USSR First League, Ashkhabad, 1978

USSR First League, Ashkhabad, 1978
Compiled by Phony Benoni

The 46th USSR Championship (1978) was held in three stages. First was a qualifying tournament ("Otborochnii") held in Daugavplis, Latvia, in which 64 players contested a 13-round Swiss. The winner on tiebreak, who immediately advanced to the Top League, was 15-year-old Gary Kasparov, already touted by some as the next Karpov. His co-winner, Igor Ivanov, and the next six top finishers went on the the First League in Ashkhabad, which served as a a semi-final for the Top League.

This collection will cover the First League; for the Top League held in Tbilisi, see Game Collection: USSR Championship 1978.

The participants were:

Lev Alburt, Alexander Beliavsky, Lev Gutman, Igor Vasilievich Ivanov, bad chessgames.com link / Amanmurad Kakageldyev, Albert Z Kapengut, Alexander Kochyev, Viktor Kupreichik, Sergey Makarichev, Adrian Mikhalchishin, Yuri Razuvaev, Vladimir A Savon, Evgeni Ellinovich Sveshnikov, Gennadi Timoshchenko, Vitaly Tseshkovsky, Vladimir Borisovich Tukmakov, Rafael Vaganian, Artur Yusupov.

Of these, Vaganian was withdrawn after round 6 to bolster a Soviet Olympiad team weakened by the absence of Karpov and his friends, who were hypnotising the crowds in Baguio City. His games are given in the collection, but did not count in the final results.

And, speaking of the final results:

                 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1  Tseshkovsky   X = = 1 = 1 1 = = 1 1 = = 1 0 = = 10.5
2  Tukmakov      = X = = 1 = = = 1 = = 1 1 = 1 = = 10.5
3  Mikhalchishin = = X = = = = = = = = 1 1 1 0 1 1 10.0
4  Beliavsky     0 = = X = = 1 1 = = = 1 = 0 1 1 1 10.0
5  Makarichev    = 0 = = X = = = = = 1 = 1 = = = 1  9.0
6  Timoshchenko  0 = = = = X = 0 1 = = 1 = 1 = = 1  9.0
7  Razuvaev      0 = = 0 = = X = = 1 = 1 = = 1 = 1  9.0
8  Yusupov       = = = 0 = 1 = X = 1 = 0 = 0 1 = =  8.0
9  Kochyev       = 0 = = = 0 = = X 0 1 1 1 0 = = 1  8.0
10 Sveshnikov    0 = = = = = 0 0 1 X = 0 = 1 1 = 1  8.0
11 Savon         0 = = = 0 = = = 0 = X 1 = 1 = = =  7.5
12 Kupreichik    = 0 0 0 = 0 0 1 0 1 0 X 1 = 1 = 1  7.0
13 Alburt        = 0 0 = 0 = = = 0 = = 0 X 1 1 1 0  6.5
14 Gutman        0 = 0 1 = 0 = 1 1 0 0 = 0 X 0 1 0  6.0
15 Ivanov        1 0 1 0 = = 0 0 = 0 = 0 0 1 X = =  6.0
16 Kapengut      = = 0 0 = = = = = = = = 0 0 = X 0  5.5
17 Kakageldyev   = = 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 = 0 1 1 = 1 X  5.5
   Vaganian            ½   ½           ½   1     ½ *Cancelled*

The original plan was for the top six finishers to advance to the Top League. However, the top seven plus Sveshnikov went on. I have no idea of how Sveshnikov was selected over the other 8-pointers; the table above used Sonnenborg-Berger to break ties.

Source: 46th USSR Chess Championship, 1978 / R.D. Keene, J.D.M. Nunn, R.G. Wade. London : W.R. Bonds, 1979.

