USSR Championship 1975

USSR Championship 1975
Compiled by Phony Benoni

The 43rd USSR Championship was held in Erevan from November 28 - December 22, 1975. It featured a powerful mixture of the generation that came up in the 1940s and 1950s with the newer kids on the block. If you're looking for details:

Lev Alburt; Yuri Balashov; Alexander Beliavsky; David Bronstein; Josif D Dorfman; Vladimir Doroshkievich; Mark Izrailovich Dvoretsky; Semyon Abramovich Furman; Efim Geller; Boris Gulko; Janis Klovans; Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian; Lev Polugaevsky; Oleg Romanishin; Mikhail Tal; Rafael Vaganian.

As so often happened in the Soviet Chamionship, an unheralded player sprung quickly out of the gate. This time it was Boris Gulko, who soard to a full 1.5 point lead on the rest of the field with only four rounds left.

He couldn't hold it. First, a crushing loss to Polugaevsky in round 12 cut into the margin. Then, in round 14, Petrosian won a protracted queen-and-pawn ending to go up by a half-point on Gulko, Romanishin, Tal and Vaganian. Petrosian took a quick draw in the last round, and watched while the others couldn't quite pull out the full point needed to catch him.

1 Petrosian 10.0/15 * 0 1 = 1 = = = = 1 = = 1 = 1 1

2 Romanishin 9.5/15 1 * 0 = = 1 1 1 0 = = 1 = 1 0 1

3 Gulko 9.5/15 0 1 * = 0 0 1 1 = = 1 1 1 = 1 =

4 Tal 9.5/15 = = = * = = = = 0 1 1 = = 1 1 1

5 Vaganian 9.5/15 0 = 1 = * 0 0 = 1 1 1 = 1 = 1 1

6 Polugaevsky 8.5/15 = 0 1 = 1 * = 0 = 1 0 = = 1 1 =

7 Geller 8.5/15 = 0 0 = 1 = * 1 = = = 1 = 1 = =

8 Balashov 8.5/15 = 0 0 = = 1 0 * 1 = = = 1 1 1 =

9 Bronstein 7.5/15 = 1 = 1 0 = = 0 * 1 = = 0 0 = 1

10 Beliavsky 7.5/15 0 = = 0 0 0 = = 0 * = 1 1 1 1 1

11 Dvoretsky 6.5/15 = = 0 0 0 1 = = = = * = 0 = = 1

12 Alburt 6.0/15 = 0 0 = = = 0 = = 0 = * 1 = = =

13 Dorfman 5.5/15 0 = 0 = 0 = = 0 1 0 1 0 * 1 0 =

14 Furman 5.0/15 = 0 = 0 = 0 0 0 1 0 = = 0 * = 1

15 Doroshkievich 4.5/15 0 1 0 0 0 0 = 0 = 0 = = 1 = * 0

16 Klovans 4.0/15 0 0 = 0 0 = = = 0 0 0 = = 0 1 *

Petrosian's play was so impressive that his only loss won Romanishin a prize for "Clever combinational play" (Romanishin vs Petrosian, 1975). Seriously, it was well deserving of the honor.

