It cant be denied that prophylaxis IS effective but it definitely isnt pretty. I liken chess to my other favourite sport -football in that I firmly believe it should be played in a free flow attractive attacking style.
In the recent UEFA European Nations Championships the attractive attacking Czechs & Portuguese both lost to the Greeks who played football 'Petrosian style' - Closing down play, tight marking, impenetrable defense & hitting back when teams over reach themselves. Their football wasnt pretty but it was effective cos it won them the Cup! So much so that 'ugly football' is starting to be seen as the only way to go to avoid defeat even more so when the stakes are so high now. So much for Pele proclaiming football the beautiful game!
So i will still stand by this lack of 'positive' attitude argument on people like Petrosian(or the greek football team). This avoidance of defeat stance just kills the look & true spirit of chess (and football). That to me is weak. It is effective but.... the fruits of such an attitude is weak.
But what I found interesting about petrosian is that he was once upon a time an aggressor!! In that article (dunno where) it said that because he was such an aggressor he could sense out even the most subtle tactical/strategical implications of his opponents moves so keenly that he could straight away snuff it out effectively OTB.
But if it makes any of you petrosian fans out there feel better.... all that ive written is just my personal opinion. Fischer did consider petrosian as one of the 10 greatest players of all time in 1970. I suppose Fischer's word carries more weight than mine.
@smyslov-fan. You are right abt Tal. Its admirable how despite his illness & suffering he can still produce decent games against the best. But alas! its obvious all the hospitalisations & medical appointments etc also distracted his focus to a certain extent. So while he could still play galantly it wasnt enough to bring him to challenge for another championship seriously. For the spirit is willing but the flesh was weak.
Who knows what might have happened if he wasnt ill?? But the strength of his spirit to go on doing what he loves despite his suffering is indeed something of virtue. Oh! Im very certain that Fischer never played Lasker!
@MnB- I agree wth you about Lasker. I really couldnt believe it that he played Janovski twice!! Needless to say the guy was trashed! Lasker could have played capa 10 yrs earlier but didnt!