When did the Russian hegemony over chess begin?

For much of the 20th century Russia dominated world chess. There was, I think, a Soviet policy of using chess dominance as a Cold War weapon, so potential champions were intensively trained. But when did Russia start inching ahead ? Incidentally, any nominations for the best player ever, Russian or other ?|||After World War II.





"An increase in the number of players participating in the tournaments was observed after the World War II.





Russian player Mikhail Botvinnik is the first declared World champion in this era. He won the title in 1948. At the early years of this stage, many Russian players became well-known in the tournaments. The only non-Russian player who succeeded and became a world chess master in 1972 is American player Bobby Fischer who was able to maintain the title until 1975."


http://www.chessdevelopment.com/unveilin鈥?/a>





There is a Yahoo group that discusses chess and chess history: the65thsquare:


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the65thsqu鈥?/a>|||I agree..Botvinnik and his Russian chess school after WW2 started it.|||the internet makes it much easier to play chess





U.S.C.F. prize money is getting higher every year





an american baseball player can make $5,000,000 a year...thats a good reason to avoid chess?





an american film star can make $5,000,000 per movie...thats a good reason to avoid chess?





a singer that can't sing (no names please - we all know her name) can make $5,000,000 per album...that's ANOTHER good reason to avoid chess?





i cant play baseball, i cant act, i sing like a dying bird..........so i play chess....sue me