Iivo Nei

Iivo Nei (born 31 October 1931, Tartu) – an Estonian chess master.

In 1947, at the beginning of his career, Nei took 3rd in Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) at the 6th USSR (juniors) championsips. The event was won by Viktor Korchnoi. In 1948, he tied for 1st with Korchnoi in Tallinn (7th USSR (juniors) championsips). Nei won eight times the Estonian championships (1951, 1952, 1956, 1960-1962, 1971, and 1974). In 1955, he tied for 3rd-6th in Pärnu (Baltic Republics championships). The event was won by Paul Keres. In 1960, he tied for 14-15th at the 27th USSR championships in Leningrad. The event was won by Korchnoi. In 1961, he won in Palanga (Baltic Republics championships). In 1962, he won in Tartu. In 1963, he won at the Baltic championships in Estonia. In 1964, he won in Pärnu (Baltic championships). In 1964, he tied for 1st with Keres in Beverwijk. In 1965, he took 2nd, behind Vladas Mikenas, in Palanga (Baltic championships).

Nei was awarded the IM title in 1964. He was, along with Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius, official Boris Spassky's second during the Match of the Century, Robert James Fischer - Boris Spassky, in Reykjavik in 1972.