World Chess Championship 1951

In the World Chess Championship 1951 Mikhail Botvinnik defended his title successfully against David Bronstein.

Botvinnik was World Chess Champion since 1948; Bronstein had qualified by his victories at the Interzonal Saltsjöbaden 1948 and the Candidates tournament in Budapest in 1950 for competitions to the World Cup.

The race for the championship was scheduled for 24 games. The rules stipulated that in case of a tie after 24 games of the world champions would retain his title. The match took place from March 15, 1951 until May 11, 1951 in Moscow.

The match was very dramatic. First Bronstein was in the fifth game of the lead. Botvinnik was but a moment later win the sixth and seventh game and in turn to take the lead. Until the twentieth game succeeded the challenger twice to compensate for what the world champion each again took the lead. After victories in the 21 and 22 game but saw Bronstein like the new World Champion. Botvinnik had the 23 game in which he had white, absolutely win. He achieved this in an endgame with two bishops against two knights, which gained great popularity in the world of chess. The 24th and final match ended in a draw after Bronstein spite of white stones no Eröffnungsverteil had been able to achieve.

Botvinnik had thus defended his title and remained until 1957 world chess champion, while Bronstein for no competition for the world chess championship to qualify more.