Mikhail Botvinnik

Botvinnik - Flohr Mikhail Botvinnik

In the wake of Mikhail Botvinnik's win of the 1933 USSR Chess Championship in Leningrad, a match was devised by Alexander Ilyin-Zhenevsky and Nikolai Vasilyevich Krylenko to pit the new Soviet champion against Salomon Flohr, at that time one of the people believed to be strong enough to challenge Alexander Alekhine in a world championship title match. Flohr agreed to the match with Botvinnik, the first six games to be played in Moscow and the latter six games to be played in Leningrad. Many figures in Soviet chess circles at the time were skeptical of Botvinnik's chances against the very strong Czechoslavkian master, despite Botvinnik's successes and increasingly systematic methods of preparation. Krylenko insisted, however, claiming that Botvinnik and the new generation by extension had to be "tested." The first half of the match was dismal for both Botvinnik and Krylenko. Flohr got off to a one-game lead in the opening round of the match and had made it plus +2 by the wrap up in Moscow. Botvinnik persevered in Leningrad however, managing to win two games of his own and finally leaving the match score tied at 6 points at the final.