world No. 3 Andrei Sokolov in a blitz playoff. He then lost to Artur Yusupov in extra games in the 1989 Candidates' quarterfinal round at Quebec City. Spraggett has been a Canadian team member at eight Chess Olympiads (including a silver medal performance in 2000), has eight victories in the Canadian Open Championship, and has a host of tournament victories in Europe. He is widely considered to be the strongest chess player in Canadian history. His FIDE rating peaked at 2633 in January 2007, at age 52, and in the late 1980s he ranked consistently amongst the top 100 players in the world. Spraggett has resided in Portugal since the late 1980s, and plays most of his tournaments in Europe, although he visits North America every year or two on average. Among notable finishes in the 2000s was his victory at the Figueira da Foz International Chess Festival (2008, with 7½/9) and a clear second place at the Calvià Open (2007, with 7/9). Highlights World Open Champion 1983 New York Open Champion 1984 Commonwealth Champion 1984 (Hong Kong) and 1985 (London) Seven Closed Canadian Chess Championship titles (1984, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002) Eight Canadian Open Chess Championship titles (1983, 1987, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) Tied first place Canadian Junior Championship 1973-4 Canadian Closed Blitz Champion 1996 Represented Canada at World Championship Interzonals (1985, Taxco, and 1990, Manila) Represented Canada at World Championship Candidates' tournament 1985, Montpellier Represented Canada at World Championship Candidates' matches (1988, 1989); he beat Andrei Sokolov (+2 –1 =9) in 1988 at Saint John, but was then eliminated by Artur Yusupov (+1 –2 =6) in 1989 at Quebec City Represented Canada at World Championship Knockout (1997, 1999) Represented Canada at Chess Olympiads (1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Silver medal, Board 2, Olympiad 2000, Istanbul Top rated Canadian at year-end 23 times (1980, 1982–90, 1992–2000, 2002-5) Canadian Chess Hall of Fame 2000 Columnist for Chess Canada magazine 2006. Notable chess games Abe Yanofsky vs Kevin Spraggett, Canadian Zonal, Calgary 1975, Sicilian Defence, Taimanov Variation (B46), 0-1 A subtle positional grind to defeat the eight-time Canadian champion. Lev Alburt vs Kevin Spraggett, Atlantic Open, Washington 1979, English Opening (A16), 0-1 Exceptionally complex and hard-fought game sees Spraggett eventually come out on top following a deep exchange sacrifice. Kevin Spraggett vs Lev Alburt, New York Open 1984, Alekhine's Defence (B04), 1-0 Ex-Soviet GM