The people behind the game
Vasily Smyslov
Known for harmonious, natural moves and superb endgames. He reached the Candidates final again in 1984.
- Born
- 1921
- Died
- 2010
- Country connections
- Soviet Union
At the board
The games. The ideas.
Explore classic encounters and championship battles. Play every move, or jump straight to the moments that tell the story.
1957 · World championship · Game 6
Smyslov strikes back
Smyslov’s sixth game of the 1957 championship features a passed c-pawn and a sequence of exchanges that wins material.
Read the position
Every move sets the scene.
Use the controls to explore the full game, or select an annotated moment below. Each explanation describes the position immediately after its highlighted move.
Complete move list 28 moves
The journey
A remarkable path.
Smyslov challenged Botvinnik three times in the 1950s, drawing their first match, winning their second and losing the rematch. His competitive career continued into old age. Away from the board, he was an accomplished baritone singer. [1]
Explore the championship record →The championship record
Time with the crown.
- 1957–1958Open world championship
Reigns are periods of title ownership, not a count of championship victories. Open-ended reigns reflect the record checked on 18 October 2026.
Sources & credits
Biographical details and title records checked . Country connections describe the player’s career and background, rather than a live federation listing.
Portrait: Koen Suyk / Anefo · CC0. Displayed in monochrome and cropped.
