Quizzes
Quick Facts
- Born:
- March 24, 1921, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.
- Died:
- March 27, 2010, Moscow, Russia (aged 89)
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov
Russian chess master
Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov (born March 24, 1921, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.—died March 27, 2010, Moscow, Russia) was a Russian chess master who won the world championship from Mikhail Botvinnik in 1957 and lost it to Botvinnik in a return match in 1958.
(Read Garry Kasparov’s Britannica essay on chess & Deep Blue.)
Smyslov was noted for his patient positional style and his precise endgame technique. His book Smyslov’s 125 Selected Games (1983) shows his subtle playing style and endgame artistry.
Britannica Quiz
Check and Checkmate Quiz
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.