World Chess Championship 1969
Boris Spassky takes the title from Tigran Petrosian in their second consecutive championship match — the rematch in Moscow, decided by a single game.
- Year
- 1969
- Format
- Best of 24 classical games
- Venue
- Estrada Theatre, Moscow
- Cycle
- classical
Spassky had challenged Petrosian for the title in 1966 and lost narrowly. The 1969 cycle — the next opportunity in the FIDE three-year cycle of the period — produced the same matchup again. Spassky had won the intervening Candidates final 6.5–4.5 against Korchnoi. The 1969 match was the second consecutive championship match between the two players.
The Match
Played at the Estrada Theatre in Moscow from 14 April to 17 June 1969. Where the 1966 match had been a tight defensive struggle in Petrosian’s preferred style, the 1969 match was more decisive: Spassky won four games to Petrosian’s two in the early stretch, traded wins in the middle, and held his lead to the final round. Final score 12.5 to 10.5 in 23 games.
The Tenth Champion
Spassky’s victory made him the tenth world chess champion. He held the title for three years — until Bobby Fischer took it in Reykjavík in 1972 in the most-watched chess match of all time. (See our entry on the 1972 Reykjavík match.)