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World Chess Championship 1948, The (Hardinge Simpole Chess Classics S.)

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Mikhail Botvinnik, disciple of Josef Stalin and iron man of Soviet chess, seized the chess crown in 1948 in the 'famous five' Match Tournament. This was held to settle the question of the World Championship after reigning champion Alexander Alekhine had died in possession of the title. 1948 ushered in a long period of control of world chess by FIDE, the world chess federation, backed, in turn, by the powerful chess federation of the USSR , the land where chess had become the iconic national game. Botvinnik dominated the field, easily outdistancing his main rivals Smyslov, Reshevsky and Keres , while the hapless Dr. Max Euwe , former world champion , whose sudden and dramatic descent from world class chess was made brutally apparent by this event, was left trailing in last place, 6.5 points adrift of the field. Inspiration and controversy alike still surround the 1948 match tournament . At a time when more than one player claims to be world champion and rival organisations have their own champions, the resolution brought about by the match tournament is often regarded as the holy grail of world title definition. Yet critics also persist in seeing this system as flawed. Why for example was the Polish grandmaster Miguel Najdorf not invited when US Grandmaster Reuben Fine dropped out? Was it because Najdorf had defeated Botvinnik in a recent tournament? Worse, unsubstantiated rumours abound that Paul Keres, an enthusiastic participant in Nazi-controlled competitions of the early 1940s, came under pressure to lose games in Moscow - the very heart of the Soviet Empire - to Stalin's protégé Botvinnik.
Harry Golombek, the author of this book, was on the spot throughout and at the very epicentre of all the action. Here he annotates every game and follows every nuance. An International Master and British Champion, Golombek had a fluent knowledge of Russian and was alert to every key variation and possibility. Here are all the games, annotated in detail, of an historic and controversial event. Readers can make up their own minds on the evidence - was Botvinnik the dominating titan of his day or was his triumph founded on the elimination of a dangerous rival and on political favouritism extended by the most powerful man in the Soviet Empire?

"The World Chess Championship 1948" is a clear, even refreshing account of the way in which Mikhail Botvinnik (referred to as "Botwinnik" in rather archaic style) managed to win the World Chess Championship in a tournament with Dr. Max Euwe, Paul Keres, Samuel Reshevsky and Vassily Smyslov.

The book, more than any other book on a chess tournament or match, explains clearly what went on during the course of the tournament and the results. The errors and good moves are in most cases explained in better detail than in almost any other book on Chess one is likely to encounter, even though they have not been subject to the most modern analysis. We see losses unexplained elsewhere (for instance, Keres' loss to Samuel Reshevsky late in proceedings) with impressive clarity. The previous results of the players (for instance, the decline of Dr. Max Euwe during 1947) is also shown very clearly show that the reader is not mystified.

There are very few complaints one can make about this book. It showcases a pivotal moment in chess history, and should be read by all interested in chess.

This is perhaps one of the most interesting chess tournaments of the 20th century. The `Famous Five' tournament, held to establish a new world champion after the legendary Alekhine's death, pitted Botvinnik, Smyslov, Reshevsky, Keres and Euwe against each other (although Botvinnik was almost as far ahead of his competitors as Euwe was behind them) in a historic clash, the politics of numerous associations each backing a champion miring the tournament in intrigue.
Despite the superb game played by Botvinnik, who would reign virtually unchallenged through the 50s, this book allows its readers to question the political undertones behind the victory of Stalin's favourite player. Najdorf, who had defeated Botvinnik was not invited to this series, and it was alleged that Keres was pressurized to lose in Moscow (in the heart of Stalin's power). Golombek is a true artist when it comes to chess coverage, and his columns in The Times and The Observer are a testament to his skill, as is this book. As a specialist in Soviet chess, and an expert at the tricky annotation of games, Golombek builds up interest and tension, and he never disappoints.

botvinnik won the world championship in chess in 1948 but there were plenty of rumours that his main rival paul keres had thrown games to him. botvinnik was a staunch communist and the latter part of the championship was played in moscow-keres an esthonian had on the other hand played in tournaments in parts of nazi controlled europe during the war.

harry golombek the author of this book was present throughout the championship and it is fascinating to see how he describes the games between keres and botvinnik. without actually going so far as to accuse keres of throwing the games he makes it clear that many of keres moves against botvinnik were so bad as to be unbelievable.

golombek annotates all of the games with great detail and he also makes a thrilling drama out of the tournament as he covers each round with it ups and downs in elegant prose.

A great read! Golombek delves into the controversial 1948 World Chess Championship and with personal insight adds a depth to the games that would not otherwise be possible. This edition published by Hardinge and Simpole.