LaviChess

Vasily Smyslov

Vasily Smyslov was world champion from 1957 to 1958. He played calm, harmonious chess and was especially strong in the endgame. He was also a trained singer, and he played at the very top long after turning sixty.

  • BornMarch 24, 1921, Moscow
  • DiedMarch 27, 2010, Moscow
  • CountrySoviet Union
  • World champion1957–1958
  • In the line of championsNo. 7 of 18
  • Highest rating2620 (July 1971)
    FIDE's official lists (from July 1971)

The road to the title

Smyslov finished second in FIDE's 1948 championship tournament, behind Mikhail Botvinnik. The two then met in three title matches. The first, in 1954, ended 12–12, and Botvinnik kept the title. In 1957 Smyslov won 12½–9½ and became world champion.

The title matches

Smyslov's points come first, then wins (+), losses (−) and draws (=) in the classical games. A rapid tiebreak is given separately.
YearAgainstResultWhere
1954Mikhail Botvinnik12–12 (+7 −7 =10)
Drawn; the champion kept the title		Moscow
1957Mikhail Botvinnik12½–9½ (+6 −3 =13)
Won the title		Moscow
1958Mikhail Botvinnik10½–12½ (+5 −7 =11)
Lost the title		Moscow

A year as champion

The rules gave Botvinnik a return match, and it was played as early as 1958. Botvinnik won 12½–10½. So Smyslov was world champion for a year, but in five years he had played 69 title-match games against the same man.

How he played

Smyslov looked for harmony: the pieces should work together and stand on good squares. He rarely played wild sacrifices and often won in the endgame, where his feeling for the pieces came into its own.

The singer

Smyslov was also a baritone. In 1950 he auditioned for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow but was not taken on. Chess was the winner.

Afterward

Smyslov kept playing in the world championship qualifiers for decades. In 1984, past the age of sixty, he reached the Candidates final, where he lost to the young Garry Kasparov. He died in Moscow in 2010.

Sources

  • Wikipedia: Vasily Smyslov
  • Store norske leksikon: Vasilij Smyslov, and Magnus Carlsen (on his style)
  • ChessBase: World Champion Vasily Smyslov dies at 89 (2010)
  • FIDE: In memory of Vasily Smyslov
  • OlimpBase: the title matches 1954–1958 and FIDE's rating lists
  • PGN Mentor: the title matches' games and the 1983–1984 Candidates matches

The facts on this page come from the sources above, checked against each other. Where the sources disagree, only what they agree on is given. The match results are also checked against the games themselves.

Updated November 8, 2026