1948 World Chess Championship

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1948 World Chess Championship
Compiled by Okavango

★★★ INTRO ★★★

The 1948 World Chess Championship was a 5 player five-cycle round robin (each player plays against each other 5 times) between 37 year old Mikhail Botvinnik of the Soviet Union, 27 year old Vasily Smyslov also of the Soviet Union, 37 year old Smauel Reshevsky of the United States, 32 year old Paul Keres of the Soviet Union and 47 year old Max Euwe of the Netherlands.

★★★ BACKGROUND ★★★

The participants were the 8 players that competed in the 1938 AVRO Tournament (see AVRO (1938) for games and more info). The players were Paul Keres, Reuben Fine, Mikhail Botvinnik, Max Euwe, Samuel Reshevsky, Alexander Alekhine, Jose Raul Capablanca and Salomon Flohr. However, not all of the above players competed. Capablanca died on March 8th, 1942 and Alekhine died on March 24th, 1946. As well, Salomon Flohr got replaced by Vasily Smyslov. Fine did not want to compete. FIDE organized a 5 player cycle round robin tournament. The tournament was down to 5 players: 37 year old Mikhail Botvinnik of the Soviet Union, 27 year old Vasily Smyslov also of the Soviet Union, 37 year old Smauel Reshevsky of the United States, 32 year old Paul Keres of the Soviet Union and 47 year old Max Euwe of the Netherlands.

★★★ CONDITIONS ★★★

The match took place in The Hague.

★★★ MATCH ★★★

After 5 rounds, Botvinnik took the lead with 3 1/2 points, Reshevsky was second with 2 1/2, Smyslov and Keres were close behind each having 2 and Euwe had scored none.

After 10 rounds, Botvinnik kept the lead and had 6, Reshevsky was in second with 4 1/2 points, Smyslov and Keres was once again close behind with each having 4 but Euwe only had 1 1/2.

After 15 rounds of play, Botvinnik kept leading with 9 points, Keres then took second with 6 1/2, Reshevsky close on his heels with 6, Smyslov with 5 1/2, and sadly,Euwe only had 3.

After 20 rounds, Botvinnik kept a commanding lead with 12 points, Smyslov and Reshevsky tied for second each with 8 1/2, Keres with 7 1/2 and Euwe way behind with 3 1/2.

★★★ FINAL ★★★

After 25 rounds of play, Botvinnik was crowded the first FIDE world champion finishing with 14 points out a possible 25. Smyslov took second with 11. Tied for third were Reshevsky and Keres each finishing with 10 1/2. Euwe came in last,and only had 4 points, 6 1/2 points behind 3rd place and 10 points behind the winner. Mikhail Botvinnik had became the 6th official world championship.

★★★ MINI TABLE ★★★

Botvinnik - 1 1/2 1 1 1 - 1/2 1/2 1 1 1 - 0 1 1/2 1/2 1 - 1 1/2 1/2 1 0 (10 wins, 8 draws, 2 losses) <1st, 70% score>

Smyslov 1/2 0 1/2 1 - 1/2 0 1/2 1 1 - 1/2 0 0 1/2 1 - 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1/2 - 1 (6 wins, 10 draws, 4 losses) <2nd, 55% score>

Reshevsky 1/2 - 1 0 1 1/2 1/2 - 1/2 1/2 0 0 1 - 1/2 1/2 1 0 1 - 1/2 1/2 0 1 (+6, =9, -5) <=3rd, 52.5%>

Keres 1 1 0 - 0 1/2 1 1/2 0 - 1 1/2 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 1 1/2 - 1/2 1 (+8, =5, -7) <=3rd, 52.5%>

Euwe 0 0 - 0 0 1/2 1/2 0 - 1/2 0 0 1 1/2 - 0 1/2 0 0 0 - 1/2 0 0 0 (+1, =6, -14) <5th, 20%>

★★★ OTHER LINKS ★★★

Head to Head Records Prior to 1948:

Botvinnik-Smyslov: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (6 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss in favour of Botvinnik)

Botvinnik-Reshevsky: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (2 wins, 3 draws and 0 losses in favour of Botvinnik)

Botvinnik-Keres: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (2 wins, 6 draws and 0 losses in favour of Botvinnik)

Botvinnik-Euwe: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (2 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses in favour of Euwe)

Smyslov-Reshevsky: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (2 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss in favour of Smyslov)

Smyslov-Keres: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (4 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss in favour of Keres)

Smyslov-Euwe: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (Smyslov beat Euwe 1-0 in their only meeting prior to 1948)

Reshevsky-Keres: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in favour of Keres)

Reshevsky-Euwe: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (1 win, 2 draws and 1 loss for both players)

Keres-Euwe: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (7 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses for both players)

