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Jacob Murey

Jacob Murey was a Soviet-born Israeli chess player who became a Grandmaster in 1987.

1941 to 2025Chess Grandmaster titleThe Murey Variation in Petrov's DefenseSecond to Viktor KorchnoiEuropean Senior Championship title

Born: 2 August 1941, Moscow
Died: 4 September 2025, Israel
Occupation: chess player, correspondence chess player

Jacob Murey was born in 1941 in Moscow

Jacob Murey was born in Moscow in 1941 to a Jewish family. He played in chess events in the Soviet Union and reached the Soviet Championship in 1967.

He moved to Israel in 1977. In 1978 he was one of the seconds of Viktor Korchnoi in his World Championship match against Anatoly Karpov. He played for Israel in 3 Chess Olympiads between 1980 and 1984.

In 1982 he won a zonal event in Randers and finished 7th in the Moscow interzonal. He later settled in France and kept competing. His peak rating was 2560 in 1989, ranking him 52nd in the world.

In a 1993 game against Jan Timman he introduced a knight sacrifice in the Petrov's Defense that now carries his name. He later returned to Israel and won the European Senior Championship in 2001. He died in 2025.

Jacob Murey's life in 10 milestones

1941
Born in Moscow.
1970
Received the Correspondence Chess International Master title.
1977
Moved to Israel.
1978
Served as a second to Viktor Korchnoi in the World Championship match.
1980
Received the International Master title and played in his first Olympiad for Israel.
1982
Finished 7th in the Moscow interzonal.
1987
Received the Grandmaster title.
2001
Won the European Senior Championship.
2004
Won team gold with Israel at the World Senior Team Championship.
2025
Died.