SKU: 1900382194

The KGB Plays Chess: The Soviet Secret Police and the Fight for the World Chess Crown

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Description

The KGB Plays Chess: The Soviet Secret Police and the Fight for the World Chess CrownThe KGB Plays Chess is a unique book. For the first time it opens to us some of the most secret pages of the history of chess. The battles about which you will read in this book are not between chess masters sitting at the chess board, but between the powerful Soviet secret police, known as the KGB, on the one hand, and several brave individuals, on the other. Their names are famous in the chess world: Viktor Kortschnoi, Boris Spasski, Boris Gulko and

The KGB Plays Chess is a unique book. For the first time it opens to us some of the most secret pages of the history of chess. The battles about which you will read in this book are not between chess masters sitting at the chess board, but between the powerful Soviet secret police, known as the KGB, on the one hand, and several brave individuals, on the other. Their names are famous in the chess world: Viktor Kortschnoi, Boris Spasski, Boris Gulko and Garry Kasparov became subjects of constant pressure, blackmail and persecution in the USSR. Their victories at the chess board were achieved despite this victimization.

Unlike some books, this story has two perspectives. The victim and the persecutor, the hunted and the hunter, all describe in their own words the very same events. One side is represented by the famous Russian chess players Viktor Kortschnoi and Boris Gulko. For many years they fought against a powerful system, and at the end they were triumphant. The Soviet Union collapsed and they got what they were fighting for: their freedom.

Former KGB Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Popov, who left Russia in 1996 and now lives in Canada, was one of those who had worked all his life for the KGB and was responsible for the sport sector of the USSR. It is only now for the first time that he has decided to tell the reader his story of the KGB's involvement in Soviet Sports. This is his first book, and it is not only full of sensations, but it also dares to name names of secret KGB agents previously known only as famous chess masters, sportsmen or sport officials. Just a few short years ago a book like this would have been unimaginable.

Read this book. It is not only about chess. It is about glorious victory of the great chess masters over the forces of darkness.

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SKU: 1900382194

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4.8 ★★★★★
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Chrys Martin
Draper, US
★★★★★ 1
Dogs LOVED it...and destroyed it within minutes
My dogs LOVE this...and it lasted 5 minutes. I know they are aggressive chewers....but didn't last after a couple of minutes with it. (Delivered 4/28-- destroyed 4/28)
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026
B
Verified Purchase
Brennan White
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Good quality, great for the beach
This is great for ocean and beach fetch! The spikes keep the sand and saltwater from getting in my pups mouth and upsetting her stomach. It also floats well and doesnt fill with water. I have had this for about a month now and in surprisingly good shape considering how obsessed with it my dog is. Not gonna lie, I avoid squeakers since my dog is an absolute menace with them but i assumed the squeaker would break almost immediately, however it is still going strong much to my annoyance🤣
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kelsey
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
The dogs like it very much, it produces a lot of noise.
Size: Large, Size: Large
I’m rating this based on my dogs’ response to this toy – they absolutely love it, and it has seen more use without damage than any of their regular throwing toys. At the same time, unless you enjoy, REALLY ENJOY the sound of crunching water bottles, you may not like having this ball in the house. Pros: The rubber outer shell of the ball is durable, and can survive both chewing and pulling forces (as a note, my dogs do not concentrate on chewing - they use it more for play games). It’s big enough for my dogs to play tug of war with it, hooking their teeth in the mesh, and they since it bounces around if they drop or kick it, it makes the game more interesting than rope. They did crush the interior plastic, but they don't really seem to care. It’s much more engaging than a normal ball, and can be modified to hold treats, sticks, rope elements and other external bits, which my shepherd mix loves; he gets bored easily and frequently, and this can actually entertain him. Cons: This toy is loud, and produces repetitive crunching sounds. It is apparently really engaging to chew, and my dogs will produce the horrid plastic crackling up to half an hour at a time. If you let your dogs in and out, it would make a fine outdoor toy, but since I have a dog door, it migrates around to pretty much wherever the dogs are. I kind of hate it, but will probably buy another if they break this one since they enjoy it so much.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2016
B
Verified Purchase
BakedN
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Very durable and my Heeler's fave inside toy
Size: Large
My red Heeler loves these balls, second only to Tennis balls but she destroys those within minutes and they are outside only. This is her inside ball. She is hard on toys and has the strongest bite of any dog I've had (shepherds, collies, weimaraners, retrievers, Labs) yet these continue to last. She catches the ball, we play tug of war with it (she places it in hand hand and pulls only when I have a firm grip, she shakes it and flings it. The rubber outside even outlasts the water-bottle like plastic piece inside. Steps holds the ball with her foot and pulls on the rubber with her mouth, stretching it to sometimes twice its size. I pull while shes pulling. This thing gets abused daily and keeps on going. Its the most used toy and she brings it to me to play with every day. Each ball lasts about 6 months before the inside ball is toast and the outer rubber is finally starting to tear/break. which for me in an incredibly long time. If this ball is available to play, she wants it over all others. Shes NEVER gotten a piece off to actually swallow and that alone is worth the price.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2025
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Verified Purchase
David Fulford
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 4
Good for price
Size: Medium
Good product, wish it was a little more chew resistant
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026

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