New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, October 26, 1959
Tal And Petrosian Play Draw In Chess
Mikhail Tal's lead was reduced to a point last night in the twenty-sixth round of the chess challengers' tournament in Belgrade. The Soviet player drew with Tigran Petrosian, Soviet Union, in twenty-five moves according to a report from Yugoslavia.
The result left Tal with a score of 18½—7½. Paul Keres, Soviet Union, defeated Paul Benko of New York in twenty-three moves to remain in second place with 17½—8½.
Tal played white against a Sicilian defense and sacrificed a rook to obtain access to the black king. Petrosian counterattacked and forced a draw by perpetual check in twenty-five moves. Keres won in twenty-three moves against Benko's Sicilian defense. The New Yorker weakened his king side pawns and succumbed to a sharp attack.
Bobby Fischer, the United States champion, played white against a Caro Kann defense adopted by Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland. An adjournment was taken after forty-one moves.
Vasily Smyslov, Soviet Union, lost to the King's Indian defense adopted by Svetozar Gligoric, Yugoslavia, in eighteen moves. The Russian grandmaster weakened his king side pawns in an advance.
Two rounds remain to be played.
