Chess During the Cold WarHow Cold War Tensions Affected the World Chess Championship of 1972?Section A: Survey DesignFor much of the 20th century, the Cold War (mid-1940s – early 1990s) created a state of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This tension has been sustained on different fronts, such as the nuclear arms race, the space race and political and military conflicts. This investigation assesses these Cold War tensions as they continue in the world of chess. The pinnacle of competitive chess during the Cold War occurred during the 1972 World Chess Championship. By examining the match, the conditions surrounding the games and the players, this investigation assesses: "How Cold War tensions Did they affect the 1972 World Chess Championship? » This investigation uses sources from chess historians, as well as chess grandmasters themselves. Section B: Summary of Evidence In the aftermath of World War II, the early days of the Cold War saw fierce competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, the Soviet chess school emerged. This school of play emphasized bold and rapid play, achieved through rigorous training and study of the game (Kotov). The Soviet chess school produced a generation of Soviet chess players whose international dominance would surprise the world. In the field of chess, the start of the Cold War corresponds to the birth of the FIDE (World Chess Federation) world chess championship cycle. The emerging dominance of Soviet chess players was evident in their performances in these championships. From 1948 to 1969, the Soviets were undefeated, winning 10 consecutive world chess championships and ...... middle of paper ...... d ed. Jefferson: McFarland &, 2006. Print. Gulko, Boris, Vladimir Popov and Viktor Kortschnoi. The KGB plays chess: the Soviet secret police and the fight for the world chess crown. Np: Russell Enterprises, 2010. Print. Helgason, Gudjon and Brian Church. “The 1972 Fisher match was a Cold War battle.” USAToday.USAToday, January 19, 2008. Web. April 30, 2014. Johnson, Daniel. White King and Red Queen: How the Cold War was fought on the chessboard. Np: Atlantic, 2008. Print. Kotov, Alexander. The Soviet chess school. London: Hardinge Simpole, 2002. Print. Schonberg, Harold C. “The Cold War in Chess.” The New York Times. The New YorkTimes, September 26, 1981. Web. April 7, 2014.Taylor, Quintard. “US History: Timeline: Cold War.” University of Washington: Department of History. University of Washington, Spring 2007. Web. April 30. 2014.