Round 1, Game #1
Beliavsky vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1, Game #2
Kupreichik vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 29 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #3
Savon vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(D93) Grunfeld, with Bf4 & e3, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1, Game #4
Mikhalchishin vs Alburt, 1978
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 44 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #5 (Annulled)
Vaganian vs L Gutman, 1978
(A15) English, 49 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #6
Razuvaev vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(A60) Benoni Defense, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 1, Game #7
V Tukmakov vs A Kochyev, 1978
(E18) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3, 25 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #8
Igor Ivanov vs A Kapengut, 1978
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 37 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1, Game #9
Yusupov vs S Makarichev, 1978
(A14) English, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #10
Sveshnikov vs S Makarichev, 1978
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #11
A Kapengut vs Yusupov, 1978
(B33) Sicilian, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #12
A Kochyev vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(A13) English, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #13
Tseshkovsky vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #14
L Gutman vs Razuvaev, 1978
(E63) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Panno Variation, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #15
G Timoshchenko vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(B13) Caro-Kann, Exchange, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #16
A Kakageldyev vs Savon, 1978
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #17
Beliavsky vs Kupreichik, 1978
(B77) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #18
Kupreichik vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(B30) Sicilian, 23 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #19
Savon vs Beliavsky, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #20
Mikhalchishin vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 30 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #21
Vaganian vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(D03) Torre Attack (Tartakower Variation), 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #22
Razuvaev vs Alburt, 1978
(B05) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #23
V Tukmakov vs L Gutman, 1978
(A57) Benko Gambit, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #24
Igor Ivanov vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(A37) English, Symmetrical, 57 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #25
Yusupov vs A Kochyev, 1978
(E45) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #26
S Makarichev vs A Kapengut, 1978
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #27
Sveshnikov vs A Kapengut, 1978
(A22) English, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #28
A Kochyev vs S Makarichev, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #29
Tseshkovsky vs Yusupov, 1978
(B33) Sicilian, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #30
L Gutman vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 36 moves, 0-1
Round 4, Game #31
Alburt vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(A71) Benoni, Classical, 8.Bg5, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 4, Game #32
G Timoshchenko vs Razuvaev, 1978
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #33
A Kakageldyev vs Vaganian, 1978
(D92) Grunfeld, 5.Bf4, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #34
Beliavsky vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(C67) Ruy Lopez, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #35
Kupreichik vs Savon, 1978
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 57 moves, 0-1
Round 5, Game #36
Savon vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(B44) Sicilian, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #37
Mikhalchishin vs Kupreichik, 1978
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 48 moves, 1-0
Round 5, Game #38 (Annulled)
Vaganian vs Beliavsky, 1978
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #39
Razuvaev vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 60 moves, 1-0
Round 5, Game #40
V Tukmakov vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(D76) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.cd Nxd5, 7.O-O Nb6, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #41
Igor Ivanov vs Alburt, 1978
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 34 moves, 0-1
Round 5, Game #42
Yusupov vs L Gutman, 1978
(A16) English, 56 moves, 0-1
Round 5, Game #43
S Makarichev vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(B06) Robatsch, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #44
A Kapengut vs A Kochyev, 1978
(C42) Petrov Defense, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #45
Sveshnikov vs A Kochyev, 1978
(C42) Petrov Defense, 33 moves, 1-0
Round 6, Game #46
Tseshkovsky vs A Kapengut, 1978
(C03) French, Tarrasch, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #47
L Gutman vs S Makarichev, 1978
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #48
Alburt vs Yusupov, 1978
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #49
G Timoshchenko vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(B32) Sicilian, 70 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #50
A Kakageldyev vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(D92) Grunfeld, 5.Bf4, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #51
Beliavsky vs Razuvaev, 1978
(E15) Queen's Indian, 36 moves, 1-0
Round 6, Game #52 (Annulled)
Kupreichik vs Vaganian, 1978
(C01) French, Exchange, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #53
Savon vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(D25) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #54
Razuvaev vs Kupreichik, 1978
(D10) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #55
Mikhalchishin vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 61 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #56
V Tukmakov vs Beliavsky, 1978
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #57
Igor Ivanov vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(B04) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 88 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #58
Yusupov vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 42 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #59
S Makarichev vs Alburt, 1978
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 27 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #60
A Kapengut vs L Gutman, 1978
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 75 moves, 0-1
Round 7, Game #61
A Kochyev vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(A04) Reti Opening, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8, Game #62
Sveshnikov vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(B06) Robatsch, 76 moves, 0-1
Round 8, Game #63
L Gutman vs A Kochyev, 1978
(E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #64
Alburt vs A Kapengut, 1978
(A28) English, 63 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #65
G Timoshchenko vs S Makarichev, 1978
(B66) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8, Game #66
A Kakageldyev vs Yusupov, 1978
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8, Game #67
Beliavsky vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #68
Kupreichik vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 38 moves, 0-1
Round 8, Game #69
Savon vs Razuvaev, 1978
(A36) English, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #70
