Botvinnik – Petrosian World Championship Match 1963

dates: 23 March–20 May 1963
location: Moscow, Soviet Union
score: 9½–12½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian)
winner: Tigran Petrosian

Tigran Petrosian in 1962, before he became world champion. This portrait is not from the match. Photo: Harry Pot / Anefo.

Tigran Petrosian qualified to challenge Botvinnik by winning the 1962 Candidates tournament in Curaçao. Their championship match formed the final stage of that qualification cycle.

Petrosian won five games, Botvinnik two, and fifteen were drawn. The 12½–9½ result ended the contest after twenty-two games and made Petrosian world champion. Botvinnik did not receive an automatic return match under the revised championship rules.

All 22 played games appear below in match order. The game records preserve the archive’s player names, round numbers and dates, including unknown date components. Select either player in the embedded trainer to work through the decisions from that side. A drawn game remains a complete exercise for both players.

Mikhail Botvinnik's Profile Tigran Petrosian's Profile

Match results

Botvinnik – Petrosian World Championship Match 1963 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Game 12	Game 13	Game 14	Game 15	Game 16	Game 17	Game 18	Game 19	Game 20	Game 21	Game 22	Points
Mikhail Botvinnik	1	½	½	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	0	½	½	0	0	½	½	½	9½
Tigran Petrosian	0	½	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	12½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 22.

Completed 0 / 22

Game 1: Game 1: Botvinnik wins in 40 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 (ECO E35). Mikhail Botvinnik won with Black after 40 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 40...Re2+. The running points score became 1–0 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 0-1	World Championship 25th	1963	40	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: a draw after 35 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 c5 (ECO D27). The players drew after 35 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 35...Nc8. The running points score became 1½–½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: a draw after 86 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 (ECO E18). The players drew after 86 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 86...Rf3+. The running points score became 2–1 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	86	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: a draw after 24 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.e3 Nf6 (ECO A35). The players drew after 24 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 24...axb6. The running points score became 2½–1½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	24	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: Petrosian wins in 48 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 (ECO D94). Tigran Petrosian won with White after 48 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 48.Kg8. The running points score became 2½–2½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 25th	1963	48	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: a draw after 27 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 (ECO D27). The players drew after 27 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 27...b5. The running points score became 3–3 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: Petrosian wins in 52 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.Nc3 e5 4.g3 Ne7 (ECO A21). Tigran Petrosian won with White after 52 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 52.Rb8. The running points score became 3–4 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 25th	1963	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: a draw after 55 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 (ECO D27). The players drew after 55 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 55.Kg3. The running points score became 3½–4½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	55	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: a draw after 55 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 (ECO E08). The players drew after 55 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 55...Rxa4. The running points score became 4–5 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	55	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: a draw after 43 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 (ECO D27). The players drew after 43 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 43...Kf5. The running points score became 4½–5½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: a draw after 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3 d5 (ECO D32). The players drew after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41...Nc4. The running points score became 5–6 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: a draw after 53 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D31). The players drew after 53 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 53.Kb4. The running points score became 5½–6½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	53	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: a draw after 54 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 (ECO E18). The players drew after 54 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 54.Kf1. The running points score became 6–7 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	54	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: Botvinnik wins in 57 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D31). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 57 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 57.Ra7+. The running points score became 7–7 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1-0	World Championship 25th	1963	57	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: Petrosian wins in 58 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 dxc4 (ECO D97). Tigran Petrosian won with White after 58 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 58.f5. The running points score became 7–8 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 25th	1963	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: a draw after 54 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 (ECO D27). The players drew after 54 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 54.Kf6. The running points score became 7½–8½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	54	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: a draw after 39 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 (ECO E14). The players drew after 39 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 39...Rc4. The running points score became 8–9 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	39	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: Petrosian wins in 61 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D31). Tigran Petrosian won with Black after 61 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 61...Nf4. The running points score became 8–10 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 0-1	World Championship 25th	1963	61	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: Petrosian wins in 66 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 (ECO E19). Tigran Petrosian won with White after 66 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 66.Kg2. The running points score became 8–11 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 25th	1963	66	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Game 20: a draw after 21 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 c5 (ECO D27). The players drew after 21 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 21...Qb6. The running points score became 8½–11½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	21	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 21: Game 21: a draw after 10 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 (ECO A16). The players drew after 10 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 10.Nd2. The running points score became 9–12 (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	10	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 22: Game 22: a draw after 10 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qa4+ Nc6 (ECO D23). The players drew after 10 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 10...e6. The running points score became 9½–12½ (Botvinnik–Petrosian).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 25th	1963	10	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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