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Chess Notebook 02 Nov 1958, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com
The Soviet chess team defended its title in the Hamilton Russell play at Munich. The Russians emerged undefeated, having won eight matches and played 2-2 ties with the United States, Yugoslavia and Argentina for a total score of 34½-9½.
Botvinnik and company had accumulated an undistinguished (for them!) total of 19-9 at the end of the seventh round but took their last four matches by scores of 4-0, 4-0 and 3½-½.
In the 44 games played by the Soviets in the 11 matches of the finals they had 25 wins, 19 draws and no losses! Botvinnik, Smyslov and Petrosian each scored four wins and three draws, while Bronstein and Keres posted three wins and four draws each. Tal, winner of the Portoroz interzonal, played only three games, winning one and drawing the others.
Of our representatives the New York Times said: “The U.S. team went overseas confident it would recover the international trophy, held here four times during the 30s before the advent of the Russians. Instead, the Americans finished fourth with 24 to 20, below Yugoslavia and Argentina. The Americans won four matches, tied six and lost only to Yugoslavia.”
In the finals
Reshevsky won 2, lost 1, drew 5;
Lombardy won 2, lost 1, drew 6;
Bisguier won 3, lost 1, drew 4;
Evans won 2, lost 1, drew 4;
Rossolimo won 3, lost 1, drew 6, for a total of 12 wins, 8 losses and 24 draws.
Kashdan, sixth member of the team, was not used. Wait till 1960 when we add Fischer, Benko and, perhaps, Sherwin to our team.
Mikhail Tal won this game from Klaus Darga of Germany at Munich.
Mikhail Tal vs Klaus Darga
Munich Olympiad Final-A (1958), Munich FRG, rd 2, Oct-12
Spanish Game: Closed Variations. Keres Defense (C92) 1-0
Hungary won section I of the consolation tournament, followed by Netherlands, Canada and Colombia, with eight also-rans. Norway was the victor in section II of the consolation tourney and they were followed by Philippines, South Africa, Italy and another octet of disappointed teams.
Tournament director Bart King of the Met League has set Friday, Nov. 7, as the starting date for the Met's schedule.
