FIDE regrets to announce the death of Grandmaster David Bronstein in Minsk, Belarus on 5 December 2006. David Ionovich Bronstein was born 19 February 1924 in Bila Tserkva, near Kyiv, Ukraine. The Champion of Ukraine (1939), of Moscow (1946), of USSR (1948 and 1949). The winner of the first Interzonal tournament (1948) and the first Candidates Tournament in Budapest (1950) He drew the challenge match for the title of world champion by a score of 12-12 with Mikhail Botvinnik, the reigning champion (1951).
He represented Russia at the Olympiad of 1952, 1954, 1956 and 1958, winning board prizes at each of them. David Bronstein also wrote a number of chess books and articles. Many of them like Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953, The Modern Chess Self Tutor, 200 Open Games became bestsellers.
He was one of the strongest chess players in the world. His games demonstrated a high degree of creativity, fantasy, tactical ingenuity, and surprise.
Source: FIDE
I personally knew David Bronstein. He was a gentleman, always cheerful and had a good sense of humor. He was very kind to me. He visited my family home in Budapest in the 80’s. He showed me some beautiful games and we played blitz. He loved chess with a passion. RIP GM Bronstein!
A great loss for chess but he left a legacy in all of his games. He will be always remembered.
Polin.
“Chess is a peaceful game, that is why it was invented” (DB)
thank you for inspiration
/P-J
In “Chess Improvisation” by IM Vagenstein, a long term second of Bronstein, there is a chapter on the 1950 match Bronstein-Botvinnik, written by Bronstein himself with all games commented by him.
What was striking for me was that the styles of both players very strongly resembled those of Topalov (Bronstein) and Kramnik (Botvinnik). All through the match Botvinnik tried to obtain solid, boring positions and to win in the endgame where he was excellent. Bronstein, on the contrary, tried to obtain unstable, dynamic position with many tactical possibilities, often by doubling, even tripling, his pawns (in Bronstein’s hands, doubled pawns were advantage, rather than weakness). Bronstein was the better in this match, if we look at the standard of play.
Sad to lose such a worthy chess mind.
🙁
Bronstein is one of my favorite players. I know he was old, but it’s always sad to lose a hero.
My deepest condolencies to Bronstein’s family on this decease and profound respect to the memory of a true chess genius. A great man, very admired and loved person. In the board he was simply brilliant – a true wizard. He had the quality and strenght of a World Champion and certainly should have gained that title. Anyway, history dictated otherwise but his contribution to chess is nonetheless priceless.
His body will rest in peace. His spirit will continue shining and illuminating the chess world and the enterprising players.
Let’s not mourn his decease but celebrate his amazing life.
A greater human being than a chess grandmaster.
I am fortunate to have an autographed book from him:
“Even though you have a high regard for Botvinnik, I am still signing this book for you with my best regards!”
Joe B.
well he can officially challenge Botvinnik in a fantastic rematch 🙂 What a chessplayer he was! Very sad. RIP Mr. Bronstein
His variation of the Caro-Kann is still one I enjoy playing. Too bad he never became World Champ. RIP, David.
My sincere condolences to his family. David Bronstein was a brilliant chess player.
As an amateur player, I regularly play Bronstein’s Caro-Kann variation against the King’s pawn opening.
I am also working on a section of my new website that will include him in my Top 20 list of players to never have won the WCC.
RIP Mr. Bronstein.
David Bronstein, the new modern genius, Undoubtedly was one of them back then in the pre-cold war days, and we can say that he was a champion although officially he never gained the crown like Topalov did (now that can be put in inverted commas, like three weeks ago the inverted commas would belong to Kramnik), nevertherless champion or not, he was a true genius and here´s a couple of games that show it.
Torneo “Memorial Alekhine··”, Moscú 1956.
BRONSTEIN – SLIWA., Ap. Española.
P4r – P4r C3C A4C? TXC D1A
C3ar C3AD CXA PXC PXP AXP
A5C P3TD P3CR! P3A AXPA! PXA
A4T P3D D5T C(3)2R TXA! CXT
P3A A2D C5A! A3A! AXC+ ABD.
