ADaily Press Newport News, Virginia Sunday, September 16, 1962 - Page 25
International Event. The United States is participating in the Chess Olympics, which began at Varna, Bulgaria, yesterday. In a preliminary exhibition match at Warsaw, Tuesday, the U.S. trounced Poland, 3-2. The American team comprised Bobby Fischer, first board, followed by Robert Byrne, Donald Byrne, Edmar Mednis and Eliot Hearst. Losers in the match were the Byrne brothers.
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New system. The Varna competition will mark the introduction in international play of a ruling aimed at elimination of “grandmaster draws.” The plan was drawn up and decided upon at a recent meeting of the International Chess Federation at Stockholm.
According to a dispatch of United Press International, players may be declared losers if they agree to a draw before 30 moves. Exceptions, however, may be made by appropriate officials.
The procedure apparently is the result of protests in the wake of the interzonal world chess tournament at Stockholm last winter and the more recent challengers tournament in Curacao. (Chess enthusiasts and observers may recall that drawn games in these events were prevalent, smooth and short.) Informed sources said that Bobby Fischer was eager to have the draw decision passed. Whoever is responsible, the proposal should help to eliminate a sore point in grandmaster chess.
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Competition revamped. The Stockholm congress of the international federation also decided to revise procedures to obtain challengers for the world title. While zonal and interzonal tournaments will be conducted as before, an elimination setup and series of matches among various high groupings from both events will broaden the opportunities of deserving aspirants.
