Then Came Bronstein

David Bronstein (1924-2006) was one of the best four players in the world from 1948 to 1958.  He was one of the youngest Soviet players to be awarded the national master title.  He was the winner of the first, and perhaps strongest, Interzonal in 1948.  He played for the world championship in 1951 against Botvinnik and drew the match.  Botvinnik retained the title.  In 1946, he won the strong Moscow championship.  In this game, against Alexander Kotov, he offered his Queen, which would have led to checkmate if it had been taken.  Kotov resigned as Bronstein could force checkmate in other ways.