of openings at a very high level which makes it difficult to prepare against him. This was explained to him by his coach when he was young and led to a funny anecdote against Suetin. Moreover, Ivanchuk has a very imaginative game with many new ideas that mixes imagination, technique, ingenuity, maturity of style and fighting spirit. Assessment and personality In 2013, Gawain Jones called Ivanchuk "possibly the most talented [player] ever". When asked in 2012 to name chess players she considered geniuses, Judit Polgár named only Ivanchuk, Carlsen and Anand. Anand has called Ivanchuk the most eccentric player in the chess world, and has said: He's someone who is very intelligent ... but you never know which mood he is going to be in. Some days he will treat you like his long-lost brother. The next day he ignores you completely. The players have a word for him. They say he lives on "Planet Ivanchuk". [Laughs] ... I have seen him totally drunk and singing Ukrainian poetry and then the next day I have seen him give an impressive talk. His playing style is unpredictable and highly original, making him more dangerous but sometimes leading to quick losses as well. From the Mammoth Book of The World Greatest Chess Games: If he were able to make the most of his talent, he would surely be a real contender for the World No. 1 spot, but he is a highly emotional player, who takes losses badly, tends to rush critical decisions when under pressure and sometimes lacks motivation. After a string of unsuccessful performances culminated in his elimination at the early stages of the 2009 World Cup, Ivanchuk announced, in a highly emotional interview, his retirement from professional chess, but he soon reversed that decision. Notable tournament victories Lviv 1987, 11½/17 1st New York Open 1988, 1st Debrecen 1988, 10 8/11 1st Linares 1989, 7/10 1st Yerevan 1989, 8½/11 1st Biel 1989, 9/14 1–2 Tilburg 1990, 8½/14 1–2 Linares 1991, 9½/13 1st Reykjavik 10½/15, 1–2 Munich 1994, 7½/11 1st Linares 1995, 10/13 1st Horgen GER 1995, 7/10 1–2 Wijk aan Zee 1996, 9/13 1st Belgrade 1997 6/9, 1–2 Tallinn 2000 6/7, 1st Montecatini Terme 2000, 5/7 1st Malmö 2003, 13 7/9 1st European Individual Chess Championship 2004 European Rapid Chess Championship 2004 La Habana 2005, 9½/12 1st Barcelona 2005, 4/5 1–2 Canadian Open Chess Championship 2005, Joint 1st Tallinn 2006,