Round by round reports as each round is completed. The first two cycles are being played at the lakeside resort of Bled, Yugoslavia.
In the initial battle between youth and experience, Smyslov's experience tames Tal's aggression and reaps a well-deserved point. Fischer proves Zürich was no fluke by downing Keres when the latter overplayed his position after an interesting prepared queen sacrifice. Petrosian's strategy of soaking up the pressure pays off handsomely as Ólafsson's position collapses. Gligoric's pawn sacrifice generates enough counterplay to neutralise Benkö's strong opening advantage.
Smyslov emerges from a quiet Be2 Najdorf Sicilian with a slight edge thanks to the exchange of his knight for Tal's light-squared bishop. This turns into a clear advantage in the queenless middlegame. as Smyslov's bishops take control of the game. Tal throws caution to the wind sacrificing an exchange to drum up counterplay with his remaining minor pieces. But Smyslov keeps a tight grip of the position, allowing Tal no counterplay. Dominating play in the endgame sees Smyslov shepherd the remaining pawn towards promotion.
This game is annotated in Smyslov's 125 Selected Games.
In a popular f4-Najdorf line Keres unexpectedly sacrifices his queen - a novelty prepared especially for Fischer. After the hail of tactics subsides Keres has two rooks, a knight and the initiative against Fischer's Queen, uncastled king and trapped rook.
Keres overreaches trying to win the game which lets Fischer's queen into White's position causing havoc. Fischer frees his trapped rook forcing Keres into a rook and knight versus queen endgame, but with Fischer possessing a connected passed-pawn aided by his king. And he shepherd's the pawn through. The game ends with Keres ingloriously stumbling into a mate.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 2: Open & Semi-Open Games, in Russians versus Fischer and in Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors Part IV
In a quiet line of the Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian Petrosian cedes control of the e4-square and expands on the queenside instead. Ólafsson counters on the kingside and looks to be gaining the initiative. Petrosian quietly regroups his pieces and breaks on the queenside only when he is completely ready. After claiming the open a-file, Petrosian neutralises his opponent's kingside attack, and instead of pressing on with his advantage he allows Ólafsson to over-reach again, penalising him by winning a pawn. In time trouble and in a bad position Ólafsson blunders by leaving his rook en-prise and immediately resigns.
Against Gligoric's default King's Indian Defence, Benkö essays the esoteric and quiet line created by Smyslov; a line Gligoric has dealt with before. Maybe Benkö has a novelty prepared in this line? Gligoric surprisingly resolves the tension in the centre which leaves White with a comfortable edge.
Benkö annexes space on the queenside and in the centre, while Gligoric regroups on the queenside and prepares a thematic ... b5-break. Gligoric forces it as a pawn sacrifice and takes over the initiative with his centralised pieces. Benkö misses opportunities to reclaim the advantage as Gligoric inches his way forward. But in the face of Gligoric's piece activity, and time-trouble Benkö bails out with a draw offer.
All decisive games today. Tal beats Gligoric on both sides of the board with his direct aggression. Benkö catches Ólafsson off guard in a Ruy Lopez and achieves a winning endgame. Petrosian gains the upper-hand right out of the opening but the main battle occurs in the endgame where Petrosian marshals every piece to force through the win. Keres produces a master-class in handling the Black side of a Ruy Lopez.
Tal opts for the Sämisch as the way to bludgeon Gligoric's King's Indian and starts almost immediately with a kingside pawn-storm. Gligoric attempts to gain counterplay on the queenside, but Tal deftly pushes that to one side as his own kingside initiative grows threatening. In the tactical melee Tal sacrifices three pawns to win Gligoric's far flung knight. Tal's hyperactive knight wanders deep into the heart of Black's queenside and right through emerging to strike a fatal blow against Black's King, and Gligoric's position collapses.
This game is annotated in Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice.
Benkö's planned and well-executed ...d5 break in a Breyer variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez catches Ólafsson off guard. The position heads into a rook and like-coloured bishop endgame where the key factor is Ólafsson's isolated kingside pawn structure, which Benkö converts into an outside passed pawn. Although Ólafsson struggles hard, the force of the passed g-pawn is overwhelming.
This game is annotated in Pal Benkö: My Life, Games, and Compositions.
Fischer's King's-Indian-Attack like handling of the White side of the Caro-Kann cedes the opening initiative to Petrosian. Fischer generates counterplay by opening queenside files and gradually equalises. Almost immediately Fischer lapses into a forced continuation that sees Petrosian emerge with a passed d-pawn.
Past the first time-control, Fischer battles hard but cannot hold back Black's queenside as Petrosian utilises his king to support the inexorable advance and splendid finish.
This game is annotated in Petrosian's Best Games of Chess, and covered in Russians versus Fischer.
The players emerge out of a Closed Ruy Lopez with equal chances. A battle erupts in all sectors of the board as Keres' pieces spark to life and dominate White's position. In a desperate position Smyslov sacrifices a pawn to blunt Keres' attack, but Keres remains firmly in control and converts the rook endgame.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 2: Open & Semi-Open Games.
Keres scores a very fortunate win after being ambushed and stone-cold lost against Tal. Petrosian and Smyslov's double knight endgame brings the game to life, Smyslov knights almost capitalising, but he lets it slip to a draw. Fischer stubbornly defends after an opening miscue, and gains a perpetual check to force a draw. Gligoric heads towards a drawish endgame and no surprises emerge.
Keres goes hypermodern out of an English, fianchettoing both bishops and keeping his central pawns at home. Tal's stake of the centre with ...d5 gives him a free position. Keres claims a small advantage by swapping off the dark-squared bishops and plays against the weakened dark squares around the Black king. Tal opens up on the queenside and ambushes Keres, sacrificing a piece for a strong attack, Keres buckles under the pressure. Tal has a won game, but blunders it away right before the first time control, and the game begins anew. Tal goes wrong again allowing Keres' pieces to infiltrate the queenside and Keres secures a win in the ensuing endgame.
Tal's combination is referenced in The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal
An English Opening, or Reversed-Sicilian turns almost into a Reversed French Advanced, but Petrosian manages to swap off his weak bishop and the game rapidly becomes a double-knight endgame. Petrosian's insipid play backfires as Smyslov grabs the initiative and pushes Petrosian's knight backwards. Smyslov has the advantage, but fails to capitalise on it after the first time control, and by the time he opens up on the kingside Petrosian has the situation firmly under control.
Fischer improves on Gligoric's handling of the Benkö's adoption of the Smyslov variation of the King's Indian Defence by challenging the White dark-squared bishop. The queens rapidly disappear and Benkö lays claim to an opening advantage. But he lets that advantage slip through his fingers, and Fischer consolidates his position. Benkö starts from scratch again by trying to infiltrate via the h-file. Fischer responds by active play and by sacrificing two pawns forces a draw by perpetual check.
After what is now a fairly typical mainline Nimzo-Indian with an isolated d-pawn, Gligoric's pieces are pointing at Ólafsson's castled king position. An exchange of queens followed by the advance and exchange of the isolani sees a very tepid and balanced endgame.
A day of four Sicilians. An elegant exchange sacrifice from Tal just after the first time control finishes off Ólafsson. Under heavy pressure Gligoric self-destructs against Fischer in a Sozin-Dragon. Benkö's clock prevents him from a well-deserved and crushing win over Smyslov. Keres gets stunned by a Petrosian rook-sacrifice and walks right into forced mate.
Tal gets stuck into Ólafsson's Sicilian Najdorf and whips up a kingside attack and pressure on the f6-square. This forces Ólafsson to weaken his centre, and Tal soon mounts pressure on this new weakness. After a period of manoeuvering Tal has his pieces playing against the weak d6-pawn. Ólafsson misses a chance to turn the tables completely in the time scramble at the first time control. A startling exchange sacrifice from Tal forces through his passed queenside pawn.
