World Chess Championship 1948
The World Chess Championship 1948 was organized by the World Chess Federation FIDE chess tournament. It was held from March 2, 1948 to May 16, 1948 in The Hague and Moscow. Mikhail Botvinnik from the Soviet Union won with 14 points from 20 games and was a new world chess champion. It was the first organized by the FIDE title fight, for the first time also a round-robin tournament to determine the world champion was applied.
Background
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On March 24, 1946 world champion Alexander Alekhine died in Portuguese exile. Since then the world title was vacant. The World Chess Federation decided at the FIDE Congress in 1947 in The Hague to host a tournament with six participants to determine the new world chess champion.
Participant
These five participants were selected in 1947 on the FIDE Congress, also Reuben Fine was invited.
Fine opted not to participate. He gave as a reason to preparing his doctoral thesis and work commitments. Another source reported that Fine had the money prices too low and he even admit to a disease. About ten years later, writes Fine, he had begun at the time with his profession as a psychoanalyst. Fine for a replacement player was invited. This was decided at the FIDE Congress in 1947 so.
The participation of Max Euwe, this was the third World Chess Championship, in which a former world champion took part in a world chess championship. This was previously done already in the World Chess Championship 1896 and World Chess Championship 1937.
The starting numbers of participants were drawn on 1 March 1948.
Tournament mode
It was played a round robin tournament with five passes. Before the waiver Fines only four passages were planned. It 25 rounds have been played, each participant had a free day in five rounds.
The first ten rounds were held in The Hague in the Great Hall of the zoo. The first round began on 2 March 1948, as the tenth and final round in The Hague was completed on 26 March 1948. The remaining rounds were played in Moscow in the Column Hall of the House of Unions. The first round in Moscow, the total eleventh, began on April 11, 1948, the last round of the tournament took place on 16 May 1948.
The reflection was in every game 2 ½ hours for the first 40 moves and then one hour for another 16 trains. After five hours of playing time a game could be canceled as a cliffhanger and stopped at one of the following days.
The main referee acted Milan Vidmar from Slovenia.
Tournament
1st round
The first round began with a brief ceremony. The chairman of the Dutch Chess Federation KNSB spoke briefly to the press and the audience. He asked the press to objective reporting. The audience, he called on to minimize smoking in Russia finally could not be smoked in chess tournaments. Then the Mayor of The Hague led the symbolic first train on both boards.
The relationship between Smyslov and Reshevsky was balanced after the opening. Two dubious trains Reshevskys in 22 and 23 train left Smyslov come in advantage. The forgave the advantage by some inaccuracies, so that in the 30th train back was a balanced position. In the 32 train Reshevsky reached a farmer profit, but had to allow a playoff with unequal runners, which offered no chance to win. So this match ended in a draw after 41 moves. In the other match Euwe had slight advantage after 20 moves. His mistake in the train was 28 Keres the option of a mock victim to gain advantage. By a further Fehlzug Euwes Keres gained a decisive advantage in the 32nd train. Keres overlooked more winning continuations in the sequence, so that the game with the 41 Euwes train was canceled. After the resumption Keres used his advantage and won after 56 moves.
The match between Botvinnik and Euwe was compensated by 15 trains. A serious mistake in the 20th Euwes train Botvinnik used to his advantage. Some other inaccuracies Euwes and an emergent in 28 train white pawn ensured the rapid decision after 32 moves. The match between Keres and Smyslov was compensated by 19 trains. In the 20th and 21st train intensified Keres to disrupt the game by a double pawn sacrifice, without the balance of the position crucial. The 23 train Smyslows was a big mistake, the Keres exploiting the decisive advantage. The game ended after 27 moves.
Reshevsky reached against Keres in the opening of a slight advantage. He came in greater time pressure than Keres and had already thought about an hour and 51 minutes after 18 passes, ie, there remained another 39 minutes for the next 22 moves. Keres could still use one hours to change your mind. As a result, Reshevsky was able to preserve his advantage. He had to create the last ten moves to the time control in three minutes. Keres was also run out of time. and made the 35th train an error that led to Bauer loss. Another mistake in the 39th train of black pulled out a profitable attack Reshevskys by itself. The game ended after 41 moves. In the match against Botvinnik Smyslov had come in advantage after 19 moves. An accurate 20 train Smyslows awarded a portion of the benefit. The slight advantage Smyslov held fixed. In the 35th train, he won a pawn. In order to keep this extra pawn, Smyslov chose the 40th train a dubious train, the Botvinnik allowed a counterplay. After the time control after the 40th game of the train has been canceled. The position was balanced in spite of a white multi builder and so the game ended in a draw after 44 moves.
