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Chess 16 Apr 1960, Sat The Montreal Star (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com
Let's Play Chess
Tal Extends Lead Two Points In World Championship Play
By William Oaker
Only one more game has been completed during the week's play for the World Championship between title holder Mikhail Botvinnik and challenger Mikhail Tal. The result was a win for Tal in 72 moves, thus extending his lead to two points.
The elder Botvinnik, visibly showing the fatigue which a long series of tournament imposes, asked for a postponement after he lost to Tal in round 11. Suffering from a heavy cold, Botvinnik was excused and the twelfth game did not get under way until the middle of the week.
Game 12 now stands adjourned after 41 moves. Expert opinion has it that the champion has the better position.
The score after 11 rounds, with one game incomplete, is Tal 6½, Botvinnik 4½.
It should be noted that the number of games which a match is to last has a great effect on the final outcome. Had this been scheduled as a 12-game match, Tal would already have been proclaimed the Chess Champion of the World.
Bobby Fischer
The Mar del Plata International Tournament, in Argentina, has turned into a fantastic race to the wire between 17-year-old United States Champion Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, one of Russia's top-rated grandmasters.
Last week, we erred in stating that Fischer and Spassky had not played as yet in this exciting event. Actually they met in the second round and Spassky was the victor.
Round one saw both players win against their respective opponents. In round two Spassky defeated Fischer. It was like the beginning of a marathon race in which one of the favorites stumbles and falls near the beginning and then picks himself up and takes after the leader.
Rounds three, four, five and six saw both players winning and gradually pulling away from the rest of the field. Spassky had a score of 6-0 and Fischer had 5-1. In the seventh round Spassky allowed a draw to Grandmaster David Bronstein of the U.S.S.R., while Fischer won. Then both players took off on another winning spree.
The score after 11 rounds sees Spassky with 11½-½ and Fischer with 10-1. Far back in third place is Bronstein with 8-3, and fourth is Fridrik Olafsson, of Iceland with 7½-3½.
How Good Are You?
FEN r1bqk2r/ppppn1np/5pN1/b6Q/2BP4/2P5/P4PPP/RN2R1K1 w - - 0 1
White to Play and Mate
This position is not hard to solve. Rather it is tricky. Believe it or not, it is a forced mate in three moves.
Solution:
1. Bf7+ Kxf7 2. Ne5+ Ke6 3. Nc4#
1. Bf7+ Kxf7 2. Ne5+ Kg8 3. Qf7#
