Michał Krasenkow

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Michał Krasenkow,
Warsaw 2004

Michał Krasenkow (born 14 November 1963) is Poland's strongest chess player after World War II.

He was born in Moscow (formerly Mikhail Krasenkov - Михаил Красенков). Master of applied mathematics (1985). His first notable successes date back to the 80s: he became a national master of the USSR in 1982, an International Master in 1988 and an International Grandmaster in 1989. He became Champion of Georgia in 1987 and team champion of the USSR (with "Tigran Petrosian Chess Club", Moscow) in 1990.

In 1992 Krasenkow emigrated to Poland. Since 1996 he represents that country at international competitions. Two-times champion of Poland (2000, 2002). Michał holds an unofficial record of winning Polish team championships, which he has done 13 times: 1991,1993,1994,1995,1997 and 1998 with "Stilon" Gorzów Wielkopolski, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 with "Polonia" Warsaw. European Cup winner (1997, with the Russian team "Ladia" Azov) and silver medalist (2001, 2003, 2005 with "Polonia Plus GSM" Warsaw). Representant of Poland at European team championships and Chess Olympiads since 1996 (European team championships: Pula 1997 - 3rd place on Board 1, Batumi 1999 - 2nd place on Board 1). Also German team champion (2006, 2007) and German Cup winner (2003, 2005, 2007) with Ooser Schachclub Baden-Baden.

He participated in all FIDE k.o. World Championships since 1997. Best results: Groningen/Lausanne (1997/98) - 5th round qualifier (last 9); Las Vegas (1999) - 3rd round qualifier (last 32); Tripoli (2004) – 4th round qualifier (last 16).

Major tournament victories: Moscow (1992, Mikhail Tal Memorial) - I-III places (tied), New York (1997) - I-II, Vilnius (1997, Vladas Mikenas Memorial) - I, Shanghai (2001, Tan Chin Nam Cup - category 16) - I-III.

Important tournament victories: Budapest (1989) - I-II places (tied), Vienna (1990) - I-VI, Gausdal (1991) - I-II, Katowice (1992) - I-II, Metz (1993) - I-III, Pardubice (1993) - I-V, Las Palmas (1993) - I-II, Pardubice (1994) - I-II, Stockholm (1994/95) - I, Stockholm (1995/96) - I, Asti (1996) - I, Reggio Emilia (1996/97) - I, Buenos Aires (1998) - I-V, Cutro (1999) - I, Shanghai (2000) - I-II, Barlinek (2001) - I-III, Kavala (2001) - I-II, Bad Wiessee (2001) - I-IV, Wijk aan Zee (2002, tournament “B”) – I, Budapest (2004) - I, Vlissingen (2006) - I, Wijk aan Zee (2007, tournament “C”) – I.

Runner-up in major tournaments in Hastings (1993/94, behind John Nunn), Polanica Zdroj (1995, behind Veselin Topalov), Pamplona (1998/99, behind Alexander Morozevich), Lviv (2000, FIDE Category 17 tournament - behind Vassily Ivanchuk). Polanica Zdroj (1998, Category 17 tournament) - III-VI places.

In 2000 Krasenkow crossed the extra-class threshold of 2700 rating points, obtaining 2702 in July and October rating lists. He was ranked Nr 10 in the world at that time. In January 2007 he is ranked Nr 53 in the world with a 2651 mark.

Krasenkow achieved notable successes in rapid chess: USSR Cup (Tallinn, 1988) - I-II places (tied), European Championships (Gijon, 1988) - IV-VII, GMA tournament (Murcia, 1990, with more than 100 Grandmasters participating) - V-VI, USSR Cup (Lviv, 1990) - I, CIS Cup (Moscow, 1991) - I, Russian Open Cup (Moscow, 1997) - I.