Boris Gulko (Russian: Борис Гулько; born 21 July 1947) is a Russian‑American chess Grandmaster. He is the only player to have won both the Soviet Chess Championship (1977) and the United States Chess Championship (1994, 1999). Gulko is also noted for his defection from the Soviet Union in 1976 and for his contributions to chess literature and education.
Early life and background
Boris Gulka was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR. He began studying chess at a young age and was identified early as a promising talent within the Soviet chess school. Gulko is of Jewish heritage, a fact that later affected his ability to travel and emigrate from the Soviet Union.
Chess career
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Soviet period
- Earned the title of International Master in 1972.
- Awarded the Grandmaster title by FIDE in 1976.
- Won the 45th USSR Chess Championship in 1977, becoming one of the few post‑World‑War II Soviet champions.
- Represented the USSR on board 4 at the 1974 Chess Olympiad in Nice, contributing to the team’s silver medal.
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Defection and United States career
- After prolonged refusal of an exit visa, Gulko and his wife, Woman Grandmaster Anna Akhsharumova, were permitted to leave the Soviet Union in 1976.
- Settled in the United States and became a naturalized citizen.
- Won the U.S. Chess Championship in 1994 (shared title) and again in 1999 (shared title).
- Played for the United States in multiple Chess Olympiads (1992, 1994, 1996), earning individual board medals.
- Achieved a peak FIDE rating of 2605 in July 1992.
Later activities
Gulko has been active as a coach, author, and columnist. He has written regular chess columns for Chess Life and contributed to various chess publications. Together with his wife, he has conducted chess seminars and coached players at all levels. Gulko has also participated in senior and veteran chess events.
Personal life
Boris Gulko is married to Anna Akhsharumova, a Woman Grandmaster who also defected from the Soviet Union. The couple has lived in New York State for much of their post‑defection life.
Legacy
Gulko’s unique achievement of winning both the Soviet and U.S. national championships, combined with his experiences as a defector, have made him a notable figure in chess history and a subject of interest in discussions of Cold‑War era sport and cultural exchange.
