Tigran Petrosian

Tigran Petrosian (Armenian: Տիգրան Պետրոսյան) (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) was World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He is often known by the Russian version of his name, Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (Russian: Тигран Вартанович Петросян). He was nicknamed "Iron Tigran" due to his playing style because of his almost impenetrable defence, which emphasised safety above all else. He was a Candidate for the World Championship on eight occasions... more

Tigran Petrosian (Armenian: Տիգրան Պետրոսյան) (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) was World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He is often known by the Russian version of his name, Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (Russian: Тигран Вартанович Петросян). He was nicknamed "Iron Tigran" due to his playing style because of his almost impenetrable defence, which emphasised safety above all else. He was a Candidate for the World Championship on eight occasions (1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980). He won the world championship in 1963 (against Botvinnik), successfully defended it in 1966 (against Spassky), and lost it in 1969 (to Spassky). Thus he was the defending World Champion or a World Champion candidate in ten consecutive three-year cycles. He won the Soviet Championship four times (1959, 1961, 1969, and 1975). He was arguably the hardest player to beat in the history of chess. A Soviet Armenian, Petrosian was born in the city of Tbilisi, Georgia, Transcaucasian Socialist... less