The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 04, 1959
Keres Takes Lead In Challengers' Chess
Soviet grandmaster Paul Keres, former Estonian boy wonder, now at 43 the oldest man in the event, has established a full point lead after 12 rounds of the Challengers' Tournament at Bled, Yugoslavia.
With seven wins, three draws and two losses, Keres has a score of 8½-3½, according to a report from the New York Times. He lost in the first round to U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer and in the fourth round to Tigran Petrosian of Russia but have not been close to defeat since.
In second place, with 7½-4½, is 23-year-old Mikhail Tal of Russia, who has been playing the most aggressive, venturesome chess of the tournament. He has six wins to his credit, two draws and three losses, one to former world champion Vassily Smyslov of Russia, and two in his encounters with Keres.
In the first division, half a point behind Tal, are Petrosian and Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia. The four leaders have established a sizable margin against the remaining four contestants, who are all on the minus side.
Fischer, whose play has been erratic, started the week with a loss to Petrosian. Opening with the Nimzo-Indian Defense, the 16-year-old Brooklyn boy attempted to gain the initiative. His development was unsatisfactory, however, and his queen's bishop had no outlet. As a result, Petrosian won two pawns and scored in 32 moves.
In the 10th round Fischer played in top form to earn a victory in 27 moves over Paul Benko of New York, a former Hungarian refugee now residing in the United States. Fischer sacrificed a pawn to break open the position, following with a vigorous attack against the black king.
Fischer was set back in the 11th round by Gligoric, whom he had defeated in their first meeting. This time Fischer was kept on the defensive from the outset, drifting into an unfavorable ending. The game was adjourned after 41 moves but resigned by Fischer without resuming.
The 12th round was another story. Paired with Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland, Fischer took command and maintained a steady pressure. After two sessions and a total of 74 moves, the game was adjourned, with Fischer a pawn ahead and good prospects for a win.
