BotvinnikSmyslov Author:Mikhail Botvinnik Three World Chess Championship Matches: 1954, 1957, 1958 — ISBN-10: 9056912712 — ISBN-13: 9789056912710 — Format: Softcover — Publication Year: 2009 — A unique look behind the scenes of World Championship Chess. — The writings of Mikhail Moiseevich Botvinnik (1911 1995) are legendary. — In this book, Botvinnik writes the story of the three clashes wit... more »h his compatriot Vasily Smyslov, matches full of tension between two virtually equal opponents.
Mikhail Botvinnik, one of the greatest chess players of all time, analyses almost all the games in this book, which also features annotations by Smyslov and other top grandmasters. The comments of the great Champion reveal his match strategy and his view on the strategic choices of his opponent. He spares neither himself nor Smyslov.
This book, edited and compiled by Mikhail Moisevichs nephew Igor Botvinnik, also features Botvinniks legendary secret Notebooks, containing, in great detail, his opening preparation for the matches.
Smyslovs defeat had a psychological background he underestimated his experienced opponent Mikhail M. Botvinnik
With a preface by Vasily Smyslov
Arne Moll, ChessVibes:
"Botvinnik's comments (..) to the games are still just great. His famously clear, logical approach of the game is highly instructive (..) What I found even more interesting are the psychological comments Botvinnik makes. But the real treat of the book are the two notebooks (1957 and 1958) in which Botvinnik wrote down his opening ideas for these matches."
Hans Ree, New In Chess:
"At the time I was enthralled by these matches, and it is good to see that they are now brought together in one fine volume."
Lubos Kavalek, The Washington Post:
"It is not only a great historical document, presenting 69 deeply annotated games between two giants, but it also reveals the secret notes Botvinnik made in preparation for the matches played in 1957 and 1958."« less