Razuvaev vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(D87) Grunfeld, Exchange, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #71
V Tukmakov vs Savon, 1978
(A56) Benoni Defense, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #72
Igor Ivanov vs Kupreichik, 1978
(A21) English, 59 moves, 0-1
Round 9, Game #73
Yusupov vs Beliavsky, 1978
(A13) English, 40 moves, 0-1
Round 9, Game #74
S Makarichev vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(A16) English, 24 moves, 1-0
Round 9, Game #75
A Kapengut vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(B33) Sicilian, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #76
A Kochyev vs Alburt, 1978
(A43) Old Benoni, 49 moves, 0-1
Round 9, Game #77
Tseshkovsky vs L Gutman, 1978
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 31 moves, 1-0
Round 10, Game #78
Sveshnikov vs L Gutman, 1978
(D77) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O, 39 moves, 1-0
Round 10, Game #79
Alburt vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 68 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10, Game #80
G Timoshchenko vs A Kochyev, 1978
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 54 moves, 1-0
Round 10, Game #81
A Kakageldyev vs A Kapengut, 1978
(E70) King's Indian, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 10, Game #82
Beliavsky vs S Makarichev, 1978
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10, Game #83
Kupreichik vs Yusupov, 1978
(C02) French, Advance, 37 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #84
Sveshnikov vs Alburt, 1978
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10, Game #85
Mikhalchishin vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Game #86
Razuvaev vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #87
Igor Ivanov vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 69 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #88
Yusupov vs Savon, 1978
(A48) King's Indian, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Game #89
S Makarichev vs Kupreichik, 1978
(B50) Sicilian, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Game #90
A Kapengut vs Beliavsky, 1978
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 0-1
Round 11, Game #91
A Kochyev vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #92
Tseshkovsky vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(B45) Sicilian, Taimanov, 23 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #93
L Gutman vs Alburt, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 66 moves, 0-1
Round 10, Game #94
Savon vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #95
G Timoshchenko vs L Gutman, 1978
(D77) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O, 48 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #96
A Kakageldyev vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(A64) Benoni, Fianchetto, 11...Re8, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #97
Beliavsky vs A Kochyev, 1978
(E70) King's Indian, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #98
Kupreichik vs A Kapengut, 1978
(C05) French, Tarrasch, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #99
Savon vs S Makarichev, 1978
(E18) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3, 40 moves, 0-1
Round 12, Game #100
Mikhalchishin vs Yusupov, 1978
(D53) Queen's Gambit Declined, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #101
Igor Ivanov vs Razuvaev, 1978
(A25) English, 55 moves, 0-1
Round 13, Game #102
V Tukmakov vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(B30) Sicilian, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #103
Razuvaev vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #104
S Makarichev vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(B10) Caro-Kann, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #105
A Kapengut vs Savon, 1978
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #106
A Kochyev vs Kupreichik, 1978
(A09) Reti Opening, 68 moves, 1-0
Round 13, Game #107
Tseshkovsky vs Beliavsky, 1978
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 53 moves, 1-0
Round 13, Game #108
L Gutman vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(A06) Reti Opening, 45 moves, 0-1
Round 13, Game #109
Alburt vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #110
Sveshnikov vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(B33) Sicilian, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #111
A Kakageldyev vs Alburt, 1978
(A58) Benko Gambit, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 14, Game #112
Beliavsky vs L Gutman, 1978
(D83) Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit, 29 moves, 0-1
Round 14, Game #113
Kupreichik vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(C47) Four Knights, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #114
Savon vs A Kochyev, 1978
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 40 moves, 0-1
Round 14, Game #115
Mikhalchishin vs A Kapengut, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 61 moves, 1-0
Round 14, Game #116
Razuvaev vs Yusupov, 1978
(D55) Queen's Gambit Declined, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #117
V Tukmakov vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 36 moves, 1-0
Round 15, Game #118
Igor Ivanov vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(D42) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3, 77 moves, 0-1
Round 15, Game #119
Yusupov vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(A48) King's Indian, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #120
S Makarichev vs Razuvaev, 1978
(B33) Sicilian, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #121
A Kochyev vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(B33) Sicilian, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #122
Tseshkovsky vs Savon, 1978
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 57 moves, 1-0
Round 15, Game #123
L Gutman vs Kupreichik, 1978
(A21) English, 87 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #124
Alburt vs Beliavsky, 1978
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #125
G Timoshchenko vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 48 moves, 1-0
Round 16, Game #126
Sveshnikov vs A Kakageldyev, 1978
(B14) Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack, 56 moves, 1-0
Round 16, Game #127
Beliavsky vs G Timoshchenko, 1978
(D83) Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 16, Game #128
Kupreichik vs Alburt, 1978
(B03) Alekhine's Defense, 50 moves, 1-0
Round 16, Game #129
Savon vs L Gutman, 1978
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 34 moves, 1-0
Round 16, Game #130
Mikhalchishin vs Tseshkovsky, 1978
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 16, Game #131
Razuvaev vs A Kapengut, 1978
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 16, Game #132
V Tukmakov vs S Makarichev, 1978
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 53 moves, 1-0
Round 16, Game #133
Igor Ivanov vs Yusupov, 1978
(E29) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 50 moves, 0-1
Round 17, Game #134
Yusupov vs Sveshnikov, 1978
(B45) Sicilian, Taimanov, 27 moves, 1-0
Round 17, Game #135
S Makarichev vs Igor Ivanov, 1978
(C53) Giuoco Piano, 46 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 17, Game #136
A Kapengut vs V Tukmakov, 1978
(B56) Sicilian, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 17, Game #137
A Kochyev vs Razuvaev, 1978
(E18) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 17, Game #138
L Gutman vs Mikhalchishin, 1978
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 17, Game #139
Alburt vs Savon, 1978
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 67 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 17, Game #140
G Timoshchenko vs Kupreichik, 1978
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 17, Game #141
A Kakageldyev vs Beliavsky, 1978
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 36 moves, 0-1

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