Ilya Smirin. Photo: FIDE
Ilya Smirin was born in Vitebsk, Belarus in 1968. He earned his Grandmaster title in 1990 and immigrated to Israel two years later.
Smirin was Israeli Champion in 1992 and 2002. He also won the final edition of the New York Open in 2000, and the Biel GMT (Grandmaster Tournament) in 2002.
His highest FIDE rating was 2702 in July 2001, and he has been ranked as high as World #13 on two occasions.
Here Smirin wins a miniature against International Master and prominent chess composer Yochanan Afek.
Something has definitely gone wrong for Black. White to play.
8.?