Mikhail Botvinnik

 
Botvinnik M. In autumn 1923 at the age of twelve Mikhail Botvinnik was taught chess by a school friend of his older brother using a home-made set and instantly fell in love with the game. While there is no doubt that Botvinnik sincerely believed in Communism he by no means submissively followed the party line.

Botvinnik also played a major role in the organization of chess making a significant contribution to the design of the World Chess Championship system after World War II and becoming a leading member of the coaching system that enabled the Soviet Union to dominate top-class chess during that time. Working as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time he was one of the very few famous chess players who achieved distinction in another career while playing top-class competitive chess. S.