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Did the Soviets Collude in the 1953 Candidates Tournament?

I was considering writing some potentially controversial historical chess articles about WWII. First one looking at Alexander Alekhine's claim that Jewish chess players conspired against him in the 1935 match against Max Euwe. And second on how Alexander Alekhine was able to turn the tables in 1937, and devise a method to defeat the formidable Jewish opposition before and during WWII. Other related relevant topics might include the failed attempt to unify Jewish players to boycott Alekhine, and the difficult position 'ethnic / National loyalty' can put people into, specifically related to chess competition.

My desire came after reading: Chess in the Third Reich: Play, Glorification and Abuse in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945 by Taylor Kingston, and a few recent biographies of Alekhine.

The question of role of ethnic / National loyalty in chess, specifically in obtaining and maintaining the world championship title, might remain just as relevant today as during WWII.

I was considering writing some potentially controversial historical chess articles about WWII. First one looking at Alexander Alekhine's claim that Jewish chess players conspired against him in the 1935 match against Max Euwe. And second on how Alexander Alekhine was able to turn the tables in 1937, and devise a method to defeat the formidable Jewish opposition before and during WWII. Other related relevant topics might include the failed attempt to unify Jewish players to boycott Alekhine, and the difficult position 'ethnic / National loyalty' can put people into, specifically related to chess competition. My desire came after reading: Chess in the Third Reich: Play, Glorification and Abuse in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945 by Taylor Kingston, and a few recent biographies of Alekhine. The question of role of ethnic / National loyalty in chess, specifically in obtaining and maintaining the world championship title, might remain just as relevant today as during WWII.

The Estonian Keres just like Alékhine played chess in Nazi-Germany occupied territory.
One allegation is that Keres had to throw games to atone for that.
Both losses of Keres to Smyslov and the loss of Keres to Bronstein are suspicious to say the least.

Zürich 1953 is no isolated case.
There have been several claims of collusion: Moscow 1936, The Hague - Moscow 1948, Budapest 1950, Curaçao 1962.
Chess was a matter of national prestige for the Soviet Union.
Fine refused to play in The Hague - Moscow 1948, as he feared collusion.
Euwe played, but got his opening notes confiscated by customs in Moscow.
Fischer later even said all games between Soviet players were pre-arranged move per move.

The Estonian Keres just like Alékhine played chess in Nazi-Germany occupied territory. One allegation is that Keres had to throw games to atone for that. Both losses of Keres to Smyslov and the loss of Keres to Bronstein are suspicious to say the least. Zürich 1953 is no isolated case. There have been several claims of collusion: Moscow 1936, The Hague - Moscow 1948, Budapest 1950, Curaçao 1962. Chess was a matter of national prestige for the Soviet Union. Fine refused to play in The Hague - Moscow 1948, as he feared collusion. Euwe played, but got his opening notes confiscated by customs in Moscow. Fischer later even said all games between Soviet players were pre-arranged move per move.

this was brilliant! thank you

this was brilliant! thank you

@tpr said ^

Fine refused to play in The Hague - Moscow 1948, as he feared collusion.

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/fine.html

In C.N.s 1680 and 1915 Edward J. Tassinari quoted various, and varying, explanations by Reuben Fine of his absence from the 1948 world championship match-tournament:

On page 2 of the November 1948 Chess Review Fine wrote:

‘At the time of the tournament, I was not teaching, but working on my doctoral dissertation. I was not bound by any contract to the university. I withdrew from the tournament because I did not care to interrupt my research. Needless to say, nobody had consulted me on whether the dates set were convenient for me.’

From pages 151-152 of Lessons from My Games by Reuben Fine (New York, 1958):

‘The next year they [presumably the Russians] changed their minds again, and the tournament was held. By that time I was embarked on my new profession as a psychoanalyst and was unable to play.’

Pages 4-5 of Bobby Fischer’s Conquest of the World’s Chess Championship by ‘Reuben Fine, Ph.D., International Chess Champion’ (New York, 1973) claimed that a proposed 1947 tournament for the title was ...

‘... called off by the Russians as part of a kind of blackmail scheme to force the players to compete in Russia. My own refusal to play in 1948 was motivated in part by the uncertainty about whether the Russians would come to the playing hall at all, and if so, under what conditions.’

On page 11 of that book Fine related that by the time the 1948 match-tournament was arranged ...

‘... I was absorbed in another profession, psychology, and no longer cared to participate.’

