Petrosian v Spassky: The World Championships 1966 and 1969 [Paperback]

Harry Golombek (Author), Peter Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2004

In 1966 and 1969 Tigran Petrosian and Boris Spassky contested two epic battles for the world crown. In the first of these Petrosian became the only world champion to actually win a title defence for 32 years when his inspired defensive technique thwarted all of Spassky's aggressive intentions. In the second of these two ferocious fights Spassky eventually broke through to seize the world title. En route the two great players created some of the most beautiful chess ever witnessed at this high level, sparkling with numerous sacrifices of rook for bishop or knight, piece sacrifices to inaugurate enduring attacks and even a stunning queen sacrifice by Petrosian in game 10 of the first encounter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Hardinge Simpole Limited (March 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843820781
• ISBN-13: 978-1843820789
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,247,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just a few comments....., April 22, 2011

By 

Jerome Lewis "dragonard" (W Palm Beach, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Petrosian v Spassky: The World Championships 1966 and 1969 (Paperback)

This book contains great historical value of the times and tournament played. This value CAN NOT ever be valued sufficiently by the author, reader, or publisher. It CAN NOT be replaced.....HOWEVER;

1. What can the public learn or cherish from history if it (the public) can't understand the writings being portrayed!?!

2. The players of this tournament can't speak for themselves so shouldn't their works and the people surrounding the work do them due diligence in giving voice to what they did!?!

3.If we honor the past, live in the present and hope for the future, isn't there a "common ground" suitable for all to appreciate this book and the lessons it gives for chess growth and learning!?!

I believe there is but you won't find it in this book of champions....this is just a collection of newspaper editorials by the authors, who were physically at the tournament, recapping the events, saving their work and then wow! many years later someone perchance finds the editorials in a dusty old container and realizing the discovery, says "why not make a book that gives honor and dignity" meanwhile making some MONEY!! Really PUBLISHER surely you can do better than that! THIS BOOK IS IN "DESCRIPTIVE NOTATION" although the actual players of the tournament wrote their games in ALGEBRAIC NOTATION! (the writers were English reporters who spoke fluent Russian and this was their handiwork for the English public at the time.)

Now the book is deemed a "CLASSIC WORK" by the publishers, to be kept affordable by its "ORIGINALITY" in every way, being sold to chessworld and who!?!. For a FEW that's great (collectors maybe?!?) but what about the rest of chessworld? Is it really that "unaffordable" to produce a current translation of the book containing ALL of its "ORIGINALITY"? Maybe you say that "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY THIS BOOK!" or not.....Weeellll I did and it's back in that dusty container I mentioned...."Do you think I can get a REFUND?" This book is NOT an essential buy (for most of us) so maybe the publisher will "GET SMART" or be out of business.....This is an example (truly, truly) of getting what you pay for. I would be willing to SPEND MORE for better presentation (written or otherwise) of the same material!