A friendly game with your cat at his dacha Belka

Source: Chess in Russia by P. Romanovsky, London, 1946

Vasily Smyslov, international chess grandmaster and seventh world champion, died Friday at a Moscow hospital at 89 years of age due to cardiorespiratory failure. Smyslov starred in several epic duels with the patriarch of Soviet chess, Miajail Botvinnik, who snatched the world title in 1957 in his second attempt.

Three years ago, when Vasily was proclaimed candidate for the first time, both chess players tied with seven wins each and ten tables, which the champion was able to retain the crown. Another advantage that the regulation has almost always awarded to champions Botvinnik allowed to hold a meeting of revenge in 1958. I took advantage by beating Smyslov by 7 to 5 and eleven tables. After this defeat, Smyslov declare: "I think it took a lifetime to Botvinnik facing me," but their rivalry was nothing compared to that held years after Karpov and Kasparov.

The latter argued precisely against Smyslov his last great duel in the final of the 1984 candidates, when Vasili, with 62, showed that the life of a professional chess player can be very long. Still, nothing could push against the future ruler of the chess world had just turned 21. Indeed, in their three matches with Botvinnik, Smyslov won 18 games and rival 17, but the former champion was only for a year, in contrast to the long reign enjoyed Mikhail.
Born March 24, 1921 in Moscow, Vasily Vasilievich started playing chess at age six. He came to study under the tutelage of the great Mikhail Chigorin and in 1938 won the youth championship of the Soviet Union. In 1942 he became champion of Moscow and during his long career, which spanned six decades, was twice absolute champion of the USSR.
Admired for its fine "positional sense" and for his mastery of the finals, Smyslov contributed to game theory with various opening lines that still bear his name, including the Spanish Opening. He also wrote important books on this game. In recent years, used to say jokingly that he played "hands" as if the brain does not need to bring each piece to the appropriate box. Bright baritone, often offered recitals during tournaments, sometimes accompanied on piano by another famous chess player, Mark Taimanov. Vasili's game, in any case, always noted for the harmony with which he placed his pieces on the board.
The first match between Moscow 1954. Vassily Smyslov (left)-Mikhail Botvinnik (right).

Source: http://davchess.com/forum/vasili-smyslov-t2629.html

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