1. e4 c5 2. Pf3 g6 3. c4 Lg7 4. d4 d6 5. Pc3 Pc6 6. Le3 Lg4 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Dxd8+ Txd8 9. Lxc5 Lxc3+ 10. bxc3 Pf6? Botvinnik chooses for combat instead of the needed prophylaxis. An attack on the queenside prevents 10... Lxf3 11. gxf3 Pf6 11. Pd4 Pxe4 12. Pxc6 bxc6 13. Lxa7 Lf5 Slightly better is 13... Pxc3 (Keene-Fuller, Nice 1974). 14. f3 Pd6 15. a4 Ta8 16. Lb6 O-O 17. c5 Pc8 18. g4 Le6 19. a5 Pxb6 20. cxb6 Tfb8 21. Ld3 Txb6! 22. axb6! Txa1+ 23. Kd2 White relies on the strength of the passed pawn. 23... Ta2+ 24. Ke3 Lc8 25. Td1 Tb2 26. Lc4 Kg7 27. Td8 Le6 28. Lxe6 fxe6 29. Tb8 e5 30. c4 Kf7 31. c5 Ke6 32. Td8! g5 33. h3 Tb1 34. Kd2 Tb5 35. Kd3 Tb1 36. Kc4 Tc1+ 37. Kb4 Tb1+ 38. Ka4 Ta1+ 39. Kb4 Tb1+ 40. Ka3 Ta1+ 41. Kb2 Ta5 42. Td3 Ta8 43. Kb3 Ta5 The silent killer struck again. Halfway Smyslov played superior chess and led by 7-5. 1-0 [JvR]

1. Pf3 Pf6 2. g3 g6 3. c4 c6 4. Lg2 Lg7 5. d4 O-O 6. Pc3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Pe5 b6 9. Lg5 Lb7 10. Lxf6?! Lxf6 11. O-O e6 12. f4 Lg7 13. Tc1 f6 14. Pf3 Pc6 15. e3 Dd7 16. De2 Pa5 17. h4 Pc4 18. Lh3 Pd6 19. Kh2 a5 20. Tfe1 b5! 21. Pd1 b4 22. Pf2 La6 23. Dd1 Tfc8 24. Txc8+ Txc8 25. Lf1 Lxf1 26. Txf1 Dc6 27. Pd3 Dc2+?! 28. Dxc2 Txc2+ 29. Tf2 Txf2+ 30. Pxf2 Pc4 31. Pd1 Kf7 32. b3? Square c3 becomes weak. Better is 32. g4 h5 33. g5 Lh8! (Smyslov). 32... Pd6 33. Kg2 h5 34. Kh3 Pe4 35. g4? Pawn h4 becomes a weakness. 35... hxg4+ 36. Kxg4 f5+ 37. Kh3 Lf6 38. Pe1 Kg7 39. Pd3 Pc3 40. Pxc3 bxc3 41. Pe1?! 41. b4! is more active. 41... Kh6 42. Pc2 Le7 43. Kg3? Rescue brings 43. a3 Kh5 44. b4 axb4 45. axb4 Lxh4 46. b5 Ld8 47. Kg3 g5 48. fxg5 Kxg5 49. Kf3 Lb6! 50. Pb4! Kf6 (Smyslov) 51. Pd3 c2 52. Ke2 La5 53. b6 Lxb6 54. Kd2= 43... Kh5 44. Kf3 Kxh4 45. Pe1 g5 46. fxg5 Kxg5 47. Pc2 Ld6 48. Pe1 Kh4 49. Pc2 Kh3 50. Pa1 Kh2 51. Kf2 Lg3+ 52. Kf3 Lh4 53. Pc2 Kg1 54. Ke2 Kg2 55. Pa1 Le7 56. Pc2 Kg3 57. Pe1 Ld8 58. Pc2 Lf6 59. a3 Le7 60. b4 a4 61. Pe1 Lg5 62. Pc2 Lf6 63. Kd3 If the white king stays on e2, Black wins by 63. b5 Ld8 64. Pe1 La5 65. Pc2 Kg4 66. Pe1 Lc7 67. Pc2 Lb6 68. Pb4 f4 (Smyslov). 63... Kf2 64. Pa1 Ld8 65. Pc2 Lg5 66. b5 Ld8 67. Pb4 Lb6 68. Pc2 La5 69. Pb4 Ke1 Black completes the encirclement with 69... Ke1 70. Pc2+ Kd1 71. Pa1 Kc1 72. Pc2 Kb2 and he wins a second pawn. This game broke the resistance. Smyslov won the match with 12 1/2 - 9 1/2 (+6, =13, -3). He became world champion in April 1957. 0-1 [JvR]

Botvinnik was great in collecting privileges. He used the right for a return match within a year. Smyslov had relaxed sfter his world championship and missed the power for a new confrontation.