Gligoric tries to fend off Fischer's preferred Sozin Sicilian with a Dragon setup, which Fischer transposes into a Yugoslav Attack with a novel twist - opting to surrender his dark-squared bishop to keep the light-squared bishop on the board. He builds up a pawn-attack on the kingside, but instead of a speculative sacrifice to continue the attack, he switches his attention to the weakened Black pawn-centre. And Gligoric self-destructs by exchanging off his powerful dark-squared bishop to win a pawn. This merely provokes Fischer into prying open the h-file with an exchange sacrifice. And Black's king is defenseless in the face of Fischer's major pieces.
This game is annotated in My 60 Memorable Games and Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors Part IV
For the first 14 moves the game follows Tal - Ólafsson just a few meters away. Smyslov opts for a more positional continuation aiming for long-term pressure against the d6-pawn. He spurns a advantageous thematic Sicilian knight sacrifice on d5 opting to complete his development first. Benkö forces Smyslov into the sacrifice anyway, but on Benkö's terms. Benkö assumes control of the position, infiltrating into White's kingside with his rook. An exchange sacrifice later and Benkö is close to winning, but in deep time trouble he accepts the offer of a draw.
Through an off-beat approach against a Maróczy bind the players reach an English opening type position with Keres nursing a slight advantage. Petrosian's obscure manoeuvering succeeds in removing any danger to his king, mobilises his own pawn centre and opens potential options down the semi-open kingside files. Petrosian steadily builds up his kingside pressure and sacrifices a rook to create dangerous threats against the White king. Keres misses a good chance to return some of the material and turn the tables, but instead in a tense and desperate position he walks right into a neat overloading tactic that forces his resignation.
Ólafsson chalks up a win against Fischer not solely by adopting the latter's favoured Sozin Sicilian, but taking advantage of lose defensive play from the sixteen year-old. Benkö oversteps the time limit against Keres. Smyslov gifts Gligoric a win. Petrosian and Tal quickly split the points.
An English opening transposes into a Semi-Tarrasch Tal equalises very quickly, and the queens are forced off the board leaving a balanced and quiet position. Draw.
Keres equalises out of a four knight's English, and sets out to create weaknesses in Benkö's position. The exchange of queens solidifies Keres' advantage as both Benkö's bishops resemble large pawns. Keres' piece play in the centre starts to create threats. The time scramble produces mutual blunders, and Benkö oversteps the time limit in a complex position.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
Gligoric has to exchange off the light-squared bishops to equalise the White side of a ...Bg4 Slav. Smyslov plays against the light-square weaknesses. Gligoric decides not to go into a speculative attack and cedes the initiative to Smyslov. Smyslov creates a dangerous passed pawn on the queenside and has a strong advantage after a mistake by Gligoric. But he returns the compliment moves later, and it's Gligoric who's winning.
Fischer faces his favourite Sozin Sicilian and sacrifices an exchange to break up White's centre. As compensation he has a better pawn centre and counterplay against the newly-weakened White pawns. But Fischer loses the initiative after weakening his queenside. Black loses a key central pawn and Fischer faces a difficult defence. Ólafsson finishes off Fischer's counterplay with a neat rook sacrifice overloading Fischer's queen.
In a tense battle Tal catches Fischer in a devastating pin and finishes off in true Tal sacrificial style. Ólafsson's lengthy defense earns him a draw against Smyslov. Gligoric holds Keres in the minor piece endgame. A pawn-sacrifice followed by an exchange sacrifice earns Benkö a draw against Petrosian.
In the first meeting of the youngsters of the tournament they head into a Petrosian King's Indian, which at the time put Black's position under a dark cloud. Tal routes the Petrosian bishop around to f2 preparing the thematic c5 pawn break while Fischer tries to drum up an attack on the kingside. In the fireworks that follows Tal emerges with a slight edge because of his better centralised pieces. Tal catches Fischer in an awkward pin which wins a piece, and Fischer's position collapses.
This game is annotated in The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal
Ólafsson counters Smyslov's Maröczy bind energetically and finds himself with a very decent position. But he fails to press on with an attack against Smyslov's king taking refuge on the queenside. Smyslov sacrifices a pawn to get his queen into the heart of Black's position. Reclaiming his pawn Smyslov emerges with a very strong position. Smyslov's centralised pieces look braced for a pawn breakthrough, and Ólafsson finds some counterplay as a result of this. Smyslov's advantage ebbs away as he chases the Black king with a series of checks, and Ólafsson's pieces are threatening to capture the White passed pawn, forcing Smyslov to take a perpetual check.
Gligoric emerges with a slight advantage on the black side of a Steinitz Ruy Lopez, but doesn't find a good plan which allows Keres back in. Keres forces his way to an advantageous bishop versus knight ending, with a single rook each. Keres has the more active rook and presses ahead. Gligoric manages to force the minor pieces off and holds the position to earn a draw.
The Classical Fianchetto variation of the King's Indian in Petrosian's hands allows him to strong-point the e4-square. With the kingside successfully neutered Petrosian expands on the queenside and makes dangerous inroads into Black's position. Benkö sacrifices a pawn to activate his dark-squared bishop, and an exchange to remove White's dangerous passed pawn. Petrosian can make no headway in the endgame and has to be satisfied with a draw.
Tal's Leningrad Dutch notches up the point against Benkö. Gligoric's little shin-kick against Petrosian's bear-hug reaps the full point. Keres paralyses Ólafsson and wins in an alarmingly smooth fashion. The youth versus experience of Fischer and Smyslov bring out the best in both players, and a draw is a very creditable result for Fischer.
Benkö faces a Leningrad Dutch-armed Tal and emerges with a solid position. Tal creates pressure against White's queenside and wins control of the central dark-squares. Tal starts a central offensive against the White king while Benkö's own queen is far from home deep inside Black's queenside. Tal turns the tables on Benkö's queenside breach, and a last blunder by Benkö gives Tal a simple finish.
Gligoric has a solid edge against Petrosian's classical Caro-Kann and has a comfortable game, but he takes it a little to casually allowing Petrosian a surprise queenside pawn thrust that turns the game in his favour. Petrosian gradually applies his bear-hug grip on the position - even with just a knight and a rook. But he misses a trick in the time scramble towards the first time control, and it's Gligoric in the driving seat. Petrosian's position disintegrates as his pieces are scattered across the board, allowing Gligoric to mop up the whole point.
In a rather quiet English line Ólafsson obligates Keres' king to remain in the centre, practically forcing Keres to castle manually. Keres centralises his pieces while Ólafsson seems more content to play along the h-file and creates a gaping weakness on d4 for Keres' dark-squared bishop to occupy. Ólafsson's stubbornness on his kingside ambitions allows Keres to extract concession after concession. Keres creates a dark-square blockade as Ólafsson's pieces suffocate behind his static pawn chain. Ólafsson's king finds itself in the glare along the only open file, facing off to Black's major pieces. White is paralysed and can do nothing when Keres breaks through with his other rook on the queenside.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
Fischer responds aggressively to Smyslov's offbeat Caro-Kann line, thrusting forward with his kingside pawns and nets a solid advantage right out of the opening. Smyslov manages to alleviate the pressure and sacrifices a pawn to connect his rooks via White's third rank. Fischer is quickly defending in earnest and has to return the sacrificed pawn. The double rook ending is still in Smyslov's favour thanks to his outside passed pawn. Smyslov sacrifices another pawn to disrupt the White rooks from combining effectively against the Black passed pawn. But Fischer's active endgame play with the extra pawn forces Smyslov to share the points.
This game is annotated in Russians versus Fischer.
The surprise of the first cycle is Smyslov's variable performance. We've seen multiple Smyslovs so far: World Championship calibre performances against Tal and Keres, scrabbling to a fortunate draw against Benkö. Spoiling great positions against Petrosian, Gligoric and Ólafsson. Smyslov must be disappointed with his results, and working hard to get his consistency back again.
Keres has also suffered from mixed fortunes, but can be satisfied with a share of first place. Overconfidence lead to a loss against Fischer in Round 1; a masterful performance against Smyslov to earn a win in round 2. Lucky to win against Tal in Round 3, lost to Petrosian from a better position in Round 4, a fortunate win on time against Benkö in Round 5, and again unlucky not to win against Gligoric in Round 6.
