The 1948 Chess Revolution
Five chess giants battled for supremacy in the historic 1948 World Chess Championship that reshaped the game's landscape.
The 1948 World Championship was a tournament held to determine the new World Chess Champion following the demise of the previous champion, Alexander Alekhine, in 1946. This event marked a significant shift: the International Chess Federation (FIDE) took control of the world championship title and the cycle of tournaments leading up to it.
World Chess Championship Tournament Caricature (1948) by B. EfimovInternational Chess Federation (FIDE)
Five formidable players participated in the championship: Mikhail Botvinnik, Paul Keres, Max Euwe, Samuel Reshevsky, and Vasily Smyslov. Each player faced the others five times. The tournament took place in both The Hague, Netherlands, and Moscow, USSR.
In the caricature by B. Efimov, the championship resembles a medieval jousting match. Three Soviet knights—Botvinnik and Smyslov astride their trusty steeds, with Keres atop an elephant (the Russian name for the bishop)—face off against the two Western contenders.
Mikhail Botvinnik, widely regarded as the favourite due to his pre-war achievements, emerged victorious with 14 out of 20 points. His win marked the beginning of an era of Soviet dominance in international chess, which would persist for over two decades.
Botvinnik's Victory Celebrated
The tournament's conclusion was marked by a final bulletin collecting a score table, fan congratulations, and a photo of champion Mikhail Botvinnik in action.
The Tournament's Program: A Pocket Guide
A tournament program provided spectators with essential information. It included the schedule, tournament standings, and daily pairings. These programs were sold at the venue, keeping fans updated on the action.
World Championship Tournament Postcard (1948) by World Chess ChampionshipInternational Chess Federation (FIDE)
The commemorative postcard issued in USSR features photographs of Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov and Paul Keres. The circulation of the card was a whopping 50,000 copies.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.