FIDE World Chess Championship 1957

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The FIDE World Chess Championship 1957 was held in Moscow, featuring a rematch between reigning champion Mikhail Botvinnik (Soviet Union) and challenger Vasily Smyslov (Soviet Union). Smyslov had earned his place by winning the 1956 Candidates Tournament. He defeated Botvinnik to become the ★7th Official World Chess Champion★.

FIDE World Chess Championship 1957, Vasily Smyslov, Mikhail Botvinnik

World Chess Championship 1957: Mikhail Botvinnik vs Vassily Smyslov
Photographer: Unknown / Anefo (License: CC0 1.0 Universal) via Wikimedia Commons
Date: 19 April 1957

Winner: Vasily Smyslov

Born: March 24, 1921, Moscow, Soviet Union
Died: March 27, 2010, Moscow, Russia

At the time of this match, Vasily Smyslov had already proven himself a top contender by drawing the 1954 World Championship match. His second attempt came after a commanding win at the 1956 Candidates Tournament in Amsterdam. Renowned for his elegant style, harmonious piece coordination, and masterful endgame play, Smyslov approached the 1957 match with a quiet confidence. While not as theory-obsessed as Botvinnik, he relied on deep positional insight and a natural feel for the game. His calm temperament, supported by rigorous Soviet training, helped him overcome his formidable opponent. Smyslov’s victory was not only a personal triumph—it symbolized the potential of intuitive chess over scientific rigidity. Although he would lose the title in 1958, this match remains the crowning achievement of his career. The margin, 12½–9½, reflected Smyslov’s superior control in technical endings and his confidence in balanced, low-risk positions.

«Chess is an art, and my goal is to create harmonious positions where every piece has its purpose.» — Vasily Smyslov

Opponent: Mikhail Botvinnik

Born: August 17, 1911, Kuokkala, Russian Empire (now Repino, Russia)
Died: May 5, 1995, Moscow, Russia

Mikhail Botvinnik entered this match as the reigning champion, having held the title since 1948. Widely viewed as the architect of Soviet chess supremacy, he approached the game as a science, relying on exhaustive preparation and theoretical innovation. In 1957, however, he struggled to contain Smyslov’s flexibility and endgame finesse. Botvinnik’s methodical play was challenged by Smyslov’s flow and clarity. The loss marked a rare setback—but under FIDE’s rematch clause, Botvinnik retained the right to a return match in 1958. That rule, which he had helped shape, kept his title hopes alive. This defeat served as both a humbling moment and a motivation for his eventual comeback.

«Smyslov’s play had a rare clarity—his moves flowed naturally, as if guided by some unseen logic.» — Mikhail Botvinnik

Match Overview

Match Dates: March 5 – April 27, 1957
Location: Moscow, Soviet Union
Format: Best of 24 games
Final Score: 12½–9½ for Smyslov
Time Control: 40 moves in 2.5 hours, then 16 moves per hour
Prize Fund: Undisclosed; players were compensated by state stipends and honors
Main Sponsors: Soviet Chess Federation (FIDE-sanctioned)

Historical and Cultural Context

The 1957 championship reinforced the Soviet Union’s dominance in chess. Smyslov’s win made him the second Soviet to hold the world title, underscoring the strength of the state-supported training system. The contrast between Smyslov’s intuitive elegance and Botvinnik’s scientific discipline mirrored broader ideological debates in Soviet culture. Held during the Khrushchev Thaw, the match drew wide interest both within the USSR and internationally. The FIDE rematch clause—then in force—gave Botvinnik the right to a return match in 1958, a rule that remained until the early 1960s. A stylistic clash at the height of Soviet chess — Smyslov’s harmony versus Botvinnik’s science.

FIDE World Chess Championship 1957, Vasily Smyslov (URS), Mikhail Botvinnik (URS)

World Chess Championship 1957 Games

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

Game 7

Game 8

Game 9

Game 10

Game 11

Game 12

Game 13

Game 14

Game 15

Game 16

Game 17

Game 18

Game 19

Game 20

Game 21

Game 22

World Chess Championship 1957

Vasily Smyslov, Soviet Union

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World Chess Championship 1957 Sources

Quote Sources

General Sources

Photo Credits

World Chess Championship 1957: Mikhail Botvinnik vs Vassily Smyslov
Photographer: Unknown / Anefo (License: CC0 1.0 Universal) via Wikimedia Commons
Date: 19 April 1957

Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.