"One must beware of unnecessary excitement."… Tigran Petrosian is better known as ‘Iron Tigran’ for his impeccable defense strategy, which guaranteed safety above everything else. The winner of 1963 World Champion, Tigran was a follower of Nimzovitch's theories, playing prophylactic game to prevent and resist all kinds of attacks his opponent might come up with. The only player to succeed in the interzonal and candidates tournament without losing a single game, Petrosian enjoyed playing slow, showing the best defense tactics fighting for his key squares. The toughest player to beat in the history of world chess, Tigran was criticized by many chess masters for being the weakest and slowest player, but he knew how to take things on his stride. “Some consider that when I play I am excessively cautious, but it seems to me that the question may be a different one. I try to avoid chance. Those who rely on chance should play cards or roulette. Chess is something quite different.”… His self-confidence had never failed him as he went ahead to make his games inaccessible.

Born in the year 1929 on 17th June 1929 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tigran Petrosian was named Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian by his parents. He lost his parents at a young age and lived most of his childhood in his hometown.

Tigran had Master’s degree in Philosophy from Yerevan University. Besides playing professional chess, Petrosian also was an editor of ‘Shakhmatnaya Moskva’, the chess magazine. Petrosian’s games are used for instructing students in chess schools across the globe.

There are two openings in chess, the Petrosian variation of the King's Indian defense and Petrosian system in the Queen's Indian Defense, which have been named after him. His style was strategically strong which was based on his anticipation of the opponent’s attacks and moves. “With the initiative Petrosian often played like a python, squeezing and squeezing the victim until he was almost happy to resign. When the chances were balanced, Petrosian was like a mongoose deflecting every thrust.”

After moving to Moscow in the year 1949, Petrosian worked as a road sweeper and caretaker to earn his livelihood. Petrosian got married in the year 1952 to Rona Yakovlevna Avinezar who was actively involved in the chess circles and was a translator by profession. He died in the year 1984 on 13th August of Cancer.

Early Career:

He was just a kid of 8 when he learned playing chess. He learnt chess at a local chess school at Tbilisi Pioneer's Palace. Archil Ebralidze, the well-known chess player, was his first trainer. Petrosian started participating in chess tournaments since he was a kid. It was in the 4th USSR Junior Championship held in Leningrad in the year 1945 that he tied with two eminent chess players Y. Vasilchuk and A. Reshko. It was the beginning of a long success story that followed in the coming years. Year 1946, Petrosian won the title of the 6th Armenian Championship held in Yerevan. Petrosian stood second in the 7th Georgian Championship held in Tbilisi in the year 1946 with a score of 12.5/19. It was in the 5th USSR Junior Championship, held in Leningrad, in the year 1946 that he won with a score of 14/15. Petrosian shared the title of 8th Armenian Championship in the year1948 with Genrikh Kasparian. After Petrosian moved to Moscow in the year 1949, his career took a kick-start. He started playing as many tournaments he could and won most of them. It was in the year 1952 that he became an international and Soviet Grandmaster. He won the USSR title in the year1959 and then again in the year1961.

World Chess Championship:

After winning the first place in the Candidates Tournament in the year 1962, Petrosian got the chance to play against Mikhail Botvinnik, the prevailing World Champion in the year 1963. To everybody’s astonishment Petrosian defeated Botvinnik in the match with a score of 5 wins, 15 draws and 2 losses. He defended his title successfully till Boris Spassky defeated him in the year 1969. Though he tried to fight back and win his title back in the year 1971, Bobby Fischer, the emerging chess genius defeated him with a good score.

Tigran Petrosian played in many tournaments during the 70s the 80s even after losing the title, but couldn’t continue doing so for his deteriorating health.