1. e4 c6 2. Pc3 d5 3. Pf3 Lg4 4. h3 Lxf3 5. Dxf3 Pf6 6. d3 e6 7. Le2 Pbd7 8. Dg3 g6 9. O-O Lg7 10. Lf4 Db6 11. Tab1 O-O 12. Lc7 Dd4 13. Lf3 e5 14. Ld6 Tfe8 15. La3 dxe4 16. dxe4 b5! Botvinnik shows ambition on the queenside in a quiet Caro-Kann. 17. Tfd1 Db6 18. b3 Pc5 19. Lc1 Dc7 20. Le3 Pe6 21. a4 a6 22. b4 Tad8 23. Le2 De7 24. axb5 axb5 25. Txd8 Txd8 26. Lb6? 26. Dh4 Dd6 27. Ld3 consolidates. 26... Ta8 27. f3 Ta3 28. De1 Lh6 29. Lf1 Pd4 30. Lc5 De6 31. Ld3 Pd7 32. Lxd4 exd4 33. Pe2 Le3+ 34. Kh1 Pe5 Botvinnik attacks on all fronts. 35. Df1 The natural 35. Dd1 is punished by 35... Pxf3! 35... Dd6 36. f4 Pxd3 37. cxd3 Txd3 38. Df3 Td2 39. Tf1 Dxb4 40. e5 Dc4 41. Pg3 Tc2 42. f5 Tc1 43. e6 fxe6 44. fxg6 Txf1+ 45. Pxf1 hxg6 46. Df6 b4 47. Kh2 g5 48. Pxe3 dxe3 49. Dxg5+ Kf7 50. Dxe3 b3 51. De5 c5 52. Dc7+ Kg6 53. Db8 Kf5 54. Df8+ Ke4 55. Df6 Dd5 56. Df3+ Kd4 57. Dd1+ Ke5 58. De2+ Kd6 59. Da6+ Ke7 60. Da7+ Kf6 61. Dh7 De5+ 62. Kh1 b2 Indecisive play was reproved. 0-1 [JvR]

1. d4 Pf6 2. c4 g6 3. Pc3 Lg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Le3 a6!? A fight starts on the queenside. 7. Ld3 Pc6 8. Pge2 Tb8 9. a3 Pd7 10. Lb1 Pa5 11. La2 b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. b4! Pc4 14. Lxc4 bxc4 15. O-O c6 16. Dd2 Pb6? Weakness on the black squares is avoided by 16... Te8 17. Lh6 Lh8 (Botvinnik). 17. Lh6! Lxh6 18. Dxh6 f6?! Black loses a tempo. 19. a4 Pa8 20. Tfb1 f5 21. De3 fxe4 22. fxe4 Pc7 23. d5 cxd5 24. exd5 Lb7 25. Tf1 Dd7 26. Dd4 e6 27. dxe6 Pxe6 28. Dg4 Tfe8 29. Pd4 Dg7 30. Tad1 Pc7 31. Df4 Knights rule in the centre. 31... Te5? A blunder costs a pawn. 32. Pc6! Lxc6 33. Dxc4+ d5 34. Dxc6 Td8 35. Db6 De7 36. Dd4 Dd6 37. Tfe1 Tde8 38. Txe5 Txe5 39. b5 Pe6 40. Da7 d4 41. Pe4! Botvinnik also won the third game. 1-0 [JvR]

1. d4 Pf6 2. c4 g6 3. Pc3 d5 4. Pf3 Lg7 5. Db3 dxc4 6. Dxc4 O-O 7. e4 Lg4 8. Le3 Pfd7 9. Td1 Pb6 10. Db3 Pc6 11. d5 Pe5 12. Le2 Pxf3+ 13. gxf3 Lh5 14. h4 Dd7 15. a4 Known is 15. f4!? Lxe2 16. Kxe2 (Gereben-Kotov, Budapest 1949). 15... a5 16. Pb5 Pc8 17. Ld4 Theory becomes 17. f4 (Uhlmann-Kozma, Zinnowitz 1967). 17... Pd6 The Smyslov System asks for 17... Lxd4 18. Pxd4 Pb6 18. Lxg7 Kxg7 19. Pd4 Kg8 20. Tg1 Dh3 21. De3 Black balances at the edge. 21... c5? The consequent move is 21... Dxh4! Botvinnik expects 22. Dh6 (22. e5 Pe8) and misses 22... e5 23. dxe6 fxe6 24. Pxe6 Tf7 25. Pg5 (Ragozin) 25... Tg7 26. Pe6= 22. dxc6 bxc6 23. Dg5 c5 The bishop is saved by 23... Kh8 but 24. Dxe7 leads to unsolvable problems for the knight. 24. Pc6 1-0 [JvR]

