World Champion (163-9) Armenian GM who in his prime was as near to unbeatable as anyone in the modern era. He gradually crept up on the WC, finishing fifth in Candidates tournament of 1953, and third in the 1956 and 1959 events before winning the Curacao Candidates tournament of 1962 with a typical score of 8 wins and 17 draws to earn the right to challenge Botivinnik. Despite a six-year reign, he never won a major event outright as champion. His defeat of Spassky in the world championship match of 1966, however, was the first time a champion had beaten his challenger since the Alekhine-Bogolyubov match of 1934.
Petrosian's predilection for short, energy-saving draws and his deep positional style made him one of the least exciting and charismatic of the world champions, but his highly developed sense of danger and strategic mastery earned him a unique respect among fellow grnadmasters.
World Champion (163-9) Armenian GM who in his prime was as near to unbeatable as anyone in the modern era. He gradually crept up on the WC, finishing fifth in Candidates tournament of 1953, and third in the 1956 and 1959 events before winning the Curacao Candidates tournament of 1962 with a typical score of 8 wins and 17 draws to earn the right to challenge Botivinnik. Despite a six-year reign, he never won a major event outright as champion. His defeat of Spassky in the world championship match of 1966, however, was the first time a champion had beaten his challenger since the Alekhine-Bogolyubov match of 1934.
Petrosian's predilection for short, energy-saving draws and his deep positional style made him one of the least exciting and charismatic of the world champions, but his highly developed sense of danger and strategic mastery earned him a unique respect among fellow grnadmasters.