"I was subjected to strong psychological pressure from various sources and it was entirely up to me to yield to that pressure or not"

David Bronstein

"Rumours that Bronstein had been forced to lose the match persist until today – they were, for instance, debated during the Kramnik vs Deep Fritz match that ended on the day of his death.

He himself wrote in his book "The Sorcerer's Apprentice": "I have been asked many, many times if I was obliged to lose the 23rd game and if there was a conspiracy against me to stop me from taking Botvinnik's title. A lot of nonsense has been written about this.
The only thing that I am prepared to say about all this controversy is that I was subjected to strong psychological pressure from various origins and it was entirely up to me to yield to that pressure or not." Here's a full ChessBase article on the fateful match and game."

Tumbledown Dick can empathise with the late David Bronstein. He now knows what it is like to be subjected to unpleasant pressure being applied from various sources! It looks like Peter Punt has attempted to publicly humiliate him.

Funny enough it was not so long ago TD Junior was quoted as ominously saying "A lot can happen between now and then.....et,etc,etc." I think this psuedo sinister diatribe was directed against John Larkin QC. Larkin never realised he was dealing with Britain`s ace "spymaster" or he never would have made those unseemly courtroom remarks!

Bronstein was never allowed by the Soviets to win the world chess championship because "his face did not fit!" Although he never publicly admitted what "strong psychological pressure" was applied to him, it is well known in chess circles the Soviets held his father in prison to make sure he did not win the crucial much.

It makes you wonder what "strong pscychological pressure " has been applied to all Unionist political parties as they stand idly by and allow IRA/MI5 agents to be legally armed, especially after some of them have been convicted of criminal offences!
TUV hypocrisy on Direct Rule....

The history of Daniel and extreme pscychological pressure.
Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.6 ¶ Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.11 ¶ Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.