GM Yuri Averbakh has just turned 100 years old, which I'm guessing makes him the oldest GM ever. Born in 1922 his chess career start before World War II, but really flourished after the war finished. He played in the 1953 Candidates Match, and was a regular competitor up until the 1990's (an even played a few games as late as 2007). He was renowned endgame theorist writing a number of important books in this field.
In the 1950' and 60's he travelled to a number of non Warsaw-Pact countries, as part of chess goodwill tours. He played in the Australian Championship in 1960, as a guest players, and scored 14/15. During that event he faced most of the leading Australian players, including former World CC Champion, CJS Purdy
Averbakh,Yuri L - Purdy,Cecil John Seddon [A34]
AUS-ch Adelaide (4), 08.10.1960
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 Nxc3 5. bxc3 c5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. Rb1 e5 8. Qa4 Qc7 9. Bxc6+ Qxc6 10. Qxc6+ bxc6 11. Nf3 f6 12. d3 c4 13. dxc4 Be6 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Nb3 Bxc4 16. Be3 Rd7 17. f3 Be7 18. Kf2 c5 19. Na5 Ba6 20. Nc6 Bd6 21. Rhd1 Kc7 22. Nxa7 Ra8 23. Nb5+ Bxb5 24. Rxb5 Kc6 25. Rb2 Rda7 26. Rdb1 Rxa2 27. Rb6+ Kc7 28. Rb7+ Kc8 29. Rxg7 R8a7 30. Rxa7 Rxa7 31. Rb5 Rc7 32. c4 Kd7 33. Ra5 Kc6 34. Ra6+ Kd7 35. g4 Rb7 36. h4 Rb4 37. Ra7+ Ke6 38. Rxh7 Rxc4 39. h5 Ra4 40. Rh8 Ra7 41. h6 Rc7 42. h7 Kd5 43. Bd2 Rd7 44. Ba5 c4 45. e4+ Kd4 46. Rd8 Rxh7 47. Rxd6+ Kc5 48. Rxf6 1-0
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