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Chess 04 May 1960, Wed Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
Chess With Sam Laird
Mikhail Tal See Sure To Defeat Champion
It is almost a certainty now that Mikhail Tal, young Latvian challenger, will capture the world chess championship from Mikhail Botvinnik in their match at Moscow.
Winning the 17th game from the champion, Tal attained a 10-7 lead over the champion and needed but 2½ points more in the remaining seven games or less to win the crown. The match will end when one player gets 12½ points.
Tal's play throughout the match has been conducted with his characteristic aggressiveness. He has attacked vigorously from the start whenever he had the white pieces and has not had too much difficulty against Botvinnik's favorite Caro-Kann defense.
After 17 games Tal had five victories to his credit and the champion only two, the remaining 10 resulting in draws. The score of the 17th game is printed at the end of this column.
Results of the second round of the Woodbury Chess Club championship are as follows:
Drago (1½-½) and Cake (1½-½) drew;
Wood (2-0) defeated Carlson (1-1);
Lincoln (2-0) defeated Roth (1-1);
Meyer (2-0) defeated Garvey (1-1);
Harry Wright (1-1) defeated William Smailer (1-1);
Shindle (½-1½) drew with Fernandez (1½-½);
Worral (1-1) defeated King (1-1);
Herb Wright (1-1) defeated Frueh (1-1);
Kaimowitz (½-1½) and Ed Smailer (1½-½) drew;
Longacre (½-1½) drew with McCarrin (½-1½);
Plank (1-1) defeated Stankard (0-2);
Hagerman (1-1) defeated Mikhausen (0-2), and Wakeman (1-1) defeated Foster (0-2).
What promises to be one of the outstanding international tournaments in recent years will open in Buenos Aires June 10. Invitations have been sent to many of the world's leading stars and acceptances are expected from most of them. Fischer and Lombardy have received invitations to represent this country. Tal, Botvinnik, Petrosian and Smyslov have been invited for the Soviet Union.
Mikhail Tal vs Mikhail Botvinnik
Botvinnik - Tal World Championship Match (1960), Moscow URS, rd 17, Apr-26
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation (B18) 1-0