1. c4 Pf6 2. Pc3 d5 3. cxd5 Pxd5 4. g3 g6 5. Lg2 Pxc3 6. bxc3 Lg7 7. Tb1 Pd7 8. c4 O-O 9. Pf3 Tb8 10. O-O b6 11. d4 e5 12. La3 Te8 13. dxe5 Lb7! 14. Dc2 Pxe5 15. Tfd1 Dc8 16. Pxe5 Lxg2 17. Kxg2 Txe5 18. Td5 De6 19. Txe5 Lxe5 20. Td1 Te8 21. De4 Lf6 22. Dxe6 Txe6 Black has a better pawn structure. 23. Kf3 Tc6 24. Tc1 Ld4 25. e3 Lc5 26. Lb2 f5 27. Ke2 Kf7 28. h3 Le7 29. a4 h5 30. Kd3 h4!? 31. g4!? Tc5 Some risk takes 31... fxg4!? 32. hxg4 Td6+ 33. Ke2 Lf6 32. Lc3 Tc6 33. Tg1 Td6+ 34. Kc2 Lf6 35. gxf5 gxf5 36. Lxf6 Kxf6 37. Tg8 Tc6 38. Kc3 a6 39. Th8 Kg5 40. Tg8+ Kf6 41. Th8 Kg5 42. Kd4 Tc5! 43. Th7! Kg6 A draw gains 43... Tc6! 44. Td7!? Kf6 45. Td5 Ke6 46. Kc3 Td6! (Botvinnik). 44. Td7!? Kf6 45. Td5 Tc6 46. Kc3 Te6 47. Td4 Kg5 48. Td7 Tc6 49. Kb4! Kf6 50. Td4 Kg5 51. Td8 Te6 52. Tc8 f4? Both parties miss the right counter-play 52... c5+! 53. Kc3 f4 54. Tg8+ Kf5 55. Tf8+ Tf6 56. e4+ Ke5 57. Te8+ Te6 58. Txe6+ Kxe6 draw! 53. exf4+ Kxf4 54. Txc7 Kf3 55. Th7 Te4 56. Th6 b5!? 57. axb5?! Good is 57. Txa6! bxc4 58. Tc6 c3+ 59. Kb3 Kxf2 60. Txc3 (Botvinnik). 57... axb5 58. Tf6+ Kg2 59. Kxb5 Does White have a win? 59... Te2?! A draw seems the result of 59... Te1! 60. c5 Tb1+ 61. Ka6 Kxh3 62. c6 Ta1+ 63. Kb7 Tb1+ 64. Kc8 Kg2 65. f4 h3 66. Tg6+ Kf3 67. Th6 Kg3 (Botvinnik), but 68. c7 Tf1 69. Tg6+! Kf2 70. Kd7 Td1+ 71. Td6 Txd6+ 72. Kxd6 h2 73. c8=D h1=D 74. Dc5+ Kg3 75. Dg5+ leads to a theoretical win for White. 60. c5 Tb2+ 61. Ka6 Ta2+ 62. Kb7 Tb2+ 63. Tb6 Tc2 64. c6 Kxh3 65. c7 Kg2 66. Tc6 Tb2+ 67. Tb6 Tc2 68. f4 The game wa s played in three stages in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. Botvinnik led by 9-5. 1-0 [JvR]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Pf6 3. Lg2 e6 4. Pf3 Le7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Pc3 d5 8. Lg5 Pbd7 9. e3 De8 10. Dc2 Kh8 11. Pe2 h6 12. Lxf6 Lxf6 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Pf4 g5 15. Pd3 Tg8 Smyslov plays ambitiously during the final stage of the match. 16. Dc3 Le7 17. Pfe5 Pf6 18. f3 Le6 19. Pc5 Lxc5 20. Dxc5 Pd7 21. Pxd7 Dxd7 22. Tae1 Tg7 23. Tf2 b6 24. Dc3 Dd6 25. Tc2 Ld7 26. b4?! A plus keeps 26. e4 f4 27. e5 De6 28. g4 (Botvinnik). 26... h5 27. Kh1 h4 28. gxh4 gxh4 29. f4 Tag8 30. Lf3 Le8 31. Dd2! Dh6 32. De2 h3 33. Tcc1 Tg2! 34. Lxg2 Txg2 The critical position has arisen. 35. Df3? The right defence is 35. Df1! Lh5 36. e4! (Goldberg) 36... fxe4 37. Tc3 Lg4 38. Tee3 Dh4 39. Tg3 Lf3 40. Tcxf3 exf3 41. Dxf3 Txa2 42. Txh3 Ta1+ 43. Kg2 Ta2+ 44. Kf1 Tf2+! 45. Dxf2 Dxh3+= 35... Dh4! 36. b5 Lh5 37. Dxg2 hxg2+ 38. Kg1 c5 Smyslov curt ailed the gap at the end of the match, but Botvinnik won with 12 1/2 - 10 1/2 (+7, =11, -5). He deserved to win the return match, but many regarded his privilege as unfair. Anaway, Botvinnik had regained the title in May 1958. 0-1 [JvR]

When Tal won the Soviet championship, Moscow 1957, a star was born. His attacking and speculative style won the hearts of chess fans worldwide. The 'Magician of Riga' seemed to ridicule the laws of classical chess in his wild adventures. Actually, his games had a sound positional basis. He also played the endgame accurately. Sometimes incredible fireworks set the board on fire. He qualified for the interzonal by winning the next championship, Riga 1958, and got in the candidates' tournament by winning Portoroz 1958. The candidates' match tournament was played in four cycles of seven rounds during the next year. Two cycles took place in Bled. The Casino was the playing hall and Toplice the hotel.

