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The Pawn Shoppe 08 May 1958, Thu The Expositor (Brantford, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.comMikhail Botvinnik has failed to win any of the past four games in his world championship match with Vassily Smyslov, but two draws have brought him to the verge of victory.
He needs only a draw to reclaim the title Smyslov won last year.
Botvinnik lost the 19th and 22nd games of the 24-game match, but drew the 20th and 21st. He now leads 12-10. To hold the title Smyslov must win all three remaining games.
Playing black, Smyslov turned to the little-used Dutch Defence in the 22nd game. His well-timed moves in the middle game created weaknesses in his opponent's position.
Unable to defend his king, Botvinnik resigned after 39 moves. The win was Smyslov's first with the black pieces.
In the 19th game, which follows, Smyslov played a bold P-KN4 in the Caro-Kann Defence, which Botvinnik used to win the first and third games. After Smyslov's 20. P-B5 the challenger's game went steadily downhill.
Vasily Smyslov vs Mikhail Botvinnik
Smyslov - Botvinnik World Championship Rematch (1958), Moscow URS, rd 19, Apr-22
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack. Mindeno Variation Exchange Line (B11) 1-0
While the champion and ex-champion battle in Moscow, 20 masters are preparing for the interzonal tournament of the current world series.
It scheduled for Portoroz, Yugoslavia, Aug. 5-Sept. 15.
Bobby Fischer, the 15-year-old sensation who won the United States championship this year and international grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky will represent the United States.
This exciting game is the only one young Scandinavian champion Bent Larsen lost in winning the recent Mar del Plata international tournament. Oscar Panno, an Argentinean, is chess champion of the Americas.
Bent Larsen vs Oscar Panno
Mar del Plata (1958), Mar del Plata ARG, rd 9, Mar-22
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer. Neo-Modern Variation (B68) 0-1