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Home›World chess champions›Tigran Petrosian
World champion #9 · 1963–1969

♚ Tigran Petrosian

Master of prophylaxis · Armenia (USSR)

Petrosian stopped his opponents’ plans before they began. His famous exchange sacrifices and patient defence show how preventing counterplay can be as powerful as attacking.

Three lessons from Petrosian for your own games

  1. Ask what your opponent wants first
  2. Prophylaxis prevents disasters
  3. Exchange sacrifices for lasting control

Tigran Petrosian’s games to replay

Petrosian,TL – Grischuk,AWorld Rapid 2024 · 20240–1Caruana,F – Petrosian,TLWorld Rapid 2023 · 20231–0Carlsen,M – Petrosian,TLWorld Rapid 2023 · 20231–0Petrosian,TL – Gukesh,DWorld Rapid 2021 · 20210–1Gelfand,B – Petrosian,TLWorld Blitz 2021 · 20210–1Caruana,F – Petrosian,TLPRO League KO Stage 2020 · 20200–1Grischuk,A – Petrosian,TLPRO League KO Stage 2020 · 20201–0Nepomniachtchi,I – Petrosian,TLPRO League Group Stage · 20201–0Petrosian,TL – Nakamura,HiPRO League KO Stage 2020 · 2020½–½Petrosian,TL – Nepomniachtchi,IWorld Blitz 2019 · 20190–1Grischuk,A – Petrosian,TLWorld Blitz 2019 · 20191–0Petrosian,TL – Nepomniachtchi,IWorld Rapid 2018 · 2018½–½Petrosian,TL – Nakamura,HiWorld Rapid 2018 · 20181–0Gelfand,B – Petrosian,TLWorld Rapid 2018 · 20180–1Ding Liren – Petrosian,TLWorld Blitz 2017 · 20170–1Petrosian,TL – Carlsen,MWorld Blitz 2017 · 20170–1Anand,V – Petrosian,TLWorld Blitz 2017 · 20171–0Petrosian,TL – Carlsen,Mchess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm 2016 · 20160–1Carlsen,M – Petrosian,TLchess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm 2016 · 20161–0Carlsen,M – Petrosian,TLchess.com QF Blitz 1m+1spm 2016 · 20161–0Carlsen,M – Petrosian,TLchess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm 2016 · 20161–0Carlsen,M – Petrosian,TLchess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm 2016 · 20161–0Petrosian,TL – Carlsen,Mchess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm 2016 · 20160–1Petrosian,TL – Carlsen,Mchess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm 2016 · 20160–1
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