World Chess Championship 1954
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Defending champion |
Challenger | |||||
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| Soviet Union Mikhail Botvinnik | Soviet Union Vasily Smyslov | |||||
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Born 17 August 1911 42 years old |
Born 24 March 1921 32/33 years old | |||||
| Winner of the 1951 World Chess Championship | Winner of the 1953 Candidates Tournament | |||||
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A World Chess Championship was played between Mikhail Botvinnik and Vasily Smyslov in Moscow from March 16 to May 13, 1954. Botvinnik had been World Champion since 1948 and had successfully defended the title in 1951, while Smyslov earned the right to challenge by winning the 1953 Candidates tournament.
The match was drawn 12–12, meaning Botvinnik retained the world title.
1952 Interzonal tournament
[edit | edit source]An interzonal tournament was held at Saltsjöbaden in Stockholm, Sweden, in September and October 1952. The top eight finishers qualified for the Candidates tournament.
1952 Interzonal Tournament 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Total Tie break 1 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Alexander Kotov (Soviet Union) x ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16½ 2 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Mark Taimanov (Soviet Union) ½ x ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 13½ 125.50 3 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Tigran Petrosian (Soviet Union) ½ ½ x ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 13½ 125.00 4 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Efim Geller (Soviet Union) ½ ½ ½ x ½ 1 0 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 13 5 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Yuri Averbakh (Soviet Union) ½ ½ ½ ½ x 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 12½ 115.25 6 File:Flag of Sweden.svg Gideon Ståhlberg (Sweden) ½ ½ ½ 0 1 x 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 0 1 1 ½ 1 12½ 115.00 7 File:Flag of Hungary (1949-1956; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg László Szabó (Hungary) 0 ½ 0 1 ½ 1 x ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 12½ 114.25 8 File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Svetozar Gligorić (Yugoslavia) 0 ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ x 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 12½ 105.50 9 File:Flag of Germany.svg Wolfgang Unzicker (West Germany) 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 x ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 11½ 10 File:Flag of Argentina (civil).svg Erich Eliskases (Argentina) 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ x ½ 1 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 10½ 11 File:Flag of Argentina (civil).svg Hermann Pilnik (Argentina) 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ x 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ 1 10 93.75 12 
Luděk Pachman (Czechoslovakia)½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 x ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 10 92.50 13 File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Herman Steiner (United States) ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ x ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 10 88.50 14 File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Aleksandar Matanović (Yugoslavia) 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ x 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 9 15 File:Flag of Hungary (1949-1956; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg Gedeon Barcza (Hungary) 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 1 1 x 1 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 8 16 File:Flag of Sweden.svg Gösta Stoltz (Sweden) 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 x 0 1 1 ½ 1 7½ 17 File:Flag of Colombia.svg Luis Augusto Sánchez (Colombia) 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 x ½ 0 1 1 7 18 
Robert Wade (England)0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 0 0 ½ 1 0 ½ x ½ 0 1 6 19 File:Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg Paul Vaitonis (Canada) 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 0 1 ½ x ½ 0 5 20 Harry Golombek (England)0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 ½ x 0 4½ 39.25 21 File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Lodewijk Prins (Netherlands) 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 1 x 4½ 38.00
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Only the top five were supposed to have qualified for a 12-player Candidates Tournament, but four players were tied for fifth place, and since the Sonneborn–Berger tie-break margins were so small, all four were included.[1] The tournament was surrounded by some controversy as the five Soviet players took the top five spots – having drawn every single game amongst themselves, several of them after suspiciously few moves.[1] Originally, the 1952 Interzonal was supposed to have featured 22 players, but Julio Bolbochán of Argentina suffered a hemorrhage and had to withdraw after a first-round adjournment.
1953 Candidates tournament
[edit | edit source]The Candidates tournament was held in Zürich, Switzerland, from August to October 1953, with the winner qualifying for the championship match against Botvinnik.
The field consisted of 15 players: The top eight from the 1952 Interzonal, the top five from the previous Candidates Tournament (Bronstein, Boleslavsky, Smyslov, Keres, and Najdorf), and the last two players from the 1948 championships not already qualified (Reshevsky and Euwe).
After 22 rounds, Smyslov and Reshevsky were tied for the lead on 13.5 points out of 21, followed by Bronstein on 12.5 and Keres on 12.[2] Smyslov took a decisive lead in the next few rounds:
- In round 23, Kotov defeated Reshevsky while Smyslov had the bye. Bronstein and Keres moved up to 13 points.[2]
- In round 24, Smyslov defeated Keres with black,[2] while Reshevsky drew with Geller[2] and Bronstein also drew.
- In round 25, Smyslov defeated Reshevsky,[2] while Bronstein lost to Geller[3] and Keres had the bye.
