< Prev Index Next >
Chess 19 Sep 1959, Sat The Montreal Star (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com
Let's Play Chess
World Challenger Tourney Starts at Grueling Pace
By William Oaker
The Challenger's Tourney, now being held in Bled, Yugoslavia, has already turned into a hammer-and-tongs struggle.
Involving the world's eight top Grandmasters, it is anyone's guess who will be the eventual winner and thus qualify for a match against World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik, of Russia.
Taking part in this 28-round event are former World Champion Vassily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Mikhail Tal and Tigran Petrosian, all of Russia; Svetozar Gligoric, of Yugoslavia; Fridrik Olafsson, of Iceland, Paul Benko and boy wonder Bobby Fischer, both of the United States.
With tournaments of this calibre, the usual thing is to find a great many draws. This has not been the case so far, however. In the first round, Bobby Fischer started everyone by defeating Paul Keres, and thus leaped into an immediate early lead. Not to be set back, however, Keres promptly defeated Smyslov in the second round. Smyslov, by way of rebuttal, then proceeded to defeat Tal, when then turned around and defeated Fischer. Young Bobby, by this time having also lost to Petrosian, took it out on Gligoric, by crushing the Yugoslavian Grandmaster in 37 moves. Gligoric, not to be outdone, then started things all over again by beating Smyslov.
It is customary for such players to take it easy in the early rounds, relying on half-points to keep them in contention, rather than taking risks by shooting for early wins. One of the key factors in determining the eventual winner will undoubtedly be fatigue. With each player meeting every other player four times, and the tourney lasting nearly two months, this factor is very important. However, no contestant seems willing to show mercy. It has taken each of them four long years to reach the final event and now is no time to spare the horses.
Tigran Petrosian is the only player to date not to lose, but with players as tough as these, it is doubtful that this will continue for long. He is in first place, closely followed by Tal. In third is Keres, with Bobby Fischer right behind in fourth place.
