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 Philippovitch Wolkenstein Lev Philippovitch Wolkenstein Lev Philippovitch Wolkenstein (, 1858—20.05.1935, Paris) was a Russian jurist, lawyer and cadet. He was born as Isaak-Leib Fishelevich Wolkenstein () at 1858 presumably in Taganrog. Lev Wolkenstein was brother of who also was a Russian lawyer. Lev Wolkenstein studied at Taganrog Classical Male Gymnasium () at the same time as Anton Chekhov. When Chekhov was at seventh grade and Wolkenstein was at undergraduate eighth grade, all students at Wolkenstein's class except Wolkenstein rejected to write essay prescribed for them. This caused conflict between Wolkenstein and his classmates. One of them called Wolkenstein as "zhyd" and Wolkenstein