Botvinnik – Smyslov World Championship Match 1957

dates: 5 March–27 April 1957
location: Moscow, Soviet Union
score: 9½–12½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov)
winner: Vasily Smyslov

Mikhail Botvinnik in 1933, before his world championship reign. This portrait is not from the match. Photo: Unknown photographer.

Smyslov won the 1956 Candidates tournament to secure another challenge against Botvinnik. Their second World Championship match followed the tied contest of 1954.

Smyslov won six games, lost three and drew thirteen. His 12½–9½ victory ended the championship after twenty-two games and made him world champion. Botvinnik would invoke his rematch right the following year.

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 Vasily Smyslov's Profile

Match results

Botvinnik – Smyslov World Championship Match 1957 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	0	½	½	1	1	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	9½
Vasily Smyslov	1	½	½	0	0	1	½	1	½	½	½	1	0	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	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: Smyslov wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O (ECO A36). Vasily Smyslov won with Black after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Bf6. The running points score became 0–1 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 0-1	World Championship 21th	1957	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: a draw after 45 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (ECO B66). The players drew after 45 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 45...Rd6. The running points score became ½–1½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	45	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: a draw after 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O (ECO E66). The players drew after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Kg2. The running points score became 1–2 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: Botvinnik wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (ECO B66). Mikhail Botvinnik won with Black after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Kd3. The running points score became 2–2 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 0-1	World Championship 21th	1957	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: Botvinnik wins in 54 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O (ECO E62). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 54 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 54.Qe1. The running points score became 3–2 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1-0	World Championship 21th	1957	54	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: Smyslov wins in 28 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 (ECO D98). Vasily Smyslov won with White after 28 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 28.Nc3. The running points score became 3–3 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 21th	1957	28	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: a draw after 23 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 b6 (ECO E45). The players drew after 23 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 23...Ne4. The running points score became 3½–3½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	23	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: Smyslov wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (ECO B66). Vasily Smyslov won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.a6. The running points score became 3½–4½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 21th	1957	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: a draw after 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O (ECO E62). The players drew after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38...Kh7. The running points score became 4–5 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: a draw after 47 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 (ECO C98). The players drew after 47 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 47...Nd6. The running points score became 4½–5½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	47	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: a draw after 23 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.c4 c6 (ECO D79). The players drew after 23 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 23...Bg4. The running points score became 5–6 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	23	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: Smyslov wins in 43 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.d4 d6 (ECO A42). Vasily Smyslov won with White after 43 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 43...Ra5. The running points score became 5–7 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 21th	1957	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: Botvinnik wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 b6 (ECO E45). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Ra8+. The running points score became 6–7 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1-0	World Championship 21th	1957	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: a draw after 46 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 (ECO C18). The players drew after 46 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 46.Nc1. The running points score became 6½–7½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: a draw after 56 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 b6 (ECO E45). The players drew after 56 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 56...Ke6. The running points score became 7–8 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: a draw after 55 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 (ECO C98). The players drew after 55 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 55...Kf8. The running points score became 7½–8½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	55	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: Smyslov wins in 69 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.c4 c6 4.Bg2 Bg7 (ECO D73). Vasily Smyslov won with Black after 69 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 69...Ke1. The running points score became 7½–9½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 0-1	World Championship 21th	1957	69	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: a draw after 62 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO C15). The players drew after 62 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 62.Bc1. The running points score became 8–10 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	62	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: a draw after 15 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 (ECO A36). The players drew after 15 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 15...Bxd4. The running points score became 8½–10½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	15	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Game 20: Smyslov wins in 42 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 (ECO C18). Vasily Smyslov won with White after 42 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 42.Kc3. The running points score became 8½–11½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 21th	1957	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 21: Game 21: a draw after 13 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 (ECO D79). The players drew after 13 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 13...Qxd7. The running points score became 9–12 (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Vassily Smyslov 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	13	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 22: Game 22: a draw after 11 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 (ECO C11). The players drew after 11 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 11.Nxg5. The running points score became 9½–12½ (Botvinnik–Smyslov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Smyslov – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 21th	1957	11	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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