Reshevsky scored against Botvinnik after 15 trains a slight advantage. In the 25th train Botvinnik made a mistake, the larger the advantage Reshevskys and led to a farm loss in 26 train. In mutual time trouble Reshevsky made big mistakes in the 28th, 29th and 30th train and Botvinnik came in decisive advantage. In the 30 train Botvinnik had already won a Springer. A train later Botvinnik overlooked a strong train and Reshevsky could minimize the white advantage with the right train. He made mistakes but so that Botvinnik would have won his next train a minor piece. In this lost position Reshevsky passed on the 32nd train time. The match between Euwe and Smyslov was compensated by 20 trains. An inaccuracy Smyslows led to a slight advantage for Euwe. Another mistake in Smyslows 26 train enlarged the white advantage. Euwe playful advantage of a bad 29 train. In the 33 train Euwe launched a faulty combination that resulted in a decisive advantage for Smyslov. The game was stopped after 42 train Euwes. He gave up without recovery after he saw Smyslows sealed move.
In the game of Keres and Botvinnik after 20 trains resulted in a balanced position. Keres inaccuracies in the 29th and 30th train made for black advantage. Botvinnik took advantage of another mistake by Keres in the 32nd train to a farmer profit. The game was stopped after the 40th train with ultimate advantage for Botvinnik. Keres had made a dubious 41 train which cemented the black advantage. Botvinnik wrapped in the sequence into a pawn ending and won after 58 moves. In the game between Reshevsky and Euwe latter underwent in the 12th train a serious mistake. Reshevsky preferred a pawn and reached great advantage. After Reshevskys errors in 30 and 31 train Euwe achieved balance. By inaccurate trains ahead of time control for a better Reshevsky bishop ending was. After 41 Reshevskys train the game was canceled. Euwe gave up without recovery.
2nd Round
The match between Keres and Euwe was the exit of the opening after 14 compensated trains. An inaccurate pawn of Keres in the 15th train led to a slight black edge. A series of inaccurate moves in 23 and 24 train solidified the advantage. Euwe won a pawn on the 27th train. A clear error in the 29 train Keres would Euwe allowed to win at least one other farmers and brought decisive advantage. Euwe overlooked that, but also Keres chose a weak train so that Euwe was significantly better after 30 moves. Through dubious traits in 31 to 33 train Euwe playful his advantage. The match ended in a draw after 34 train Keres. Between Reshevsky and Smyslov was a sharp struggle developed. Even after ten trains Reshevsky had a minor piece more, but had to give it four farmers. After 15 moves to a balanced position had revealed. An inaccuracy in the 16th Reshevskys train led to a slight black edge. Smyslov decided in the 17th train for exchange of queens, but now Reshevsky had slight advantage. Another mistake Smyslows the 24th train provided a combination with farm income. Reshevsky had it and kept slight advantage. Smyslov allowed in 30 train an error, magnified by the Reshevsky his advantage. In the 33 train to Reshevsky wrongly decided to offer the tower exchange. The resulting endgame was balanced. The match ended in a draw after 45 moves.
Euwe and Botvinnik reached after 20 trains a balanced position. Botvinnik came to an inaccuracy in the 22 Euwes train a little advantage. Botvinnik played in 28 train inaccurate, so that Euwe equalizer away. The game never left the draw width and the players agreed after the 40th train on a tie. Smyslov reached slight advantage Keres after 14 moves. Through a dubious train Smyslows Keres equalized again. The 20th inaccurate train Keres led to a slight advantage for White. In the 27 train Smyslov sacrificed doubtful a farmer. Keres reached in the lag compensation. Smyslov played inaccurately in the 38th and 39th train, so the game after the 40th train with a slight advantage for Keres was canceled. The sealed move Smyslows allowed Keres, rich in opportunity to sacrifice a runner and start a kingside attack. After an error Smyslows in 47 train Keres found the settlement to a won endgame. Smyslov admitted defeat after 57 moves.
Keres had against Reshevsky after 15 trains slight advantage. The 18 train Keres was inaccurate and led to a balanced position. In the 24th train the game ended in a draw. In the game against Botvinnik Smyslov of the opening was favorable for White. After 20 trains Botvinnik had a small advantage. An inaccuracy in the 26th train Botvinnik awarded the advantage and the position was balanced. In the 32 train Smyslov brought a sacrifice quality for which he won a pawn. Five plays later Botvinnik offered the exchange of queens. The led to another farmer profit for Smyslov, but the position was balanced. This did not change until the cancellation of the match in the 45th train anything. Upon recovery to Smyslov made in 51 train inaccuracy and Botvinnik had slight advantage. In the 55th train Botvinnik chose the wrong train to avoid a repetition of the position and the position was in the balance. Due to a faulty plan Smyslows on the 57th and 58th train the white towers were activated and Botvinnik was able to make a profit hopes. In the 74th train Botvinnik withdrew its profit efforts and the game ended in a draw five moves later.
