by Petrosian

 

They knock me for my draws, for my style, they knock me for everything I do.

 

As to me, to be quite honest I feel rather ill at ease because against me Benko plays calmly and clearly.  -  (on opponent Pal Benko)

 

… today many players, especially young ones, think that the older openings are so thoroughly analysed that nothing more can be tried. This is a serious mistake. The methods of positional play become deeper and finer each year. Being well acquainted with them it is possible even in openings which seem to be fully explored to find ways to create a real fight.

 

Turning chess into poker and hoping for a 'bluff' is not one of my convictions.

 

It is easy to play against the young players, for me they are like an open book.

 

The criterion of real strength is a deep penetration into the secrets of a position.

 

Even the most distinguished players have in their careers experienced severe disappointments due to ignorance of the best lines or suspension of their own common sense.

 

Oh, those exclamation points! How they erode the innocent soul of the amateur, removing all hope of allowing him to examine another player's ideas critically!

 

Occasionally an opening is used against an opponent who is known to favour it himself. The idea is to force him to fight against his own weapons, when he will have to face not only real dangers but very often imaginary ones as well.

 

In some places words have been replaced by symbols which, like amulets from a witch's bag, have the power to consume the living spirit of chess.

 

Fischer is the first big-time professional in chess, and, in order to achieve success, he will resort to any means.

on Petrosian

 

He is a fine and warm person who carries his responsible and high position as Champion of the World with great weight and dignity.  -  Gregor Piatigorsky

 

Nobody likes to play a quiet positional game against the world champion.  -  Jan Hein Donner

 

He is not the most talented or the strongest player but certainly the most inconvenient player in the world! His ambition is not to play actively, but to paralyse his opponents intentions.  - Mikhail Botvinnik

 

Now how the hell can I be Petrosian's second if it makes me sick to watch how he plays?  -  Victor Kortchnoi

 

One cannot help but admire the devilish determination and ingenuity of this man.  -  Victor Kortchnoi