XIV Schach-Olympiade Leipzig, 1960

Vasily Smyslov
Number of games in database: 2,638
Years covered: 1935 to 2001
Last FIDE rating: 2494
Highest rating achieved in database: 2620
Overall record: +912 -307 =1385 (61.6%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games
      Based on games in the database; may be incomplete.
      34 exhibition games, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:  Sicilian (205)      B24 B40 B92 B58 B23  English (128)      A15 A13 A14 A10 A17  Ruy Lopez (106)      C77 C92 C79 C97 C75  King's Indian (83)      E61 E60 E62 E66 E69  Reti System (70)      A04 A05 A06  English, 1 c4 c5 (69)      A30 A36 A33 A35 A39	With the Black pieces:  Ruy Lopez (216)      C60 C76 C69 C92 C67  Slav (145)      D19 D13 D11 D10 D15  Nimzo Indian (122)      E32 E54 E41 E55 E34  Ruy Lopez, Closed (92)      C92 C97 C93 C98 C84  Grunfeld (76)      D94 D98 D85 D86 D99  English, 1 c4 e5 (70)      A28 A21 A29 A22 A20

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1954 0-1
   Smyslov vs V Liberzon, 1968 1-0
   Smyslov vs I Rudakovsky, 1945 1-0
   Smyslov vs Reshevsky, 1948 1-0
   Smyslov vs Ribli, 1983 1-0
   Smyslov vs Karpov, 1971 1-0
   K Gerassimov vs Smyslov, 1935 0-1
   Keres vs Smyslov, 1953 0-1
   Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1954 1-0
   Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1957 0-1

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: [what is this?]
   FIDE World Championship Tournament (1948)
   Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Match (1954)
   Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Return Match (1957)
   Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Rematch (1958)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Match Smyslov! by amadeus
   Road to the Championship - Vasily Smyslov by suenteus po 147
   125 Selected Games by Vasily Smyslov by suenteus po 147
   Nearly to Perfection by Imohthep
   Endgames virtuoso Smyslov by LESTRADAR
   Guess-the-Move Chess: 1940-1959 (Part 2) by Anatoly21
   Vasily Smyslov's Best Games by KingG
   Guess-the-Move Chess: 1940-1959 (Part 1) by Anatoly21
   Smyslov brevities by ughaibu
   Smyslov's Best Games of chess 1935-1957 by kashparov72c5
   Endgames World champions - part two by Alenrama
   Guess-the-Move Chess: 1960-1979 (Part 3) by Anatoly21
   WC-Botvinnik-Smyslov trio by kevin86
   Vasily Smyslov by blues66

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Vasily Smyslov
Search Google for Vasily Smyslov

VASILY SMYSLOV (born Mar-24-1921, died Mar-27-2010) Russia PRONUNCIATION: [what is this?] Vasily Vasiliyevich Smyslov was born in Moscow. A talented singer, Smyslov narrowly missed joining the Bolshoi Opera. Opera's loss was the chess world's gain. He was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1941. Moscow champion of 1942. He took his his first win over Botvinnik at Moscow championship of 1943. Moscow champion of 1944/5. Sub-champion of the World in 1948. Shared the first place with David Bronstein in the soviet championship of 1949. Winner of Chigorin Memorial 1951. After his success at Zurich 1953, he became the challenger in 1954, but tied the match with Botvinnik. Soviet champion in 1955 sharing the first place with Efim Geller. Again winner of the Candidates Tournaments at Amsterdam 1956 and after winner of Alekhine memorial(drawing Botvinnik) was paved the way for Smyslov to become the 7th World Champion when he defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in 1957. The reign was short-lived as Botvinnik regained the title a year later. Smyslov would go on to many tournament victories such as Amsterdam1964 (jointly) Havana 1965 in front of Robert James Fischer, and Monte Carlo 1969. In 1982 at the Las Palmas Interzonal Tournament, Smyslov finished second and qualified for the Candidates Matches, and at age 61 advanced past Robert Huebner in the quarter-finals (winning the spin of a roulette wheel to decide the tied match), then defeating Zoltan Ribli in the semi-final, before losing to young challenger Garry Kasparov in the final. Vasily Smyslov crowned a remarkable career by becoming the first Senior World Champion at Bad Worishofen in 1991. His father Vasily Osipovich Smyslov also played and was a strong amateur player. Crosstables and other info can be found here: [rusbase-1] [rusbase-2] http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/48$... [rusbase-3] http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/525... http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/525... [rusbase-4] [rusbase-5] http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/555... [rusbase-6] http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/646... Smyslov Videos: Singing, playing piano, beating Botvinnik (1957) http://www.britishpathe.com/record.... Receiving World Championship Laurels (1957) http://www.britishpathe.com/record.... Walking with Keres in the Netherlands (1948) http://www.britishpathe.com/record.... Wikipedia article: Vasily Smyslov

