It is Checkmate Monday once more and this time we present a very rare example of an opponent checkmating ‘Iron Tigran.’
Petrosian the Champion
Tigran Petrosian ended Mikhail Botvinnik’s remarkable personal relationship with the World Championship when he defeated the reigning champion in their 1963 title match. Petrosian defended his title when he beat the new challenger – Boris Spassky – in the 1966 World Championship match.
It is hard to believe now, but Petrosian was the first reigning World Champion to win a match against a challenger since Alexander Alekhine defeated Efim Bogoljubov back in 1934.
Spassky eventually qualified to challenge Petrosian again in 1969 – and this time he was successful.
Petrosian remained a major player in world chess until his untimely death in 1984. He was just 55 years old.
He would have made much more of an impression on the World Championship cycles following his dethronement but for two factors.
First, he ran into a rampant Bobby Fischer in the final of the very next Candidates cycle, played in 1971. Fischer was unstoppable and he famously became World Champion the very next year.
Rivalry with Korchnoi
The second obstacle blocking Petrosian’s road back to the top was Viktor Korchnoi. The rivalry between Petrosian and Korchnoi remains one of the most fierce of all time. (We will return to the subject of their rivalry another time.)
They played against each other in four Candidates matches. Petrosian won their match in 1971 (Petrosian won one game and the other nine were drawn). Korchnoi was triumphant in the big matches of 1974, 1977 and 1980.
Petrosian was notoriously difficult to beat (hence the nickname of ‘Iron Tigran’.) He possessed an extraordinary sense of danger and utilised many unusual methods of defense.
Checkmating Iron Tigran over the board was a near-impossible feat. Professional chess players resign long before an actual checkmate is due.
Korchnoi did it in the first game of their 1974 match.
Checkmating Iron Tigran
Korchnoi – Petrosian
Game One
Candidates Match, 1974
Matches between top players usually start off quietly. This was never Korchnoi’s way; his preference was always to start with all guns blazing.
White must take care not to allow Black’s bishops to open up but that doesn’t stop Korchnoi from playing tactically.
32 Nf5!
Offering a pawn sacrifice. Petrosian dare not accept the gift, as 32 ….Rxf6 33 Nxd4 Rxf1+ 34 Rxf1 cxd4 35 Rxf7 leads to a completely winning position for Korchnoi.
32 …Qe5
33 Rf3
The rook-lift is a powerful attacking device.
33 …Rxf6
Petrosian finally removes the offending pawn but Korchnoi’s attack rages on.
Incidentally, doubling the rooks on g-file with 33 …Rag8 would also allow White to force a checkmate. Can you see how? Highlight the space under there diagram to check your answer.
White to play and force a checkmate
(Analysis diagram, showing the position after 33 …Rag8)
34 Rh3 h6
35 Qg5!
A powerful move. Korchnoi exploits the pin on the h-file and makes way for the rook to capture the h-pawn. There is an even bigger threat too…
35 …Re8
…which Petrosian misses. In truth, there isn’t a good defense available to Black. His position is lost.
36 Qg7 checkmate.
A remarkable turn of events. Checkmating Iron Tigran was an exceptionally difficult task.
Tune in next week for the next instalment of Checkmate Monday – and the sequel to this story.
There are many more beautiful checkmate patterns in our course, The Checkmate Patterns Manual, by International Master John Bartholomew and CraftyRaf.
There is a shortened, free version of the course here.