Tal has shown no side-effects from his first round loss to Smyslov, or missed win against Keres. He has savaged the rest of the field except for Petrosian.
Gligoric and Fischer have creditable mid table placings so far. Fischer's play against the Caro-Kann is a source of concern. His loss to Ólafsson was more a symptom of his lack of battle-hardened experience, he fought hard in every game.
The best game of the tournament so far is Keres' wonderful win on the Black side of a Ruy Lopez against Smyslov in round 2.
| Players | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Petrosian | X | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4½ |
| 2. | Keres | 0 | X | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4½ |
| 3. | Tal | ½ | 0 | X | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4½ |
| 4. | Gligoric | 1 | ½ | 0 | X | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 3½ |
| 5. | Fischer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | ½ | ½ | 0 | 3 |
| 6. | Smyslov | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | X | ½ | ½ | 3 |
| 7. | Benkö | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | X | 1 | 3 |
| 8. | Ólafsson | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | X | 2 |
An emphatically decisive round. Smyslov falls victim to a sacrificial Tal whirlwind. Keres demolishes Fischer in another Caro-Kann nightmare. Petrosian's centre gets overrun and Ólafsson does well to convert the rook endgame. Benkö's custom Breyer variation fails to hold Gligoric who goes on to score a smooth win.
Tal's quiet approach to Smyslov's Caro-Kann lasts barely 4 moves before he goes active and the centre pawns disappear. Smyslov prevents Tal's lead in development from increasing. They castle on opposite flanks which preempts slashing attacks towards the kings. Tal tries to keep his position alive with tactics as Smyslov slowly but surely takes over the initiative. Tal sacrifices a piece for a raging attack against Smyslov's king. Smyslov miscalculates and walks into a queen sacrifice which completely destroys his position.
This game is annotated in The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, The Magic of Mikhail Tal, Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice, Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors Part II. (Popular game!)
Keres follows Petrosian's Caro-Kann line against the young Fischer for the first eight moves, and then selects a more active continuation than just exchanging off the dark-squared bishops. It's sufficient for Black to have an opening advantage. Fischer has the makings of a kingside attack, but his queenside is paralysed. Keres keeps a strong grip on the position, and one inevitable slip from Fischer, and it's almost all one way traffic as Keres pieces attack Fischer's exposed king. One missed opportunity and Fischer is out for the count.
This game is annotated in Russians versus Fischer.
Petrosian has a solid position from a Ragozin System as the trench warfare breaks out on the queenside. But Ólafsson is allowed to engineer a central pawn break which disrupts Black's co-ordination. The pieces are whittled off and Ólafsson's remaining major pieces are active and wins a pawn. Petrosian gains some compensation during the time scramble and the queens are exchanged leaving a rook endgame, with Ólafsson having an extra isolated pawn. Gradually Ólafsson simplifies the position, and Petrosian can no longer hold it.
Benkö revisits his custom Breyer Ruy Lopez that notched up a win against Ólafsson in round 2. Gligoric's forceful response has Benkö on the back foot, which Gligoric exploits well. Benkö's position is stretched forcing him into exchanges towards an inferior endgame. And Gligoric converts the endgame despite Benkö's desparate lunge at his king. A final exchange sacrifice forces an easily won pawn endgame.
Tal is content with a quick draw. Benkö's slow build up proves better than Ólafsson's aggression. Petrosian has a positional crush against Fischer. Keres manages to draw a wonderfully played and tense battle against Smyslov.
Tal gets a solid position out of a Chigorin Closed Ruy Lopez, and the opening of the a-file and d-file leave a prospect-less position. So Tal is happy to split the points.
Benkö's chosen line against Ólafsson's Najdorf Sicilian leads to a closed centre, and Ólafsson has a free hand for queenside operations. But the exchange of both Black's knights takes the wind from Ólafsson's sails, allowing Benkö to commence operations on the kingside. Ólafsson pauses on the queenside and the initiative and advantage pass to White, and a desperate pawn-sacrifice by Black eases Benkö's path the the full point.
This game is annotated in Pal Benkö: My Life, Games, and Compositions.
Petrosian grabs the queenside space after Fischer withdraws the Nimzo-Indian bishop to a vulnerable square. With an exchange of knights Petrosian holds a strong advantage against Fischer's Stonewall formation. Petrosian drives a pawn wedge into Fischer's queenside leaving Fischer with a big pawn that was once a light-squared bishop. Fischer pries open the a-file in an effort to make use of his stranded queenside rook, but that just gives Petrosian an opening into Fischer's position. Fischer tries to drum up piece play against the White king but Petrosian has the position firmly under control. Fischer's queenside pawns disappear and he has no defense against Petrosian's advanced passed pawns.
Smyslov introduces a new system in the Closed Ruy Lopez, beginning with 9... Qd7 (to make way for ... Nd8 protecting the f7-square) instead of the normal Chigorin or Breyer systems. The thematic opening of the a-file seems to play into Black's hands and White's e4-pawn comes under severe pressure from the Black pieces. Smyslov piles on the pressure on the queenside, forcing Keres to retreat. But Smyslov doesn't quite find the best series of moves, allowing Keres room to liquidate pieces. Keres activates his only major piece and it's enough to hold for a draw.
Keres keeps a cool head in the face of a blizzard of tactics from Tal to earn the full point. Fischer pounces on a Benkö mistake and remorselessly gains the full point. Smyslov's opening initiative fizzles under Petrosians tight defense, so it's a draw. Gligoric and Ólafsson split the points after a long manoeuvring effort.
Tal's risky handling of the f3-Nimzo initially leaves Keres on top, fortunately a steady buildup reclaims the opening advantage. But Tal's desire for a complex battle gets the better of him, and he finds Keres more of a match as his counter-attack in the centre virtually forces Tal to sacrifice material. Tal tries to get his centre pawns moving forward and with the Black king stuck in the centre he has some compensation for the sacrificed material. Keres keeps his cool and retains the extra material and an easily won game.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
Fischer deals adequately with Benkö's off-beat way of tackling the Sozin Sicilian and emerges from the opening with an advantage. First Fischer then Benkö miss their way in the complications, unfortunately Benkö's mistake is seized on as Fischer chalks up the full point.
Smyslov faces Petrosian's King's Indian Defence with his own esoteric approach. Smyslov regroups with a defined purpose against the weakened Black queenside, but Petrosian has an iron grip on his position. Smyslov needs to start backtracking as his initiative fizzles, and the players agree to a draw.
Ólafsson transposes from an English Opening to a Schmidt Benoni/King's Indian setup where the kingside has been immobilised. The pawn chains flare into action as Ólafsson attacks the Black pawn-centre from both sides. The queenside is locked down, and White can make no progress on the kingside so both sides settle down into a long manoeuvring game aiming to exploit each others weak squares with prepared pawn thrusts on the kingside. White's control of the f-file forces Gligoric to keep a careful eye on the multitude of entry points into his position. He forces an exchange of queens and there's nothing to play for in the endgame.
Tal shows a cool and collected defense to Ólafsson's sacrificial attack and outplays Ólafsson in the aftermath. Gligoric refutes Fischer's Najdorf and wins a complex tactical battle. Benkö outplays Smyslov in a wonderful positional effort. Petrosian and Keres share the points.
In a Maróczy Sicilian Tal accepts Ólafsson sacrifice of the binding c4-pawn. In return he gets space in the centre, a ready-made kingside attack and tempo against Black's exposed queen. Ólafsson invests a piece to force a perpetual check, but Tal doesn't accept. Ólafsson regroups and a new battle begins, this time against Black's central pawns, but Tal easily restores the balance. The exchange of queens sees Tal taking the initiative in the semi-endgame before a time-trouble blunder by Ólafsson gifts Tal connected passed central pawns. Tal crowns the endgame with a neat exchange sacrifice to force a passed pawn through to promotion. Ólafsson cannot hold off Tal's two extra pieces.
