Mikhail Botvinnik

Mikhail Moiseevich Botvinnik (??????? ?????????? ??????????) (August 17, 1911 - May 5,1995) was a Jewish Russian International Grandmaster and long-time World Champion of chess.

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.

Related Topics:
Kuokkala - Vyborg - Chess - José Raúl Capablanca

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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.

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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.

Related Topics:
Salo Flohr - Emanuel Lasker - Nottingham - Reuben Fine - Paul Keres - Vassily Smyslov

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