Mikhail Moiseevich Botvinnik (Михаи́л Моисе́евич Ботви́нник) (August 17, 1911 - May 5, 1995) was a Jewish Russian International Grandmaster and long-time World Champion of chess. Mikhail Botvinnik, Chess Grandmaster and long time world champion File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jump to: navigation, search August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in many ways, but generally refers to a follower of Judaism, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity; and often a combination of these attributes. ... The five original grandmasters of chess, from left to right: Lasker (seated), Alekhine, Capablanca, Marshall, Tarrasch (seated) The title International Grandmaster is awarded to world-class chess masters by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. ... The 1984 World Chess Championship was between Anatoly Karpov (left) and Garry Kasparov (right). ... A chess table is a table with a chessboard painted or engraved on it. ...

Early Years

Born in Kuokkala, near Vyborg, the son of a dental technician, he first came to the notice of the chess world at the age of 14, when he defeated the world champion, José Raúl Capablanca, in a simultaneous display. Vyborg from the tower of the castle Vyborg (transcription of Russian Выборг , finnish Viipuri) is a town with 70,000 inhabitants at Russias border to Finland, on the Karelian Isthmus, close to Saint Petersburg. ... A chess table is a table with a chessboard painted or engraved on it. ... Jump to: navigation, search Time Magazine, December 7, 1925 José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (November 19, 1888 – March 8, 1942) was a Cuban world-class chess player in the early to mid-twentieth century. ...

Progress was fairly rapid and by the age of 20, Botvinnik, already a Soviet Master of some years standing, won his first Soviet Championship in 1931. This feat was to be repeated in 1933, 1939, 1941, 1945 and 1952. Winner list: 1991 (58th,Moscow) Minasian, Artashes 1990 (57th,Leningrad) Beliavsky, Alexander / Yudasin, Leonid / Bareev, Evgeny / Vyzmanavin, Alexey ex aequo 1989 (56th,Odessa) Vaganian, Rafael 1988 (55th,Moscow) Karpov, Anatoly / Kasparov, Garry ex aequo 1987 (54th,Minsk) Beliavsky, Alexander 1986 (53rd,Kiev) Zeshkovsky, Vitaly 1985 (52nd,Riga) Gavrikov, Viktor / Gurevich...

At 24 years of age, Botvinnik was competing on equal terms with the world's elite, chalking up international tournament successes in some of the strongest tournaments of the day. First (equal with Salo Flohr) at Moscow 1935, ahead of Emanuel Lasker and Capablanca. First (equal with Capablanca) at Nottingham in 1936 and equal third (behind Reuben Fine and Paul Keres) at the prestigious AVRO tournament of 1938. In 1941, he won a tournament designating him the title of "Absolute Champion of the U.S.S.R". Botvinnik defeated Paul Keres and future world champion Vassily Smyslov, amongst other strong Soviet grandmasters such as Boleslavsky and Lilienthal, to win the title. This article needs to be wikified. ... Emanuel Lasker (December 24, 1868 – January 11, 1941) was a German chess player and mathematician, born at Berlinchen in Brandenburg (now Barlinek in Poland). ... Jump to: navigation, search Nottingham is a city located in Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands of England. ... Reuben Fine (October 11, 1914 - March 26, 1993) was one of the best chess players in the world during the 1930s. ... Paul Keres Paul Keres (January 7, 1916 – June 5, 1975) (approximate pronunciation CARE-ess) was an Estonian chess grandmaster (born in Narva), one of the strongest chess players of all time, apart from the World chess champions. ... Paul Keres Paul Keres (January 7, 1916 – June 5, 1975) (approximate pronunciation CARE-ess) was an Estonian chess grandmaster (born in Narva), one of the strongest chess players of all time, apart from the World chess champions. ... Vasily Smyslov Vasily Vasiliyevich Smyslov (Васи́лий Смысло́в) (born March 24, 1921) is a chess player. ... Isaac Yefremovich Boleslavsky (1919 – 1977) was a Ukrainian-Jewish chess grandmaster. ... Andre Lilienthal (born 5 May 1911) is a Hungarian chess grandmaster. ...

