▁by ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁on ▁August ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁K eres ▁played ▁in ▁his ▁first ▁Soviet ▁Championship ▁at ▁Moscow ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁( UR S - ch 1 2 ), ▁placing ▁fourth ▁(+ 9 − 4 = 6 ) ▁in ▁an ▁exception ally ▁strong ▁field , ▁placing ▁him ▁ahead ▁of ▁the ▁def ending ▁champion ▁Mik h ail ▁Bot v inn ik , ▁among ▁others . ▁The ▁Soviet ▁Ch ess ▁Federation ▁organized ▁the ▁" Ab solute ▁Championship ▁of ▁the ▁USS R " ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁with ▁the ▁top ▁six ▁finish ers ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁championship ▁meeting ▁each ▁other ▁four ▁times ; ▁it ▁was ▁split ▁between ▁L ening rad ▁and ▁Moscow . ▁Bot v inn ik ▁won ▁the ▁event , ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁strong est ▁ever ▁organized , ▁with ▁ 1 3 ½ / 2 0 , ▁and ▁K eres ▁placed ▁second ▁with ▁ 1 1 , ▁ahead ▁of ▁Vas ily ▁Sm ys lov , ▁Isaac ▁B oles lav sky , ▁And or ▁Lil ient hal , ▁and ▁Ig or ▁Bond are v sky . ▁ ▁With ▁the ▁Naz i ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁Est onia ▁came ▁under ▁German ▁control ▁soon ▁afterwards . ▁During ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁K eres ▁and ▁Ale kh ine ▁both ▁played ▁in ▁four ▁tournament s ▁organized ▁by ▁Ehr hardt ▁Post , ▁a ▁President