Alexey Sergeyevich Selezniev was a Russian chess master and chess composer. Selezniev was born in Tambov, Russia, into a wealthy merchant Russian family, and was a graduate from Moscow University's law faculty. He played in a number of pre-revolutionary tournaments at the Moscow Chess Club. He tied for 8-10th at Vilna 1912. In 1913, he tied for 1st-2nd, tied for 4-5th, and tied for 5-6th in Moscow. In July-August 1914, he played in Mannheim, and tied for 6-10th in interrupted tournament. After the declaration of war against Russia, eleven “Russian players” from the Mannheim tournament were interned by Germany. In September 1914, four of them were freed and allowed to return home through Switzerland. The Russian internees played eight tournaments, the first in Baden-Baden and all the others in Triberg im Schwarzwald. Selesniew tied for 4-5th at Baden-Baden 1914, and took 5th at Triberg 1914. He took 4th, tied for 2nd-3rd, took 2nd, and took 3rd at Triberg 1915. He tied for 2nd-3rd at Triberg 1916. He won in the Triberg chess tournament in 1917. Selezniev played several matches. In 1916, he drew with Hans Fahrni in Triberg ; in 1917 lost to Bogoljubow in Triberg ; in 1920 won against Curt von Bardeleben in Berlin, in 1921 won against Richard Teichmann in Berlin. After World War I, in 1919, he won in Berlin, and took 2nd, behind Bogoljubow. In 1920, he won in Berlin, and took 14th in Göteborg. In 1921, he tied for 3rd-4th and took 4th in Triberg. In 1922, he tied for 14-15th in Piešťany . In 1923, he took 4th in Maehrisch-Ostrau. In 1924, he tied for 4-5th in Meran. He and Bogoljubov had careers that followed similar paths. Both players were interned in Germany for the duration of World War I, and decided to stay there until 1924. That year, both players were sent invitations to participate in the third USSR Championship, and somehow Nikolai Krylenko convinced them to play and stay in the Soviet Union. Selezniev participated in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth USSR Championships, but had only mediocre results each time. He tied for 6-8th at Moscow 1924, took 14th at Leningrad 1925, tied for 15-17th at Moscow 1927. Selezniev won, ahead of Vsevolod Rauzer, at Poltava 1927, and tied for 3rd-4th at Odessa 1928. He was eliminated in the quarter-final of play at Odessa 1929. He tied for 4-6th in the semi-final of 7th USSR-ch in 1931. He took 10th at Leningrad 1935. After this last event, his active playing career ended. He was living in the Ukrainiancity ofDonetsk when it was overrun by Nazis. Bogoljubov helped him get transferred to Triberg, and he eventually made his way to France. After World War II, he took 4th at Oldenburg 1948. Seleniev died in Bordeaux, France.
