Introduction
Mikhail Kobalia (Russian: Михаил Кобалия; born May 3, 1978) is a Russian chess Grandmaster (1997).
In 1994 he won European Youth Chess Championship (U16) in Guarapuava. In 2001 was clear first in the Chigorin Memorial at St. Petersburg. In 2005 came first in the Masters Open Tournament in Biel. In 2007, he tied for 1st–6th with Vitali Golod, Mateusz Bartel, Yuri Yakovich, Michael Roiz and Zahar Efimenko in the 16th Monarch Assurance Isle of Man International tournament. In 2009 he tied for 9th–11th with Boris Grachev and Tomi Nyback in the European Individual Chess Championship in Budva. In 2010 he tied for 1st–2nd with Manuel León Hoyos in the Arctic Chess Challenge. He took part in the Chess World Cup 2011, but was eliminated in the first round by Igor Lysyj.