World Champion 1948–1957, 1958–1960, 1961–1963
Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-1995) became world champion in 1948 and remained so until 1963. With Botvinnik begins the systematic scientific approach to chess. The 5th World Chess Champion, called "Patriarch" in the Soviet Union, founded a chess school after the end of his active career. Among his students were Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik.
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