The main-line Sicilian Najdorf blossoms into a fully-blooded and violent struggle between two very aggressive grandmasters. Gligoric refutes Fischer's opening variation with pawn sacrifice followed by a combination that nets him the exchange. Fischer blunders in a very complicated position and its game over for Black as Gligoric finishes as smoothly as he started.
This game is annotated in Svetozar Gligoric's Chess Career.
Out of a Maróczy-bind Kan Sicilian Benkö gains a tidy advantage through a queenside space-gaining initiative. He steadily builds on his space advantage and gains entry to Black's backrank with his rook. With a neat manoeuvre Benkö heads towards an advantageous endgame against Black's bad light-squared bishop. His knight dominates in the endgame and Benkö engineers it's sacrifice leaving him with three extra pawns against the overworked Black bishop. Benkö forces the full point.
This game is annotated in Pal Benkö: My Life, Games, and Compositions.
Petrosian gets a reversed Dragon out of an English opening, with Keres adopting a flexible posture. Exchanging off both pairs of knights Petrosian gains some kingside space. Keres opens a file on the queenside which gives both sides targets to aim at, but the position is still balanced. A draw is agreed with neither side able to make much progress.
Tal and Petrosian share a quick draw. Benkö loses a piece almost out of the opening. Gligoric's tenacious active defense gives Smyslov rope to blunder badly, and Gligoric is satisfied with a perpetual check. Fischer has to dig deep to fend off Ólafsson before he goes on to claim the full point.
Tal restricts Petrosian's queenside knight in a Chigorin Closed Ruy Lopez, and the position simplifies after exchanges on d4. The centre pawns disappear and there's nothing to play for.
Keres follows Gligoric's effort four rounds earlier in Benkö's custom Breyer-like Ruy Lopez line. Although Benkö choses a more solid line, Keres finds the flaw in his set-up and gains a distinct edge. The battle has hardly started when Benkö blunders allowing Keres a tactic that nets him a piece.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 2: Open & Semi-Open Games.
From a Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian Gligoric exchanges off both his bishops to damage White's pawn structure and a temporary initiative. Smyslov keeps a tight lease on his position, avoiding swapping off his bishop pair. Both Smyslov's rooks find open files and he builds up pressure on the g-file and seventh ranks. Gligoric's queenside pawns disappear, leaving Smyslov with two passed pawns to the good. Gligoric parts with the exchange to douse the fire. Somehow Gligoric hangs on for dear life. Smyslov overplays his back-rank threats which gives Gligoric just enough time to coordinate his queen and both knights against the White king. The advantage switches Gligoric's way, but he opts to finish the game via perpetual check.
Fischer takes aim against at Ólafsson's king in a Steinitz Ruy Lopez, focusing mostly on the White squares around the Black kingside. Fischer plays the White pieces in a King's Indian Attack style. Despite his doubled-pawns Ólafsson manages to outplay Fischer in the middle game, forcing the exchange of dark-squared bishops. But Ólafsson trips up after the first time control and has to accept the exchange off of one pair of rooks. This puts Fischer in the driving seat on the queenside and he ties Black down to the defense of his weak pawns. Forcing the queens off leaves Fischer with a comfortable plus. He brings his stranded knight back into the game and seals a well-fought win.
Tal tackles Fischer's favoured Sozin with gusto and creates a winning attack against the king. A tragic loss for Ólafsson against Smyslov thanks to a time-trouble blunder. Keres scrapes to a draw against Gligoric in a tactical struggle. Benkö's pawn sacrifice isn't sufficient to keep Petrosian tied up.
Tal faces Fischer's pet f5 variation of the Sicilian Sozin in typical active fashion on the queenside. He disrupts White's development and succeeds in taking over the initiative. Tal get the thematic ...d5 pawn break in and pins a White knight on e4. The flurry of exchanges that follows improves Tal's grip on the position, since Fischer's bishop is merely an oversized pawn. Tal's remaining central pawns are ready to roll. So Fischer sacrifices an exchange, but Tal's demolishes Fischer's kingside the very next move. Tal's rooks come into play and its game over for the teenage grandmaster.
This game is annotated in Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice and Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal.
Smyslov opts for a quiet approach against Ólafsson kingside expansion in an English Opening. This gives Ólafsson sufficient time to capitalise on his space advantage and prepare the advance of his hanging pawns. Ólafsson sacrifices a pawn to gain the two bishops and activate his rooks. But he doesn't find the best active line and Smyslov manages to secure his king. In the run up to the first time control Ólafsson blunders badly allowing Smyslov a sacrifice which exposes Ólafsson's king to attack. Into the endgame and Smyslov outplays Ólafsson combining threats against the White king with the advance of his passed queenside pawn. Smyslov grabs a fortuitous point.
Keres sacrifices a pawn in a main-line Nimzo-Indian to damage Gligoric's kingside pawn structure. This leads into a natural kingside attack by Keres. Gligoric rebuffs this easily with his two bishops and like-minded buildup against the Black king. Both sides make mistakes in the lead up to the first time control, Keres missing a deflection sacrifice, and Gligoric sacrificing the wrong piece moves later. Keres tenacious defense in the ending saves earns him half a point.
Benkö's pawn sacrifice against an Slav setup in the English Opening generates him sufficient play against the immobile Black queenside pawns. But Petrosian returns the extra pawn to free his pieces and exchange off Benkö's powerful English bishop. And he regains his sacrificed material entering the endgame. Petrosian converts the double rook endgame thanks to the extra passed pawn.
Tal routs Benkö in sacrificial style. Gligoric is neutralised into accepting a draw. Ólafsson's position collapses with Keres' controlled demolition. Fischer shows great maturity and guile to hold the former World Champion to a draw.
A hyper-accelerated Dragon becomes a Schmidt Benoni as Benkö allows the White d-pawn to advance. Tal builds up in the centre and sacrifices a queenside pawn to get his e5-pawn break in. Benkö grabs another pawn and misses Tal's decisive continuation - a bishop sacrifice to make way for the White Queen. The concluding rook sacrifice ends Benkö's resistance.
This game is annotated in Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice.
Gligoric gets a slight initiative out of the English Opening thanks to Petrosian's insipid shuffling, but Petrosian carefully neutralises all threats. A repetition of position clarifies matters.
Ólafsson gets an equal position from a Scheveningen Sicilian against Keres. Keres activates his rooks after Ólafsson commits to the advance of his queenside pawns. But it's the bishops that play a role against the Black centre and kingside. Ólafsson blunders away the d-pawn, giving Keres a supported passed pawn. Keres keeps the upper hand in the threats and counterthreats, the threat of back-rank mate forces the exchange of queens and a won endgame.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 2: Open & Semi-Open Games.
Smyslov essays the c3-Sicilian, probably to avoid Fischer's deep understanding of the main line Sicilians. The position transposes to a Caro-Kann as Fischer's pieces play around the advanced White pawn centre. The game rapidly heads into a bishop versus knight endgame with a pair of rooks. Fischer defends it well, and takes the initiative after an exchange sacrifice frees up his central pawns. His remaining knight and passed pawn bewilder White's king and rook, and the rook is force to give itself up. And it's a hard-fought draw.
This game is annotated in Russians versus Fischer.
Petrosian drops out of the leading group mainly through Keres and Tal outscoring the rest of the field. They were particularly brutal against the bottom half of the table, conceding a single draw in eight games. Keres in particular is settling down well and stamping his authority on the tournament after a rocky first cycle.
Gligoric fully deserves his fourth place, although it should have been a joint third had he not made the magnanimous gesture of forcing a draw against Smyslov instead of taking the full point. Good wins over Benkö and Fischer interspersed with solid draws against the Russian contingent.
Smyslov's torment continues. Being on the receiving end of a Tal brilliancy in round 8, drawing another splendid struggle with Keres in the next round. Losing to Benkö in Round 10, a fortuitous draw in a lost position against Gligoric, a scrappy win against Ólafsson in Round 13. These can't be happy times for the former World Champion.
