World Chess Championship 1963
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At the World Chess Championship 1963 Tigran Petrosian narrowly qualified to challenge Mikhail Botvinnik for the World Chess Championship, and then won the match to become the ninth World Chess Champion. The cycle is particularly remembered for the controversy surrounding the Candidates' Tournament at Curaçao in 1962.
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[edit] Structure
The world championship cycle was under the jurisdiction of FIDE, the World Chess Federation. The cycle began with the zonal tournaments of 1960. FIDE now had more than fifty member Federations that were divided into nine zones: 1–West Europe, 2–Central Europe, 3–Eastern Europe, 4–USSR, 5–USA, 6–Canada, 7–Central America, 8–South America, and 9–Asia.[1] The top finishers in the zonals met at the Interzonal, with the top six players from the Interzonal qualifying for the Candidates' Tournament. They were then joined by Mikhail Tal (loser of the last World Championship match in 1961) and Paul Keres (runner-up at the 1959 Candidates) in the eight player Candidates Tournament in 1962. The winner of the Candidates would qualify to play a World Championship match against Mikhail Botvinnik in 1963.
[edit] Interzonal
The fifth Interzonal was planned for the Netherlands in 1961, but the sponsors could not guarantee that visas could be obtained for all participants. Subsequently efforts were made to play in Moscow, and then Madrid, but these arrangements also fell through. Finally the Interzonal was played in Stockholm in early 1962, under the direct sponsorship of FIDE.[1][2] The 23-player single round-robin tournament was won convincingly by 18 year old American Bobby Fischer with 17.5 points out of 22 (13 wins, 9 draws, no losses), a margin of 2.5 points. The next four places were taken by the Soviets Tigran Petrosian and Efim Geller with 15 points, and the Soviet Victor Korchnoi and Miroslav Filip of Czechoslovakia with 14 points.
For the sixth and final qualifying spot there was a three-way tie at 13.5 points. Leonid Stein (USSR), Pal Benko (USA), and Svetozar Gligorić (Yugoslavia) played a double round-robin playoff tournament which was dominated by Stein and Benko. Although Stein won, a rule adopted in 1959 allowed no more than three players from a single Federation to qualify from the Interzonal. Stein could play in the Candidates only if one of the other qualifiers from the USSR (Geller, Petrosian, or Korchnoi) was unable to participate.[1][3] With Stein excluded, Benko took the final place in the Candidates Tournament.
[edit] Crosstables
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Leonid Stein (USSR) | x x | ½ ½ | 1 1 | 3.0/4 |
| 2 | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Pal Benko (USA) | ½ ½ | x x | 1 – | 2.0/3 |
| 3 | Image:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Svetozar Gligorić (YUG) | 0 0 | 0 – | x x | 0.0/3 |
[edit] Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament was played as an eight player, quadruple round-robin tournament in Curaçao in 1962.[4] The field was largely the same as at the 1959 Candidates Tournament in Yugoslavia, with Mikhail Tal (USSR), Paul Keres (USSR), Tigran Petrosian (USSR), Bobby Fischer (USA), and Pal Benko (USA) as the five returning players. The three new players were Yefim Geller (USSR), Miroslav Filip (Czechoslovakia), and Viktor Korchnoi (USSR), in place of former champion Vassily Smyslov (USSR), Svetozar Gligorić (Yugoslavia), and Friðrik Ólafsson (Iceland). Only Korchnoi was really new to this level of competition, as Geller was a candidate at Zurich in 1953 and Filip at Amsterdam in 1956.
[edit] Pre-tournament predictions
The favourites were Tal (the recently dethroned World Champion), and Fischer, based on his powerful Interzonal showing.[5] Petrosian had been a title contender since 1953, but he already had a reputation of drawing many games, and it was unclear if his tendency to split points might prevent him from reaching the championship. At age 46, Keres was the oldest player in the tournament. Although a veteran of championship play since the 1938 AVRO tournament, it was thought by some that this might be his last shot at the championship title. (Ultimately Keres had another opportunity for the title in 1965, but again came up just short.) Although Korchnoi had already established a dominant career record over Tal (five wins, no losses at the time of the tournament), both he and Geller had very imaginative and adventurous styles, which often got them into trouble and led to erratic results. Filip had been ill and had not played many major events between 1958 and 1960, and had the reputation as a solid player who scored many draws. Benko was not a full-time professional chess player (he worked as an investment broker in New York) which limited his opportunities to play against grandmaster-strength opposition. In addition, his tendency to get into time trouble also weighed against his chances.[6]
[edit] Results
However both Tal and Fischer lost their first two games, indicating an unpredictable tournament could be unfolding. Tal was in bad health, and would actually withdraw after the third of the four cycles.
