Nanaimo Daily News Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, June 28, 1962 - Page 13
Russians Keep Monopoly On Chess Championships 28 Jun 1962, Thu Nanaimo Daily News (Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com
Russians Keep Monopoly On Chess Championships
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles (AP)—Two Moscow neighbors will play next spring for the world chess title, in their home town.
A title series between Tigran Petrosian and champion Mikhail Botvinnik was set up Wednesday, as a result of the candidates tournament held here the last month. Petrosian, a 33-year-old journalist, did not lose a game in the tournament.
Playing cautious chess, he drew 19 games and won eight. he was the only undefeated player in the field of the chess masters of the world.
Petrosian was assured of victory, although a few adjourned games remain to be played to complete the competition, when his fellow Russian, Pal Keres, drew with Bobby Fischer of New York Tuesday night. Keres, who is 48 and has been trying to win a challenger's tournament for a quarter of a century, was the only player left with a chance to overtake Petrosian.
Analyzes Match
Petrosian, who is a newspaperman when he isn't playing tournament chess, spent much of the time in the press room during the tournament, and he was there analyzing the Fischer-Keres match.
After he was assured of victory, Petrosian said, “This was the hardest tournament I ever played in and I attribute victory to the fact that I am 15 years younger than Keres.”
Asked about his chances against Botvinnik, he said:
“It's a funny thing, we both live in the same district of the same city but we have very rarely played together. I last played him seven years ago and I think he plays better than ever now.”