1. d4 Pf6 2. c4 g6 3. Pc3 Lg7 4. e4 d6 5. Le2 O-O 6. Pf3 e5 7. d5 Pbd7 8. Lg5 h6 9. Lh4 a6!? 10. Pd2 De8!? Fischer prepares an attack in a remarkable way. Tal reacts quietly. 11. O-O Ph7 12. b4 Pg5 13. f3 f5 14. Lf2 De7 15. Tc1 Pf6 16. c5 Ld7 17. Dc2 Ph5 18. b5!? Tal stirs up the game. The move surprised Fischer. Equality keeps 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Pc4 fxe4 20. fxe4 Pf4 21. Le3! 18... fxe4! Tal rejects 18... dxc5 due to 19. bxa6 b6 20. Pc4 19. Pdxe4 Pxe4 20. fxe4 Pf4 21. c6 Dg5 22. Lf3 bxc6 23. dxc6 Lg4 24. Lxg4 Dxg4 25. Le3 axb5 26. Lxf4 exf4 27. Pxb5 Tf7 An attack starts 27... f3! (Tal). 28. Dc4 Tc8 29. Tf3 Le5? 30. Tcf1? Both players miss the combination 30. h3! Dg5 31. De6 Tb8 32. Pxc7! Tb2 33. De8+ Tf8 34. Dxf8+ 30... Kg7 31. a4 Ta8 32. Kh1 Dg5? Correct is 32... Dh5 33. g3! Tal counterattacks brilliantly. 33... Taf8 34. gxf4 Lxf4 34... Txf4 35. Pxc7! 35. Pd4! Dh4 36. Txf4 Txf4 37. Pe6+ Kh8 38. Dd4+ T8f6 39. Pxf4 Kh7 40. e5 dxe5 41. Dd7+ 1-0 [JvR]

1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Pd2 e5 4. Pgf3 Pd7 5. d4 dxe4 6. Pxe4 exd4 7. Dxd4 Pgf6 8. Lg5 Le7 9. O-O-O! O-O 10. Pd6!? Da5 11. Lc4!? b5! 12. Ld2!? Da6!? Smyslov accepts the provocation. 12... Da4 13. Pxc8 Taxc8 14. Lb3 Dxd4 15. Pxd4 gives calmness. 13. Pf5 Ld8 Quickly loses 13... Lc5? 14. Dh4 bxc4 15. Lc3 Dxa2 16. Txd7! Lxd7 17. Ph6+ gxh6 18. Dxf6 (Khalifman). 14. Dh4 bxc4 15. Dg5 Ph5! Black draws in 15... g6 16. Lc3! (Ragozin) 16... Te8! 17. The1 Txe1 18. Txe1 Dxa2 19. Dh6 gxf5! 20. Dg5+ Kf8 16. Ph6+ Kh8 17. Dxh5 Dxa2 18. Lc3 The critical position of the game. 18... Pf6? A plus gains 18... Lf6! 19. Pxf7+ Kg8 20. P3g5 (Khalifman) 20... Da1+! 21. Kd2 Lxc3+ 22. bxc3 Pf6! 23. Dh4 Da5 24. Dxc4 Dd5+ 19. Dxf7!! Da1+ 20. Kd2 Txf7 21. Pxf7+ Kg8 22. Txa1 Kxf7 23. Pe5+ Ke6 24. Pxc6 Pe4+ 25. Ke3 Lb6+ 26. Ld4 1-0 [JvR]