So in those three rounds, Smyslov scored 2/2 while Reshevsky scored ½/3. After round 25 the leaders were: Smyslov 15.5 with a game in hand, Reshevsky 14, Bronstein 13.5, Keres 13 with a game in hand. Smyslov drew his five remaining games, beginning with Bronstein in round 26.
Smyslov qualified as challenger by winning the tournament.[4]
# Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Total 1 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Vasily Smyslov (USSR) xx ½½ 11 ½1 ½½ 11 ½½ ½0 ½½ ½½ ½½ ½½ 1½ 11 1½ 18 2-4 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg David Bronstein (USSR) ½½ xx 1½ 11 ½½ ½0 ½½ ½½ 1½ ½½ ½½ 01 1½ ½½ ½½ 16 2-4 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Paul Keres (USSR) 00 0½ xx ½½ ½1 ½1 ½½ ½½ ½½ 0½ 11 1½ ½1 ½½ 11 16 2-4 File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Samuel Reshevsky (USA) ½0 00 ½½ xx ½½ ½½ ½½ 10 ½½ ½1 ½1 1½ ½1 11 1½ 16 5 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Tigran Petrosian (USSR) ½½ ½½ ½0 ½½ xx ½½ 0½ ½½ 00 ½½ ½½ 11 ½1 1½ 11 15 6-7 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Efim Geller (USSR) 00 ½1 ½0 ½½ ½½ xx 11 ½0 01 ½½ 01 1½ ½1 01 ½½ 14½ 6-7 File:Flag of Argentina (civil).svg Miguel Najdorf (Argentina) ½½ ½½ ½½ ½½ 1½ 00 xx 1½ 1½ ½0 ½½ ½½ ½½ 0½ 11 14½ 8-9 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Alexander Kotov (USSR) ½1 ½½ ½½ 01 ½½ ½1 0½ xx 10 1½ 00 10 1½ 0½ 01 14 8-9 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Mark Taimanov (USSR) ½½ 0½ ½½ ½½ 11 10 0½ 01 xx 10 ½½ ½½ ½0 0½ 11 14 10-11 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Yuri Averbakh (USSR) ½½ ½½ 1½ 0½ ½½ ½½ 1½ 0½ 01 xx ½½ ½½ 0½ 11 00 13½ 10-11 File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Isaac Boleslavsky (USSR) ½½ ½½ 00 ½0 ½½ 10 ½½ 11 ½½ ½½ xx ½0 ½½ ½1 ½½ 13½ 12 File:Flag of Hungary (1949-1956; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg László Szabó (Hungary) ½½ 10 0½ 0½ 00 0½ ½½ 01 ½½ ½½ ½1 xx 1½ ½½ 1½ 13 13 File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Svetozar Gligorić (Yugoslavia) 0½ 0½ ½0 ½0 ½0 ½0 ½½ 0½ ½1 1½ ½½ 0½ xx ½1 11 12½ 14 File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Euwe (Netherlands) 00 ½½ ½½ 00 0½ 10 1½ 1½ 1½ 00 ½0 ½½ ½0 xx 1½ 11½ 15 File:Flag of Sweden.svg Gideon Ståhlberg (Sweden) 0½ ½½ 00 0½ 00 ½½ 00 10 00 11 ½½ 0½ 00 0½ xx 8
Allegations of Soviet collusion
[edit | edit source]There have been allegations of Soviet collusion in the Candidates tournament. Most sensationally, writing in the early 2000s, David Bronstein alleged that certain players were pressured to ensure Smyslov would win ahead of Reshevsky. He alleged that Keres was pressured to make a quick draw with white in his round 24 game against Smyslov, but that Keres resisted this, but the pressure made him in no fit state to play (and he lost).[2] He also alleged that he (Bronstein) was pressured to make a draw with white against Smyslov in round 26, and he complied by playing the unaggressive Ruy Lopez exchange variation.[3]
Soon after the article emerged, Smyslov replied, criticising the allegations, though Andy Soltis read that as meaning he didn't deny them.[3] Yuri Averbakh said that Bronstein "cannot be 100% objective" on his world championship attempts.[5]
Books
[edit | edit source]The tournament is famous for the strength of the players, the high quality of the games, and books on the tournament by participants David Bronstein[6] and Miguel Najdorf that are regarded as among the best tournament books ever written.
1954 Championship match
[edit | edit source]Conditions
[edit | edit source]The match was played as best of 24 games. If it ended 12-12, Botvinnik, the holder, would retain the Championship.
Match
[edit | edit source]| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Mikhail Botvinnik (Soviet Union) | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 12 |
| File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Vasily Smyslov (Soviet Union) | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 12 |
Botvinnik retained the Championship.[7][8]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b 1952 Saltsjobaden Interzonal Tournament, Mark Weeks' Chess pages, quoting Chess Review, November 1952, p.322
- ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ 1953 Zurich Candidates Tournament, Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ 1954 Botvinnik - Smyslov Title Match, Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
