The Life and Games of Vasily Smyslov: Volume I - The Early Years: 1921-1948

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Vasily Smyslov, the seventh world chess champion, enjoyed a remarkable career spanning nearly seven decades, playing around 3,000 tournament games from the era of Lasker and Capablanca to Anand and Carlsen. He participated in four world championships between 1948 and 1958, ultimately claiming the title in 1957. Remarkably, Smyslov continued to compete at a high level into the early 1980s, reaching the finals of the candidates’ cycle at 63, only to be thwarted by the young Garry Kasparov. In this first volume of a multi-part series, Russian FIDE master Andrey Terekhov chronicles Smyslov’s journey from a young prodigy, becoming the youngest grandmaster in the Soviet Union, to his impressive finish in the world championship match tournament. Utilizing rare Soviet-era archival materials and family archives, Terekhov enriches his narrative with numerous captivating photographs, many previously unpublished, alongside 49 extensively annotated games. Additionally, German grandmaster Karsten Müller provides insights into Smyslov’s endgames, enhancing this comprehensive exploration of the champion’s life and contributions to chess. This meticulously researched work is a significant addition to the literature on Smyslov.