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British Team In Final 18 Oct 1958, Sat Coventry Evening Telegraph (Coventry, West Midlands, England) Newspapers.com
At the recently concluded international tournament at Portoroz, Yugoslavia, these signs were even more in evidence. The first six of the 21 players were to go forward to join Smyslov and Keres (U.S.S.R.) in a tournament to decide who was to be the next challenger of the world champion, Botvinnik.
As no country is allowed to have more than four players in this event, the Soviet players at Portoroz were expected to have a hard battle, and it was thought likely that some Russians, although in the first six, would be eliminated by this rule. In the event, only two Russians came in the first six.
The placings were:
1. M. Tal (U.S.S.R.), 13½
2. S. Gligoric (Yugoslavia), 13½;
3 and 4. P. Benko (stateless) and T. Petrosian (U.S.S.R.) 12½;
5 and 6. R. Fischer (U.S.A.) and F. Olafsson (Iceland) 12.
Tal has won the U.S.S.R. championship twice in succession, a tremendous feat and has a vicious attacking style. Gligoric must be at the top of his form. His tournament successes of recent years have been most spectacular.
Benko, a Hungarian refugee is an extraordinary case, as he seems to be playing twice as well after leaving Hungary as he ever did before.
Fifteen years old Bobby Fischer deserves a note all to himself. No-one, not even Capablanca, who beat his father at chess at the age of four, has played at this age in a tournament of this strength before.
For him to come in the prize list is outstanding. Where will he stop?
D.G.H.
