Petrosian – Spassky World Championship Match 1969

dates: 14 April–17 June 1969
location: Moscow, Soviet Union
score: 10½–12½ (Petrosian–Spassky)
winner: Boris Spassky

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

Spassky won another Candidates cycle and returned to challenge Petrosian for the second consecutive time. The Moscow rematch followed Petrosian’s narrow successful defence in 1966.

Spassky reversed their earlier result, winning six games, losing four and drawing thirteen. His 12½–10½ victory ended the match after twenty-three games. Spassky became the tenth generally recognised world champion.

All 23 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.

Tigran Petrosian's Profile Boris Spassky's Profile

Match results

Petrosian – Spassky World Championship Match 1969 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	Game 23	Points
Tigran Petrosian	1	½	½	0	0	½	½	0	½	1	1	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	1	0	½	½	10½
Boris Spassky	0	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	½	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	0	1	½	½	12½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 23.

Completed 0 / 23

Game 1: Game 1: Petrosian wins in 56 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 (ECO B42). Tigran Petrosian won with Black after 56 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 56...Ra1. The running points score became 1–0 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 0-1	World Championship 27th	1969	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: a draw after 61 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D34). The players drew after 61 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 61.Qd4+. The running points score became 1½–½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	61	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: a draw after 43 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 (ECO B36). The players drew after 43 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 43...Be1. The running points score became 2–1 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: Spassky wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D34). Boris Spassky won with Black after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41...Bxf1. The running points score became 2–2 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 0-1	World Championship 27th	1969	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: Spassky wins in 30 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 c5 (ECO D41). Boris Spassky won with White after 30 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 30.Nc6. The running points score became 2–3 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1-0	World Championship 27th	1969	30	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: a draw after 47 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 (ECO D56). The players drew after 47 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 47...Kg8. The running points score became 2½–3½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	47	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: a draw after 27 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 (ECO D19). The players drew after 27 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 27.Qg4. The running points score became 3–4 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: Spassky wins in 44 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 (ECO D37). Boris Spassky won with Black after 44 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 44...Qxe3+. The running points score became 3–5 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 0-1	World Championship 27th	1969	44	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: a draw after 65 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 4.Nc3 d6 (ECO A56). The players drew after 65 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 65...Nb6. The running points score became 3½–5½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	65	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: Petrosian wins in 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O (ECO E48). Tigran Petrosian won with White after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38.Bxg7. The running points score became 4½–5½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1-0	World Championship 27th	1969	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Petrosian wins in 56 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 (ECO E12). Tigran Petrosian won with Black after 56 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 56.Rg5+. The running points score became 5½–5½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 0-1	World Championship 27th	1969	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: a draw after 49 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D34). The players drew after 49 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 49.Kg3. The running points score became 6–6 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	49	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: a draw after 25 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 (ECO C42). The players drew after 25 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 25.Rde1. The running points score became 6½–6½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: a draw after 56 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D55). The players drew after 56 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 56.Rc1. The running points score became 7–7 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: a draw after 19 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 (ECO C42). The players drew after 19 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 19...Rfe8. The running points score became 7½–7½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	19	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: a draw after 31 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D34). The players drew after 31 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 31...Be1. The running points score became 8–8 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: Spassky wins in 58 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 (ECO B42). Boris Spassky won with White after 58 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 58.Kf4. The running points score became 8–9 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1-0	World Championship 27th	1969	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: a draw after 59 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 (ECO D34). The players drew after 59 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 59.Rd6. The running points score became 8½–9½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	59	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: Spassky wins in 24 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (ECO B94). Boris Spassky won with White after 24 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 24.Ng5. The running points score became 8½–10½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1-0	World Championship 27th	1969	24	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Game 20: Petrosian wins in 50 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Nc3 Nf6 (ECO D55). Tigran Petrosian won with White after 50 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 50.Rxb8. The running points score became 9½–10½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1-0	World Championship 27th	1969	50	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 21: Game 21: Spassky wins in 53 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 (ECO C92). Boris Spassky won with White after 53 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 53.f6. The running points score became 9½–11½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1-0	World Championship 27th	1969	53	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 22: Game 22: a draw after 31 moves

The opening moves were 1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 (ECO D58). The players drew after 31 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 31...a5. The running points score became 10–12 (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Tigran V Petrosian – Boris V Spassky 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 23: Game 23: a draw after 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 (ECO B48). The players drew after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.c6. The running points score became 10½–12½ (Petrosian–Spassky).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Boris V Spassky – Tigran V Petrosian 1/2-1/2	World Championship 27th	1969	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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