David Bronstein, 82; chess grandmaster almost became world champion

David Bronstein, 82, a chess grandmaster who nearly became world champion, died Tuesday in Minsk, Belarus, the World Chess Federation said. It did not give the cause of death, but the Russian Chess Federation said he died of a stroke.

Bronstein, born in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union, was champion of the USSR in 1948 and 1949.

He challenged reigning world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in 1951 but drew the match 12-12, despite leading with two games left to play, leaving the title in Botvinnik’s hands.

“He played hundreds of sparkling games, which will always be remembered by chess players. Bronstein was and remains a hero for hundreds of thousands of chess fans, who grew up on his ingenious books and games,” the Russian Chess Federation said.

It quoted Bronstein as saying once that chess has an almost spiritual factor: “Beauty is the most important aspect of chess.... We are passing our knowledge and our understanding of beauty to the next generations, and thus life goes on forever.”