Mark Tseitlin assisted the rise of former world champion Anatoly Karpov, and strong Soviet grandmaster Rafael Vaganian.

He is known for his sharp tactical vision at the chessboard, and is an acknowledged expert in many chess openings, such as the Grunfeld Defence.

European Senior Champion

Mark Tseitlin has become the European Senior Champion thrice (2004 in Arvier, 2005 in Bad Homerg, and 2008 in Dresden).

Despite this remarkable success, Israeli Chess Federation failed to provide financial basis for Tseitlin to participate in World Senior Championships, preferring to sponsor other lower-rated chess players, both in 2004, in 2005 and in 2008 as well. ()

In 2004 Tseitlin won 1st World Senior Team Championship, together with Jacob Murey, Yair Kraidman and Yedael Stepak.

Notable chess games

The following game illustrates Tseitlin's sharp tactical style.

Tseitlin - V. Karasev

Severodonetsk, 1982

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cd4 5. Nd4 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 h6 8. Be3 e6 9. O-O Nc5 10. Qf3 b5 11. b4!? bc4 12.bc5 dc5

13. Nf5! Bb7

The following line illustrates dangers of Black's defence: 13... ef5 14. ef5 Ra7 15. Rfe1 Be7 16. Bc5 Rd7 17.Be7 Re7 18. Qc6+ Nd7 19. Nd5! Re1+ 20. Re1+ Kf8 21. Qd6+ Kg8 22. Ne7+ Kh7 23. Qg6+!! fg6 24. fg6!#

14. Rab1 Qc8 15. Ng3 Be7 16. Na4 Nd7 17. Nh5 Kf8

Black cannot castle because of 18.Qg4

18. Nb6 Nb6 19. Rb6 g6 20. Rfb1 Ra7 21. Nf4 Kg7 22. Bd2 Bf6 23. Qg3 Kh7 24. Re6 Bg5 25. Reb6 Be4 26. h4 Bd8 27.Rb8 Qf5 28. Bc3 Bf6?

In time trouble Karasiev fails to find best defence 28.... Re8

29. Nh5!! -It is impossible to fend off such surprise even with enough time. If 29. ... gh 30.Rh8+ Bh8 then 31. Rb8 is winning.

29. ... Rb8 30.Nf6+ Qf6 31. Rb8 1-0