Best of Vasiliy Sokov (2) [The Legends]

Vasily Sokov, who was born near Rostov, moved with his mother to Leningrad in the mid-1920s. He became the champion of the city among schoolchildren in 1928, in 1930 received the 1st category in drafts and in 1932 for the first time became the winner of the adult championship of Leningrad. Later Sokov received the title of master, became the silver winner of the VI USSR Championship in 1934, two-time winner of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions and finally, in 1938 won the VII USSR Championship. In addition to successful performances in tournaments, Sokov was a leading drafts theorist and drafts composer of his time, who developed several new debuts in Russian drafts (including Sokov’s defense, Leningrad defense and Novo-Leningrad defense ) and won several all-Union competitions on drawing up etudes. He also studied chess composition and received the title of candidate for the master of chess. At the beginning of World War II Sokov went to the front. Temporarily returning to besieged Leningrad, he