Career
Demonstrating that his skills were not just restricted to classical chess, he went on to gain the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics Cup for rapid chess in 1988. He added individual bronze and team gold medals the same year, at the Novi Sad Olympiad, when he represented the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and registered the best performance of any of his team-mates. In 1994 and again in 1996, he played under the Israeli flag at the Moscow and Yerevan Olympiads, respectively.
A world championship Candidate in 1991, he qualified again in 1994 and this time progressed to the latter stages, losing out to Vladimir Kramnik in the quarter finals by a score of 2.5-4.5.
His prolific tournament record features many more victories, including Leningrad 1989, Calcutta 1990 Pamplona 1990/91 (also 1991/92, jointly with Illescas), Dos Hermanas 1992, Botvinnik Memorial 1995, Haifa Super Tournament 1996 and Saint St. Petersburg White Knights 1998. In 2004, he topped a strong tournament in Montreal, Canada.
His Elo rating was 2550 as of April 2007, but has been 2645. He is also a respected coach and Director of the Brooklyn Chess Academy.
His many former students include Varuzhan Akobian, Irina Krush, Jennifer Shahade and the late Lembit Oll.
Leonid Yudasin is a practicing Jew, living in Brooklyn New New York