The Russians have been remorseless against Fischer this cycle, giving him just a single draw in their four encounters. But Fischer is showing regular signs of deep understanding and combativeness, his score isn't a true reflection of his play in this cycle.
Benkö and Ólafsson make up the basement of the table, they've both struggled against the clock, with many mistakes and game-changers deep in time trouble. Tal and Keres look to be capitalising on their time-trouble habit to maximum effect.
The best games of this cycle are Tal's demolition of Smyslov in Round 8, the Keres-Smyslov struggle from Round 9, Both Gligoric's crushing of Fischer, and Benkö's win against Smyslov in Round 11. Fischer's endgame against Smyslov in Round 14 is worthy of study.
| Players | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keres | X | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5½ |
| 2 | Tal | 0 | X | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Gligoric | ½ | ½ | X | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4½ |
| 4 | Petrosian | ½ | ½ | ½ | X | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Smyslov | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | X | ½ | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Fischer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | X | 1 | 1 | 2½ |
| 7 | Benkö | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | Ólafsson | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1½ |
From the costal resort of Bled the players move to the city of Zagreb for the third cycle of the Candidates Tournament. Tal has a huge slice of luck to grab half a point from a lost position against Smyslov. Keres blunders a piece against Fischer. Petrosian goes under after losing his grip on an endgame position. Gligoric's active play is enough to secure a draw.
Smyslov obtains a definite advantage on the White side of a Sicilian Kan thanks to his stronger grip of the centre and latent pressure on the kingside. His fluid movement inhibits Tal's natural development. Smyslov's lucid play leaves him a piece up. Tal opens up Smyslov's king looking for counter-chances, an amazingly Smyslov is caught in a cheapo, and Tal forces perpetual check.
The first overt indications of frustration manifested in Smyslov as he banged the clock on his 40th move after realising he hadn't avoided the perpetual check.
Keres avoids Fischer's prodigious knowledge of the Kings Indian Defence by embarking on a London system. He gives up the two bishops to gain a pawn, and faces Fischer's initiative with the bishop pair. As Keres goes pawn hunting his king is stuck in the centre. Keres is on the verge of reclaiming the initiative and he blunders away a piece, and Fisher converts it to a full point.
This game is annotated in Russians versus Fischer.
Petrosian plays with the isolated pawn from a Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian, and his centralised pieces give him an edge. Petrosian builds up pressure with piece-play and Ólafsson counters by enticing the exchange of queens leaving himself with two sets of doubled pawns on the kingside. But the position is balanced despite the visual blockade Petrosian has in place. The isolani falls, and Petrosian is in trouble as his grip is broken. Ólafsson battles but eventually succeeds in negotiating the endgame to a rook endgame where he is winning.
Benkö avoids Gligoric's Modern Benoni and the position transposes into a Tarrasch. Gligoric succeeds in neutralising the pressure against his isolated pawn, and it becomes a supported passed pawn in the endgame. But Benkö defends it solidly enough and when it's exchanged there's nothing more to play for.
Tal takes the lead for the first time. Gligoric stumbles in a complicated position against Tal. Benkö is unable to capitalise on his endgame advantage against Ólafsson. Petrosian and Fischer draw a complicated struggle that could have gone either way. Another complex struggle between Smyslov and Keres, and a draw is a fitting result.
Gligoric puts aside his King's Indian Defence and opts for the Queen's Indian Defence, the Petrosian variation casted doubt on the viability of the King's Indian Defence at this time. Tal gains a slight advantage out of the Leningrad Nimzo-Indian-like position, Gligoric neutralises it. Tal sacrifices a pawn to activate his rooks, but missed a strong followup so the position balances out again until Gligoric makes a mistake that allows Tal to get a rook into the heart of the Black position. Tal engineers a winning endgame and converts it.
This game is annotated in The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice and Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal.
A promising looking Symmetrical English quickly descends into a string of exchanges. In the semi-endgame that follows it is Benkö who holds the upper hand as he pressures White's exposed d-pawn. But Benkö can find no way to exploit the weakness, so both sides call a truce.
It's another Caro-Kann trial for the young grandmaster as the players follow their earlier game from round 2. Petrosian opts for a more circumspect line, allowing Fischer the natural kingside expansion. After castling on opposite sides of the board Fischer opens up on the queenside aiming at Petrosian's king as Petrosian cements his hold on the position. Fischer gets his major pieces working together to compensate for his pawn deficit. He quickly shifts his focus to infiltration down the f-file demolishing Black's kingside pawns and threatening to attack Petrosian's king from the rear. Both sides promote their pawns, and 4 queens maraud over the board. Fischer crafts a winning position in the ultra complicated ending, but a miscalculation brings the game towards equality. A further mistake from Fischer puts Petrosian in the driving seat, but he's satisfied with a draw.
This game is annotated in My 60 Memorable Games and Russians versus Fischer.
Smyslov engages a battle against the hanging pawns out of a Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian. Keres' initiative fades out as he gets a hold of the dark squares in White's position. A tense battle erupts over Black's centre pawns with Smyslov holding the upper-hand, his two bishops against Keres' two knights. A critical mistake from Keres - advancing his passed pawn - leaves Smyslov on top as he attacks the pawn's defenders, leaving it vulnerable. Smyslov is a little hasty to remove the offending pawn which allows Keres sufficient activity in compensation. And Smyslov sets up a perpetual check.
Tal has a clinical and controlled win against Keres and goes into a 1½ point lead. Smyslov sparkles with a smooth win over Petrosian. Benkö has the advantage over the young Fischer, but Fischer's defensive qualities again are sufficient to secure a draw. Gligoric has a smooth win over Ólafsson.
Tal varies from his game against Smyslov two rounds earlier in a Sicilian Kan, but it is Keres who gains a slight advantage. Keres is playing for a kingside attack, and he lets Tal activate his queen in the centre. Keres doesn't get compensation for Tal's queen gobbling up the queenside pawn so embarks on an exchange sacrifice to create pressure against Black's king. This wins a piece back. But Tal's queen and passed pawn are too much for Keres to handle.
This game is annotated in Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice and Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal.
Petrosian allows Smyslov to seize the upper-hand in a Queen's Gambit Accepted (transposed from an English). Smyslov is soon a pawn up with the initiative. With that Smyslov power-plays his way to a winning position as Petrosian scrambles to meet each threat. Petrosian desperately tries to counter attack against the Black king, Smyslov defuses the problem by forcing the exchange of queens. And Smyslov has no problems converting the win.
This game is annotated in Smyslov's 125 Selected Games.
Benkö opts for a side-line Sozin against Fischer's Sicilian, and amazingly Fischer transposes into a Sicilian Dragon. But this is a positional battle, and Benkö does well to strengthen his hold of the key central squares and pushing Fischer back. Benkö forces off Black's potent dark-squared bishop, and this is a prelude to a kingside attack by his major pieces. But Fischer has things under control as he activates his own major pieces. In the rook endgame Benkö sacrifices a pawn in an endeavour to force his passed pawn through, but Fischer has it covered. But he can't make his extra pawn count, and they agree to a draw.
Ólafsson choses a Closed Ruy Lopez continuation first introduced into master praxis by Smyslov. Both his knights are actively posted on the queenside. Gligoric emerges from the opening with the advantage, and with some clever positional manoeuvring he grows this advantage by constraining Ólafsson's mobility. The pieces slowly get exchanged off and Gligoric's major pieces start to dominate proceedings. The passed d-pawn plus threats against his king causes Ólafsson's position to crumble.
Tal gets the better of complications against Ólafsson. Gligoric's active piece play secures a draw against Fischer. Smyslov emerges triumphant in a positional King's Indian battle against Benkö. Keres takes a breather against Petrosian.
Tal varies from Gligoric's approach in the previous round against the same opponent. Ólafsson makes better progress here, except he invites Tal to sacrifice a piece for three pawns. After the forced exchange of queens Tal has an active position, but Ólafsson misses a counter-sacrifice that would have given him the advantage, and then gets his knight deep into trouble. Tal's kingside pawns prove too much for Ólafsson as his position quickly collapses.
