Chess is a game that helps the development of thinking and character, but it takes a lot of time. This is a special intellectual art that can give pleasure and tickle nerves. Svetlana Matveeva is well aware of this. And he continues to love the ancient board game.
Chess youth
At the beginning of July, the 4th, 1969, Svetlana Vladislavovna Matveeva was born in Frunze (now it is the city of Bishkek).
Her father graduated from the Aviation Institute in Samara, then began to work at a military factory, and after a while - in the Council of Trade Unions. Svetlana's mother successfully and for a long time worked as a general practitioner.
It is very difficult to resist and not start playing chess when your father and older brother play this ancient intellectual game in your home. Little Light did not escape such consequences. At first, she watched dad and his second-rate brother make their planned moves. Then a six-year-old girl asked them to introduce her to the rules of the board game.
So began a long chess journey. The first chess book that Svetlana read was Journey to the Chess Kingdom. Already at the age of 13, Sveta won the main victory at the USSR Championship until the age of 18. At 15, she also won the championship of the Soviet Union, but among women, and at 16 she entered the interzonal tournament of the world championship. After such early victories, the young chess player, famous in Kyrgyzstan, grandmaster Leonid Yurtayev began to help.
But Matveyeva herself became a grandmaster very early: at 20.
Chess captivated the gifted girl. Nevertheless, the plans were to study at the Kyrgyz University. And she enters the faculty of foreign languages, but then translates into historical.
When the USSR collapsed, unrest began to occur in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, the Svetlana family was forced to move to Rostov-on-Don. These circumstances did not allow her to complete her education at the university.
Serious achievements
Having moved to a new city, the young chess player began to gain serious victories here: she won the games against many grandmasters, including Peter Svidler. Thus, she complied with the norm of a male grandmaster. The chess player herself recalls that time in such intonation: “It was, one might say, my finest hour.”
Years passed, the history of chess continued, but there was no decent chess team at the world level in our country in our country. The main leadership of Russian chess in the 90s set a goal to change the usual situation and sends the women's team, which included Svetlana Matveeva, to the World Olympics. Such an act was justified - they won the “silver” and “bronze”.
A little time passed - Matveeva changed the city again: she moved to live in Moscow.
The chess career of Svetlana Vladislavovna Matveeva has developed to a high level. Confirmation of this can serve her ranks and awards. She became the owner of the Russian Cup, won victories in the Major Leagues of the country's championships and several super tournaments for women. She won prizes in the Superfinals. Many times participated in the world championships by knockout system. In 2006, Matveeva made it to the semifinals of the world chess championship, but lost to Xu Yuhua, who then won the final.
About personal
Svetlana’s personal life did not work out in the usual sense: she never had a husband and her family. Indeed, not every man is able to live with a strong woman. But she does not create from this a great tragedy. Such a life will always have its advantages.
