| NAME: | Tigran Petrosian |
| BIRTHDATE: | June 17, 1929 |
| BIRTHPLACE: | Tbilisi, Georgia, USSR |
| CREDENTIALS: | 9th World Champion, 1963-1969. He was the only player to win a game against Bobby Fisher during the 1971 Candidate's matches. |
| MODUS OPERANDI: |
Greatly influenced by the ideas of Nimzowitsch. He enjoyed gradually improving the position of his pieces, quietly fighting for position of key squares. Became well known for a style sometimes referred to as prophylaxis--strategy designed to not just improve one's own position, but to also prevent progress by the opponent. |
| BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: |
Learned chess from his parents at 8. He has several opening systems named after him, including variations of both the King's Indian Defence and the Queen's Indian Defence. He died on August 13, 1984. |