The history of the world chess championship includes five title matches where the challenger was the former champion, seeking his revenge. These are Steinitz v Lasker, 1896; Alekhine v Euwe 1937; Botvinnik v Smyslov, 1958; Botvinnik v Tal 1961 and Karpov v Kasparov 1986. Steinitz and Karpov both failed in their bids to reclaim the championship, while Alekhine and Botvinnik were successful, the latter twice.
After the Candidates’ tournament in Khanty-Mansisk, the former champion Anand becomes the fifth deposed monarch of the chess world to have the chance to stage a comeback. When I organised the 2000 challenge by Kramnik to Kasparov in London, I offered Kasparov the right to an automatic return match should he lose the first time round. Chivalrously, he declined, but may have regretted this generous decision when he did in fact succumb to his younger rival.
This week, samples from the Botvinnik blueprint. He based his game on profound analysis of the psychology of his previous opponent.
Botvinnik-Tal: World Championship, Moscow (Game 3) 1961; Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 d4 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 Bd6 8 Nf3 In the later game Botvinnik-Balashov, Hastings 1966, Botvinnik sought to improve with 8 f4 clamping down on Black’s freeing move … e5. However, after 8 … c5 Black had already solved his opening problems. The fact that Balashov went on to lose had nothing to do with Botvinnik’s innovation. 8 … Nc6 9 b4 In the first game of the match Botvinnik played 9 Nb5 and went on to win. Again, in that case, after 9 … e5 10 Nxd6 Qxd6 White had achieved very little from the opening phase. 9 … e5 10 Bb2 Bg4 11 d5 Ne7 12 h3 Bd7 13 Ng5 Ng6 Botvinnik swiftly exposes this move as a blunder.
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