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Chess 23 Apr 1960, Sat The Montreal Star (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com
Let's Play Chess
Fischer, Spassky in Draw In International Contest
By William Oaker
United States Champion Bobby Fischer, 17-year-old Brooklyn Grandmaster, tied for first place in the Mar del Plata International with Russian Grandmaster Boris Spassky. Their scores were 13½-1½.
Both players had won in round one of this 15-round event. In round two Spassky defeated Fischer. Then both players went on a winning rampage, until after round six Spassky had 6-0 and Fischer 5-1.
Spassky allowed a draw in round seven, while Fischer again won, which left Spassky with 6½-½ and Fischer with 6-1. The winning rampage continued until round 12 saw Spassky with 11½-½ and Fischer with 11-1.
In round 13 Spassky finally succumbed to the terrific strain and permitted a draw. Fischer again won. The scores Spassky 12-1, Fischer 12-1.
Fischer, however, then suffered a setback in round 14, letting a draw slip through his fingers, while Spassky won. This left Fischer trailing again by a half point with only one round remaining, but he came through with flying colors, winning his last round game while Spassky was held to a draw.
Both these players stood head and shoulders over the other 14 competitors in this star-studded event. Trailing in third place was Soviet Grandmaster David Bronstein, with 11½-3½. Fourth was Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland with 10½-4½.
The Brooklyn youngster won 13 games, lost one and drew one. Spassky won 12, lost none and drew three.
Both players seem to have run out of steam in the World Championship Match between titleholder Mikhail Botvinnik of Russia and challenger Mikhail Tal of Latvia.
Tal continues to hold his lead of two points after 14 rounds with a score of 8-6. Tal has won four games, Botvinnik two and there have been eight draws.
The adjourned game from round 12 ended in a draw despite Botvinnik's material advantage of a pawn in a queen and pawn ending.
In round 13, the players agreed to a draw after only 16 moves, and in round 14 they repeated with a draw after only 22 moves.
Tal, of course, with a two-point bulge, is only too happy to hold the draw. Botvinnik, however, has to try to win in order to keep his title. His failure to put up a fight in rounds 13 and 14 has been the cause of much dissatisfaction among Russian chess fans.
We suggest you take another crack at solving this, if you have not already done so, before looking at the solution below.
FEN r1bqk2r/ppppn1np/5pN1/b6Q/2BP4/2P5/P4PPP/RN2R1K1 w - - 0 1
White Mate in 3
1. B-B7ch! KxB
2. N-K5dbl.ch. K-K3
If black had played 2. … K-N1 or K-B1, then 3. Q-B7 would spell checkmate.
3. N-B7 discovered checkmate!
Solution:
1. Bf7+ Kxf7 2. Ne5+ Ke6 3. Nc4#
