Page "Tigran Petrosian" Paragraph 8

Petrosian placed fifth in the 1953 Candidates Tournament, a result which marked the beginning of a somewhat stagnant period in his career.

He seemed content drawing against weaker players and maintaining his title of Grandmaster rather than improving his chess or making an attempt at becoming World Champion.

This attitude was illustrated by his result in the 1955 USSR Championship: out of 19 games played, Petrosian was undefeated, but won only four games and drew the rest, with each of the draws lasting twenty moves or less.

Although his consistent playing insured decent tournament results, it was looked down upon by the public and by Soviet chess authorities.

Near the end of the event, journalist Vasily Panov wrote the following comment about the tournament contenders: " Real chances of victory, besides Botvinnik and Smyslov, up to round 15, are held by Geller, Spassky and Taimanov.

I deliberately exclude Petrosian from the group, since from the very first rounds the latter has made it clear that he is playing for an easier, but also honourable conquest — a place in the interzonal quartet.