1. e4 c5 2. Pf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Pxd4 a6 5. c4 Pf6 6. Pc3 Lb4 7. Ld3 Pc6 8. Pde2!? Dc7 9. O-O Pe5 10. f4 Pxc4 White has given a pawn for the initiative. 11. Kh1 Le7 12. b3 Pb6 13. e5 Pfd5 14. Pe4 f5 15. exf6 Pxf6 16. P2g3 Pbd5 17. Lb2 O-O 18. Tc1 Dd8! 19. De2 b5 20. Pxf6+ Lxf6 21. Dh5 g6! Tal dislikes 21... h6 22. Le5! 22. Lxg6! De7! Tal defends in an excellent manner. Olafsson had prepared 22... hxg6? 23. Dxg6+ Kh8 24. Tf3! Lxb2 25. Pf5! 23. Lxf6 Pxf6 24. Df3 Tb8 25. Ld3 Lb7 26. De2 Kh8 27. Tce1 Tbe8 28. Pf5 Db4 29. Db2 Tc8 30. Pg3 Dc3 31. De2 Tg8 32. Pe4 Dd4 33. Pg5 Tg7 34. De3 Dxe3 35. Txe3 Tc3 36. Th3 b4 37. Kg1 e5! 38. Tg3? Correct is 38. Th6 exf4 39. h4 Pg4 40. Txh7+ 38... e4 39. Lc4 d5 40. Le2 d4 41. Lc4 e3 42. Td1 Ld5 43. Lf1 Te7 44. Le2 d3 45. Lxd3 Txd3 46. Txd3 e2 47. Tge3 e1=D+ 48. Txe1 Txe1+ 49. Kf2 Ta1 50. Td2 h6 51. Ke3 Te1+ 52. Kf2 Te7 53. Kf1 hxg5 54. fxg5 Pg4 55. h3 Pe3+ 56. Kf2 Lxg2 57. Td4 a5 58. h4 Kg7 59. h5 Pf5 60. Tc4 Td7 61. Tc5 Le4 62. Te5 Te7 63. Txa5 Tc7 64. Ta6 Tc2+ 65. Ke1 Pd4 66. Ta7+ Kf8 67. g6 Pf3+ 68. Kd1 Td2+ 69. Kc1 Th2 70. Tf7+ Ke8 71. Kd1 Ld3 0-1 [JvR]

1. e4 c5 2. Pf3 g6 3. d4 Lg7 4. d5 d6 5. Pc3 Pf6 6. Lb5+ Pbd7 7. a4 O-O 8. O-O a6 9. Le2 Tb8 10. Te1 Pe8 11. Lf4 Pc7 12. Lf1 b5 13. Dd2 Te8 14. h3 Pf6 15. Tad1 Ld7 16. e5!? b4! 17. Pe4!? Suddenly the board is set on fire. 17... Pxe4! Black accepts the sacrifice. 18. Txe4 Lxa4 19. Lh6 Lh8! Not 19... Lxc2? 20. Th4! Lxd1 21. Lxg7 Lxf3 (Khalifman) 22. Txh7! 20. Tde1 f6 Analysts prefer 20... dxe5 21. Pxe5 Pxd5 (21... Dxd5?? 22. Lc4 Dxd2 23. Lxf7#) 21. e6 f5 22. Th4 Lxb2? The battle continues 22... Lf6 23. Pg5 Tb6 and 24...Da8. 23. Lf8!! Square h6 is vacated. 23... Txf8 24. Dh6 Tf7 25. exf7+ Kxf7 26. Dxh7+ Lg7 27. Th6 Dg8 28. Dxg6+ Kf8 29. Pg5 Dxd5 30. Th8+! Keres led by half-a-point, when the candidates moves to Zagreb. 1-0 [JvR]

1. d4 Pf6 2. c4 e6 3. Pf3 b6 4. Pc3 Lb7 5. Lg5 Lb4 6. e3 h6 7. Lh4 g5 8. Lg3 Pe4 9. Dc2 Lxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6 11. Ld3 Pxg3 12. hxg3 Pd7 13. a4 a5 14. Tb1! g4 15. Ph4 Pf6 16. d5!? More consistent is 16. c5! 16... De7! 17. O-O Pd7!? 18. dxe6 Dxe6 19. Lf5! Dxc4 20. Tfd1 Pf6 21. Td4 Dc6 22. Le6! White's bishop cannot be taken. 22... Tg8! 23. Lc4 Kf8? The pawn returns 23... O-O-O 24. Df5+ Pd7 (Gligoric) 25. Lxf7 Tg5 with a proper defence. 24. Lb5! Dc5 25. Tc4 De5 26. Txc7 White has regained the pawn and will win another one. 26... Le4 27. Ld3 d5 28. Tc6 Tb8 29. c4 Tg5 30. c5 d4 31. exd4 Dxd4 32. Lxe4 Dxe4 33. cxb6 Dxc2 34. Txc2 Pd7 35. b7 Pc5 36. Tb5 Pxb7 37. Tcb2 Txb5 38. Txb5 Ke7 39. Pf5+ Kd7 40. Pxh6 Kc7 41. Pxf7 Tf8 42. Ph6 Td8 43. Tg5 Td1+ 44. Kh2 Ta1 45. Txg4 Pc5 46. Tc4 Kc6 47. Pf5 Txa4 48. Pd4+ Kb6 49. Txa4 Pxa4 50. g4 Pc3 51. Kg3 a4 52. Kf4 a3 53. Pc2 a2 54. g5 Kc5 55. g6 Pd5+ 56. Kg5 Kc4 57. g7 Pe7 58. f4 Kc3 59. Pa1 Kb2 60. f5 Kxa1 61. f6 Kb1 62. fxe7 a1=D 63. e8=D Da5+ 64. Kh6 Tal played the endgame well. 1-0 [JvR]

