The greatest games played by Vasily Smyslov who was Chess World Champion in 1957. Smyslov is known for his strategic prowess from the age of 19 when he participated in the USSR Chess Championship where he defeated the current Chess Champion Botvinnik. He began to rise to greatness after that tournament. (Becoming an official grandmaster at 20 years) He became a challenger in the 1948 World Chess Championship but was defeated by Botvinnik. Smyslov later would challenge Botvinnik for World Champion in 1953 which ended in a draw. Unfortunately, Botvinnik kept the title.
in 1957, Smyslov was able to defeat Botvinnik for the World Chess Champion title. Next year, Botvinnik used the right for a rematch and took back the title of World Chess Champion. Despite being champion for one year, Smyslov said in his autobiography of games 'Smyslov's Best Games,' "I have no reason to complain of my fate. I fulfilled my dream and became the seventh world champion in the history of chess."
Smyslov would later not qualify for World Chess Champion but came remarkably close to it in qualifying tournaments. (Notably in 1959, 1983, and 1985) Another remarkable fact that his old age didn't stop him from playing.
Smyslov died of congestive heart failure in 2010. He lived to the ripe old age of 89.
Kibitzing
