| Leningrad (1934) |
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In 1934, the Soviet Union was still a largely unknown factor in world chess circles. Botvinnik was making some noise, particularly with his repeated wins in the USSR Championship and his drawn match against Flohr (Botvinnik - Flohr Match (1933)). But the strength and depth of the country remained a mystery, until an international tournament was arranged in Leningrad from August 17-September 1, 1934 with outsiders Max Euwe and Hans Kmoch brought in to give the local boys a few tips. The entire group: Vladimir Alatortsev, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vitaly Chekhover, Max Euwe,
Ilia Abramovich Kan,
Hans Kmoch,
Grigory Levenfish,
Georgy Lisitsin, Ilya Leontievich Rabinovich,
Nikolai Nikolaevich Riumin, Peter Arsenievich Romanovsky, Mikhail M Yudovich Sr. As sometimes happens, the tippers became the tippees. Both Euwe and Kmoch started well, and were tied for first place with Botvinnik and Romanovsky after six rounds. That's when things started to happen. Euwe was unable to win another game for the rest of the tournament, while Kmoch, after one more win, lost his last four in a row. By round nine, Riumin had joined Romanovsky and Botvinnik at the top. Botvinnik took the lead in round 10 with a victory as the two R's drew each other, then held onto it by drawing Riumin in the last round as Romanovsky was unable to win. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 Pts
1 Botvinnik * = = 1 = = 1 1 1 0 = 1 7.5
2 Riumin = * = 1 = 1 0 = = 1 = 1 7.0
3 Romanovsky = = * 0 = = 1 1 = 1 = 1 7.0
4 Rabinovich 0 0 1 * = 1 = = 1 = 1 = 6.5
5 Kan = = = = * 0 1 = = 1 = = 6.0
6 Euwe = 0 = 0 1 * = = = = = 1 5.5
7 Kmoch 0 1 0 = 0 = * 1 0 1 1 0 5.0
8 Yudovich 0 = 0 = = = 0 * 1 = = 1 5.0
9 Alatortsev 0 = = 0 = = 1 0 * = 1 0 4.5
10 Lisitsin 1 0 0 = 0 = 0 = = * = 1 4.5
11 Levenfish = = = 0 = = 0 = 0 = * = 4.0
12 Chekhover 0 0 0 = = 0 1 0 1 0 = * 3.5
Botvinnik's win should not have been a big surprise; he had shown his capabilities already. But having Euwe, fresh from an excellent showing at Zurich (1934), relegated to sixth place with an even score was an eye-opener. These guys would bear watching in the future.Original collection: Game Collection: Leningrad 1934 by User: Phony Benoni.
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| page 1 of 3; games 1-25 of 66 |
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| Game |
| Result | Moves |
Year | Event/Locale | Opening |
| 1. Kmoch vs N Riumin |
| 1-0 | 36 | 1934 | Leningrad | A90 Dutch |
| 2. V Chekhover vs I Rabinovich |
| ½-½ | 69 | 1934 | Leningrad | D60 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense |
| 3. P Romanovsky vs Lisitsin |
| 1-0 | 43 | 1934 | Leningrad | A06 Reti Opening |
| 4. M Yudovich Sr vs Levenfish |
| ½-½ | 46 | 1934 | Leningrad | B39 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, Breyer Variation |
| 5. Euwe vs I Kan |
 | 1-0 | 35 | 1934 | Leningrad | E24 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch |
| 6. Botvinnik vs Alatortsev |
 | 1-0 | 20 | 1934 | Leningrad | D55 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| 7. Lisitsin vs Botvinnik |
| 1-0 | 61 | 1934 | Leningrad | A09 Reti Opening |
| 8. Levenfish vs V Chekhover |
| ½-½ | 63 | 1934 | Leningrad | A34 English, Symmetrical |
| 9. Alatortsev vs Kmoch |
| 1-0 | 43 | 1934 | Leningrad | D63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense |
| 10. Euwe vs M Yudovich Sr |
| ½-½ | 28 | 1934 | Leningrad | A90 Dutch |
| 11. I Rabinovich vs P Romanovsky |
| 1-0 | 54 | 1934 | Leningrad | D45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav |
| 12. I Kan vs N Riumin |
| ½-½ | 38 | 1934 | Leningrad | A53 Old Indian |
| 13. P Romanovsky vs Levenfish |
| ½-½ | 35 | 1934 | Leningrad | A14 English |
| 14. V Chekhover vs Euwe |
| 0-1 | 58 | 1934 | Leningrad | D14 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation |
| 15. M Yudovich Sr vs I Kan |
| ½-½ | 25 | 1934 | Leningrad | E38 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 4...c5 |
| 16. N Riumin vs Alatortsev |
| ½-½ | 32 | 1934 | Leningrad | E19 Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3 |
| 17. Kmoch vs Lisitsin |
| 1-0 | 54 | 1934 | Leningrad | D30 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| 18. M Yudovich Sr vs V Chekhover |
| 1-0 | 49 | 1934 | Leningrad | A34 English, Symmetrical |
| 19. I Kan vs Alatortsev |
| ½-½ | 41 | 1934 | Leningrad | E34 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation |
| 20. Euwe vs P Romanovsky |
| ½-½ | 33 | 1934 | Leningrad | E22 Nimzo-Indian, Spielmann Variation |
| 21. I Rabinovich vs Kmoch |
| ½-½ | 31 | 1934 | Leningrad | D19 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch |
| 22. Lisitsin vs N Riumin |
| 0-1 | 71 | 1934 | Leningrad | A07 King's Indian Attack |
| 23. P Romanovsky vs M Yudovich Sr |
| 1-0 | 21 | 1934 | Leningrad | C15 French, Winawer |
| 24. Kmoch vs Levenfish |
| 1-0 | 36 | 1934 | Leningrad | E22 Nimzo-Indian, Spielmann Variation |
| 25. Alatortsev vs Lisitsin |
| ½-½ | 77 | 1934 | Leningrad | E37 Nimzo-Indian, Classical |
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| page 1 of 3; games 1-25 of 66 |
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Feb-06-22
 | | FSR: The 'leven fish that Botvinnik faced in this tournament had no chance. |
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