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Defending champion |
Challenger | |||||
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 Mikhail Botvinnik |
Vasily Smyslov | |||||
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Born 17 August 1911 42 years old |
Born 24 March 1921 32/33 years old | |||||
| Winner of the 1951 World Chess Championship | Winner of the 1953 Candidates Tournament | |||||
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A World Chess Championship was played between Mikhail Botvinnik and Vasily Smyslov in Moscow from March 16 to May 13, 1954. Botvinnik had been World Champion since 1948 and had successfully defended the title in 1951, while Smyslov earned the right to challenge by winning the 1953 Candidates tournament.
The match was drawn 12–12, meaning Botvinnik retained the world title.