After Alekhine's death as incumbent world chess champion in 1946, the chess world entered a period of interregnum where no grandmaster could legitimately claim the title as his own. The first great post-war tournament was that at Groningen in Holland. This witnessed a mighty race between the former champion Dr Max Euwe and the chief Soviet protagonist Mikhail Botvinnik. Had Euwe won he would doubtless have been proclaimed world champion anew - so for Botvinnik it was vital to win in order to keep his prospects of a challenge alive. This book, reproduced from the original contemporary notes, recounts in detail that thrilling struggle. It contains a multitude of masterpieces by a generation of grandmasters and masters finally eager and able to take up the chess pieces once again after the World War had frustrated their energies and blighted their opportunities to compete on the international stage.