Reshevsky recorded against Botvinnik after 15 trains slight advantage. The exchange of blows between Springer in the 16th train led to compensation. In the 21 train Botvinnik sacrificed a pawn, two plays later the quality. In the 25th train he could have achieved a repetition of moves and thus a draw. Botvinnik, however, blundered in the 25th and 26th train and Reshevsky had a decisive advantage. After the severe error in the 28 train Reschevskys Botvinnik could have achieved great advantage, he found only the way to balance. After the exchange of inaccuracies in the 30th train of Botvinnik and 31 train Reschevskys the game ended in a draw by perpetual check.
Smyslov and Euwe had after 15 trains a balanced position on the board. Euwe was then in the 22nd train a pawn advance to the Smyslov secured a space advantage. After an error Smyslows in 31 train Euwe made up for the game. The poor 33 train Euwes again led to a slight advantage for White. In the 36th train a minor piece endgame with four minor pieces arose on each side. In the 41 train the game was canceled. In the 55th train Euwe underwent a terrible mistake, the four trains later had a farmer's loss. With the extra pawn Smyslov had a decisive advantage. Euwe was on the 70th train.
Botvinnik scored against Keres already in the opening of a great advantage. Due to an error in the 16th train Keres, Botvinnik won a decisive advantage. A rook sacrifice in the 21st train allowed for a successful mating attack. Keres was on the train 23. Euwe and Reshevsky reached after 15 trains a balanced position. Reshevsky made in the 18th train a mistake Euwe not exploited. The position remained balanced. After an error Reshevskys in 26 train Euwe won the 28th train a farmer and achieved an advantage. Another mistake Reshevskys the 35th train led to a decisive advantage Euwes. In the 38th train he conquered a knight against two pawns. The game was stopped after the 40th train. Even the sealed move Euwes playful part of the benefit. Euwes Patzer on the 44th train cost the more character and the game was balanced. In the 57th train the opponents agreed a draw.
3rd Round
Keres sacrificed against Euwe in opening a pawn and reached after 14 trains the equalizer. A big mistake in the 15th Euwes train enabled decisive attack for Keres. Euwe underwent in 23 train another error that accelerated his defeat. He gave up after 25 train. Smyslov scored against Reshevsky after 20 trains a great advantage. In the 24th train made a mistake Reshevskys for a decisive advantage. Smyslov won a pawn on the 30th train. In the 37th train a rook endgame with white More Bauer was born. The game was stopped after the 40th train. Smyslov won after 52 moves.
In the match between Botvinnik and Euwe after 15 trains resulted in a balanced position. Euwes inaccurate train and 16 errors in 17 train were used by Botvinnik to gain great advantage. The faulty 21 train Euwes led to decisive advantage. After 25 moves Botvinnik had conquered the enemy queen against rook and knight and won after 36 moves. Smyslov sacrificed in the opening against Keres a farmer. After his recovery in 14 train Keres was a little better. After the dubious 15 train Keres was like Smyslov from the game. After white pawn on the 30th train Keres won the pawn to an inaccurate train Smyslows back with some advantage. The 35th train Keres led to a balanced position. After an exchange of queens on the 40th train a bishop ending was. The game was stopped after the 42 train and, without resumption draw.
The game between Reshevsky and Keres was balanced by the white castling in the 15th train. The 15 train Keres was a mistake, which led to loss Bauer and white advantage. Reshevsky missed another farmer income in the 32 train. After the dubious 40th train Keres the game was aborted with advantage for Reshevsky. By Reshevskys faulty train 45 Keres achieved balance. In the 56th train Reshevsky underwent a serious mistake and Keres captured material. Keres won after 63 moves. Smyslov and Botvinnik reached after 15 trains a balanced position. Smyslows 16th and 17th train were inaccurate. Botvinnik was slight advantage. He scored decisive advantage by errors in the 25th and 30th train Smyslows. The demolition of the game after 40 moves Botvinnik had a quality and a pawn up. Smyslov renounced the resumption and gave up.
