An Underrated World Chess Champion

In the spirit of the topic, I'll offer Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov as the most underrated world champion. He was a Soviet and Russian chess grandmaster, who was World Chess Champion from 1957 to 1958. He was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship on eight occasions (1948, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1965, 1983, and 1985). Smyslov twice tied for first place at the Soviet Championships (1949, 1955), and his total of 17 Chess Olympiad medals won is an all-time record. In five European Team Championships, Smyslov won ten gold medals. Smyslov remained active and successful in competitive chess well after the age of sixty. Despite failing eyesight, he remained active in the occasional composition of chess problems and studies until shortly before his death in 2010. When you read the unfettered praise for Smyslov from the likes of Fischer, Spassky, Tal, Kramnik, and Kasparov, you realize Smyslov was a rare and special genius of 20th century chess. He didn't have a wild tactical style like Tal or a fierce competitive drive like Fischer or Kasparov, but he had something. Yet go to Amazon and see how few books on him are in print.
 
Because of the apparent simplicity of his style, Smyslov is rarely mentioned among the players who have made the greatest contribution to the development of the ancient game. However, his victories at the peak of his career are amazing for the lack of a clear defense for his opponents, and a careful study reveals that no one in the world could withstand Smyslov's very fine technque.
--Kasparov

How would you describe the seventh World Champion, Vasily Smyslov?

How can I express it in the right way? ... He is truth in chess! Smyslov plays correctly, truthfully and has a natural style. By the way, why do you think he lacks that aura of mystique like Tal or Capablanca? Because Smyslov is not an actor in chess, his play is neither artistic nor fascinating. But I am fond of his style. I would recommend a study of Smyslov's games to children who want to know how to play chess because he plays the game how it should be played: his style is the closest to some sort of 'virtual truth' in chess. He always tried to make the strongest move in each position. He has surpassed many other of the World Champions in the number of strongest moves made. As a professional, this skill impresses me. I know that spectators are more interested in flaws ... ups and downs. But from the professional standpoint, Smyslov has been underestimated.
--Kramnik Interview

Some time in the future I'll make a complete and extended blog about Vasily Smyslov.