World Champion

Not surprisingly, Botvinnik continued to build on these successes and went on to hold the title of World Champion on three separate occasions (1948-57, 1958-60, 1961-63). His longevity at the top level of chess is attributed to his extreme dedication to study. Pre-match preparation and post-match analysis had not featured quite so prominently in the armoury of many of his predecessors, but this was Botvinnik's real strength. Technique over tactics, endgame mastery over opening traps. His adoption and development of solid opening lines in the Nimzo-Indian Defence, Slav Defence and Winawer French Defence stood up to the severest scrutiny and he was able to focus on a narrow repertoire of openings during his most important matches, frequently guiding the game into well chosen areas of preparation. There were many "secret" training matches against masters of the calibre of Salo Flohr, Yuri Averbakh and Viacheslav Ragozin. It was the unveiling, many years later, of the details of these matches that provided the chess historian with a fascinating new insight into Botvinnik's reign. Jump to: navigation, search In chess, the endgame (or end game or ending) refers to the stage of the game when there are few pieces left on the board. ... Jump to: navigation, search The first moves of a chess game are the opening moves, collectively referred to as the opening. ... Nimzo-Indian Defence 1. ... The Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves (in algebraic notation) 1. ... The French Defence is a chess opening. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Yuri Lvovich Averbakh (born February 8, 1922) is a Russian chess player and author. ...

It is perhaps surprising that Mikhail Botvinnik is not widely regarded as a contender for the title of best player of all time. On the one hand, his achievements were undoubtedly impressive and it should be remembered that his main rivals, the younger Paul Keres, David Bronstein, Vasily Smyslov, Mikhail Tal and Tigran Petrosian were all formidable players in their own right. He also inaugurated a new trend with his deep opening preparation and training system. Paul Keres Paul Keres (January 7, 1916 – June 5, 1975) (approximate pronunciation CARE-ess) was an Estonian chess grandmaster (born in Narva), one of the strongest chess players of all time, apart from the World chess champions. ... David Ionovich Bronstein (born February 19, 1924) is renowned as a leading chess grandmaster and writer. ... Image:Smyslov. ... Mikhail Tal Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal (Latvian: Mihails Tāls, Russian: Михаил Нехемьевич Таль) (November 9, 1936 - June 28, 1992), born in Riga, Latvia, was the eighth World Chess Champion. ... Jump to: navigation, search Tigran Petrosian Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) is a former world chess champion. ...

On the other hand, critics point to his rare appearances in post-World War II tournaments while world champion, and his mediocre record in world title defence matches - out of five title defences, he lost three matches (to Smyslov in 1957, Tal in 1960 and Petrosian in 1963) and struggled to draw the other two (against David Bronstein in 1951 and Smyslov in 1954). He did, however, win two world title matches as the challenger, beating the reigning world champions Smyslov in 1958 and Tal in 1961. David Ionovich Bronstein (born February 19, 1924) is renowned as a leading chess grandmaster and writer. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1961 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

There is also a popular perception that Botvinnik's play was based on correctness rather than the intuitive or the spectacular, an opinion not improved by accounts of his often gruff demeanour and seemingly cold, calculating personality when compared to the genial Tal - although Reuben Fine, one of the strongest players in history not to have won the world title, wrote that Botvinnik's collection of best games was one of "the three most beautiful". Reuben Fine (October 11, 1914 - March 26, 1993) was one of the best chess players in the world during the 1930s. ...

Three factors contributed to his patchy record. Firstly, World War II broke out just as Botvinnik was entering his prime - had the war had not interrupted international chess competition, Botvinnik would almost certainly have challenged Alexander Alekhine to a world championship match in the early 1940s, and might therefore have won the title as many as eight years before he eventually claimed the crown in 1948. Secondly, he was one of the only world-class chess players who at the same time had a long and distinguished career in another field - the Soviet government decorated him for his achievements in engineering, and Fine has recounted stories which strongly imply that Botvinnik was as committed to engineering as he was to chess. Finally, previous world champions had been free to avoid their strongest competitors, in much the same way heavyweight boxers do today; Emanuel Lasker became notorious for holding on to his title for as long as possible, repeatedly ducking title matches from the likes of José Raúl Capablanca. When FIDE took control of the world championship in 1948, Botvinnik became the first world champion who was forced to play his strongest opponent every three years; even with this added challenge, Botvinnik still held the world title longer than any of the players who followed him, other than Kasparov. Jump to: navigation, search Alexander Alekhine Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (sometimes spelled Aljechin) (in Russian, Александр Александрович Алë́хин), (October 31 or November 1, 1892 – March 24, 1946) was a chess master and a former World Chess Champion. ... Reuben Fine (October 11, 1914 - March 26, 1993) was one of the best chess players in the world during the 1930s. ... Emanuel Lasker (December 24, 1868 – January 11, 1941) was a German chess player and mathematician, born at Berlinchen in Brandenburg (now Barlinek in Poland). ... Jump to: navigation, search Time Magazine, December 7, 1925 José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (November 19, 1888 – March 8, 1942) was a Cuban world-class chess player in the early to mid-twentieth century. ... The Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation is an international organization that connects the various national chess federations around the world. ... Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (, pronounced with stress falling on the second syllable: kas-PA-rov) (born April 13, 1963) is a chess grandmaster and one of the strongest chess players in history. ...

