AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, November 01, 1959
Tal Point Ahead In Challengers' Chess
Soviet grandmaster Mikhail Tal, in a comparative slump last week, is still one point ahead with one round to play in the Challengers' Tournament, in Yugoslavia, according to a report from the New York Times.
Paul Keres of Estonia, starting a determined comeback, defeated Tal in a fine end game lasting 79 moves in the 24th round. In the 26th round Keres gained further ground by downing Paul Benko of New York while Tal was held to a draw by Tigran Petrosian of Russia.
In the 27th round Tal was paired with 16-year-old Bobby Fischer, U.S. chess champion for the last two years. Fischer, who had lost three straight to Tal, attacked vigorously with the white pieces, sacrificing a pawn and a piece to force the black king into the middle of the board.
Certain defeat appeared to be in store for Tal, but he obtained a respite when Fischer weakened, allowing a chance to equalize. Once out of danger, Tal improved his position just before adjournment. In the second session Tal won a pawn and scored the vital point after 52 moves.
In the same round Keres defeated Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia to score 3½-½ for the week, leaving him still an outside chance to tie for first. The final round pairings are Tal vs. Benko, Keres vs. Olafsson, Petrosian vs. Gligoric and Smyslov vs. Fischer.
Fischer started the week with a victory over Benko. The game was evenly contested in the early part. Fischer was gaining the upper hand when Benko, in severe time trouble, overlooked the loss of a rook to end the game in 39 moves.
In the 25th round Fischer played the Sicilian Defense against Gligoric. The latter sacrificed a pawn, which proved sound enough but netted no advantage. The game drifted into a rook and pawn ending, which was drawn after 57 moves.
Fischer solidified his position in sixth place by outplaying Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland, with whom he had previously had an even score in three encounters. Fischer built up an advantage by adjournment time and Olafsson resigned without resuming play.