Between Botvinnik and Reshevsky a balanced position was created after 21 moves. After an inaccurate 26 train Botvinnik came two plays later for an exchange of queens. Reshevsky had a slight advantage, but his 29 train was inaccurate and was Botvinnik the chance by a pawn sacrifice to compensate. Botvinnik overlooked that and got through an inaccurate 31 train clearly in disadvantage. For errors in the 33rd and the 34th Reshevskys train train Botvinnik Black received crucial advantage. Some trains later Reshevsky had a runner more and won after 41 moves. Euwe scored in the match against Smyslov after 15 trains slight advantage. Two errors Smyslows in the 17th and 18th train led to a decisive advantage Euwes. Ten moves later Euwe had the advantage of a quality material. The game was stopped after 41 trains and abandoned by Smyslov without recovery.
Keres and Botvinnik earned after 15 trains a balanced position. By Keres inaccurate 16 train Botvinnik was slightly in advantage. After the dubious 19 train Botvinnik equalized Keres. Both players were in time trouble and had for ten trains only 10 minutes to change your mind. The 35th inaccurate train brought Keres, Botvinnik slight advantage. Due to an error in the 39th train Keres, Botvinnik won a pawn and increased his advantage. After an exchange of queens, a double rook endgame arose and the game was canceled after the 42nd train. Due to an error in the 53 train Keres, Botvinnik was able to strengthen its position and reached a decisive advantage. The game was stopped again in 63 train. Botvinnik won after 72 moves. The game between Reshevsky and Euwe never left the draw width and ended in a draw after 26 moves.
4th passage
Keres was able to achieve slight advantage against Euwe after 15 moves. He enlarged the advantage after a mistake in the 25th Euwes train. Euwe presented in 33 train a quality and was on the next train. Reshevsky scored against Smyslov after 12 trains a slight advantage and won shortly afterwards a farmer. The dubious 17 train Reshevskys led to compensation. Not even consecutive errors Smyslows in 21 and remained unchanged in 22 Reshevskys train anything. In the 23 train Smyslov recaptured the farmers. The resulting train on the 36th endgame was balanced and ended five trains draw later.
Neither Euwe, Botvinnik still earned in the game against each other advantage. The game ended after 29 moves draw by repetition. Smyslov scored against Keres after 15 trains a slight advantage. The strengthened by a dubious train Keres in the 21 train. Smyslov lost some of the benefits by the inaccurate 24 train. Keres chose the 28th train a dubious train and lost the following train a farmer. After the error in the 33 Keres the white advantage grew significantly. Smyslov won more farmers in the 35th and 40th train. The game was stopped in the 41 train and abandoned by Keres without recovery.
Keres conquered against Reshevsky in the 16th train a farmer and had advantage. Doubtful trains Keres in the 17th and 18th train offset the position. After the error Keres in 31 train Reshevsky won the 32nd train back to the farmers and had a decisive advantage. He won a quality for a farmer in the 34th train. The game ended after 41 moves in a victory Reshevskys. Botvinnik came against Smyslov after 15 moves clearly in advantage. He playful by the weak 26 train. Smyslov sacrificed a pawn in return, but grabbed the next train fails and Botvinnik won advantage. In the 36th train a rook endgame with white More Bauer was born. The game was then canceled. In the 43 train, the white advantage was reduced by the inaccurate 43 train Botvinnik. The Botvinnik could not subsequently use to victory and the game ended after 81 moves draw.
Reshevsky reached against Botvinnik after 15 trains a small advantage. The increased inaccurate trains Botvinnik in the 18th and 19th train. After the error Reshevskys in 29 train Botvinnik equalized and won a pawn in the 31 train. Another mistake on the 32nd train Reshevskys led to a clear black advantage. After Patzer Reshevskys the 39th train the benefit was crucial. Botvinnik sacrificed the quality and gained kingside attack. The game was stopped in the 41 train. Botvinnik won after 47 moves. Smyslov earned with a pawn sacrifice in the 12th train slight advantage against Euwe. The faulty 14 train Euwes led to a decisive advantage for Smyslov. In the 17th train Smyslov won the peasants back in superior position. Six plays later Smyslov reached a farmer profit and won after 26 moves.
Botvinnik and Keres reached after 15 trains a balanced position. The inaccurate 18 train Keres, Botvinnik brought easily into advantage. After an exchange of queens on the 29th train Botvinnik was a slightly better endgame Springer. Keres underwent the 36th train an error just before the game was canceled. The weak 47 train Keres led to farmer income and decisive advantage for Botvinnik. Keres was on the 60th train. Euwe and Reshevsky exchanged in the 15th train the ladies and the position was balanced. Reshevsky received slight advantage after Euwes error in the 16th train. The enlarged by a further error Euwes in the 20th train. After 34 incorrect train Euwes Reshevsky reached a decisive advantage. After Reshevsky won a pawn on the 42nd train, the game was canceled. Euwe gave up without recovery.
