MARK RUBERY CHESS

In 1984 the Candidates final match to decide who would challenge Anatoly Karpov for the world title was between 21 year old Gary Kasparov and the 63 year old veteran Vasily Smyslov. Smyslov was experiencing a second youth with his chess although he was still regarded to be a significant underdog. Before the match the chess biographer, Alexander Munninghoff, interviewed former world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik, about the forthcoming clash…

‘Hoho’. Botvinnik raises his arm as if to restrain me when I tell him that almost everybody thinks that the match in Vilnius against Smyslov will be a walk-over for Kasparov.’

“Kasparov is, of course, better than Smyslov, if you look only at his Elo-rating. Much better in fact. But a chess player’s Elo-rating is mainly based on tournament results and says very little about his strength as a match player. And that is a big difference, because psychology is very important in a match . Let me explain this properly. I know Smyslov like the back of my hand . We’ve played more than a hundred games together. Between ‘ 53 and ‘58 he was definitely the best player in the world . In fact, at that time, he hardly even suffered any defeats at all. He knew, better than anyone else, how to take advantage of the opportunities offered in the transition from middle to endgame; and once he had the advantage, he knew how to exploit it without fail. Smyslov has a very great understanding of the game and is exceptionally consistent: two qualities which make it possible for him to take part even now at this highest level of all. In fact, he can still do what he used to be able to do. That enormous experience in matches especially you cannot take away from him. Only, he is already over sixty and so I must say: in the end Kasparov will win this match, certainly if complex games appear on the board. But destroy . . . destroy Smyslov, that is impossible, you understand. ‘I have already warned Garik against being too optimistic. I reminded him of the example of Lasker, who in 1935 - when he was 66 years old - Smyslov hasn’t even reached that age - after a couple of inactive years took part, just like that, in the second international tournament in Moscow. There were twenty participants, but Lasker didn’t lose a single game and finished half a point behind the winners in third place. So I say Kasparov-Smyslov will be a tough battle. “

Smyslov who had previously eliminated Robert Hubner and Zoltan Ribli, was no match for Kasparov and lost 8,5-4,5. An examination of the games reveal that Kasparov was unable to inflict his normal complications but instead played technical and precise chess- very much in the style of his opponent.

WHITE TO PLAY AND DRAW

‘In Chess genuine diligence consists not so much in working zealously as in working correctly. A truth which is often forgotten by amateurs.’ - Genna Sosonko