Fischer v. Botvinnik 1962

The one and only game between these world champions was played at the Varna Olympiad 1962.




This is film footage of the end of this game- notice how disgusted Bobby looks as he leaves the board.

Notice how ecstatic Botvinnik looks after securing the draw-

Botvinnik and several strong Russian GMs had spent most of the previous night analyzing the adjourned position, and had found the draw-

As Botvinnik entered the hall to resume play, he was asked if Fischer had winning chances- he replied only

"Nischia" (draw)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• fischer
• bobby fischer
• botvinnik
• mikhail botvinnik
• chess
• chess champion
• chess world champion
• chessdocumentary
• jessicafischerqueen
• Varna chess olympiad
• soviet chess
• chess history

[steelydanbowler]

Great footage. Thank you!

[alecksandrkoblents]

@steelydanbowler Thanks steely! It's jessicafischerqueen here in case you didn't know. I sent you a friend invitation.

[lightnweight]

@keelasever Great catch keelsasever! Thank you.

[keelasever]

@lightnweight the one who Botvinnik turns his head to is GM Efim Geller ,Fischer's killer.

was won some sicilians against him.he died few years ago.

[MoPar7055]

fischer wasn't bad at chess

[Schachbenno]

schach-brett.de

[kaewonf8]

Botvinnik was world champion at this time, having crushed Fischer's arch-nemesis Tal the year before.

[lightnweight]

Thanks for posting this, it's so interesting! I wonder if someone can help identify other people in the video?

[oncosinos]

Simply Fantastic video!!!! Indeed, there was no thermo over the table. The thermo for Botvinnik showed the opponent that he was ready to fight. In this game, he gave order to all team members that, if asked they should say his position was lost. This was done to psychologically lower Fischer awareness of danger. Again Fantastic video. Thank you so much!!!

[Ruxistico]

look at the face of Botvinnik! He is so happy to get the draw that it just shines out of him! I read Kasparovs version of the story with the all-night analysis and all. Very interesting and I'm so happy see this video. Thank you Jes!

[MegaUpstairs]

If you check the game, you can see that Botvinnik was just playing with Fischer, only showing him his limits. Botvinnik played the opposite style he used to: energetic, hazardous, improzivative... took a lot of causeless risk, just for the excitement. He wasn't interested in winning the game, otherwise he would have played his usual analytic style.

[Sirb0b1]

No wonder Botvinnik, is happy he should have lost but Tal and Geller,found the answer in an all night analysis session to save Botvinnik's butt. It just goes to show though how important it seemed to the Russians just to get a draw with Fishcer was like a win!