KERES, TAL, MOVE UP IN MASTER TOURNEY
A considerable change in the standings, and a closer grouping of the players, resulted from the determined battles last week in the all-grandmaster Challengers' Tournament at Bled, Yugoslavia, according to reports from the New York Times.
After eight completed rounds, Paul Keres and Mikhail Tal, both of the Soviet Union, were tied for the lead with scores of 5½-2½. Tal had gained most ground with successive victories again U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer, Paul Benko of New York, and former world champion Vassily Smyslov of Moscow.
Tigran Petrosian of Russia, who had been in the van through the sixth round, lost for the first time to Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia, then promptly dropped another game to Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland. As a result Petrosian moved down to a tie for third with Gligoric at 4½-3½.
Fischer was given a rough time, scoring only half a point in his last three games. In the sixth round he lost to Tal in 41 moves. Fischer, with the black pieces, resorted to his favorite King's Indian Defense. He held his own throughout a complicated middle game, but Tal developed threats in the ending which proved decisive.
In the seventh round Fischer gave a good account of himself against Smyslov. The Russian adopted an unusual line in the Caro-Kann Defense and had the initiative through the first session. The game was soon drawn, however, after adjournment.
In the eighth round the pairings were identical with those in the first round, except that the colors were reversed as well. This time Fischer, who had defeated Keres on the opening day, lost in 38 moves when the Russian built up an overpowering position.
Following are the results of play last week and games from the tournament.
ROUND SIX—
Tal 1, Fischer 0;
Smyslov ½, Olafsson ½;
Keres ½, Gligoric ½;
Petrosian ½, Benko ½.
ROUND SEVEN—
Benko 0, Tal 1;
Gligoric 1, Petrosian 0;
Olafsson 0, Keres 1;
Fischer ½, Smyslov ½.
ROUND EIGHT—
Tal 1, Smyslov 0;
Fischer 0, Keres 1;
Olafsson 1, Petrosian 0;
Gligoric 1, Benko 0.
Fridrik Olafsson vs Robert James Fischer
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 5, Sep-14
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B90) 1-0
Robert James Fischer vs Tigran V Petrosian
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 2, Sep-08
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack. Mindeno Variation Exchange Line (B11) 0-1
Vasily Smyslov vs Paul Keres
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 2, Sep-08
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense. Chigorin Defense Panov System (C99) 0-1
SO. CAL. CHAMPIONSHIP
Six players have 2-0 scores after two rounds of the Southern California Chess Championship, being contested at the Herman Steiner Chess Club, 108 N. Formosa Ave. The leaders are Walt. R. Cunningham, Hyman Gordon, Irving Rivise, Gene Rubin, Stephen Sholomson and Leslie Simon.
The third round will be played this afternoon under the direction of Ralph Hagedorn. Following are the details of last week's play.
ROUND TWO— Hamman 0, Cunningham 1; Rubin 1, Barry 0; Bersbach 0, Simon 1; Sholomson 1, Yarmak 0; Standers 0, H. Gordon 1; Freed 0, Rivise 1; Pabon 0, Kovacs 1; Pye 0, Almgren 1; Syvertsen 1, Amneus 0; Barrett 1, Bean 0; Kerllenevich 1, Fries 0; Mego 0, Harshbargar 1; Matzner 0, Gibbs 1; Cross 1, Loveless 0; Hufnagel 1, Rader 0; Loera 0, Colby 1; Fults 0, Jaffray 1; Bissell 0, Mann 1; Tiluks 0, Hultgren 1; Milner 0, M. Gordon 1; Bagley ½, Smook ½; Weinbaum vs. Weinberger, adjourned.
Gene Rubin (white) vs. James Barry (black)
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Pawn Center Variation
Robert Hamman (white) vs. Walter R. Cunningham (black)
Dutch Defense: Classical Variation
SAN GABRIEL TOURNEY
The 12th annual San Gabriel Valley Open Chess Tournament, sponsored by the Pasadena Chess Club, will start at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. at the club headquarters, Raymond and Del Mar in Pasadena.
The entry fee will be $5, of which $2 will be returned upon completion of all games. Mail entries to Tournament Director Edward B. Adams, 114 E Huntington Dr., Alhambra, or call him at AT. 4-7604.
NEW CHESS CLUB
A new chess club has been formed in Beverly Hills, meeting Tuesday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. In the new recreation center in Roxbury Park. There are no dues. For information call Ellis Levy at CR. 6-3614.
The Los Angeles Times, Chess by Isaac Kashdan, Sunday, September 27, 1959, Los Angeles, California Times Problem 3105...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Times Problem 3105 By C. Mansfield
Black 7
White 10
White mates in two.
FEN 8/1p6/pP5p/1R5q/k2KQP2/2B1P2r/PP2B3/3b4 w - - 0 1
Solution: Q-K8; 1. Qe8 Qxe8 2. Ra5#
The Los Angeles Times, Chess by Isaac Kashdan, Sunday, September 27, 1959, Los Angeles, California Times Problem 3106...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Times Problem 3106 By N. Malachow
Black 5
White 8
White mates in three.
FEN 4n3/7r/P3R2p/P1Pk4/6Q1/3NK3/P7/7b w - - 0 1
Solution: P-B6; 1. c6 Re7 2. Qf5+ Kc4 3. Qc5#
The changed mates after the checks are neatly effected in 3015. The three-mover has good variety in mating positions after the apparently innocuous key.
SOLVERS' LIST
Five point— Capt. M. J. Agnew, F. Aks, Dr. B. R. Berglund, J. F. Brown, M. Chutorian, C. Cresswell, Mrs. W. A. Gerth, J. Gotta, W. H. Griffith, J. Kaufman, H. E. Keller III, N. J. Lomax, J. McPeck, K. V. Plyum II, W. L. Rankel, A. A. Rothstein, F. R. McReynolds, V. G. Sprague, C. E. Stern, Maj. H. Triwush.
Three point— E. E. Penter.
Two point— P. C. Carton, D. Korthof, N. Lesser, R. McGiffin, F. R. Ruehl II.
One point— T. Bolt, C. Davis, A. Feerko, E. S. Noyes, E. G. Volk, F. Weismiller, D. Whorf
NEXT MOVE—A game of chess occupies this group of beatniks for the moment. Next move in the entertainment license hassle at the Gas House will be a formal application to the Police Commission for new hearing and removal of examiner Thomas Mulherin.