They didn't have any last year!

I use semi-colons in text messages...

Yes, Botvinnik was notoriously paranoid. I think he seriously hurt Flohr's feelings too on one occasion, by implying that he didn't consider him trustworthy.

Not only this.
In his book 'Match Botvinnik-Smyslov na pervenstvo mira' Botvinnik mentions two other examples, in the openings of games 12 & 19, that he says gave him cause for suspicion.

Though Botvinnik parted company with him after the 1954 contest.
In his book on the match he implies that Smyslov must had have advance knowledge of some of the World Champion's opening choices. It does seem that he suspected Kan (though this may have been paranoia...).

Just wait till he becomes a fully-fledged Popescu.

Thanks for that link.

It really does feel at times like it's the 1930s all over again...

"Some people have regarded the north as being impoverished compared to the iron age of the south of Britain. This shows that individuals there had the same quality of materials and wealth and status and networks as people in the south."

I'm sorry, but this find is not in the north of Britain.

It was a grand day out.

The 41st USSR Championship in 1973 was very strong, maybe the strongest ever, but it wasn't a selection tournament for the World Championship qualifiers.

The game v. Karpov is featured on this blog post:
dgriffinchess.wordpress.com/2020/10/03/a...

A photo of Tal, after his make-over for the film!

I saw him at the Lloyds’ Bank Masters in London in 1984. Was a thrill just to be playing in the same room as him.