Semyon Abramovich Furman (1920–1978) was a Russian chess Grandmaster most notable for his role as a trainer to World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov. Despite a relatively late start to his chess career due to World War II, Furman has accolades such as the Leningrad Championship, the USSR Championship, and representative of his country for Chess Olympiad.
Furman achieved his Grandmaster title in 1966. He was mostly known as a "trainer's trainer," and his guidance played a pivotal role in Karpov's rise to the World Chess Champion title. His philosophy was based on careful analysis of positions, understanding middlegame structures and endgames, while focusing less on openings.
Throughout his career, Furman continued his active tournament career, often sharing first place in multiple competitions. His influence extended beyond Karpov, also coaching future Grandmasters Valery Salov and Jaan Ehlvest. Despite suffering from ill health in his later years, he remained an active participant in the chess world until his death in 1978.