Botvinnik – Tal World Championship Match 1960

dates: 15 March–7 May 1960
location: Moscow, Soviet Union
score: 8½–12½ (Botvinnik–Tal)
winner: Mikhail Tal

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

Mikhail Tal challenged Botvinnik after winning the Candidates tournament. The twenty-four-game championship brought a new challenger to a title that Botvinnik had regained in 1958.

Tal won six games to Botvinnik’s two, with thirteen draws. The 12½–8½ victory ended the match after twenty-one games and made Tal world champion. The collection retains both the attacks and the drawn encounters between the decisive rounds.

All 21 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 Mikhail Tal's Profile

Match results

Botvinnik – Tal World Championship Match 1960 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	Points
Mikhail Botvinnik	0	½	½	½	½	0	0	1	1	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	½	½	8½
Mikhail Tal	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	0	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	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 21.

Completed 0 / 21

Game 1: Game 1: Tal wins in 32 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 (ECO C18). Mikhail Tal won with White after 32 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 32.h5. The running points score became 0–1 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 23th	1960	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: a draw after 44 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 (ECO A61). The players drew after 44 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 44...f5. The running points score became ½–1½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	44	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: a draw after 37 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 (ECO B11). The players drew after 37 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 37...Kb8. The running points score became 1–2 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	37	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: a draw after 40 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO E27). The players drew after 40 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 40...Kf6. The running points score became 1½–2½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	40	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: a draw after 43 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (ECO B18). The players drew after 43 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 43.b4. The running points score became 2–3 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: Tal wins in 46 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O (ECO E69). Mikhail Tal won with Black after 46 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 46...Kd4. The running points score became 2–4 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 0-1	World Championship 23th	1960	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: Tal wins in 52 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (ECO B18). Mikhail Tal won with White after 52 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 52.Nb1. The running points score became 2–5 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 23th	1960	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: Botvinnik wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 (ECO A60). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Nf7+. The running points score became 3–5 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 23th	1960	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: Botvinnik wins in 58 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (ECO B18). Mikhail Botvinnik won with Black after 58 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 58...Ne2. The running points score became 4–5 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 0-1	World Championship 23th	1960	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: a draw after 60 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 (ECO E89). The players drew after 60 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 60.Rh4. The running points score became 4½–5½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	60	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Tal wins in 72 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O O-O (ECO D78). Mikhail Tal won with White after 72 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 72.Kf6. The running points score became 4½–6½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 23th	1960	72	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: a draw after 72 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 (ECO D40). The players drew after 72 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 72...Ke7. The running points score became 5–7 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	72	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: a draw after 16 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 (ECO A30). The players drew after 16 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 16.Rxb2. The running points score became 5½–7½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	16	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: a draw after 22 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO E24). The players drew after 22 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 22...g5. The running points score became 6–8 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	22	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: a draw after 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (ECO B18). The players drew after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41...Rc7. The running points score became 6½–8½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: a draw after 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO E24). The players drew after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.a4. The running points score became 7–9 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: Tal wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (ECO B18). Mikhail Tal won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Qa4. The running points score became 7–10 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 23th	1960	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: a draw after 76 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO E24). The players drew after 76 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 76...Rf4. The running points score became 7½–10½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	76	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: Tal wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 (ECO A87). Mikhail Tal won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41...Qg4. The running points score became 7½–11½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 23th	1960	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Game 20: a draw after 27 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO E24). The players drew after 27 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 27...Nf6. The running points score became 8–12 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 21: Game 21: a draw after 17 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 (ECO E19). The players drew after 17 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 17...Nd8. The running points score became 8½–12½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 23th	1960	17	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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