Botvinnik – Tal World Championship Match 1961

dates: 15 March–13 May 1961
location: Moscow, Soviet Union
score: 13–8 (Botvinnik–Tal)
winner: Mikhail Botvinnik

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

Botvinnik used his contractual rematch right against Tal one year after their first title contest. The return match gave the former champion a direct opportunity to recover the title.

Botvinnik won ten games, lost five and drew six, finishing 13–8. This decisive reversal began his third separate reign as world champion. Every one of the twenty-one played games is included.

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 1961 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	1	0	1	½	½	½	1	0	1	1	1	0	1	½	1	½	0	1	0	½	1	13
Mikhail Tal	0	1	0	½	½	½	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	½	0	½	1	0	1	½	0	8

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: Botvinnik wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 O-O (ECO E51). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Kd2. The running points score became 1–0 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: Tal wins in 45 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 45 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 45.Qa4. The running points score became 1–1 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	45	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: Botvinnik wins in 43 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 O-O (ECO E51). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 43 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 43.Bc4. The running points score became 2–1 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: a draw after 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 (ECO B12). The players drew after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41...Ke8. The running points score became 2½–1½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 24th	1961	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: a draw after 73 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.e3 O-O (ECO E51). The players drew after 73 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 73...Rg3. The running points score became 3–2 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1/2-1/2	World Championship 24th	1961	73	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: a draw after 25 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 (ECO B12). The players drew after 25 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 25...Qc7. The running points score became 3½–2½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 24th	1961	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: Botvinnik wins in 33 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ (ECO E24). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 33 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 33.R1a4. The running points score became 4½–2½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	33	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: Tal wins in 29 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 (ECO B12). Mikhail Tal won with White after 29 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 29.Nd7+. The running points score became 4½–3½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: Botvinnik wins in 73 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.Nf3 e4 (ECO A23). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 73 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 73.Kf3. The running points score became 5½–3½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	73	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: Botvinnik wins in 42 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 (ECO B12). Mikhail Botvinnik won with Black after 42 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 42...Kd6. The running points score became 6½–3½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 0-1	World Championship 24th	1961	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Botvinnik wins in 42 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 (ECO D14). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 42 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 42...Rb2+. The running points score became 7½–3½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: Tal wins in 41 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 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Rg5. The running points score became 7½–4½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: Botvinnik wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 (ECO E85). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.fxe4. The running points score became 8½–4½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: a draw after 33 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 (ECO B12). The players drew after 33 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 33.Rxf7. The running points score became 9–5 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 24th	1961	33	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: Botvinnik wins in 63 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 (ECO E81). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 63 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 63.Re7+. The running points score became 10–5 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	63	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: a draw after 90 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 c5 (ECO B12). The players drew after 90 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 90...Qa6. The running points score became 10½–5½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 24th	1961	90	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: Tal wins in 83 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.c4 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 (ECO E81). Mikhail Tal won with Black after 83 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 83...Bf4+. The running points score became 10½–6½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 0-1	World Championship 24th	1961	83	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: Botvinnik wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 (ECO B12). Mikhail Botvinnik won with Black after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41...Rc5. The running points score became 11½–6½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 0-1	World Championship 24th	1961	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: Tal wins in 75 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4 Bg7 (ECO E81). Mikhail Tal won with Black after 75 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 75...Kc1. The running points score became 11½–7½ (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 0-1	World Championship 24th	1961	75	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Game 20: a draw after 121 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 (ECO B12). The players drew after 121 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 121...Kc7. The running points score became 12–8 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mihail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik 1/2-1/2	World Championship 24th	1961	121	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 21: Game 21: Botvinnik wins in 33 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 (ECO E87). Mikhail Botvinnik won with White after 33 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 33.d6+. The running points score became 13–8 (Botvinnik–Tal).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Botvinnik – Mihail Tal 1-0	World Championship 24th	1961	33	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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