Short biography.I was born in Krasnodar (USSR) on the 14th of February 1973. I began to study chess at the age of 5,5 years. Alexey Osachuk was my first coach. From 1980 until 1984 I was a pupil in the school of the Former World Champion Vassily Smyslov. 1989 - the start of the professional chess career. World Junior Champion U-16 (1989) and U-18 (1990). 1990 - end of the secondary school in Krasnodar. Since 1991 I am a Grandmaster. 1995 - end of the studies in the Kuban State Agricultural University (Ecomony of Agriculture). Since September 1997 I live in Groningen (Netherlands). In 1994 I played a Candidate Match for the PCA World Championship Title (eliminated by Adams). World Chess Olympiad Champion 1994 (in the team of Russia). European Champion 2008. European Team Champion 2001, 2005 (in the team on the Netherlands). Dutch Champion 2006, 2007. Winner of the numerous tournaments all over the world. Highest rating - 2700. On October 1, 2005.As a coach worked for the Russian chess federation, Dutch chess federation, Turkish chess federation, Indonesia chess federation, Iranian chess clubs. Also was giving lot of private lessons to the players from all parts of the world.Besides Russian and English, I also speak Italian, Dutch and Spanish languages. Currently I am studying Portuguese.I have visited 70 countries and territories so far. I have been to all (besides Australia and Antarctica) continents. Hobbies - art, Russian pop music, book reading (especially on anomal, paranormal, ancient civilization, UFO and other subjects).