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Chess 15 Oct 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess
The Guardian, Chess, Thursday, October 15, 1959, Greater London, England Problem No. 546 By P. A. Petkow...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Problem No. 546 By P. A. Petkow (Bulgaria).
Black (5)
White (10)
White mates in two moves.
FEN n6R/rkN5/pr3P2/B3P3/B2P4/8/1R6/Q6K w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qb1 Kxc7 2. Qh7#
Tal in his element
Tal is now one and a half points ahead of Keres in the candidates' tournament with seven rounds to go, and he is playing so confidently that only a major upset can prevent him becoming the challenger for the world title. Tal has been especially crushing against the non-Russians, against whom he scored 9½ from his first ten games. The following win against the American boy prodigy (who has played too patchily to threaten the leaders) is an excellent illustration of how strong the Sicilian Defence can be if Black is allowed to break through in the centre.
Robert James Fischer vs Mikhail Tal
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 13, Sep-28
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B90) 0-1
- 1. Fischer's patent against the Sicilian, with which he has won several fine games. Here is his win from Benko in the candidate's tournament.
- 2. More usual is 8. O-O O-O; 9. K-R1 followed by P-B4 and P-B5.
- 3. Here and at the next move White makes surprising errors for such an expert in this variation. Preferable is either 10. B-K3, followed by O-O-O, or even Petrosian's suggestion of 10. P-N4.
- 4. Premature; 11. P-QR3 is necessary to prevent the displacement of the knight.
- 5. The king's pawn is the Achilles heel of White's position, and Black concentrates his pieces on it.
- 6. Another passive move; 15. B-N5 makes it harder for Black to enforce … P-Q4.
- 7. Black has obtained what every player of Black in the Sicilian hopes for: the pawn advance virtually cuts White's forces in two.
- 8. With the centre secure, Black passes to a direct attack on the king.
- 9. As is so often the case with Tal's attacks, the build-up of pieces on the king's side has been dramatically sudden. White's next moves are all forced.
- 10. Avoiding the trap 25. … R-KN1; 26. QxN PxQ; 27. RxB, when it is White who has a winning advantage.
- 11. Desperation: there is no other way of defending the attacked KNP.
- 12. Mate is unavoidable: a fine and instructive game by Tal.
Tal Still Leading Chess Candidates' Tournament 15 Oct 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Tal still leading chess candidates' tournament
From a Chess Correspondent
Zagreb, October 14.
With seven rounds to play there looks like being a close finish between the two Russians; Tal and Keres in the candidates' tournament to find a challenger against the world chess champion Botvinnik.
At the end of the twenty-first round to-day Tal had 15½ points to Keres's 14. Petrosian (Russia) had 11 points and his game with Gligoric was adjourned in a drawn position. Smyslov had 10½ and adjourned with an advantage over Fischer (U.S.A.). Gligoric had 10, Fischer 8½, Benko (stateless) 6½, and Olafsson (Iceland) 6.
There have been very mixed fortunes throughout the tournament so far. At first Petrosian, this year's Russian champion, considered at one time to be almost unbeatable, led the event. When the tournament moved from Bled to Zagreb the top place belonged to Keres, the Estonian grandmaster, who seemed to be in the best form of his life.
But the second half of the tournament began with two sensations. The 16-year-old grandmaster Fischer from Brooklyn, who defeated Keres effectively in the first round, did it again in the fifteenth, although with some luck. And Olafsson, lacking points more than any other participant, won against Petrosian. who was the only undefeated candidate at Bled when he first lost against the same opponent.
Traffic disrupted
This round was followed, as well as the next ones, by some seven hundred spectators in the crowded tournament room, while about two thousand people disrupted the traffic at Zagreb's central square, where the course of the games was being demonstrated on big chess boards.
In the relatively quiet sixteenth round, with three draws and Tal's important win against Gligoric, Fischer missed beating Petrosian in a game where four Queens performed an elegant quadrille. So Tal entered the next round with half a point more than Keres, whom he had to meet then. Fighting uncompromisingly in his opponent's style. Keres did not endure the strain of the moment so well as Tal, who played calmly in Keres's usual manner.
After the next round, it was difficult to believe that Keres was leading only four rounds before, for Tal was now two whole points ahead. Not only Keres, but stable Petrosian seemed demoralised, too, after the surprising fifteenth round: they got only half a point each in three consecutive rounds.
It may be that the final result has been decided already by a friendly draw in the nineteenth round. Petrosian, although having the advantage of the first move, did not make any attempt to play for a win against Tal, and signed the peaceful outcome after only fifteen symbolic moves, renouncing his own eventual ambitions and disappointing other aspirants as well as the public.
But great swings of the pendulum are characteristic of this chess tournament. Tal's risky style may still be responsible for another turning point in Belgrade, where the last quarter of the tournament will be played.
Smyslov Beats Fischer 16 Oct 1959, Fri The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
SMYSLOV BEATS FISCHER
From a Chess Correspondent
Belgrade, October 15.
In adjourned games from the 21st round of the candidates' tournament to-day Gligoric (Yugoslavia) drew with Petrosian (Russia) and Smyslov beat Fischer. This completes the third quarter; the final quarter begins in Belgrade on Sunday.
Tal Keeps Chess Lead 20 Oct 1959, Tue The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Tal Keeps Chess Lead
Win over former champion
From a Chess Correspondent
Belgrade, October 19.
The final quarter of the candidates' for the world chess champion has begun in Belgrade with Tal scoring a splendid win over his fellow Russian and former world champion Smyslov.
By giving up a bishop Tal obtained a powerful grouping against the king, and though Smyslov seemed at first to be weathering the storm he was at last overwhelmed.
Fischer, of the United States, was also overwhelmed by Keres of Russia but in much more direct fashion. He blundered away a valuable pawn in the opening and never recovered.
The other games were adjourned Gligoric (Yugoslavia) had the advantage over Benko (stateless) and should win; Olafsson (Iceland) attacked Petrosian (Russia) strongly, but at the adjournment it was still anybody's game.
Tal is leading the tournament with 16½ points. Keres has 15 and is still playing so well that he could win if Tal has any mishaps. The rest of the field is nowhere in view—Petrosian has 11½ and one adjourned. Smyslov 11½, Gligoric 10½ and one adjourned, Fischer 8½, Benko 6½ and one adjourned, and Olafsson 6 and one adjourned.
21 Oct 1959, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
TAL WIDENS THE GAP
Smyslov back in form
From a Chess Correspondent
Belgrade, October 20.
Tal adjourned in a commanding position against Gligoric in his twenty-third round game of the candidates' tournament for the world chess championship. He is likely to win it, and since Keres lost to Smyslov the gap between the young newspaperman from Riga and his closest rival is wider still.
It is theoretically possible for Keres to catch up but the odds are loaded against this, and it seems almost certain that it will be Tal who will meet Botvinnik for the world title next year.
Smyslov, a former world champion reverted to his most brilliant form for his win over Keres. His steam-roller tactics up both wings softened the opposition, and the disconcerted Keres succumbed.
The Icelander Olafsson, beat Benko in a rather long-drawn-out and uneven game, and Petrosian drew with Fischer. The scores now are Tal (U.S.S.R.) 16½ and one adjourned, Keres (U.S.S.R.) 15, Smyslov (U.S.S.R.) 12½, Petrosian (U.S.S.R.) 12 and one adjourned. Gligoric (Yugoslavia) 10½ and two adjourned. Fischer (United States) 9 and one adjourned, Olafsson (Iceland) 7 and one adjourned, and Benko (stateless) 6½ and one adjourned.
