Vasily Smyslov Sr.

Vasily Osipovich Smyslov (1881–1943) was a chess master, and the father of Vasily Vasilievich Smyslov, World Chess Champion from 1957–58.

Born in Astrakhan, in the Volga Delta, he studied at the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology, and became an economic engineer. He was a strong chess player, and once defeated Alexander Alekhine, at St. Petersburg 1912 (Winter tournament). He finished 5th at St. Petersburg 1903 (N.A. Panchenko won) and tied for 4–6th at Moscow 1929. Notable Game Alexander Alekhine - Vasily Smyslov Sr. St. Petersburg 1912 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Bc5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.a3 a5 6.d3 O-O 7.Nh3 Ne7 8.Bg5 Ng6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Ne4 Qe7 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 12.Ng5 c6 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.c5 b6 15.b4 bxc5 16.bxc5 Rb8 17.O-O Qe6 18.d4 Ba6 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.f4 Ng4 21.f5 Qh6 22.h3 Ne3 23.Qd4 Nxf1 24.Rxf1 Bxe2 25.Rf4 Rb3 26.Kf2 Rd3 27.Qb2 Bd1 28.Qb1 Rd5 29.Nc3 Rd2+ 30.Kg1 Bc2 31.Qc1 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Bxf5 33.g4 Be6 34.Kg3 Qg5 35.Qe3 h5 36.h4 Qg6 37.g5 Rb8 38.Rf3 Rb3 39.Qc1 Bg4 40.Re3 Qf5 41.Qg1 Rxc3 0-1