AJanuary 14 1934
El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas, Sunday, January 14, 1934
Russians Like Chess As Pastime
International Match Draws Interest Throughout Soviet Union.
By Joseph H. Baird
United Press Staff Correspondent
Moscow, Jan. 13 (UP).—Although the average Communist considers bridge a silly game for bourgeois idlers, he admires chess, long the favorite pastime of philosophers and sages.
That is why, perhaps, the recent international match between Samuel Flohr, Czechoslovakian master, and Michael Botvinnik, young Soviet player, was followed keenly here by all sections of the people, even including Nicholas Krylenko, commissar of justice.
Indeed, no Harvard-Yale football game in America, no Oxford-Cambridge boat race in England has aroused more popular enthusiasm than did Flohr and Botvinnik, facing each other over their checkered board and moving kings, queens, castles and pawns with consummate skill.
In First Row.
During the matches in Moscow, Krylenko was always found in the first row. When the second half of the match was moved to Leningrad, he followed it there. The commissar's devotions before the god of chess were interrupted by the convening here of a Soviet congress. He returned to Moscow, but on learning one night of Botvinnik's victory in a game, he caught a late train and rushed back to Leningrad.
And his enthusiasm was merely symbolic of how Muscovites felt generally. Each day the newspapers devoted columns to the match.
Even a political element entered into public feeling about the competition. For Botvinnik, a young scientist employed by the Physics Institute at Leningrad, is an ardent member of the Communist party and his skill at chess was regarded as a demonstration of the rigorous mental training which the Soviet Union is imparting to its youth.
Ends In Draw.
Unfortunately, in view of the keen public interest, the match ended in a draw, each player winning six games. But the Moscow public regarded the result as a moral victory for the young Communist, for he had held his own against an older and more experienced rival.
The match was arranged by the chess section of the All-Union Council for Physical Education. Because of the great interest it stimulated, plans are being made for a large international chess tournament here to which the world's masters will be invited.
February 18 1934
The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Sunday, February 18, 1934
Soviet Children Experts At Chess
MOSCOW.—(UP)—Although chess usually is considered a game for sage oldsters this is not true in the Soviet union.
One 14-year-old boy won a game from Michael Botvinnik, Soviet professional, while a 16-year-old lad played the master to a draw. It should be explained, however, that Botvinnik was playing on 25 boards simultaneously.
Botvinnik told the young chess enthusiasts:
“My generation produced ten first rate chess players. Yours should produce at least 50.”
Leningrad children took first place in the tournament, those of Rostov second, and those of Moscow third.
August 1934
Participants in the Leningrad Tournament: Mikhail Botvinnik, standing, last on top right. Original b/w from Source.
November 12 1934
The Guardian, London, Greater London, England, Monday, November 12, 1934
YOUNG SOVIET CHESS CHAMPION
May Come to Hastings
(From our Correspondent.)
Moscow, November 11. It is announced that the Soviet chess champion, Mikhail Botvinnik, who is 25 years old, a student of the Leningrad Engineering Institute, and a member of the Young Communists, is hoping to represent the Soviet Union at the international tournament at Hastings after Christmas. This would be the first time a Soviet chess expert has appeared in a tournament abroad. Botvinnik attracted the attention of Capablanca nine years ago when he defeated him in a simultaneous match.
November 25 1934
Buffalo Courier Express, Buffalo, New York, Sunday, November 25, 1934
The strength of the Russian players was demonstrated in a tournament concluded in Leningrad last month, Soviet experts finished in the first five positions with Dr. Euwe, Alekhine's main contender in sixth place. M. Kmoch finished in eighth place. M. M. Botvinnik champion of Russia was first, followed by Romanovsky and Rumin.
November 27 1934
Evening Standard, London, Greater London, England, Tuesday, November 27, 1934
SOVIET CHESS CHAMPION'S VISIT
The chess champion of the Soviet Union, M. Botvinnik intends to visit England to play in the international tournament at Hastings next month, says the British United Press.
Botvinnik, a 23-year-old electrical engineer, has been playing in tournaments for nearly ten years. He won the chess championship of the Soviet Union in 1931, and since then has won every Russian tournament in which he has played.
December 11 1934
The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Tuesday, December 11, 1934
Chess Champion To Seek World Honors
MOSCOW.—(UP)—The chess champion of the Soviet Union M. Botvinnik plans to take part in the International Chess tournament beginning Dec. 27 at the Hastings Chess club in Britain.
Botvinnik, a 23-year-old electrical engineer has been playing in tournaments for nearly a decade having started his career as a mere boy. Since 1931, when he won the chess championship of the U.S.S.R. he has been the victor of every domestic tournament in which he has played.
In recent years chess has become an extremely popular game in the Soviet Union. It is estimated there are 500,000 players here.
December 29 1934
Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, Saturday, December 29, 1934
Chess Masters Play.
HASTINGS, England, Dec. 28.—(AP)—The second round of the international chess masters' tournament was completed after two session today with Sir George Thomas leading with two consecutive victories to his credit. His second victim was Jose R. Capablanca of Havana, who resigned a queen's pawn game after fifty-three moves. The Cuban had the white pieces.
Dr. Max Euwe of the Netherlands defeated the Russian, M. Botvinnik, in fifty-six moves. R. P. Mitchell of England also won today and is tied with Dr. Euwe for second place.
