New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, October 14, 1959
Tal and Keres Gain In Chess At Zagreb
The two Soviet stars, Mikhail Tal and Paul Keres, gained decisive victories in the twenty-first round of the challengers' chess tournament yesterday, according to a report from Yugoslavia.
In matches at Zagreb, Tal, who is first in the standing, defeated Paul Benko of New York, who is seventh; Keres, the runner-up, won from Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland, who is eighth and last. Each tail-ender had lost twice before in the tournament to the same opponent.
It took Tal, with the black pieces, thirty-three moves to dispose of Benko. Keres, also on the black side, scored in forty.
Two games were adjourned. Bobby Fischer, the United States champion, had the first move against Vassily Smyslov, a former world champion. The 16-year-old Brooklyn schoolboy made another stout stand against the famous Russian with whom he had drawn twice before at Bled.
Play ceased after five hours, with another draw considered likely. Forty-one moves had been recorded.
Smyslov had yet to lose in the Zagreb series, which ends today. The tournament will conclude with seven rounds in Belgrade.
Svetozar Gligoric, Yugoslavia, played white against Tigran Petrosian, Soviet Union and adjourned after forty-one moves.