Previous World Championship: Game Collection: 1937 World Chess Championship

Next World Championship: Game Collection: 1951 World Chess Championship

Round 1: Euwe 0, Keres 1
Euwe vs Keres, 1948
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 56 moves, 0-1
Round 1: Smyslov 1/2, Reshevsky 1/2
Smyslov vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2: Botvinnik 1, Euwe 0
Botvinnik vs Euwe, 1948
(D46) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 32 moves, 1-0
Round 2: Keres 2, Smyslov 1/2
Keres vs Smyslov, 1948
(A15) English, 27 moves, 1-0
Round 3: Smyslov 1, Botvinnik 1 1/2
Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1948
(D96) Grunfeld, Russian Variation, 44 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game 1: Reshevsky 1 1/2, Keres
Reshevsky vs Keres, 1948
(A15) English, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 4: Botvinnik 2 1/2, Reshevsky 1 1/2
Botvinnik vs Reshevsky, 1948
(E40) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 32 moves, 1-0
Round 4: Euwe 0, Smyslov 2
Euwe vs Smyslov, 1948
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 5: Keres 2, Botvinnik 3 1/2
Keres vs Botvinnik, 1948
(A13) English, 58 moves, 0-1
Round 5: Reshevsky 2 1/2, Euwe 0
Reshevsky vs Euwe, 1948
(D46) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 6: Keres 2 1/2, Euwe 1/2
Keres vs Euwe, 1948
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6: Reshevsky 3, Smyslov 2 1/2
Reshevsky vs Smyslov, 1948
(D17) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7: Smyslov 2 1/2, Keres 3 1/2
Smyslov vs Keres, 1948
(E02) Catalan, Open, 5.Qa4, 57 moves, 0-1
Round 7: Euwe 1, Botvinnik 4
Euwe vs Botvinnik, 1948
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8: Botvinnik 4 1/2, Smyslov 3
Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1948
(D98) Grunfeld, Russian, 79 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8: Keres 4, Reshevsky 3 1/2
Keres vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C71) Ruy Lopez, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9: Reshevsky 4, Botvinnik 5
Reshevsky vs Botvinnik, 1948
(A91) Dutch Defense, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9: Smyslov 3 1/2, Euwe 1
Smyslov vs Euwe, 1948
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 70 moves, 1-0
Round 10: Botvinnik 6, Keres 4
Botvinnik vs Keres, 1948
(E28) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch Variation, 23 moves, 1-0
Round 10: Euwe 1 1/2, Reshevsky 4 1/2
Euwe vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11: Smyslov 5, Reshevsky 4 1/2
Smyslov vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 52 moves, 1-0
Round 11: Euwe 1 1/2, Keres 5
Euwe vs Keres, 1948
(C74) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 25 moves, 0-1
Round 12: Botvinnik 7, Euwe 1 1/2
Botvinnik vs Euwe, 1948
(D49) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 36 moves, 1-0
Round 12: Keres 5 1/2, Smyslov 5 1/2
Keres vs Smyslov, 1948
(D99) Grunfeld Defense, Smyslov, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13: Smyslov 5 1/2, Botvinnik 8
Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1948
(B60) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 41 moves, 0-1
Round 13: Reshevsky 4 1/2, Keres 6 1/2
Reshevsky vs Keres, 1948
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 63 moves, 0-1
Round 14: Botvinnik 8, Reshevsky 5 1/2
Botvinnik vs Reshevsky, 1948
(E29) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 14: Euwe 2 1/2, Smyslov 5 1/2
Euwe vs Smyslov, 1948
(D99) Grunfeld Defense, Smyslov, 42 moves, 1-0
Round 15: Keres 6 1/2, Botvinnik 9
Keres vs Botvinnik, 1948
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 72 moves, 0-1
Round 15: Reshevsky 6, Euwe 3
Reshevsky vs Euwe, 1948
(A13) English, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 16: Keres 7 1/2, Euwe 3
Keres vs Euwe, 1948
(C81) Ruy Lopez, Open, Howell Attack, 34 moves, 1-0
Round 16: Reshevsky 6 1/2, Smyslov 6
Reshevsky vs Smyslov, 1948
(D19) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 17: Euwe 3 1/2, Botvinnik 9 1/2
Euwe vs Botvinnik, 1948
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 17: Smyslov 7, Keres 7 1/2
Smyslov vs Keres, 1948
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 18: Botvinnik 10, Smyslov 7 1/2
Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1948
(D76) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.cd Nxd5, 7.O-O Nb6, 80 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 18: Keres 7 1/2, Reshevsky 7 1/2
Keres vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C81) Ruy Lopez, Open, Howell Attack, 41 moves, 0-1
Round 19: Reshevsky 7 1/2, Botvinnik 11
Reshevsky vs Botvinnik, 1948
(C18) French, Winawer, 47 moves, 0-1
Round 19: Smyslov 8 1/2, Euwe 3 1/2
Smyslov vs Euwe, 1948
(C81) Ruy Lopez, Open, Howell Attack, 26 moves, 1-0
Round 20: Botvinnik 12, Keres 7 1/2
Botvinnik vs Keres, 1948
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 60 moves, 1-0
Round 20: Euwe 3 1/2, Reshevsky 8 1/2
Euwe vs Reshevsky, 1948
(E33) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 21: Smyslov 9, Reshevsky 9
Smyslov vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C81) Ruy Lopez, Open, Howell Attack, 73 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 21: Euwe 3 1/2, Keres 8 1/2
Euwe vs Keres, 1948
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 35 moves, 0-1
Round 22: Euwe 4, Botvinnik 12 1/2
Botvinnik vs Euwe, 1948
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 22: Keres 9, Smyslov 9 1/2
Keres vs Smyslov, 1948
(A16) English, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 23: Smyslov 10, Botvinnik 13
Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1948
(D22) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 23: Reshevsky 9 1/2, Keres 9 1/2
Reshevsky vs Keres, 1948
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 24: Botvinnik 14, Reshevsky 9 1/2
Botvinnik vs Reshevsky, 1948
(C49) Four Knights, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 24: Euwe 4, Smyslov 11
Euwe vs Smyslov, 1948
(D99) Grunfeld Defense, Smyslov, 38 moves, 0-1
Round 25: Keres 10 1/2, Botvinnik 14
Keres vs Botvinnik, 1948
(C15) French, Winawer, 39 moves, 1-0
Round 25: Reshevsky 10 1/2, Euwe 4
Reshevsky vs Euwe, 1948
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 36 moves, 1-0
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