Mikhail Botvinnik

Chess Player

Birthday August 17, 1911

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Russia

DEATH DATE May 5, 1995 (83)

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About

Soviet chess Grandmaster and three time World Champion who helped design the World Chess Championship system after World War II.

Before Fame

He learned to play chess on a homemade set and won his first Soviet Championship at the age of 20.

Trivia

He worked as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time he was competing in chess professionally, making him one of the very few professional chess players who achieved distinction in another career.

Family Life

His parents were both dentists.

Associated With

He was the teacher of chess legend Garry Kasparov.