Mikhail Botvinnik

The Leningrad Master Tournament 1934 Mikhail Botvinnik

In 1934, the Soviet Union was still a largely unknown factor in world chess circles. Botvinnik was making some noise, particularly with his repeated wins in the USSR Championship and his drawn match against Flohr (Botvinnik - Flohr Match (1933)). But the strength and depth of the country remained a mystery, until an international tournament was arranged in Leningrad from August 17-September 1, 1934 with outsiders Max Euwe and Hans Kmoch brought in to give the local boys a few tips. The entire group: Vladimir Alatortsev, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vitaly Chekhover, Max Euwe, Ilia Abramovich Kan, Hans Kmoch, Grigory Levenfish, Georgy Lisitsin, Ilya Leontievich Rabinovich, Nikolai Nikolaevich Riumin, Peter Arsenievich Romanovsky, Mikhail M Yudovich Sr. As sometimes happens, the tippers became the tippees. Both Euwe and Kmoch started well, and were tied for first place with Botvinnik and Romanovsky after six rounds. That's when things started to happen. Euwe was unable to win another game for the rest of the tournament, while Kmoch, after one more win, lost his last four in a row. Botvinnik's win should not have been a big surprise; he had shown his capabilities already. But having Euwe, fresh from an excellent showing at Zurich (1934), relegated to sixth place with an even score was an eye-opener. These guys would bear watching in the future.