On This Day in Chess History: June 17, 1929

Eventually earning the nickname "Iron Tigran" for his impenetrable defensive style, Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian was born June 17, 1929. The Soviet Armenian Grandmaster lived and loved chess, leading to it's popularization in his home country.

Born to Armenian parents in Georgian SSR, Petrosian learned the great game of chess at age 8. His father encouraged his passion despite having little faith that Tigran's passion would lead to a career. After being orphaned in 1945 after his father's death, his prospects of a decent life, let alone a championship chess career were all but dashed. Surviving as a street sweeper, Tigran developed a severe ear infection on winter resulting in deafness in one ear. Petrosian relied on an aunt for food during the worst times and spent his rations instead on chess books, a decision that I think anyone with a passion for chess might understand.

At 12 years old, Tigran began training at the Tiflis Palace of Pioneers, defeating Soviet grandmaster Salo Flohr after just one year. He earned the title of Master during the 1947 USSR Chess Championship, a title he would win four times in 1959, 1961, 1969, and 1975. His greatest success, however, would come in 1963 when he wrested the World Championship from Mikhail Botvinik. Petrosian would defend his title against Boris Spassky in 1966 and ultimately lose to him in 1969. All together, Petrosian competed as a Candidate for the World Chess Championship 8 times between 1953 and 1980.

When not focused on competing for the World Championship, Petrosian was an opening theorist. He was an expert on the King's Indian Defense and has variations on the Queen's Indian, Grunfeld, French, and Caro-Kann Defenses.

Petrosian died on August 13, 1984 in Moscow while in the midst of writing a book on chess. "Petrosian's Legacy" was published posthumously by his wife in 1989.