1. e4 c5 2. Pf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Pxd4 a6 5. Ld3 Pc6 6. Pxc6 dxc6 7. O-O e5 8. Pd2 Dc7 9. a4 Pf6 10. Df3 Lc5 11. Pc4 O-O 12. Pe3 Te8 13. Lc4 Le6 14. Lxe6 Txe6 15. Pf5 g6 16. Ph6+ Kg7 17. Td1 Td8 18. Txd8 Dxd8 Keres needs a win in the contest with Tal. 19. Lg5? Good chances are created by 19. g4! Dd7 (Ragozin) 20. g5 Pg8 21. Pg4 19... Dd4 20. h4 Dxb2 21. Td1 Ld4 22. Td3 Dxc2 23. Txd4! exd4 24. e5 Kf8! 25. exf6 Slightly better is 25. Lxf6! Dc1+ 26. Kh2 Dxh6 27. Lg5 Dg7 28. Lf6 Txf6 29. exf6 Dh6 (Ragozin). 25... Dc3 26. Dg4 De1+ 27. Kh2 Dxf2 28. Dh3 De1 29. Db3 b5 30. axb5 cxb5 31. Da3+ b4 32. Db3 De5+ 33. Kh1 De1+ 34. Kh2 De5+ 35. Kh1 Dd6 36. Kg1 d3?! 36... Dc5! (Ragozin) keeps the position closed. 37. Dd1?! The battle continues 37. Dc4! Ke8! (Khalifman). 37... Dc5+ 38. Kh1 Dc2 39. Df3 d2 40. Lxd2 Dxd2 Benkoe wore sunglasses against Tal's hypnotic stare in the 21st round. The Benkoe Defence didn't work. Traffic near public demonstration boards stopped. Tal led by 1 1/2 point before Keres, when the candidates left Zagreb. 0-1 [JvR]

2000 spectators visited the Worker's Hall in Belgrade.

1. e4 c5 2. Pf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Pxd4 Pf6 5. Pc3 Pbd7 6. Lc4 a6 7. Lg5 Da5 8. Dd2 e6 9. O-O h6 10. Lh4 g5? Better is 10... Le7 11. Tad1 Pe5 (Larsen-Tal, Portoroz 1958). 11. Lg3 Ph5 12. Lxe6! Tal improves on 12. Tad1 (Gufeld-Petrosian, Moscow 1959). 12... fxe6 13. Pxe6 Pxg3 14. fxg3 Pe5 15. Txf8+! Txf8 16. Dxd6 Tf6 17. Pc7+? The win achieves 17. Dc7! (Gligoric) 17... b6 18. Pg7+ Kf8 19. Ph5 Tf7? 20. Dd8# 17... Kf7 18. Tf1 Txf1+ 19. Kxf1 Pc4 20. Dxh6 Dc5! Avoids 20... Tb8? 21. P3d5! Pd2+ 22. Ke2 Lg4+ 23. Kd3! 21. Pxa8?! White does not strike. Maybe 21. Dh7+! Kf8 22. P3d5! Pe3+ 23. Pxe3 Dxe3 24. Dh8+ Kf7 25. De8+ Kg7 26. Pxa8 wins. 21... Pd2+ 22. Ke2 Lg4+! 23. Kd3 Dc4+ 24. Ke3 Dc5+ Tal won the match tournament with 20 points (+16, =8, -4). He had become the challenger for the world title. Only Keres had defeated him in the mini-matches of four games (+1, -3). 1/2-1/2 [JvR]

A match over twenty-four games began in the Pushkin Theatre for 1100 spectators.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Pc3 Lb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Lxc3+ 6. bxc3 Dc7 7. Dg4 f5 8. Dg3 Pe7 9. Dxg7 Tg8 10. Dxh7 cxd4 11. Kd1 Ld7 12. Dh5+ Pg6 13. Pe2 d3?! Better chances gives 13... dxc3 14. Pf4 Kf7 15. Ld3 Dxe5 (15... Pc6? 16. Lxf5! exf5 17. e6+! Lxe6 18. Dh7+ Tg7 19. Dxg7+!) 16. g4 Pc6 17. gxf5 exf5 18. Tb1 b6 19. Tb5 Pce7 20. Te1 (Euwe) 20... Dd4! 14. cxd3 La4+ 15. Ke1 Dxe5!? 16. Lg5 Pc6 17. d4 Dc7 18. h4! e5! 19. Th3! Df7 20. dxe5 Pcxe5 A nice combination is 20... Th8? 21. e6! Dxe6 22. Te3! Txh5 23. Txe6+ Kf7 24. Txg6! (Tal). 21. Te3 Kd7 22. Tb1 b6 23. Pf4 Tae8 24. Tb4! Lc6 25. Dd1 Tal's manouevres with the heavy pieces are impressive. 25... Pxf4 26. Txf4 Pg6 27. Td4 Txe3+ 28. fxe3 Kc7 29. c4! dxc4 29... Pe7 30. cxd5 Pxd5 31. Lc4+- (Tal). 30. Lxc4 Dg7 31. Lxg8 Dxg8 32. h5 1-0 [JvR]

