Former Soviet world chess champion Vasily Smyslov died Saturday of heart failure, NTV television reported.
Smyslov, who turned 89 on Wednesday, was taken to a Moscow hospital earlier in the week after complaining of heart problems.
Smyslov was best remembered for his fierce battles against fellow Soviet grandmaster Mikhail Botvinnik in the 1950s. Their first title match ended in a draw in 1954, allowing holder Botvinnik to retain the crown. Smyslov finally beat Botvinnik in 1957 to become the seventh world champion, before losing in a rematch the following year.
His career in the top flight of world chess spanned some four decades. Aged 63, he was beaten by Garry Kasparov in 1984 in the Candidates Final match for the right to challenge Anatoly Karpov for the world title, which Kasparov went on to capture.
"What I remember most about him was his competitive spirit, but also his delicate sense of humor," Karpov said Saturday. "It was always very tough playing against him, despite him being more than twice my age."
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.