Evgeni Vasiukov (1933-2018), R.I.P.
Another old great has gone the way of all flesh, as Evgeni Vasiukov has died at the age of 85. He's probably best known as the victim of a famous win by Mikhail Tal, who immortalized the game with his famous reverie about trying to save a hippopotamus drowning in a marsh. It's a great story, but it certainly shouldn't be the extent or even the predominant aspect of Vasiukov's legacy.
He was a very strong grandmaster who defeated several world champions (including Tal), won the Moscow Championship six times, and won many beautiful games. One of my favorites was his annihilation of Loek van Wely in the 2002 Aeroflot Open. Up to that point, Vasiukov's name was just one I had seen in old books, but I saw that game that very day (or very soon thereafter) and was amazed: van Wely was a top 10-20 player, and Vasiukov was almost 70. No matter: he blew him off the board.
There's a nice report on Vasiukov here, which includes the Tal story and his loss and win against him, the van Wely game, and more.