Sport: Thoroughness at Zurich

Before he plays a match with a Westerner, Russia's World Chess Champion Mikhail Botvinnik goes into training with war-game thoroughness, e.g., his seconds blow clouds of cigar smoke in his face and turn up the radio to a blare. Last week at Zurich, in a smoke-filled (but quiet) room, nine Russian chess experts and six other challengers from abroad, including the U.S.'s five-time champion, little (5 ft. 2 in.) Samuel Reshevsky, met to challenge Russia's mighty Mikhail for the world title.

The visiting Russians showed further examples of Russian thoroughness. They had brought...