1960 World Chess Championship

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1960 World Chess Championship
Compiled by Penguincw

★★★ INTRO ★★★

The 1960 World Chess Championship was between 48 year old defending champion Mikhail Botvinnik of the Soviet Union and 24 year old challenger Mikhail Tal also of the Soviet Union.

★★★ BACKGROUND ★★★

After winning the 1958 chess championship 12 1/2-10 1/2 against Vasily Smyslov (see Game Collection: 1958 World Chess Championship for games and more info), it was time to find a new challenger. Previously, Botvinnik has challenged or held the title for 12 years now. To find a new challenger, first there had to be an interzonal tournament. The interzonal tournament was a single-round robin with 21 players (see Portoroz Interzonal (1958) for games and more info). It was held in Yugoslavia. Tal emerged victorious winning 13.5/20. Also qualifying for the candidates tournament (the following year) was Svetozar Gligoric (13/20), Pal Benko and Tigran Petrosian (both with 12.5/21), Bobby Fischer and Fridrik Olafsson (12/21 each). 5 players (Yuri Averbakh, David Bronstein, Aleksandar Matanovic, Ludek Pachman and Laszlo Szabo) missed it by a mere half point.

Since there were just 6 players in the Candidates tournament, Vasily Smyslov and Paul Keres (who placed in the top 2 last candidates (see Amsterdam Candidates (1956) for games and more information) were seeded into the tournament directly. It was a quadruple round robin. Tal emerged victoriously winning 20/28, mainly by winning games from the lower seeds (including 4-0 over Fischer and Ólafsson). This earned Tal the right to challenge Botvinnik for the crown.

★★★ CONDITIONS ★★★

The championship took place in Moscow. It was a best of 24. The first player to 12 1/2 points (draws included) would win the title. If the match ends in a 12-12 tie, Botvinnik (the title holder) would retain his title (by default). The first round was played March 15th, 1960.

★★★ FINAL ★★★

The last game (21) was played on May 7th, 1960 and was drawn, earning Tal the 12 1/2 points he needed to take the title away for Botvinnik. He then became the 8th world champion.

★★★ MINI TABLE ★★★

Tal 1 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1 0 0 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 (6 wins, 13 draws, 2 losses) <59.5% score>

Botvinnik 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 0 1 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 (2 wins, 13 draws, 6 losses) <40.5% score>

★★★ OTHER LINKS ★★★

Head to Head Match up Prior to 1960: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... (never met)

Previous World Championship: Game Collection: 1958 World Chess Championship

Next World Championship: Game Collection: 1961 World Chess Championship

Game 1, Tal leads 1-0
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(C18) French, Winawer, 32 moves, 1-0
Game 2, Tal leads 1 1/2-1/2
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(A61) Benoni, 44 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 3, Tal leads 2-1
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B11) Caro-Kann, Two Knights, 3...Bg4, 37 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 4, Tal leads 2 1/2-1 1/2
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E27) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch Variation, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 5, Tal leads 3-2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 6, Tal leads 4-2
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E69) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Main line, 47 moves, 0-1
Game 7, Tal leads 5-2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 52 moves, 1-0
Game 8, Tal leads 5-3
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(A70) Benoni, Classical with 7.Nf3, 41 moves, 1-0
Game 9, Tal leads 5-4
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 58 moves, 0-1
Game 10, Tal leads 5 1/2-4 1/2
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E88) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Tal leads 6 1/2-4 1/2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(A05) Reti Opening, 72 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Tal leads 7-5
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 72 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 13, Tal leads 7 1/2-5 1/2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 14, Tal leads 8-6
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E24) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 15, Tal leads 8 1/2-6 1/2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 16, Tal leads 9-7
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E24) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 17, Tal leads 10-7
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0
Game 18, Tal leads 10 1/2-7 1/2
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E24) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 76 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 19, Tal leads 11 1/2-7 1/2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(A87) Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation, 41 moves, 1-0
Game 20, Tal leads 12-8
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E24) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Game 21, Tal wins 12 1/2-8 1/2
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
21 games

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