AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 18, 1959
Tal Extends Lead In Challengers' Chess
Mikhail Tal of Moscow, scoring three wins and a draw in last week's play, considerably increased his lead in the Challengers' Tournament in Yugoslavia, according to reports from the New York Times.
What may prove to have been the decisive game of the tournament was Tal's victory over his closest competitor, Paul Keres of the Soviet Union. Keres sacrificed two pawns and the exchange for attacking chances. He seemed to be succeeding and, indeed, regained a piece. But the pawns proved too strong and Tal took the point after 40 moves.
Tal's score after 20 completed rounds is 14½-5½. He has not lost a game since his setback by Keres in Round 10 and now has excellent prospects of maintaining his lead for the remaining eight sessions.
Former world champion Vassily Smyslov of Moscow, who also scored 3½ points for the week, moved up to the first division for the first time. He displaced Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia, whom he defeated in a fine rook and pawn ending in the 19th round.
U.S. champion Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn retained his hold on sixth place, in which he seems secure. He drew four times in succession, starting with an adjourned 16th-round game against Tigran Petrosian of Russia. After a difficult struggle each player obtained an additional queen by promotion. Fischer had the advantage in this unusual situation, but Petrosian found a way to enforce perpetual check.
Fischer drew in rather uneventful style against Paul Benko of New York, Gligoric and Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland. He did not fare as well against Tal in the 20th round. Fischer attempted some risky counterplay with the black pieces, but was outplayed and forced to resign after 34 moves.
Following are the detailed results and games from the tournament.
ROUND 17—
Keres 0, Tal 1;
Petrosian 0, Smyslov 1;
Benko ½, Fischer ½;
Gligoric 1, Olafsson 0.
ROUND 18—
Tal 1, Olafsson 0;
Fischer ½, Gligoric ½;
Smyslov 1, Benko 0;
Keres ½, Petrosian ½.
ROUND 19—
Petrosian ½, Tal ½;
Benko 0, Keres 1;
Gligoric 0, Smyslov 1;
Olafsson ½, Fischer ½.
ROUND 20—
Tal 1, Fischer 0;
Smyslov ½, Olafsson ½;
Keres 1, Gligoric 0;
Petrosian 1, Benko 0.
