If there hadn't been the big K+K around, Korchnoi would probably have got the crown. He would have lost it then in 80's to either Beliavsky, Timman, Yusupov or Nunn.
Back to the topic: Botvinnik didn't cheat himself and refused the offer, rather Keres' play was cramped somehow. No wonder, after the war Keres was perceived as a traitor in the USSR (Estonia declared secession from the USSR under German occupation in 1941 and Keres played tournaments in Germany) and was threatened with jail and/or Gulag. He had got no calm to prepare for this championship.
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