Victor Bologan is not only a strong and creative chess grandmaster, he has also made a career in Moldovan and world chess politics. His strong will and incredible versatility have enabled him to lead a colourful and interesting life. ‘Believe in yourself’ is his motto and it has taken him to places many of us will never see.

A sparkling description of the many roads Bologan has travelled lies before you. In this autobiography you will read about the adventures of an enterprising youngster in turbulent Moldova, his collaborations with renowned chess coaches such as Vyacheslav Chebanenko, Zigurds Lanka and Mark Dvoretsky, and his alliances with top players such as Alexander Morozevich, Ruslan Ponomariov, Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov. The book also offers a candid insight into Bologan's activities as Executive Director of the World Chess Federation FIDE and his career in Moldovan national politics.

Central to this book, of course, is Bologan's chess career. His most impressive tournament victory was in Dortmund in 2003, where he beat both Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. But he also won the incredibly strong Aeroflot Open in Moscow in 1995 and twice came first in a personal favourite, the annual Poikovsky tournament. Bologan has extensively annotated 88 of his best and most attractive games.

Victor Bologan (1971) is a world-class grandmaster who has won many prestigious tournaments. In 2005 he was ranked 18th in the world. For New In Chess Bologan has written the acclaimed and ground-breaking opening manuals The Chebanenko Slav, The Rossolimo for Club Players, The Powerful Catalan, Bologan's King's Indian, Bologan's Caro-Kann, Bologan's Ruy Lopez for Black and Bologan's Black Weapons in the Open Games.

Reviews

IM Gary Lane (Australian Chess)
“There is plenty of time to discuss snippets of life, including how he met his ballerina wife, which adds a personal touch and makes you want Victor to win more games. A hugely entertaining games collection that will enhance your understanding of the game.”
(full review)

IM John Watson (Chess Life)
""Bologan has served in a wide variety of roles in the chess world, and these experiences put his life in a broader context that should make it more accessible to the average reader. I can freely recommend this book to every fan of games collections and chess culture, with the hope that it will inspire more players to write about their games and lives.""

IM John Donaldson (Oklahoma Chess Magazine)
“Bologan came of age in the 1990s and this thick volume offers plenty of insights on the radical changes experienced by those living in the former Soviet Union and how it affected professional chess players.”