Vasily Smyslov
(1921- )

Smyslov, 7th world chess champion (1957-58), won the title from Botvinnik and lost the rematch. In three matches against his great rival, he scored +18 –17 =34. The most successful tournament player of the 1950s, Smyslov won two candidates’ tournaments, including the great Zurich 1953 event. An opera singer, Smyslov seeks harmony in chess, with every move following logically. In 1984, at age 63(!), he again reached the finals of the world championship candidates’ cycle.