Korchnoi took the early lead, scoring 5/7 in the first cycle, ahead of Petrosian, Geller and Keres on 4.[7] But in the twelfth round, Korchnoi blundered against Fischer in a winning position and lost, and soon after lost four games in a row. The tournament became a three way race between Petrosian, Keres and Geller.[8]. With two rounds to go Petrosian and Keres shared the lead, but Keres unexpectedly lost in the penultimate round to Benko. Petrosian, who drew his last five games of the tournament, emerged as the winner.
Petrosian scored 17.5 points out of 27, half a point ahead of Keres and Geller. Fischer finished fourth on 14 points, followed by Korchnoi (13.5), Benko (12), Filip (7) and Tal (7 from 21 games played). Since the championship rules provided an automatic berth into the next cycle's Candidates Tournament to the Candidates runner-up, Keres and Geller played a match to determine second place. Keres won the 1962 Moscow playoff match 4.5–3.5 to earn a seed into the 1965 Candidates Tournament.
| PET | KER | GEL | FIS | KOR | BEN | TAL | FIL | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tigran Petrosian (USSR) | **** | ½ ½ ½ ½ | ½ ½ ½ ½ | ½ 1 ½ ½ | ½ ½ 1 1 | ½ ½ 1 ½ | 1 1 ½ − | ½ 1 1 ½ | 17.5 |
| 2 | Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Paul Keres (USSR) | ½ ½ ½ ½ | **** | ½ ½ ½ ½ | 0 ½ 1 ½ | ½ ½ 1 ½ | 1 1 1 0 | 1 ½ 1 − | ½ 1 1 ½ | 17.0 |
| 3 | Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Efim Geller (USSR) | ½ ½ ½ ½ | ½ ½ ½ ½ | **** | 1 1 ½ 0 | ½ ½ 1 ½ | ½ ½ ½ 1 | ½ 1 1 − | ½ 1 1 ½ | 17.0 |
| 4 | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Fischer (USA) | ½ 0 ½ ½ | 1 ½ 0 ½ | 0 0 ½ 1 | **** | 0 1 ½ 1 | 0 1 ½ 1 | ½ 1 ½ − | 1 ½ 1 ½ | 14.0 |
| 5 | Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Viktor Korchnoi (USSR) | ½ ½ 0 0 | ½ ½ 0 ½ | ½ ½ 0 ½ | 1 0 1 ½ | **** | ½ ½ ½ 0 | 1 0 ½ − | 1 1 1 1 | 13.5 |
| 6 | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Pal Benko (USA) | ½ ½ 0 ½ | 0 0 0 1 | ½ ½ ½ 0 | 1 0 ½ 0 | ½ ½ ½ 1 | **** | 1 0 ½ − | 0 1 1 ½ | 12.0 |
| 7 | Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Mikhail Tal (USSR) | 0 0 ½ − | 0 ½ 0 − | ½ 0 0 − | ½ 0 ½ − | 0 1 ½ − | 0 1 ½ − | **** | 1 0 ½ − | 7.0 |
| 8 | Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg Miroslav Filip (TCH) | ½ 0 0 ½ | ½ 0 0 ½ | ½ 0 0 ½ | 0 ½ 0 ½ | 0 0 0 0 | 1 0 0 ½ | 0 1 ½ − | **** | 7.0 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Efim Geller (USSR) | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 3.5 |
| Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Paul Keres (USSR) | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 4.5 |
[edit] Allegations of collusion
What makes this tournament famous and often-discussed is the allegations of Soviet collusion. The three first place-getters, Petrosian, Geller and Keres, drew all twelve of their games between each other.
