AThe Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle Milwaukee, Wisconsin Friday, December 21, 1962 - Page 2
Botvinnik
Mikhail Botvinnik is the world's champion chess player and it took a long time before a challenger was decided upon. Readers of this column will recall the details here of the Challengers Tournament held in Curacao, which was won by Tigran Petrosian. In winning, Petrosian earned the right to face Botvinnik and there was a rumor about that Botvinnik would beg off, give up his title and permit Petrosian to fight it out with another top challenger, Paul Keres, who was runner-up to Petrosian at Curacao.
But Botvinnik will accept the challenge of Petrosian and the two masters will meet in Moscow next year. It should prove to be interesting, for Botvinnik seems to have the ability to demonstrate his very best form in championship matches, although he sometimes falters in less important tourneys. Petrosian is himself a brilliant player. One cannot forget, however, Bobby Fischer's accusations against the Russians who, according to Fischer, play in unison to eliminate all non-Russians who the chips are down. So one actually must wonder if Petrosian is really the second-best man in the world. Fischer thinks he's better than everyone else, but he will have to wait his turn and as the chess nabobs move very slowly, he may be much, much older before he gets his opportunity to meet the eventual winner.
