In a bad year for sports legends, the chess world is not staying behind. Today Viktor Korchnoi died at the age of 85 in a hospital in Wohlen, Switzerland. Korchnoi had been ill for some time and was hospitalized last week after suffering from internal bleeding
Viktor Korchnoi was considered by many as one of the most underrated players in the world of chess. He was mentioned as such by Magnus Carlsen in his interview.
Everyone remembers the Kasparov-Karpov rivalry of the chess world, but even before that contest came about, the first K-K rivalry was really that of Karpov-Korchnoi. The then stateless Korchnoi was the challenger against the World Champion Anatoly Karpov in the controversial 1978 World Championship that happened in Baguio City, Philippines. A video clip documenting the unfolding of such event can be watched here.

Viktor Korchnoi vs. Anatoly Karpov in Baguio City, Philippines, in 1978 World Championship.
Replay several of Korchnoi’s impressive wins in the following games:
korchnoi wins?
RIP Viktor Korchnoi. The greatest chess player never to become a world champion.
RIP
RIP to one of the greatest legends of chess, the strongest player who never became a World Champion.
Nice move
rip …
bye idol!
uncrown king?