1. c4 Pf6 2. Pf3 g6 3. g3 Lg7 4. Lg2 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Pc3 Pbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 Db6 10. d5 cxd5 11. cxd5 Pc5 12. Pe1 Ld7 13. Pd3 Pxd3 14. Dxd3 Tfc8 15. Tb1 Ph5 16. Le3 Db4 17. De2 Tc4 18. Tfc1 Tac8 19. Kh2 f5 20. exf5 Lxf5 21. Ta1 Pf4!? A Tal only moves forwards! The correctness of the sacrifice has been heavily debated. 22. gxf4 exf4 23. Ld2? A good try is 23. a3! Db3 24. Lxa7 Le5 25. f3 b6 (Tal), and now 26. a4! Tb4 27. a5 bxa5 28. Ta2 23... Dxb2 24. Tab1 f3! 25. Txb2? Botvinnik misses the escape 25. Lxf3! Lxb1 26. Txb1 Dc2 27. Tc1 Db2 28. Tb1 (Tal). 25... fxe2 26. Tb3 Td4 27. Le1 27. Lg5 Le5+ 28. f4 Txf4! 27... Le5+ 28. Kg1 Lf4 29. Pxe2 Txc1 30. Pxd4 Txe1+ 31. Lf1 Le4 32. Pe2 Le5 33. f4 Lf6 34. Txb7 Lxd5 35. Tc7 The pointe is 35. Txa7 Txe2! 35... Lxa2 36. Txa7 Lc4 37. Ta8+ Kf7 38. Ta7+ Ke6 39. Ta3 d5 40. Kf2 Lh4+ 41. Kg2 Kd6 42. Pg3 Lxg3 43. Lxc4 dxc4 44. Kxg3 Kd5 45. Ta7 c3 46. Tc7 Kd4 0-1 [JvR]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Pc3 dxe4 4. Pxe4 Lf5 5. Pg3 Lg6 6. P1e2 Pf6 7. h4 h6 8. Pf4 Lh7 9. Lc4 e6 10. O-O Ld6 11. Pxe6!? Tal delivers a speculative sacrifice. Botvinnik reacts quietly. 11... fxe6 12. Lxe6 Dc7 13. Te1 Pbd7 14. Lg8+ Kf8 15. Lxh7 Txh7 16. Pf5 g6!? 17. Lxh6+ Kg8 18. Pxd6 Dxd6 Botvinnik chose for simplification. 19. Lg5 Te7 20. Dd3 Kg7 21. Dg3? White's pawn structure on the kingside will be ruined. Right is 21. Txe7+ Dxe7 22. Db3 21... Txe1+ 22. Txe1 Dxg3 23. fxg3 Tf8 24. c4?! Hereafter, Botvinnik wins the endgame with accurate play. The passive 24. c3 prepares a last stand. 24... Pg4 25. d5 cxd5 26. cxd5 Pdf6 27. d6 Tf7 28. Tc1 Td7 29. Tc7 Kf7 30. Lxf6 Pxf6 31. Kf2 Ke6 32. Txd7 Kxd7 33. Kf3 Kxd6 34. Kf4 Ke6 35. g4 Pd5+ 36. Ke4 Pf6+ 37. Kf4 Pd5+ 38. Ke4 Pb4 39. a3 Pc6 40. h5 g5! 41. h6 Kf6 42. Kd5 Kg6 43. Ke6 The critical variation is 43. Kd6 Pa5! 44. Kc7 b5 45. Kb8 Pc4 46. Kxa7 Pxb2 47. Kb6 Pc4+ (Tal). 43... Pa5 44. a4 Pb3 45. Kd6 a5 46. Kd5 Kxh6 47. Kc4 Pc1 48. Kb5 Pd3 49. b3 Pc1 50. Kxa5 Pxb3+ 51. Kb4 Pc1 52. Kc3 Kg6 53. Kc2 Pe2 54. Kd3 Pc1+ 55. Kc2 Pe2 56. Kd3 Pf4+ 57. Kc4 Kf6 58. g3 Pe2 Tal's lead was reduced to 5-4. He had learned his lesson and played more seriously in the next games. 0-1 [JvR]

