Tigran Petrosian was an Armenian Soviet Grandmaster and World Chess Champion. Born on June 17, 1929, and passing on August 13, 1984, Petrosian is renowned for his defensive playing style, which promoted strong positional play and drawing his opponents into errors.
Petrosian learned to play chess at the age of eight and quickly made a name for himself in the chess world. He rose through the ranks of Soviet chess during the 1950s and won the Soviet Championship four times.
In 1963, Petrosian defeated Mikhail Botvinnik to become World Chess Champion, a title he held until 1969 when he was defeated by Boris Spassky. After losing his title, Petrosian remained a significant force in world chess, consistently ranking among the world's top ten players for the next decade.
Petrosian is best remembered for his strategic mastery. He emphasized the value of positional play, expertly exploiting small advantages and weaknesses in his opponents' positions, often sacrificing material to initiate complicated tactical sequences. His nickname, "Iron Tigran", reflects his almost impenetrable defensive playing style, which opted for caution and solidity over risk-taking.
Petrosian also made significant contributions off the board. He was an editor of the chess magazine "64" from 1968 to 1980 and wrote several books and articles about chess. His lifetime tournament record shows his class, with 109 first prizes, 48 second prizes, and 39 third prizes.
Despite battling stomach cancer, Petrosian continued to play competitive chess until his death in 1984. He left behind a strong legacy in chess that continues to influence modern players today. The Armenian government issued a postage stamp in his honor in 1984, and a street in Yerevan is named after him.