page 1 of 106; games 1-25 of 2,638  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. K Gerassimov vs Smyslov 0-1 22 1935 Moscow D05 Queen's Pawn Game 2. Smyslov vs V Zak 1-0 36 1938 Moscow A43 Old Benoni 3. Smyslov vs M Recash 1-0 23 1938 Moscow B10 Caro-Kann 4. V Baturinsky vs Smyslov 0-1 34 1938 Moskva C45 Scotch Game 5. Smyslov vs Lilienthal 1-0 56 1938 t Moscow C11 French 6. Smyslov vs I Rabinovich   ½-½ 31 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training B77 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack 7. Smyslov vs Ragozin 0-1 35 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 8. Smyslov vs Flohr ½-½ 43 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C77 Ruy Lopez 9. S Belavenets vs Smyslov 0-1 36 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training A48 King's Indian 10. Smyslov vs V Makogonov   ½-½ 49 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training B10 Caro-Kann 11. P Romanovsky vs Smyslov   ½-½ 43 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training D52 Queen's Gambit Declined 12. Alatortsev vs Smyslov 0-1 40 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training E47 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 13. Keres vs Smyslov 1-0 33 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training D55 Queen's Gambit Declined 14. Smyslov vs Levenfish   ½-½ 63 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C98 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin 15. Reshevsky vs Smyslov 1-0 70 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training D51 Queen's Gambit Declined 16. Averbakh vs Smyslov 0-1 24 1939 Moscow A06 Reti Opening 17. Smyslov vs Kan   ½-½ 31 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C43 Petrov, Modern Attack 18. Lilienthal vs Smyslov   ½-½ 42 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training D51 Queen's Gambit Declined 19. Smyslov vs Konstantinopolsky 1-0 57 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C77 Ruy Lopez 20. Panov vs Smyslov ½-½ 42 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C77 Ruy Lopez 21. Smyslov vs Tolush 0-1 24 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training C16 French, Winawer 22. Smyslov vs Goglidze 1-0 80 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training B83 Sicilian 23. Bondarevsky vs Smyslov 1-0 26 1939 Leningrad/Moscow training E85 King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox Variation 24. Smyslov vs Lisitsin   ½-½ 33 1940 USSR Championship A15 English 25. V Mikenas vs Smyslov   ½-½ 52 1940 USSR Championship A53 Old Indian  page 1 of 106; games 1-25 of 2,638    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Smyslov wins | Smyslov loses

< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 42 OF 48 ·  Later Kibitzing> Mar-28-10    strifeknot: He was a gentleman and a great champion. We are all indebted to him for his contributions to the game. Mar-28-10    edbermac: RIP Oddly I was just rereading Bronstein's book on the 1953 Zurich IZT which Smyslov won when I heard of his passing. His win against Keres was quite impressive. It looked like Keres would crush him with a K-side attack in a key late round game, but Smyslov coolly stopped him in his tracks and won going away. Keres vs Smyslov, 1953 Mar-28-10    Dr.imperial: He was a nobel man and a great chess player. You will always be alive in hearts and minds of many many chess fans. Mar-28-10    whiskeyrebel: If he sang anywhere near as beautifully as he played the game, it must have been a treat to listen to. I'm very glad he lead a long life. Mar-28-10    Troller: R.I.P. Smyslov. I have played over many times his games from Zürich 1953 (just like edbermac I take out the book every once in a while). Karpov assessed Smyslov as maybe the greatest counterattacker ever. He says it is no coincidence that Smyslov has the highest number of miniature wins against WC and Candidates among all players. Fittingly, Karpov then shows his win against Keres, linked to by edbermac above. Mar-28-10    Bridgeburner: R.I.P. Vasily Vasilyevich. Your legacy will endure as long as the game is played. Mar-28-10    ketchuplover: ditto Mar-28-10    ozmikey: RIP GM Smyslov. One of the more under-rated of the postwar World Champions, and his feat of getting to the Candidates' final at the age of 62 (!) in 1983 should never be forgotten. Mar-28-10    Andrijadj: Rest in Peace! Mar-28-10    Karnatakiaditya: R.I.P. Sir Mar-28-10    Andrijadj: No Smyslov puzzle&game of the day? This is a disgrace for chessgames.com.Unless they put it tomorrow... Mar-28-10    Aspirador: <andrijadj> They're probly gonna put up a whole week of puzzles. Mar-28-10    Hovik2009: he is resting in peace now, so I rather say God bless his soul and his name and legacy. he was indeed one of the strongest and most consistant players Russia ever produced. Mar-28-10    newzild: A sad loss to chess. Thank you for your pantheon of fine games, Vasily Smyslov. I believe this makes Spassky the oldest surviving champion. Mar-28-10    kdogphs: Thanks to this man, I understand endgame theory better. I've also heard he was one heck of an opera singer who had a choice between chess and music; my constant struggle. Mar-28-10    Open Defence: you were my Guru, Mentor, Teacher if I may be so bold to make such a claim I bow my head Grand Master, we were not worthy.... Mar-28-10    tpstar: 1) Smyslov vs V Liberzon, 1968 White to Play click for larger view 2) Keres vs Smyslov, 1953 Black to Play click for larger view 3) Smyslov vs Pachman, 1947 White to Play click for larger view 4) S Belavenets vs Smyslov, 1939 Black to Play click for larger view 5) Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1958 White to Play click for larger view 6) Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1954 Black to Play click for larger view 7) Smyslov vs Ribli, 1983 White to Play click for larger view Farewell to a grand Champion. Mar-28-10    Jim Bartle: thanks, tp!! Mar-28-10    bengalcat47: R.I.P. GM Smyslov. Truly a great champion. I have Smyslov's own book, My Best Games of Chess, 1935-1957. Mar-28-10    TheChessGuy: Good bye, Vasily Vasilyevich. We will always remember the elegance and class you brought to the game. Mar-28-10    HeMateMe: I wonder if advances in eye surgery could have brought his vision back, in the last ten years? Mar-28-10    Bondsamir: R.I.P. Smyslov <Dr.imperial>:< He was a nobel man and a great chess player. You will always be alive in hearts and minds of many many chess fans.> Mar-28-10    A Karpov Fan: RIP Smyslov A truly elegant player. Mar-28-10    diagonal: R.I.P. Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov A Universal Great and true gentleman with an unrivalled sense of harmony. The chessworld will never forget you. Mar-28-10    gauer: In an almost problem-like & near switch-back (of ) type of theme, the Queenside shield of his opponent disappeared without much haste in Alatortsev vs Smyslov, 1942, 0-1. Truly a fine finish to accompany a stellar start to the then young adult. RIP. Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 48) < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 42 OF 48 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community! If you already have an account, you should login now.

Please observe our posting guidelines: No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language. No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts. No personal attacks against other users. Nothing in violation of United States law. See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator. NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific player and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.