preferred by officials (he was a Russian Gentile while Botvinnik was Jewish, at a time of rising antisemitism among the Soviet elite); Keres was under severe psychological stress as a result of the multiple invasions of his home country, Estonia, and of his subsequent treatment by Soviet officials up to late 1946; and Keres was less tough mentally than his rivals. Keres told Bent Larsen in private that the rumours were false and he lost fair and square to Botvinnik (J.Aagaard). Notes References reprint of Chess Review articles from April to August 1948 1948 1948 in chess 1948 in Dutch sport 1948 in Soviet sport 1948 in Russia Chess in the Netherlands Chess in Russia Chess in the Soviet Union Sports competitions in Moscow Sports competitions in The Hague