On May 6, 8:19 pm, wrote:

"[Botvinnik's] trainer (now perhaps a whole retinue of trainers)
works out theoretical novelties for him and tests them in play with
other masters; publication of these trial games is forbidden until
Botvinnik uses that particular variation."

This, from a Soviet defector, supports the notion that Botvinnik
was, at least to some extent, controlling chess information in Russia.
It also jibes with what I said about secret training games.


The original, sweeping claim was that MB controlled
*all* information in Russia. Hearsay evidence that MB
controlled certain info regarding his own opening
repertoire comes up just a wee bit short, don't you
think?


-- help bot