0.Your name, your nationality, your age, male or female.

Michael Kozhin

Russia, but now I`m living in the USA

I was born on January 1966:

(capricornus - the most persistent sign; serpent - the most wise sign :)

male

1.When did you start to play renju and how did you learn it? How many years have you played renju?

When I was at school, I liked to take part in various competitions; for example - soccer matchs or olympiads in physics. Once I have read in "Kvant" magazine about a competition in renju problems and of course sent solutions. After half a year, when I forgot about it, I`ve received an invitation to the Championship of Kirov region. My friend Alexander Shevnin and I came, saw, won - and both got invitations to the All-Union Festival in Moscow. It was 1 April 1984 - that`s my birthday as a renju-player.

2.Do you play in a club? In which clubs have you played?

Since 1985 I`ve been playing in the Moscow club. And even abroad I continue to be its member.

3.Which are your best results in national and international tournaments (Usual tournaments and e-mail tournaments). Which is your international rating for the moment?

For all my career I won above 20 tournaments and on above 20 I was silver or bronze. The most of important titles are:

winner of the Moscow Championship - 1988, 1993, 1998
winner of the All-Union Team Tournament - 1988
winner of the High League of the USSR Championship - 1990, 1991
winner of the High League of the Russia Championship - 1993, 1998, 1999
winner of the World Team Championship - 1996
Besides I took part in 5 of 6 World Championships, but unsuccessfully.

My international rating at the end of 1999 year is 2559.

4.Which is the best player you have met?

Concerning playing strenght - I myself, of course :)
Concerning love in renju - undoubtedly NIKOLAY MIKHAILOV.

5.Can you explain why you enjoy renju?

Enjoy?! Can you really enjoy as strong drug as renju?! For many years I tried to get cured from this disease, but unsuccessfully. But I`m not upset: there were two things I love most of all - tournaments and travelling - and both join in my renju life. (By the way, I`ve played renju in 30 cities.) Add here meetings with old and new friends -it`s really splendid!

6.Which is your plans for the future as a player?

When I`ll be 70 - to play as cool as Yoshizawa in the matchs with Nakamura and Nishiyama.

7.Is your image is already on the RIF site and we should use it or do you attach another image?

That`s my image from WC-III in Arjeplog.

8.Have you anything else interesting to tell that you think that I should have asked for?

As well as renju, travelling and 3D graphic programming, I`m seriously interested in lawn-tennis; and I challenge any of renju-players on a match.

Welcome!

Besides, I`m interested in oriental culture, study japanese language, and I hope when I`ll come to Kyoto on WC-VII, I`ll be able to speak japanese.