This game is annotated in Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice and Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal.
Gligoric avoids the main line Ruy Lopez and adopts a Steinitz formation against Fischer. Gligoric gets active piece play on the kingside and breaks up Fischer's kingside pawn cover. But Fischer obtains the two bishops as compensation. Gligoric anchors his knight strongly in the centre in the semi-endgame and Fischer can make no progress.
Smyslov's Petrosian King's Indian follows the pattern set by Tal-Fischer from round 6. Benkö diverts from Fischer's path by focusing more on the kingside and installing a knight on the ...f4 square before opening the f-file. Smyslov sacrifices a pawn on the queenside to open lines and activate his pieces. The queenside battle resolves in Smyslov's favour as he is a pawn up into the endgame, and Black's normally powerful dark-squared bishop is stymied by his own pawns. Smyslov makes no mistakes and converts the endgame.
What started out as a Caro Kann transposes into a Tarrasch Queen's Gambit. Keres develops actively with the isolated pawn and has the advantage when both sides decide to share the points.
Tal and Petrosian have a quick draw. Keres turns the table in Benkö's time trouble. Smyslov's combination against Gligoric forces a winning rook endgame. Ólafsson and Fischer contest a storming King's Indian.
Tal fights for the e4-square out of a Classical Nimzo-Indian which starts off a flurry of exchanges. With the exchange of queens imminent both players call a timeout.
Keres adopts a Reversed Closed Sicilian against Benkö's English and the position out of the opening is balanced. Benkö sacrifices a pawn to keep the Black king trapped in the centre. Benkö has compensation for the sacrificed material, but loses the thread of the position in time trouble. After the first time control Keres is firmly winning.
Gligoric emerges with a slight edge in a tensely-contested Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian. Smyslov outplays Gligoric and he destroys White's position with a combination which leaves him a pawn up in a rook endgame. He expertly centralises his king, and his passed central pawn decides matters.
This game is annotated in Smyslov's 125 Selected Games.
Out of a Fianchetto King's Indian Ólafsson's queenside expansion is met by Fischer's vigourous kingside pawn storm. Both sides get bogged down, though White retains an advantage thanks to better coordination of all his pieces. The dark-squared bishops are exchanged off allowing Fischer to penetrate with his queen along the long dark-squared diagonal. Ólafsson misses a strong continuation and the players agree a draw at the first time control.
A wonderful sacrificial performance by Tal against Fischer nets him a third victory against the youngster. Smyslov slips out of Ólafsson's grasp and earns a draw. Keres' rook sacrifice deposes Gligoric in fine style. Petrosian catches Benkö off-guard to win a pawn, and consolidates it into a full point.
Tal and Fischer repeat the first dozen moves from their round 6 encounter before Fischer plays an improvement. Tal methodically prepares the c5-pawn break while Fischer seeks his thematic counterplay on the kingside. As the position opens up Tal switches to an attack on the Black king, sacrificing a pawn and a piece to bring all his pieces into play. Fischer incautiously accepts the followup piece sacrifice, and that seals his fate as Fischer is defenceless against Tal's major pieces. Tal's two rooks and knight romp home against Fischer's rook and two minor pieces.
This game is annotated in The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, Mikhail Tal - Master of Sacrifice, Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal and Russians versus Fischer.
Smyslov starts off with a Closed Sicilian, but introduces the idea of Bb5 which serves to create a double pawn complex in Black's position. But Ólafsson is quickly on top with his more active play and repairs his pawn structure. Smyslov has to dig deep to alleviate the pressure on the queenside, and as the pawns disappear so does Ólafsson's substantial advantage. And Smyslov comfortably holds the endgame.
Keres follows Gligoric's game against Tal from round 9, and Gligoric is first to vary. Keres counters Black's natural queenside play with piece pressure on the kingside, and Gligoric breaks in the centre. Keres punishes Gligoric's later miscalculation with a sparkling rook sacrifice which wins the Black queen. This gives Keres a substantial advantage which he easily converts into the full point.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
Benkö is in a perilous position out of a Leningrad Nimzo-Indian, but he obtains counterplay on the kingside. He misses a tactic that nets Petrosian a pawn. Petrosian neutralises Black's kingside initiative and consolidates his position. Benkö resigns as he cannot prevent Petrosian's prepared breakthrough.
Tal soaks up Benkö's aggressiveness and his counter-punch is floors the Hungarian. Gligoric and Petrosian tussle to a draw in a French Winawer. Keres' stranglehold on Ólafsson's position is lethal. One slip from Fischer is enough for Smyslov to power to victory.
Benkö is up for a fight in a Sicilian Scheveningen as he gets aggressive with his pieces. But Tal's solid play on the queenside neutralises Benkö's initiative, and Tal stands well. His counter-punch demolishes Benkö's queenside and Tal is winning. It doesn't end well as Benkö blunders his queen.
The French Winawer is a surprise choice of opening for Petrosian, particularly considering Gligoric's expertise in the French. After a complicated and tactical middlegame Petrosian beats back White's attack. The game enters a rook and bishop endgame with Gligoric nursing a slight edge. Both players opt to repeat the position.
Keres gets a solid position from a Classical Queen's Gambit Accepted. Ólafsson tries to take control of the centre, but it exposes White's position to the pressure of Black's two bishops. Keres gains space on the queenside and dominates White's pieces. The b2-pawn has to fall, which leaves Keres' advanced passed pawn triumphant.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
The Sicilian Scheveningen is a rare choice for Smyslov, but against Fischer you are guaranteed to see the Sozin variation. Fischer sacrifices a pawn for a kingside attack. In an effort to free his queen for the attack he allows Smyslov a central pawn break which gives the ex-World Champion a substantial advantage. And with a startling queen manoeuvre Smyslov neutralises Fischer's attack. The rook endgame sees Smyslov convert his central passed pawns into a win.
This game is annotated in Smyslov's 125 Selected Games and Russians versus Fischer.
Although Tal has dominated the third cycle conceding just two draws, Smyslov hitting a patch of great form is a sight to behold conceding just one draw more. Wins against Petrosian, Gligoric and Fischer shows the real classical quality of the ex-World Champion's play.
Although Keres has performed acceptably enough he must consider it unlucky that he is not leading this tournament. Tal has simply heavily outscored him and changed from being one point behind to one and a half points ahead.
Gligoric had a difficult third cycle, slipping down a place both through Smyslov's resurgence and his own three losses against the top three Russians. Petrosian's two losses have ensured that his challenge for first place is over, and he's settling into a solid finish, perhaps aiming for third.
Fischer is still struggling, his only victory this cycle courtesy of a Keres blunder in round 15. At times he looks strong enough to be a contender, notably in his battles against Keres and Smyslov. But his firm conviction in his narrow opening repertoire is being exploited mercilessly by the Russian grandmasters.
Benkö and Ólafsson continue to be hampered by time trouble. Although Ólafsson can take solace in his solitary victory against Petrosian.
The Zagreb cycle comes to a close, and we head to Belgrade for the final cycle. Will Tal keep up his extraordinary run, or will Keres or Smyslov overhaul him at the finish?
| Players | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tal | X | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Smyslov | ½ | X | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ |
| 3 | Keres | 0 | ½ | X | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Petrosian | ½ | 0 | ½ | X | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Fischer | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | X | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3 |
| 6 | Ólafsson | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | X | 0 | ½ | 2½ |
| 7 | Gligoric | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | X | ½ | 2½ |
| 8 | Benkö | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | X | 1½ |
The last cycle takes place in the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade.
Benkö holds the knight ending against Gligoric. Petrosian sacrifices an exchange to relieve the pressure and draws against Ólafsson. Keres outplays Fischer in another Caro-Kann demolition. Again Smyslov lets slip a completely won game against Tal, blundering away the game on the last move before time control.
The queens come off early in a Sicilian Richter-Rauzer as Gligoric has a slight edge, thanks to his centralised light-squared bishop. Gligoric gets a rook to the seventh rank but Benkö liquidates the threat without much difficulty. This leaves an interesting knight and pawn endgame. Gligoric presses hard, but Benkö is up to the task of defending the endgame.