In an interview with Bruce Pandolfini on page 25 of Chess Life, October 1984 (‘Reuben Fine: The Man Who Might Have Been King’) Fine stated that he decided not to compete in the 1948 championship because if he had gone to the Netherlands (the site of the first part of the event) the Russians might not have participated and he would have wasted ‘a whole year of his life in preparation. Moreover, it seemed foolish to play in such hostile circumstances.’

Next, an extract from a Fine letter on page 7 of the September 1989 Chess Life:

‘The tournament was finally arranged for 1948, to be played half in the Netherlands and half in the Soviet Union (where the safety of the foreign masters was questionable). I did not play because of the expense involved, most of which I was expected to pay myself; and because I considered the tournament as it was arranged to be illegal. TASS fabricated a story that I had had to desist because of career pressures. (In fact, I was not at that time employed; I was working on my doctorate.) The TASS story was a total fraud.’

Page 4 of the February 1948 Chess Review stated that the magazine had received a telegram from Fine: ‘Professional duties make it impossible for me to get away in time to play in the tournament.’

@tpr said [^](/forum/redirect/post/WgfA9PWn) > Fine refused to play in The Hague - Moscow 1948, as he feared collusion. https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/fine.html In C.N.s 1680 and 1915 Edward J. Tassinari quoted various, and varying, explanations by Reuben Fine of his absence from the 1948 world championship match-tournament: On page 2 of the November 1948 Chess Review Fine wrote: >‘At the time of the tournament, I was not teaching, but working on my doctoral dissertation. I was not bound by any contract to the university. I withdrew from the tournament because I did not care to interrupt my research. Needless to say, nobody had consulted me on whether the dates set were convenient for me.’ From pages 151-152 of Lessons from My Games by Reuben Fine (New York, 1958): >‘The next year they [presumably the Russians] changed their minds again, and the tournament was held. By that time I was embarked on my new profession as a psychoanalyst and was unable to play.’ Pages 4-5 of Bobby Fischer’s Conquest of the World’s Chess Championship by ‘Reuben Fine, Ph.D., International Chess Champion’ (New York, 1973) claimed that a proposed 1947 tournament for the title was ... >‘... called off by the Russians as part of a kind of blackmail scheme to force the players to compete in Russia. My own refusal to play in 1948 was motivated in part by the uncertainty about whether the Russians would come to the playing hall at all, and if so, under what conditions.’ On page 11 of that book Fine related that by the time the 1948 match-tournament was arranged ... >‘... I was absorbed in another profession, psychology, and no longer cared to participate.’ In an interview with Bruce Pandolfini on page 25 of Chess Life, October 1984 (‘Reuben Fine: The Man Who Might Have Been King’) Fine stated that he decided not to compete in the 1948 championship because if he had gone to the Netherlands (the site of the first part of the event) the Russians might not have participated and he would have wasted ‘a whole year of his life in preparation. Moreover, it seemed foolish to play in such hostile circumstances.’ Next, an extract from a Fine letter on page 7 of the September 1989 Chess Life: >‘The tournament was finally arranged for 1948, to be played half in the Netherlands and half in the Soviet Union (where the safety of the foreign masters was questionable). I did not play because of the expense involved, most of which I was expected to pay myself; and because I considered the tournament as it was arranged to be illegal. TASS fabricated a story that I had had to desist because of career pressures. (In fact, I was not at that time employed; I was working on my doctorate.) The TASS story was a total fraud.’ >Page 4 of the February 1948 Chess Review stated that the magazine had received a telegram from Fine: ‘Professional duties make it impossible for me to get away in time to play in the tournament.’

@DIAChessClubStudies said ^

I was considering writing some potentially controversial historical chess articles about WWII.

That would be cool. I am interested.

@DIAChessClubStudies said [^](/forum/redirect/post/luoN0PkT) > I was considering writing some potentially controversial historical chess articles about WWII. That would be cool. I am interested.

A long read but well worth it. I really liked all the quotes, a lot of new information for me.

A long read but well worth it. I really liked all the quotes, a lot of new information for me.

For a more quantitative instead of qualitative approach, take a look at:
C. Moul, Charles & V.C. Nye, John. Did the Soviets collude? A statistical analysis of championship chess 1940–1978. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. 2009: 12-21.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2009.01.009

TL;DR: Very likely, yes.

For a more quantitative instead of qualitative approach, take a look at: C. Moul, Charles & V.C. Nye, John. Did the Soviets collude? A statistical analysis of championship chess 1940–1978. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. 2009: 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2009.01.009 TL;DR: Very likely, yes.