5th passage
A dubious pawn sacrifice Keres in the eleventh train brought Euwe slightly in advantage. He forgave by the error in the 14th train. Keres dubious trains in 15, 21 and 22 train gave Euwe distinct advantage. Rather than a pawn to win under Euwe was a mistake and had only slight advantage. After Keres error in the 24th and 26th train Euwe achieved decisive advantage. The serious error Euwes the 28th train and his questionable 29 train offset the position. Another mistake Euwes in 31 train brought Keres slightly in advantage. He could absolutely checkmate after Euwes Patzer on the 34th train. Before it happened, Euwe gave up after the 35th train. Reshevsky failed to open and Smyslov had after 15 trains advantage. Reshevsky was like after Smyslows of error in the 20th and the exchange of queens in the 22 train. After 34 questionable train Smyslows Reshevsky had some advantage. The knight exchange on the 39th train resulted in a draw suspicious rook endgame with black pawn. The game was then canceled. As a result, neither side was able to achieve advantage. In the 73 train the game was stopped again and, without resumption draw.
- Euwe was after this round a table on the last.
Keres earned after 15 trains advantage against Smyslov. After dubious trains Keres in the 19th and 24th train Smyslov made up for the game. The game was canceled and ended in a draw after 49 moves. Botvinnik and Euwe allowed themselves a short draw after 14 moves.
- Botvinnik was clear after this round as the tournament winner and thus world champion.
Reshevsky came after 15 moves against Keres slightly at a disadvantage. The inaccurate 17 train Keres enabled him to compensation. After 26 moves, the players agreed to a draw. Smyslov reached slight advantage against Botvinnik after ten trains. After the exchange tower in the 17th train the game ended in a draw.
After ten trains Botvinnik came against Reshevsky slightly in advantage. The advantage grew after the inaccurate 13 train Reshevskys. In the 18th train Reshevskys caused errors for decisive advantage for White. In the 38th train Botvinnik won the quality and three plays later the game. Euwe and Smyslov reached after ten trains a balanced position. Euwe came to Smyslows inaccuracy in the eleventh easily train in advantage. The position was balanced again after 15 train Euwes inaccurate. In the 20th train Smyslov could win a pawn. After the dubious 21 train Euwes he was a little advantage. Euwes error in the 27th train led to the decisive black advantage. Another mistake on the 38th train made for a quick victory Smyslows after 38 moves.
- Smyslov was after this round a table on the second.
The relationship between Keres and Botvinnik was balanced before Botvinnik the inaccuracy Keres ' used in the 13th to train a slight advantage. In the 16th train Keres picked up a pawn sacrifice. After the error Botvinnik in the 18th train he could win back the farmers and compensate for the position. Botvinnik's error in 26 train led to a white advantage. In the 27 train Botvinnik made a quality and Keres had a decisive advantage. Botvinnik was on the 39th train. Reshevsky and Euwe reached a balanced position after 17 moves. After Euwes errors in the 19th and 21st train Reshevskys advantage was decisive. After 27 trains Reshevsky had two extra pawns and won after 36 moves.
Full Time
Keres and Reschevsky shared the third and fourth place, level on points because no fine rating was applied.
Nachgeschichte
FIDE has decided at its Congress in 1947 that the world champion has to defend his title in a duel every three years. To determine a challenger a multi-stage qualification system was introduced, consisting of zone tournaments, interzonal tournaments and a candidate tournament. It was not until 59 years later, a round-robin tournament to determine the world champion was used in the World Chess Championship 2007.
The new world champion Mikhail Botvinnik defended his title in the World Chess Championship 1951 against David Bronstein and in the World Chess Championship 1954 against Vasily Smyslov. In both cases, the defending champions needed only a 12:12 draw.
Three years later, Botvinnik lost the battle for the World Chess Championship 1957 against Smyslov by 9 ½: 12 ½ points. The defending champion had been granted the right to revenge the following year in the case of a defeat. Thus, the two opponents stood at the Chess World Cup 1958 again against. Botvinnik was the duel with 12 ½: 10 ½ points to decide for himself and was after a year world chess champion.
In the World Chess Championship 1960 Botvinnik lost again, this time with 8 ½: 12 ½ points against Mikhail Tal. The rematch for the World Chess Championship 1961 Botvinnik could win with 13:8 points and secured the world title again.
After this World Cup the rematch right the Defender was abolished. Botvinnik lost the title in the World Chess Championship in 1963 with 9 ½: 12 ½ points to Tigran Petrosian.