Vasily Smyslov, 1921-2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 11:12AM Earlier today, three days past his 89th birthday, former World Chess Champion Vasily Smyslov died of heart failure. Smyslov was not only a champion, but a player with great longevity - he first played for the title in 1948, won it in 1957, and played Garry Kasparov in the Candidates Final in 1984. (Indeed, he kept on playing until 2001, when failing eyesight forced him to retire. His last rating, as an 80-year-old, was still a very impressive 2494.)
He was an openings innovator, a great master of the endgame both as a player, writer, and study composer, and as if all that wasn't enough he was an opera singer too. He was good enough to try out for the Bolshoi Theater; fortunately for chess, he wasn't good enough to be accepted.
You can access some of his best games here (go down to "Notable Chess Games" and follow the links), and I might present some sooner or later as well. My obituary source is here, and it links to a couple of Russian reports. Here's the fuller one, as the Google Translator renders it in English:
MOSCOW, March 27 - RIA Novosti. World chess champion Vassily Smyslov, died on Friday night [DM: The translation program seems to have been a touch inaccurate here: it was in the early hours of Saturday morning] at the Botkin Hospital in Moscow, told RIA Novosti source in the health facility.
"Previously, the cause of death was cardiovascular failure," - said the source.
Smyslov was 89 years.
He entered the hospital a few days ago by the ambulance with complaints of heart, told the agency.
"He was in intensive care, but doctors' efforts were unsuccessful, and the player died last night" - the source added.
Smyslov - the seventh world chess champion (1957-1958). Born March 24, 1921 in Moscow. His father was a chess player of the first category. Smyslov learned to play in six years, in 17 years became a master of sports and champion of Moscow.
HT: Brian Karen
Smyslov in Vasily Smyslov
Reader Comments (7)
So sad to hear this news. RIP Vasily. A legend indeed.
Rest in Peace Vassily Smyslov. Trivia: Kubrick, a chess fan, named a character in 2001 after him. Also, his father was a keen amateur player and beat Alekhine once.
Legends never dies... they just moving from our eyes.
R.I.P. Vassily.
Thanks for make me a better player.
Rodrigo Teodoro
It struck me the other day that with Fischer gone, there was only Smyslov among former world champions who didn't play chess in public any longer.
Very sad.
I often go over his games in Bronstein's book on the Zurich '53 Candidates Tournament. A tournament that he won, losing only one game (+9 =18 -1). Losing only one game in that strong field is remarkable. I also enjoy going through his best games up to 1957 collection I have (an old Dover edition in Descriptive notation).
I've always felt I could understand his clear style. I'm probably kidding myself about understanding his games very well, but I don't get this feeling as often when playing over the games of other Great Masters. Perhaps I get the same feeling going over Capablanca's games.
Rest in peace, Vasily Smyslov.
Maybe the best strategic chess player of all time?
A truly great genius has left us. It was one of my greatest pleasures to have met and talked with this gentle colossus of the chess board in London in 1996. Thank you, Vassily, for the rich and beautiful games you gave us.
Vale Vassily Smyslov