David Bronstein was later revealed. The rumor that Bronstein was related to the disgraced former Soviet Communist leader Leon Trotsky (whose real family name was Bronstein), was treated as unconfirmed, but doubtful, by Bronstein in his book "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1995). This belief could have explained the imprisonment of Bronstein's father. With the tide turning towards an eventual Soviet war victory over the Nazi invaders, Bronstein was able to once again play some competitive chess. His first top-standard Soviet event was the 1944 USSR Championship, where he won his individual game against eventual winner (and soon-to-be world champion) Mikhail Botvinnik. Bronstein moved
Lev Natochenny Lev Natochenny Lev Natochenny (Russian: Лев Наточенный) (born January 26, 1950) is a Russian-American classical pianist and professor of piano. Born in Moscow, Natochenny graduated from the Moscow "Tchaikovsky" Conservatoire, where he was taught by Lev Oborin. He also studied with Boris Zemliansky and Eliso Virsaladze as well as with Alexei Lubimov (chamber music) and worked in the violin class with David Oistrakh. In 1978, because of his discontent with the Soviet government's control of the music scene, Natochenny applied for and was granted the permission to leave the USSR, which he did in 1978. He went on to receive