Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi, one of the greatest players of the 20th century (and even now a strong GM) and certainly one of the strongest players never to become world champion, is 80 years old today. His accomplishments as a chess player are staggering, both qualitatively and quantitatively, for his exceptionally long career. He twice lost world championship matches - once by a single point - and twice lost in Candidates finals. (Once by a point, and that was probably a de facto world championship match.) He was a candidate on six other occasions, won four Soviet championships and a huge number of other tournaments, and was an elite player for approximately 40 years.
He has also lived a very interesting and colorful life, and here's wishing he'll add many more years to it. Happy birthday, Grandmaster Korchnoi!