AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, June 24, 1962 - Page 76
Petrosian Leads In Curacao; Tal Out 24 Jun 1962, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Petrosian Leads In Curacao; Tal Out
Winning three games of his last four, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union moved into first place after 24 rounds of the Candidates' Chess Tournament in Curacao.
Petrosian is the only undefeated player of the eight grandmasters in the event. He has won nine games and drawn 15 for a score of 16½-7½. Among his victims last week were Dr. Miroslav Filip of Czechoslovakia and Victor Korchnoi of Leningrad.
Another point scored by Petrosian was against former world champion Mikhail Tal of Latvia. This, however, was a result of a forfeit, as Tal has been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to illness.
Several months ago Tal was operated on for a kidney ailment. Apparently he has been suffering from a recurrence of the difficulty for some time, which undoubtedly affected his play in the tournament. He has been taken to a hospital for observation.
All Tal's remaining games will be forfeited to his opponents in the order scheduled. As it happened he had one game to go with each, so no undue benefit or harm will ensue. It is to be hoped that he will soon recover. Tal at his best has a vivid imaginative style and a dashing brilliance in attack that has been sadly lacking in Curacao.
In second place is Paul Keres of Estonia, with 15½-7½ and an unfinished game with youthful Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn. Keres lost ground to Petrosian by drawing against Filip and Korchnoi.
Ewfim Geller slipped from a tie for first to third place, with a current score of 15-9. Geller was downed by Fischer in a vital game in the 23rd round, for his first outright loss.
Fischer advanced to fourth place, with a tally of 12½-10½, the highest position he has held since play started. He defeated Pal Benko of New York, as well as Geller, and drew with Filip.
Following are the results of last week's play, the standings after 24 rounds, and games from the event:
