Vasily Vasilievich Smyslov: The Underrated World Chess Champion

Finally, a tournament of five players was organized, where Smyslov was also invited. Vasily Smyslov was born on March 24, 1921, and died on March 27, 2010. He lived to the blessed age of 89 years.

Smyslov's star began to shine only in 1948 when he was quite unexpectedly invited to the World Championship. After the death of Alexander Alekhine in 1946, the question of who would be the world champion was debated. Finally, a tournament of five players was organized, where Smyslov was also invited. It must be said, however, that Smyslov did not have a significant success in this tournament.

Photo: Koen Suyk / Anefo

However, he performed more than well in the tournament and finished second behind Botvinnik. In 1950, he was awarded the title of Grandmaster.

In 1954, he played a match for the World Champion title against Botvinnik, which ended in a 12:12 draw. Three years later, he sits down against Botvinnik again and wins 12.5:9.5, becoming the seventh World Champion. In the 1950s, Smyslov played fantastically. However, he loses the rematch and is thus World Champion for only one year.

Smyslov continues to demonstrate high mastery, winning many tournaments, but he is unable to make it to the World Champion match again. Now, let's focus on his +50 era.

Smyslov celebrates fifty years in 1971. And it was in 1971 that he wins the IBM super tournament in Amsterdam. He scores 10/15 without a loss, a point ahead of Portisch, Keres, and Browne. (This is where I draw the game sample from) In 1971, he also shares the 2nd and 3rd place in the USSR championship. Surprisingly, Grandmaster Savon wins with 15/21 without a loss! And second are Smyslov and Tal, when they have 13.5/21. By the way, each "in his style". Smyslov doesn't lose a game, while Tal loses three (!). Also worth mentioning is that in 4th place was Tolya Karpov.

Photo credits: D. Fligelis via chesspro.ru

I don't want to list all of V. Smyslov's achievements here. There are many. But one more record is definitely worth mentioning. In 1982, when Smyslov is already 61 years old (!!), he plays in the Las Palmas qualifier for the candidates' match. And Smyslov advances from second place! The first was Grandmaster Ribli.

He enters the first match against Grandmaster Hübner. This match, despite all efforts, ends in a draw and must be decided... by roulette! I don't remember which color Smyslov bet on, but he bet well. He proceeds further through roulette :-) His next opponent is Grandmaster Ribli. He wins this match too, and now classically on the chessboard 6.5:4.5. It's incredible, but at the age of 63, Smyslov plays in the final of the candidate's match to challenge World Champion Karpov! His opponent is 21-year-old Garry Kasparov. An unprecedented age difference. Smyslov is 3 times older than his opponent :-)

As we know, Smyslov didn't stand much chance here. Garry was already playing extremely well.

How was it possible for Smyslov to play so brilliantly even after sixty? There are several factors. I think it was about:

a) a great sense for chess, Smyslov was able to play harmonious, healthy chess. Moreover, he was versatile b) huge flexibility in the opening, and not only did he "vary those systems", he also knew them very well c) great psychological resilience and mental strength, I would say an enormous "chess aura" d) and last but not least, very good physical condition. Look at photos of fifty or sixty-year-old Smyslov. From those photos, you can feel that Smyslov was in very good physical shape.

Photo: Alexander Yakovlev/TASS

For me personally, Vasily Vasilievich Smyslov is an underrated World Champion. His games are some of the best study material in chess. Basically, for any part of chess.