Did Chigorin ever imagine his name etched onto a plaque in Saint Petersburg, marking his residence from 1901 to 1907? The M. I. Chigorinu Plaque, here on 9th Krasnoarmeiskaya Street, commemorates the life and legacy of Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin, a pivotal figure in Russian chess. Chigorin wasn’t just a resident of this city; he was a chess player who challenged the conventions of his time. He developed his own style, the “Chigorin Variation,” forever leaving his mark on chess theory. He even competed against the world champion, Siegbert Tarrasch. The M. I. Chigorinu Plaque serves as more than a marker of his former home. It stands as a reminder of a man who dedicated his life to the game, shaping its development. His contributions earned him the title of “founder of the Russian chess school.” He also worked at the Saint Petersburg orphanage. As you stand before the M. I. Chigorinu Plaque, consider the countless games he played and the legacy he carved in chess history. His passion continues to inspire chess players across generations. He lived here, he breathed the Saint Petersburg air, he dreamt of chess. And now, his memory is forever tied to this place, immortalized by the M. I. Chigorinu Plaque.
М. К. Прудников
Born into a peasant family in 1913, Mikhail Prudnikov’s journey began in a small village nestled within the Tomsk Governorate.