Soon after the tournament, Fischer publicly alleged that the Soviets had colluded to prevent any non-Soviet - specifically him - from winning. His allegations were twofold: first, that Petrosian, Geller and Keres had pre-arranged to draw all their games; and second, that Korchnoi had been instructed to lose to them.
The first allegation, of the drawing pact, is often assumed to be correct. All of the three players involved have since died, but Yuri Averbakh, who was head of the Soviet team, virtually confirmed it in a 2002 interview,[5] saying it was a way for Petrosian, Keres and Geller to conserve their energy. Chess author Tim Krabbé claims that the theory makes little sense. Given the standings after half of the tournament had been played, Krabbé wrote, "Fischer only had a chance of still winning the tournament, if the three Soviet leaders kept playing draws against each other. And they did!"[9]
The second allegation, of Korchnoi throwing games, is more doubtful. Korchnoi defected from the USSR in 1976, and has never alleged he was forced to throw games. Korchnoi has also written on his surprise at the short draws. So apparently there was a drawing pact between Petrosian, Keres and Geller, which was unknown even to the fellow Soviet Korchnoi. The other point against the second allegation, is that Fischer was so far behind that it was unnecessary for Korchnoi to throw games in order for a Soviet player to win.
There are also allegations that, in the ultimately decisive Benko-Keres game, Petrosian and Geller (who were good friends) conspired against Keres by helping Benko. Benko has written that Petrosian and Geller offered to help analyse the adjourned position, but that he refused the offer.[10]
[edit] Response to allegations
FIDE, the world chess federation, responded to the allegations by changing the format of future Candidates' Tournaments. Beginning in the next (1966) cycle, the round-robin format was replaced by a series of elimination matches (initially best of 10 quarter-finals, best of 10 semi-finals, then a best of 12 final), to eliminate the possibility of collusion which exists in a round-robin tournament.
[edit] Botvinnik-Petrosian match
Petrosian lost the first game of the match, but recovered and won fairly comfortably, 12.5–9.5. Petrosian won five games, Botvinnik won two games, and there were fifteen draws.[11]
The championship rules were changed so that, unlike in 1957 and 1960, Botvinnik was not entitled to a rematch. Botvinnik had lost both those championships (to Vassily Smyslov and Mikhail Tal, respectively), but regained his title in the rematches in 1958 and 1961. Although the loser of the World Championship match was entitled to an automatic seed in the next Candidates Tournament, Botvinnik chose not to exercise this right and retired from championship play, although not competitive chess. Except for two brief periods, Botvinnik had been the champion since 1948. Petrosian's championship crown was next at stake in the 1966 World Championship match.
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Mikhail Botvinnik (USSR) | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 9.5 |
| Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tigran Petrosian (USSR) | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 12.5 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Harkness, Kenneth (1967), Official Chess Handbook, David McKay Company, pp. 233–235, LCCN 66-13085
- ^ 1962 Stockholm Interzonal Tournament, Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
- ^ Horowitz, Al (1973), The World Chess Championship, A History, Macmillan, p. 205, LCCN 72-80175
- ^ 1962 Curacao Candidates Tournament, Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
- ^ a b Yuri Averbakh, An Interview with History, Part 2, by Taylor Kingston, chesscafe.com, 2002
- ^ Hearst, Eliot (May 1962), Chess Life 17 (5): 94–95
- ^ Horowitz, p.208
- ^ Horowitz, p.211
- ^ Open Chess Diary 299, by Tim Krabbé, October 22, 2005.
- ^ Pal Benko My Life, Games, and Compositions, Reviewed by Nagesh Havanur
- ^ 1963 Petrosian - Botvinnik Title Match, Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
World Chess Championships | |
|---|---|
1886, 1889, 1891, 1892 (Steinitz) · 1894, 1897, 1907, 1908, 1910/I, 1910/II (Lasker) · 1921 (Capablanca) · 1927, 1929, 1934 (Alekhine)
| |
| Classical | 1993, 1995 (Kasparov) · 2000, 2004 (Kramnik) |
| FIDE | 1993, 1996, 1998 (Karpov) · 1999 (Khalifman) · 2000 (Anand) · 2002 (Ponomariov) · 2004 (Kasimdzhanov) · 2005 (Topalov) |
| Reunified | 2006 (Kramnik) · 2007 (Anand) · Planned: 2008, 2009 |
