Friday Feature: Mikhail Botvinnik

Mikhail Botvinnik

Mikhail Botvinnik was a Soviet chess grandmaster and former world champion who is considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Born in 1911 in Moscow, Russia, Botvinnik began his rise to fame in the 1930s with several impressive victories, including the Soviet Championship and the Amsterdam International Chess Festival. In 1948, he made history as the first Soviet player to challenge for the world chess championship, and he finally claimed the title in 1954 after defeating Vasily Smyslov in a highly-anticipated match.

Botvinnik's reign as world champion wasn't without controversy, as he lost the title to Smyslov in a 1957 rematch only to regain it in a 1958 rematch. He held the title for three more years before losing it to Mikhail Tal in a closely contested match. However, despite this setback, Botvinnik remained a force to be reckoned with and continued to compete at the highest level for many years.

Botvinnik is perhaps best known for his fierce rivalries with other top players, including Paul Keres, Vasily Smyslov, and Bobby Fischer. His rivalry with Fischer was particularly intense, with Fischer accusing him of cheating and refusing to play against him in the 1970 world championship match. Despite this, Botvinnik is remembered as one of the greatest chess players of all time and is credited with helping to bring the Soviet school of chess to the forefront of the chess world.