Player Profile: Yasser Seirawan

Full Name: Yasser Seirawan  

Peak FIDE Rating: 2658 (July 2000)  

Active Since: 1978 (professional debut)  

Player Description:

Yasser Seirawan’s parents left a politically unstable Syria in search of a better future when he was just 7 and settled in Seattle, United States of America. In the 1970s USA, chess was booming thanks to Bobby Fischer’s incredible fame. Seirawan was surrounded by chess enthusiast friends and finally decided to take up the game at the age of 12, by 18 he was already a US Junior Champion with a rating of 2200. 

Seirawan rose to become one of the most influential American chess players of the post-Fischer chess era, a four-time U.S. Champion, and an elite grandmaster who helped maintain the USA’s relevance on the world stage. Known for his clear positional style, sharp tactics, and endgame precision, he was a formidable opponent against world champions like Karpov, Kasparov, and Kramnik.  

Apart from his genius on the board, off the board, he is a renowned chess author (Winning Chess series) and commentator. He also served as editor of Inside Chess magazine and has been a key figure in promoting chess in the U.S.  

Career Scorecard:

National Championships: 

• Yasser has been a U.S. Champion four times. (1981, 1986, 1989, 2000). And a Runner-up another four times (1983, 1984, 1997, 1999). He is one of only five players to win the U.S. Championship at least four times (after Fischer, Reshevsky, Evans, and Browne).  

Olympiad Medals: 

• Bronze (Team, 1986) – Played Board 3 for the U.S. in Dubai (9/12 score).  

• Silver (Team, 1988) – Thessaloniki Olympiad.  

Major Tournaments Won:  

• 1980 Lone Pine International (tied 1st).  

• 1986 World Open (shared 1st).  

• 1999 U.S. Championship (clear 1st at age 39).  

• 2003 U.S. Open Blitz Championship.  

Memorable Games:  

Yasser Seirawan, a four-time U.S. Chess Champion and former World Junior Champion, is celebrated for his deep strategic insight and memorable victories against world-class opponents. Below are mentioned two of his most notable wins, illustrating his style and tactical prowess.

1. Viktor Korchnoi vs. Yasser Seirawan, Hamburg 1980

A teenage Seirawan had stunned the chess world in 1980 by defeating Viktor Korchnoi, who had been a recent World Championship challenger. The victory showcased Seirawan's raw tactical sharpness.

Key Highlights:

• Seirawan was playing the game with the white pieces and started the match with an English Opening.

• He played solidly during the middle game, seizing the initiative and shredding black’s position.

• Through a series of precise tactical maneuvers, Seirawan capitalized on Korchnoi's inaccuracies, especially exploiting weaknesses on the queenside and centralizing his pieces.

2. Yasser Seirawan vs. Mikhail Tal, Valletta Olympiad, 1980.

Seirawan's clutch win against the 8th World Champion, Mikhail Tal had showed the world his positional precision.

Key Highlights:

• Seirawan started the game with the English opening, which turned into the Four Knights variation, Fianchetto line.

• He demonstrated deep opening preparation and a nuanced understanding of pawn structures, gradually building a kingside attack.

• The game concluded with a decisive tactical sequence which guaranteed a queen for Seirawan, forcing resignation from the Russian Grandmaster after a few repetitive checks.

These games exemplify Seirawan's blend of positional mastery and tactical alertness, cementing his legacy among American chess greats.