P4D A2R A3C + P4D
0-0 A3A TD1D! P3C SI….., R3C; D3D+, R2C; AXT, DXA;
A3R CR2R C3D PXPD D7D+ Y MATE PRONTO.
CD2D 0-0 AXPD! R2A
P3TD! C3C P4AR ! T1T
P4CD TR1R D2R PXP
A2A P3TR CXP CXC
MATCH URSS-ARGENTINE., b.a. 1954.
Apertura PR-DEF. Siciliana.
bronstein vs NAJdorf.
1. P4R P4AD PXA C4A
C3AR P3D T5C! CR2D
P4D PXP P4AD! P5R
4. CXP C3AR AXC CXA
C3AD P3TD PXP CXPR
A5CR P3R P6D! TXP+
D3A CD2D RXT C6A+
0-0-0 D2A R3T CXT1D*/CXT5C+ NOT ENOUGH AFTER ALL.
D3C! P4C P5A C6A
AXP! PXA T5T C4D
C4XPC D1C P6A! C3A
CXP+ AXC T6T R1A
DXA DXD P4CD! R1R
TXD P3TR P5C C2D
A2D A2C T7T! T1C
P3A 0-0 TXC TXP
P3CD! TR1A T7T T1C
R2C C4A P7D+ R2R
A3R P4R P8D+! RXD
T1-1D C3R P7A+ Aband.
T6C A3A
C5D! AXC
i wrote this a month before he died, what a shoker!!!, i always wonder what happened to the older chess talents, and i think that from now on ill prefer to remember them in the prim years and not know that they´re dead; it happened with Botvinnik , i think tal and im happy that
symslov is still alive, but for how long??
Well i guess chess plae¡yer or not we´re all for the Hayes game!!!
RIP DAVID BRONSTEIN….
Farewell, David Bronstein.
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/bronstein.html
I’m very sad. David Bronstein it was incredible and very imaginative. Rip Gm David Bronstein
RIP – One of my favourite players:
Full of imagination and flair-
I am not sure just who was the greatest chess player not to have been World Champion? But Bronstein must be there or there abouts
Last month I purchased his hardbook cover book on 1953 tournament. It is one of the best tournament books ever written and a great way to learn middlegame chess to this day I still study it. His match with Botvinnik which ended in a 12 tie was great!
R.I.P, David. I remember your lecture about the Lazy Knight variation of the Kings Gambit. I remember your bishop manoeuvre against me playing Pirc. I remember how you loved Norwegian cheese. I remember an incredible interesting personality. ~kt
By all accounts it seems that Bronstein was a decent guy. I regret he did not unequivocally address the rumors surrounding his Match against Botvinnik. He said a lot of non sense has been written but still left unanswered questions by saying he was subjected to pressure. He also did not quite deny that he tried to console Fischer saying he did not cry when he was forced to throw a match to Botvinnik.
The fact he did not come clean before his death shows a lack of courage. What could he be afraid of after the fall of the Soviet Union?
David Bronstein, the man, exuded warmth and patience; he was rock-steady amid crisis and guided countless players with his wisdom and understanding. Yet, in many ways, his brilliant playing revealed his brilliant adventurous and creative sides, spiced with his outstanding world-class calculation accuracy. He is mourned by many and missed by even more.
R.I.P.
RIP Mr. Bronstein. Thanks for the great moves.
David Ionovich Bronstein !
I love your way of playing, I promise I’ll try to play the way u used to, as much as possible.
My dream was to meet you, at least once, to tell you how much i admired you. Im only 19, I havent been lucky enough to meet you. I am deeply regretful for that.
Thank you for all you’ve done for chess.
The suggestion that Bronstein showed a lack of courage in ‘not coming clean’ is uninformed and unworthy. Prior to the final game, KGB threatened to send mr Brontein’s father back to Gulag if Bronstein won the crown from Botvinnik. Bronstein still maintained that the choice was his to make…in other words, he had an enormous personal integrity, this can be difficult for someone who has not lived under constant suspicion and oppression to understand.
My favourite comment from his lovely book “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is made in game 34 against Darga, where Bronstein ends up losing all his pawns while darga still had 6(!) left: “Now it is easy for white to play, as he no longer has to worry about his pawns!”
R.I.P David “Devik” Bronstein