Petrosjan, Tigran Vartanovich, World Chess Champion/Grandmaster

[Chuck In Oregon]

Tigran Petrosian, 1929 - 1984, was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, where some of his relatives still live. He became the world chess champion in 1963. He beat Boris Spassky in 1966 but lost his championship to him in 1969.

Some of his awards and badges were distributed to his relatives after his death, these two badges among them. I bought them directly from one of those relatives.

I have a whole bunch of early silver variants of the Master Sportsman badge, but I have never before seen this variation, the Honor Badge of the Master Sportsman. It is numbered on the back, 256. I like it.

I have seen the chess federation badge before, at least in a book, but only in silver. I was told in Tbilisi that the silver variation is a prize or award for victories at high levels, all-Soviet and international. And further, that this bronze version was awarded only to the federation president. I cannot document or otherwise prove that this is the case, however.

I have seen all the chess badges in Avers but these are the only two I have ever had the chance to buy.

Enjoy.

Chuck