Late career

After losing the world title to Tigran Petrosian for the final time in Moscow in 1963, Botvinnik remained involved with competitive chess, appearing in several highly-rated tournaments and continuing to produce memorable games, though without ever looking likely to challenge for top honours. He retired from competitive play in 1970 aged 59, preferring instead to occupy himself with the development of computer chess programs and to assist with the training of younger Soviet players, earning him the nickname of 'Patriarch of the Soviet Chess School'; the famous three K's (Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Vladimir Kramnik) were just three of the many future grandmasters to have studied under Botvinnik. The young Kasparov in particular seems to have formed a close relationship with Botvinnik; his 2004 book On My Great Predecessors II dedicates several pages to Kasparov's own personal fond memories of his former tutor and friend. Kasparov's account, in which Botvinnik appears almost as a kind of father figure, goes some way towards providing a warm and human side to balance the previous public perception of Botvinnik's dour personality. Jump to: navigation, search Tigran Petrosian Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) is a former world chess champion. ... Jump to: navigation, search The idea of creating a chess-playing machine dates back to the eighteenth century. ... Jump to: navigation, search Anatoli Yevgenyevich Karpov (Анато́лий Евге́ньевич Ка́рпов) (born May 23, 1951) is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. ... Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (, pronounced with stress falling on the second syllable: kas-PA-rov) (born April 13, 1963) is a chess grandmaster and one of the strongest chess players in history. ... Vladimir Kramnik Vladimir Kramnik (Владимир Крамник), born June 25, 1975, is a Russian chess player. ... Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (, pronounced with stress falling on the second syllable: kas-PA-rov) (born April 13, 1963) is a chess grandmaster and one of the strongest chess players in history. ...

Botvinnik's autobiography, K Dostizheniyu Tseli, was published in Russian in 1978, and in English translation as Achieving the Aim (ISBN 0-08-024120-4) in 1981. A staunch Communist, he was noticeably shaken by the collapse of the Soviet Union and lost some of his standing in Russian chess during the Boris Yeltsin era. Botvinnik died of natural causes in 1995. Jump to: navigation, search Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin listen ▶(?) (Russian: Борис Николаевич Ельцин) (born February 1, 1931) was President of Russia from 1991 to 1999. ...

References

• Botvinnik, Mikhail (1960). 100 Selected Games, Dover: Printing Press.
• Winter, Edward G. (ed.) (1981). World chess champions, Pergamon. ISBN 0080249041
• Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion To Chess, Oxford University. ISBN 0192800493
• Sunnucks, Anne (1970). The Encyclopaedia of Chess, St. Martin's.
• Hartston, William R. (1986). Kings of Chess, Pavilion. ISBN 1851450750

Kenneth Whyld (March 6, 1926 - July 11, 2003) was a British chess author and researcher, best known as the co-author (with David Hooper) of the Oxford Companion to Chess, the standard single-volume chess reference work in English. ...

Further reading

• Chernev, Irving (1995). Twelve Great Chess Players and Their Best Games, Dover. ISBN 0486286746
• Hurst, Sarah (2002). Curse of Kirsan: Adventures in the Chess Underworld, Russell Enterprises. ISBN 1888690151
• Botvinnik, Mikhail (1961,1981). One Hundred Selected Games, Dover. ISBN 0486206203

Jump to: navigation, search Alexander Alekhine Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (sometimes spelled Aljechin) (in Russian, Александр Александрович Алë́хин), (October 31 or November 1, 1892 – March 24, 1946) was a chess master and a former World Chess Champion. ... The 1984 World Chess Championship was between Anatoly Karpov (left) and Garry Kasparov (right). ... Image:Smyslov. ... Image:Smyslov. ... The 1984 World Chess Championship was between Anatoly Karpov (left) and Garry Kasparov (right). ... Mikhail Tal Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal (Latvian: Mihails Tāls, Russian: Михаил Нехемьевич Таль) (November 9, 1936 - June 28, 1992), born in Riga, Latvia, was the eighth World Chess Champion. ... Mikhail Tal Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal (Latvian: Mihails Tāls, Russian: Михаил Нехемьевич Таль) (November 9, 1936 - June 28, 1992), born in Riga, Latvia, was the eighth World Chess Champion. ... The 1984 World Chess Championship was between Anatoly Karpov (left) and Garry Kasparov (right). ... Jump to: navigation, search Tigran Petrosian Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) is a former world chess champion. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Mikhail Botvinnik

• Botvinnik's games at muljadi.org
• 40 Crucial Positions from His Games