Ólafsson uses his slight edge in a Queen's Gambit Tartakower to launch a kingside attack. But Petrosian has a watchful eye and neutralises the threat. However Petrosian misses a great chance to seize control of the game. Ólafsson sacrifices a pawn to open up the kingside lines, forcing Petrosian into sacrificing the exchange to ward off threatened advance of White's passed pawn. Petrosian's dark-squared bishop proves as capable as White's rook, so both players accept a ceasefire.
Keres and Fischer revisit the Caro-Kann from their round 8 game, with Keres first to deviate on move 10. Keres gets an advantage, especially when Fischer allows his king to be stuck in the centre. Keres pries open Fischer's kingside whilst the young grandmaster is trying to drum up counterplay on the opposite flank. Keres keeps the upperhand and increases his advantage as his rook and knight make inroads into White's position. With both Keres' rooks on the seventh rank, Fischer is stymied and his position collapses.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 2: Open & Semi-Open Games and Russians versus Fischer.
For the third time this tournament Smyslov opts for the Sicilian Defence, and perhaps this is the most critical of times against the tournament leader. Smyslov gains an equal position as Tal expends some time fianchettoeing his dark-squared bishop. Smyslov gains the upperhand in the positional struggle as Tal's kingside attack fails to materialise. Tal speculates by sacrificing his knight to open the light squares around Black's king. Tal's kingside attack is forced backwards through a vigourous defence by Smyslov. Tal tries ratcheting the pressure on the centre, threatening to puncture Smyslov's defenses. Right on time-control Smyslov blunders, and Tal forces a mate.
A sparkling rook sacrifice from Smyslov ends Keres' hope of catching tournament leader Tal. Petrosian seems reluctant to press his advantage against Fischer and takes a draw. Ólafsson decimates Benkö after the latter blunders a piece. Gligoric goes to pieces against Tal.
Smyslov is quickly on the back-foot in a Sicilian Scheveningen as Keres asserts his authority on the queenside. But Smyslov's Hedgehog-like formation allows him to retaliate and generate some counterplay down the open a-file. Keres' passive retreat hands the initiative over to Smyslov, and he compounds it with a blunder that gives Smyslov a winning advantage. A sparkling rook sacrifice from Smyslov exposes Keres' king, forcing resignation.
This game is annotated in Smyslov's 125 Selected Games and Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 2: Open & Semi-Open Games.
Fischer choses a Tartakower Queen's Gambit instead of his normal King's Indian Defence. Petrosian misses a chance to get his knight strongly posted deep inside Black's position, instead he contents himself with solidifying his pawn centre. He prepares the advance of his central pawns, but bales out and is satisfied to split the points.
Benkö turns a Queen's Gambit Accepted into a Catalan while Ólafsson heads towards a supersolid Slav-Grunfeld structure. Benkö trips up and Ólafsson's pawn advance is disruptive as Ólafsson wins a piece for two pawns. Ólafsson's minor pieces are remorseless against Benkö's two rooks and Benkö is forces to give up the exchange leaving him an entire rook down.
Tal gets some queenside space out of a classical Modern Benoni. He quickly sacrifices a piece to open the centre and exposes Gligoric's queen and rooks to threats from the Black bishop pair. Gligoric lashes out and Tal counters with a queen sacrifices that keeps up the his hold on the position. But the pressure is too much for Gligoric and he weakens his position allowing Tal to take decisive action in the endgame.
Ólafsson gets a good position out of the opening and converts it in a long endgame against Gligoric. Fischer catches Benkö out in time trouble. Smyslov and Petrosian share the points in a relatively quiet game. Keres outplays Tal from the opening, and gains the full point after a vigourous and gutsy display in the endgame.
In a Petrosian King's Indian Defence, Gligoric follows the line chosen by Fischer in his 6th round game against Tal. But he varies by attempting to hold back White's queenside pawn thrust. After the opening of the c-file Ólafsson switches his attention kingside. That allows Gligoric a free-hand on the queenside. But Ólafsson has a big advantage and continues to batter Black's kingside. The centre clears after a flurry of exchanges and Gligoric emerges with a passed central pawn, but Ólafsson's bishop proves to be the key piece as he rolls his queenside pawns up the board. In the endgame Ólafsson manages to push the black rook off the seventh rank and bring his own king into play. The black rook has to exchange itself for the newly promoted queen and Gligoric resigns.
Benkö repeats Keres' Caro-Kann line against Fischer, but varies by exchanging the dark-squared bishops. Benkö gets stuck in with a kingside pawn storm while Fischer opens some queenside lines in anticipation of the Black king's arrival. Fischer equalises by exchanging off a pair of rooks and the remaining minor pieces. Benkö misses the sting when Fischer sacrifices a queenside pawn as Fischer wins a rook.
The position is equal from a Symmetrical English Hedgehog. Smyslov triggers of a mutual desperado that gets the queens off, and at the start of an interesting endgame both players are content with sharing the point.
Tal plays classically against the isolated pawn in a Tarrasch Defence, and succeeds in also doubling Black's queenside pawns. But Keres' centralised piece activity gives him compensation for his shattered pawn structure. As Keres' pieces gradually infiltrate White's position Tal is forced to make concessions. Keres combines play against the multiple weaknesses in Tal's position and the Black rook settles on the seventh rank. The exchange of rooks doesn't help Tal's cause as his king is now vulnerable. In a wonderful display, Keres' queen and knight outplay Tal's own as he makes the extra pawn count.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
Petrosian and Keres are peaceably inclined. Benkö fights hard to regain his material deficit only to blunder again in time-trouble against Smyslov. Gligoric and Fisher draw a tough struggle in a Sicilian Najdorf. Tal has a quiet draw against Ólafsson.
Keres equalises quickly in a Semi-Tarrasch Queen's Gambit. There is a hint of a struggle on the queenside, but that quickly dissipates leaving both players content with a draw.
Smyslov adopts a Slav-like posture against Benkö's Catalan, and forces Benkö into a pawn gambit to activate his pieces. Benkö's central passed pawn isn't enough compensation for his material deficit as Smyslov gets his queenside pawns moving forward, backed by his major pieces. Benkö regains his pawn by generating mating threats against the Black king, but blunders the exchange just when he was entering an equal fight in the endgame, and it's game over again. Another Benkö time-trouble loss.
Both players follow their earlier round 11 encounter in the Sicilian Najdorf until Fischer varies on move 11. Gligoric has the advantage. Fischer wends his way through the complications well and emerges with a pawn to boot. He sacrifices a pawn to get his central passed pawn advanced, but ends up in a drawn rook and pawn endgame.
Ólafsson has a slight advantage out of a Fianchetto King's Indian played in an English style. And both players are happy to repeat the position and take a short draw.
A Tal blunder allows Petrosian to force a perpetual check. Gligoric overwhelms Smyslov with a rapid win. Keres capitalises on another Benkö blunder. Fischer's energetic play against Ólafsson's Caro-Kann forces a decisive weakening of Ólafsson's position, and Fischer converts that to a full point in the endgame.
After an expansive Sicilian Najdorf, thanks to Petrosian's sub-optimal development, Tal sacrifices a piece to rip open Black's centre. Petrosian compounds his problems by allowing White to open the f-file, which gives Tal a winning position with an attack against the exposed Black king. On the verge of winning and Tal blunders, allowing Petrosian a perpetual check.
Gligoric quickly gains an advantage with forceful play against Smyslov's pet King's Indian Defence variation. Smyslov is soon in desperate trouble, and collapses under the pressure.
This game is annotated in Svetozar Gligoric's Chess Career.