1. Pf3 Pf6 2. g3 g6 3. Lg2 Lg7 4. O-O O-O 5. c4 c6 6. b3 Tal plays a prophylactic opening. 6... Pe4 7. d4 d5 8. Lb2 Le6 9. Pbd2 Pxd2 10. Dxd2 Pa6 11. Tac1 Dd6 12. Pe5 Tfd8 13. Tfd1 Tac8 14. Da5 dxc4 15. Pxc4 Dc7 16. De1 Db8 17. e4 He occupies the centre with pawns. 17... Lxc4 18. Txc4 Pc7 19. Lh3 e6 20. Lc1 Da8 21. Lg5 Te8 22. Dd2 f5! 23. Lh6 Lxh6 24. Dxh6 Te7 25. Te1 Tf8 26. Tc5 Dd8 27. Te5! Tef7! Botvinnik does not like 27... Dxd4 28. exf5 gxf5 29. Lxf5 28. Dd2 Dd6 29. Lf1 Td7 30. exf5 Txf5 31. T5e4 Tf6? 31... Td5! 32. Lc4 Txd4 33. Txd4 Dxd4 34. Dxd4 Txd4 35. Lxe6+ Pxe6 36. Txe6 draws (Tal). 32. h4 Kg7 33. h5 gxh5 34. Th4 Kg8 35. Ld3 Tg7 36. Te5 Tff7 37. Dh6 De7 38. Texh5 Pd5 39. Dd2 Pf6 40. Th6 Dd6 41. Tf4 Df8? The attack is stopped by 41... e5 42. dxe5 Dxe5 42. De3 Pd5 43. Txf7 Dxf7 44. De5 Pc7 45. Dc5 Df3 Tal decides the game with a nice combination. 46. Lxh7+! Txh7 47. Dg5+ Kh8 48. Dd8+ Kg7 49. Txh7+ Kxh7 50. Dxc7+ Kg6 51. Dxb7 De4 52. Da6 De1+ 53. Kg2 De4+ 54. Kf1 Db1+ 55. Ke2 Dc2+ 56. Kf3 Df5+ 57. Ke3 Dg5+ 58. Ke2 Dh5+ 59. Kd2 Kf6 60. Dxc6 Da5+ 61. Dc3 Dxa2+ 62. Ke3 Kf7 63. d5 exd5 64. Dc7+ Kf6 65. Dc6+ Ke7 66. Dxd5 Da1 67. De4+ Kf7 68. Kf4 Dc1+ 69. Kg4 Da1 70. Dd5+ Kf8 71. Kf5 Db1+ 72. Kf6 Tal won the endgame elegantly. 1-0 [JvR]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Pc3 dxe4 4. Pxe4 Lf5 5. Pg3 Lg6 6. Lc4 e6 7. P1e2 Pf6 8. Pf4 Ld6 9. Pxg6 hxg6 10. Lg5 Pbd7 11. O-O Da5 12. f4 O-O-O 13. a3 Dc7 14. b4 Pb6 15. Le2 Le7 16. Dd3 Pfd5 17. Lxe7 Dxe7 18. c4 Pf6 19. Tab1 Dd7 20. Tbd1 Kb8 21. Db3 Dc7 22. a4 Th4 23. a5 Pc8 24. De3 Pe7 25. De5 Thh8 26. b5 cxb5 27. Dxb5 a6 28. Db2 Td7 29. c5 Ka8 30. Lf3 Pc6 31. Lxc6 Dxc6 32. Tf3 Da4 33. Tfd3 Tc8 34. Tb1 Dxa5?! 35. Tb3 Dc7 36. Da3?! Ka7 37. Tb6 Dxf4 38. Pe2 De4 39. Db3 Botvinnik has little time left. 39... Dd5?? Correct is 39... Ka8! Now 40. c6? is refuted by 40... Txc6 41. Txb7 Dxb1+! 42. Dxb1 Txb7 40. Txa6+! Kb8 41. Da4 This defeat broke the resistance of Botvinnik. Tal won the match with 12 1/2 - 8 1/2 (+6, =13, -2). He gained the worls title in May 1960. The new champion was incredibly popular. 1-0 [JvR]

Botvinnik had the doubtful right of a revenge. Tal made a terrible blunder before the second match began. He disregarded his kidneys' problems. as a result, the quality of his play in the Estraden Theatre was uneven.

1. c4 Pf6 2. Pc3 e6 3. d4 Lb4 4. a3 Lxc3+ 5. bxc3 b6 6. f3 La6 7. e4 d5 8. cxd5 Lxf1 9. Kxf1 exd5 10. Lg5 h6 11. Da4+ c6 12. Lh4 dxe4 13. Te1! Botvinnik seeks the struggle. 13... g5 14. Lf2 De7 15. Pe2 b5 16. Dc2 Dxa3!? 17. h4! gxh4?! Better is 17... g4!? 18. Pg3 Pbd7 18. Lxh4 Pbd7 19. Pg3 O-O-O? Tal fails tactically. Sufficient counteraction gives 19... e3! 20. Txe3+ Kf8 21. Pf5 Pd5 20. Pxe4 The8 Matter loses 20... Pxe4 21. Dxe4 21. Kf2! Pxe4+ 22. fxe4 f6 23. Ta1 De7 24. Txa7 Dxe4 25. Dxe4! Txe4 26. Ta8+ Pb8 27. Lg3 Kb7 28. Tha1! Tc8 29. T8a7+ Kb6 30. Lxb8 b4 31. Ld6 bxc3 32. Lc5+ Kb5 33. T1a4 Tactical superiority by Botvinnik did not occur in 1960. 1-0 [JvR]