NIC Podcast #80: IM Alvis Vitolins (2/2)

This week's episode of the New In Chess Podcast features the second part of a narration from The Essential Sosonko, a collection of chess portraits and personal stories authored by chess grandmaster Genna Sosonko. The subject of this week's story is Latvian international master Alvis Vitolins (1946-1977).  

The second part of Vitolins' story goes deeply into his friendship with Karen Grigorian, who, like his brother Levon, was a strong chess master with several tournament wins in Armenia and Uzbekistan. Aside from this, Vitolins had few friends, especially outside of the chess world. It goes without saying that playing blitz with Karen was his favourite pastime.

This is where the story also takes a darker turn. Like Vitolins, Karen also struggled with his mental health in a time and place where such struggles were barely indulged, let alone understood. The tragic way both men met their end makes Genna's story about Vitolins a sad one, albeit one no less worth telling.