Benkö gets the better of it on the Black side of a Sicilian Najdorf, but Keres puts his effort on a kingside attack. This provokes a blunder from Benkö, and Keres capitalises with his major pieces to force a mating attack
Ólafsson tries the Caro-Kann against Fischer, but his inaccurate handling of the opening allows Fischer to gain an early advantage. Fischer sacrifices a pawn to impede Black's development. Fischer exploits the weakened dark squares around Ólafsson's king, and heads into a better endgame thanks to his active rooks. Forcing the exchange of the minor pieces, Fischer is a pawn up in the rook endgame. And as the second pawn is about to drop, Ólafsson resigns.
Benkö's extra passed pawn isn't enough to topple Petrosian. Keres makes maximum use of his queenside pawn majority to seal a smooth win over Gligoric. Smyslov gains the upperhand against Ólafsson through the seventh rank and converts it to the full point after a decisive weakening. Tal looked to be in trouble against Fischer, but came out a piece up after the middle game and had no problems converting it to the full point.
Petrosian gets a very playable position on the Black side of a Queen's Gambit Accepted, but neither side gets the upper hand. Benkö manages to win a pawn which leaves him in an endgame with an outside passed pawn. The continuation through the first time control gets chaotic, and Benkö's extra pawn gets collared and disposed. At which point the players agree a draw.
Keres gains a queenside pawn majority out of a Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian. Gligoric faulters by being too tricky, which allows Keres to win a pawn for nothing. Keres' major pieces infiltrate through the queenside. Gligoric tries to create counterplay by opening up the Black king to an attack, but Keres has it under control. And Black's outside passed pawn seals the win.
This game is annotated in Paul Keres' Best Games: Volume 1: Closed Games.
The players reach an equal position from a Four Knights English Opening, and Ólafsson takes his chances to inflict serious damage to Smyslov's pawn structure. Smyslov's counter is to occupy the seventh rank and create threats against the slightly exposed White king. Smyslov gets the better of it by forcing a decisive weakening around Ólafsson's king, Ólafsson has to contend with losing a piece, so surrenders.
This game is annotated in Smyslov's 125 Selected Games.
Fischer quickly sacrifices a pawn in his favoured Sozin Sicilian, and follows up with a piece sacrifice that Tal cannot accept. Tal's king is stuck in the centre to face the full brunt of White's major pieces. In the critical phase of the game Fischer fails to find the best continuation and Tal takes over the initiative. Tal converts the endgame with his extra piece.
This game is annotated in Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors Part II, Selected Chess Games of Mikhail Tal, My 60 Memorable Games and Russians versus Fischer.
Even in the last round the battle for first place is still on. If Tal lost to Benkö and Keres overcomes Ólafsson it is Keres who emerges with the right to challenge Mikhail Botvinnik to a World Championship match next year.
After a mostly subdued performance, Petrosian comes to life in the last round with a decisive crush of Gligoric. In his biggest game of the tournament Keres is caught off-guard and effectively trounced by Ólafsson. Smyslov gets his move-order wrong and finds himself on the wrong side of a beating against Fischer. After an amusing incident involving mirrored glasses, Tal forces a draw that guarantees him first place.
Gligoric risks the King's Indian Defence against Petrosian and the variation names after him. The first 12 moves follow Tal's 6th round game against Fischer before Petrosian opts to keep expanding on the queenside. Petrosian drives his pawn wedge deep into Black's queenside, which leaves both players a free hand on the kingside. Gligoric misses an active continuation which allows Petrosian to open the key central file. Although optically Gligoric stands well Petrosian takes over the g-file which defuses Gligoric's intentions. The exchange of queens signals the collapse of Gligoric's position.
This game is annotated in Petrosian's Best Games of Chess.
Keres is caught off-guard by Ólafsson's O'Kelly variation of the Sicilian, and sacrifices his queen for two rooks. Ólafsson has the advantage thanks to his more active pieces, better pawn structure and the initiative. In the resulting endgame, Ólafsson's queen picks of whites pawns one by one. And White can no longer stem the tide.
Smyslov adopts Gligoric's 11th round approach against the young American Grandmaster, but fumbles with his move order. This allows Fischer to take the initiative on the queenside. Fischer wins a pawn and settles down to consolidate his gains. Smyslov fights hard by ratcheting up the pressure against Fischer's king, but Fischer remorselessly exploits his advantage. He forces the queens off and Smyslov is dead lost before the first time control. Smyslov prolongs the agony before final conceding on move 54.
This game is annotated in My 60 Memorable Games and Russians versus Fischer.
Benkö springs the first surprise by arriving at the board wearing mirror glasses, ostensibly to avoid Tal's hypnotic stare. Tal, however, seemed prepared for the audacious opening, sporting a far bigger pair of mirrored glasses, much to the amusement of the other players and spectators.
The events on the board are not so exciting as after an Accelerated Dragon, Tal offers a draw to Benkö on move 12 which Benkö declines by playing on. The game transposes into a Yugoslav Dragon, and Tal quickly gets stuck into attacking down the kingside while Benkö's counterplay has largely stalled. Tal's knight sacrifice opens the kingside lines to Black's king, and Tal is content to force a draw by perpetual check.
After two frentic cycles the pace of the tournament slowed in the last session to match the first. No doubt exhaustion played it's part.
Keres' loss to Ólafsson and Smyslov in this cycle prevented him from overhauling Tal's 1½ point lead, and for the third Candidates Tournament in succession Keres places second. Keres' play has changed somewhat from the last Candidates cycle, he has proven adept in the universal style of play, looking at home in most positions. He is quite at home in classical set-ups, and there's a noticeable weakness in modern dynamic systems like the Sicilian Defence. But still, his attacking skill is formidable.
Petrosian played within his limits for this cycle, except for a typical crush-like win against Gligoric in the last round to register another plus score. Petrosian's results in Candidates tournaments continue to be stable. At thirty years of age he still has more chances to make his claim to a World Championship match.
Ólafsson has thrown off his uneven play in this cycle and surprised everyone with wins over Keres and Gligoric. His third place in this cycle is well deserved.
Fischer, as in all the cycles has struggled hard. He made no impression against the two leaders - although he did have Tal on the ropes during their game this cycle, but failed to stamp his authority on the encounter. His win against Smyslov shows that Fischer has the qualities to be a future contender - if he can master playing against the Caro-Kann. We will no doubt see him again in the next Candidates Tournament.
After three matches against Mikhail Botvinnik in the last five years, Smyslov has failed to gain an unprecendented forth head-to-head encounter with Mikhail Botvinnik. Smyslov has played a part in every Candidates or Match Tournament since FIDE's first in 1948. He won't automatically qualify for the next Candidates Tournament, so he has to fight his way in from the beginning. Only two years ago Smyslov was World Champion, now he's just another elite grandmaster. He must be disappointed with his result here in Yugoslavia, in failing to dominate over Tal, and some rather horrible losses thanks to his variable performance. But his opening creativity is still flowing, as he's introduced new systems of play in the Ruy Lopez and Nimzo-Indian, showed masterclass handling of the Sicilian Defence as Black.
Gligoric looked to be a different player in this cycle, perhaps the pressure of playing in front of his home city is too much. Still, the home-crowd has much to cheer about having seen him demolish former World Champion Smyslov in under 20 moves in this cycle.
Benkö's time trouble continued to be a source of concern, leaking point after point in each game. He certainly performed well below the level expected of the young grandmaster.
All that remains is to congratulate the winner of this cycle, and the Candidates Tournament itself, the 22 year old Mikhail Tal. He has won the right to challenge Mikhail Botvinnik to the title of World Chess Champion. He has overcome seasoned and elite grandmaster with his combative skill. Even former World Champion Smyslov had great problems containing the young Latvian grandmaster. Keres came the closest, but could not keep up with Tal's extraordinary will to win. And it's with great relish we look forward to his match against Botvinnik in 1961.
| Players | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tal | X | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4½ |
| 2 | Keres | 1 | X | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4½ |
| 3 | Petrosian | ½ | ½ | X | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4 |
| 4 | Ólafsson | ½ | 1 | ½ | X | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Fischer | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | X | 1 | ½ | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Smyslov | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | X | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Gligoric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | X | ½ | 2 |
| 8 | Benkö | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | X | 1½ |
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