MASTER MARK STOLBERG. *After two years of that tournament, in 1942, Mark Stolberg disappeared forever on a World War II.    SIZE OF THE PHOTO - approx. 5 cm x 5 cm   12TH SOVIET CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP:   This is a photograph from the famous 12th Soviet Chess Championship held in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory from September 4th through October 3rd, 1940. The 12th Soviet Chess Championship was truly a battle of the titans. Outstanding players such as Mikhail Botvinnik, Paul Keres, Vasily Smyslov, Alexander Kotov, Isaac Boleslavsky, Igor Bondarevsky, and Andre Lilienthal took part. This so-called "absolute championship" is rightfully considered one of the strongest USSR chess championships ever held. Here’s an excerpt from Mikhail Botvinnik’s memoirs. "It was a tough tournament. There were many participants and very few off-days. The Grand Hall of the Conservatory has excellent acoustics. The spectators behaved impudently, made a great deal of noise, and clapped all the time. The excellent acoustics only made matters worse. Supposedly, Sergei Prokofiev applauded Keres vigorously after the latter won a game. The other people in his box reprimanded him,, and then the composer remarked, "I have every right to express my feelings." Would my friend Mr. Prokofiev be happy if he were playing a trio and spectators applauding the violinist’s performance drowned out his piano piece? Chess players are in a worse position, though. A pianist can afford to play a few false notes amid booming applause, something a chess player isn’t allowed to do." The results of the 12th Soviet Chess Championship were truly sensational, since two young players, Andre Lilienthal and Igor Bondarevsky, came in first and second, respectively, leaving grandmasters Mikhail Botvinnik and Paul Keres, the tournament favorites, far behind. The unprecedented hype surrounding this tournament matched its historical significance. After all, the unofficial right to contend for the world championship crown, as well as the prestigious title of USSR champion were on the line. "The most difficult and most monumental tournament in which I’ve ever taken part has come to a close," Andre Lilienthal wrote. "I have no reason to be displeased with myself. First off, my win over Botvinnik himself wasn’t too bad. Secondly, I snatched what seemed to be an irrevocably lost point from Bondarevsky in the last round. Thirdly, I managed not to lose a single game. Fourthly, I wound up in the wonderful young company of Bondarevsky and Smyslov at the top of the leaderboard. A decisive match for the title of USSR champion is up next. I have to prepare thoroughly for it, which, first and foremost, means getting some much needed rest." Three months after the tournament was completed, on January 14th, 1991, the Soviet Committee on Physical Culture and Sports issued an order approving the tournament results and awarding Bondarevsky and Lilienthal, the tournament winners, grandmaster titles; however, this order was missing a key point, since it did not mention any sort of match between the two victors. That strange inconsistency came to light a month later when it was decided - through a behind-the-scenes power struggle - that one more tournament for the title of absolute USSR champion would be held, a tournament Mikhail Botvinnik won.  Art PK4

General view from the hall of the Moscow conservatory. 1940 ORIGINAL SOVIET CHESS PHOTO FROM 12TH USSR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1940 YEAR.  SIZE OF THE PHOTO – 8,3 cm x 5,4 cm 12TH SOVIET CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP:   This is a photograph from the famous 12th Soviet Chess Championship held in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory from September 4th through October 3rd, 1940. The 12th Soviet Chess Championship was truly a battle of the titans. Outstanding players such as Mikhail Botvinnik, Paul Keres, Vasily Smyslov, Alexander Kotov, Isaac Boleslavsky, Igor Bondarevsky, and Andre Lilienthal took part. This so-called "absolute championship" is rightfully considered one of the strongest USSR chess championships ever held. Here’s an excerpt from Mikhail Botvinnik’s memoirs. "It was a tough tournament. There were many participants and very few off-days. The Grand Hall of the Conservatory has excellent acoustics. The spectators behaved impudently, made a great deal of noise, and clapped all the time. The excellent acoustics only made matters worse. Supposedly, Sergei Prokofiev applauded Keres vigorously after the latter won a game. The other people in his box reprimanded him,, and then the composer remarked, "I have every right to express my feelings." Would my friend Mr. Prokofiev be happy if he were playing a trio and spectators applauding the violinist’s performance drowned out his piano piece? Chess players are in a worse position, though. A pianist can afford to play a few false notes amid booming applause, something a chess player isn’t allowed to do." The results of the 12th Soviet Chess Championship were truly sensational, since two young players, Andre Lilienthal and Igor Bondarevsky, came in first and second, respectively, leaving grandmasters Mikhail Botvinnik and Paul Keres, the tournament favorites, far behind. The unprecedented hype surrounding this tournament matched its historical significance. After all, the unofficial right to contend for the world championship crown, as well as the prestigious title of USSR champion were on the line. "The most difficult and most monumental tournament in which I’ve ever taken part has come to a close," Andre Lilienthal wrote. "I have no reason to be displeased with myself. First off, my win over Botvinnik himself wasn’t too bad. Secondly, I snatched what seemed to be an irrevocably lost point from Bondarevsky in the last round. Thirdly, I managed not to lose a single game. Fourthly, I wound up in the wonderful young company of Bondarevsky and Smyslov at the top of the leaderboard. A decisive match for the title of USSR champion is up next. I have to prepare thoroughly for it, which, first and foremost, means getting some much needed rest." Three months after the tournament was completed, on January 14th, 1991, the Soviet Committee on Physical Culture and Sports issued an order approving the tournament results and awarding Bondarevsky and Lilienthal, the tournament winners, grandmaster titles; however, this order was missing a key point, since it did not mention any sort of match between the two victors. That strange inconsistency came to light a month later when it was decided - through a behind-the-scenes power struggle - that one more tournament for the title of absolute USSR champion would be held, a tournament Mikhail Botvinnik won.   Арт ПК7

Soviet Photo: Mikhail Botvinnik University of Chess Culture. After the lecture of Mikhail Botvinnik Photographer: M.Rabkin Dimensions: approx. 18 * 12 cm. Art PK7

Aleksandr Zaitsev – Samuil Zhuhovitsky. Score sheet of Zhuhovitsky   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship which was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Semen Furman – Vladimir Savon. Score sheet of Furman Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship wich was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Viktor Kupreichik – Eduard Gufeld. Score sheet of Kupreichik   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship which was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Viktor Kupreichik – Anatoly Lutikov. Score sheet of Kupreichik   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship which was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Igor Platonov – Efim Geller. Score sheet of Geller   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship wich was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Igor Platonov – Vladimir Savon. Score sheet of Platonov   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship which was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Vladimir Savon – Aleksandr Zaitsev. Score sheet of A.Zaitsev   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship wich was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Vladimir Savon – Yuri Balashov. Score sheet of Balashov   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship which was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2

Leonid Stein – Ratmir Holmov. Score sheet of Stein   Soviet chess score sheet from the 37th Chess Championship wich was held in Moscow September 6 – October 12 1969. Tigran Petrosyan won an additional match for the title of champion (Moscow, January 19-29, 1970).   The championship was also a fide zonal tournament. Polugaevsky, Geller, Smyslov and Taimanov won the right to participate in the interzonal tournament. The latter in the final round effectively won his "party of life" from LutikovАрт ПК 2