Round 1, Game #1
Vaganian vs Beliavsky, 1975
(A48) King's Indian, 39 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #2
Romanishin vs Tal, 1975
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1, Game #3
Balashov vs Dorfman, 1975
(B62) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #4
M Dvoretsky vs J Klovans, 1975
(C26) Vienna, 30 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #5
Polugaevsky vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 27 moves, 1-0
Round 1, Game #6
Bronstein vs Geller, 1975
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1, Game #7
Petrosian vs Furman, 1975
(A04) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1, Game #8
Gulko vs Alburt, 1975
(A14) English, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 2, Game #9
Beliavsky vs Alburt, 1975
(B05) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 20 moves, 1-0
Round 2, Game #10
Furman vs Gulko, 1975
(D87) Grunfeld, Exchange, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #11
Geller vs Petrosian, 1975
(D55) Queen's Gambit Declined, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #12
Doroshkievich vs Bronstein, 1975
(A84) Dutch, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #13 [Year is incorrect]
J Klovans vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #14
Dorfman vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(A15) English, 63 moves, 1-0
Round 2, Game #15
Tal vs Balashov, 1975
(A17) English, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2, Game #16
Vaganian vs Romanishin, 1975
(A17) English, 80 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #17
Romanishin vs Beliavsky, 1975
(B40) Sicilian, 79 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #18
Balashov vs Vaganian, 1975
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #19
M Dvoretsky vs Tal, 1975
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 41 moves, 0-1
Round 3, Game #20
Polugaevsky vs Dorfman, 1975
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3, Game #21
Bronstein vs J Klovans, 1975
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #22
Petrosian vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(A49) King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4, 42 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #23
Gulko vs Geller, 1975
(D04) Queen's Pawn Game, 33 moves, 1-0
Round 3, Game #24
Alburt vs Furman, 1975
(A32) English, Symmetrical Variation, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #25
Beliavsky vs Furman, 1975
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 84 moves, 1-0
Round 4, Game #26
Geller vs Alburt, 1975
(B04) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 4, Game #27
Doroshkievich vs Gulko, 1975
(D90) Grunfeld, 27 moves, 0-1
Round 4, Game #28
J Klovans vs Petrosian, 1975
(C11) French, 60 moves, 0-1
Round 4, Game #29
Dorfman vs Bronstein, 1975
(A21) English, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 4, Game #30
Tal vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(A17) English, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4, Game #31
Vaganian vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(A13) English, 31 moves, 1-0
Round 4, Game #32
Romanishin vs Balashov, 1975
(B80) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 36 moves, 1-0
Round 5, Game #33
Balashov vs Beliavsky, 1975
(A48) King's Indian, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #34
M Dvoretsky vs Romanishin, 1975
(B27) Sicilian, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #35
Polugaevsky vs Vaganian, 1975
(A05) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 5, Game #36
Bronstein vs Tal, 1975
(B44) Sicilian, 121 moves, 1-0
Round 5, Game #37
Petrosian vs Dorfman, 1975
(A13) English, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 5, Game #38
Gulko vs J Klovans, 1975
(A15) English, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #39
Alburt vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5, Game #40
Furman vs Geller, 1975
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 6, Game #41
Beliavsky vs Geller, 1975
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #42
Doroshkievich vs Furman, 1975
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #43
J Klovans vs Alburt, 1975
(B04) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #44
Dorfman vs Gulko, 1975
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 38 moves, 0-1
Round 6, Game #45
Tal vs Petrosian, 1975
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6, Game #46
Vaganian vs Bronstein, 1975
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 51 moves, 1-0
Round 6, Game #47
Romanishin vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(A13) English, 36 moves, 1-0
Round 6, Game #48
Balashov vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(B33) Sicilian, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #49
M Dvoretsky vs Beliavsky, 1975
(A38) English, Symmetrical, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #50
Polugaevsky vs Balashov, 1975
(A17) English, 60 moves, 0-1
Round 7, Game #51
Bronstein vs Romanishin, 1975
(B27) Sicilian, 54 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #52
Petrosian vs Vaganian, 1975
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 24 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #53
Gulko vs Tal, 1975
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7, Game #54
Alburt vs Dorfman, 1975
(B14) Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #55
Furman vs J Klovans, 1975
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 7, Game #56
Geller vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(C04) French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8, Game #57
Beliavsky vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(C04) French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line, 37 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #58 [Year is incorrect]
J Klovans vs Geller, 1975
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 73 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8, Game #59
Dorfman vs Furman, 1975
(B40) Sicilian, 60 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #60
Tal vs Alburt, 1975
(A14) English, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8, Game #61
Vaganian vs Gulko, 1975
(A12) English with b3, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #62 [Prize for "clever combinational play"]
Romanishin vs Petrosian, 1975
(A17) English, 30 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #63
Balashov vs Bronstein, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 33 moves, 1-0
Round 8, Game #64
M Dvoretsky vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(B40) Sicilian, 37 moves, 1-0
Round 9, Game #65
Polugaevsky vs Beliavsky, 1975
(B36) Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, 52 moves, 1-0
Round 9, Game #66
Bronstein vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(B31) Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #67
Petrosian vs Balashov, 1975
(A17) English, 78 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #68
Gulko vs Romanishin, 1975
(C67) Ruy Lopez, 38 moves, 1-0
Round 9, Game #69
Alburt vs Vaganian, 1975
(A15) English, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #70
Furman vs Tal, 1975
(A31) English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation, 46 moves, 0-1
Round 9, Game #71
Geller vs Dorfman, 1975
(A22) English, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9, Game #72
Doroshkievich vs J Klovans, 1975
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 42 moves, 0-1
Rouind 10, Game #73
Beliavsky vs J Klovans, 1975
(C74) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 82 moves, 1-0
Round 10, Game #74
Dorfman vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 97 moves, 0-1
Round 10, Game #75
Tal vs Geller, 1975
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10, Game #76
Vaganian vs Furman, 1975
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10, Game #77
Romanishin vs Alburt, 1975
(A14) English, 74 moves, 1-0
Round 10, Game #78
Balashov vs Gulko, 1975
(B60) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 25 moves, 0-1
Round 10, Game #79
M Dvoretsky vs Petrosian, 1975
(A18) English, Mikenas-Carls, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10, Game #80
Polugaevsky vs Bronstein, 1975
(E15) Queen's Indian, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Game #81
Bronstein vs Beliavsky, 1975
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 48 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #82
Petrosian vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Game #83
Gulko vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 37 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #84
Alburt vs Balashov, 1975
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11, Game #85
Furman vs Romanishin, 1975
(E13) Queen's Indian, 4.Nc3, Main line, 62 moves, 0-1
Round 11, Game #86
Geller vs Vaganian, 1975
(C04) French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line, 26 moves, 1-0
Round 11, Game #87
Doroshkievich vs Tal, 1975
(E77) King's Indian, 28 moves, 0-1
Round 11, Game #88
J Klovans vs Dorfman, 1975
(B32) Sicilian, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #89
Beliavsky vs Dorfman, 1975
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 42 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #90
Tal vs J Klovans, 1975
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #91
Vaganian vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(E97) King's Indian, 27 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #92
Romanishin vs Geller, 1975
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 39 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #93
Balashov vs Furman, 1975
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 48 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #94
M Dvoretsky vs Alburt, 1975
(B03) Alekhine's Defense, 39 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #95
Polugaevsky vs Gulko, 1975
(A17) English, 28 moves, 1-0
Round 12, Game #96
Bronstein vs Petrosian, 1975
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #97
Petrosian vs Beliavsky, 1975
(B36) Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, 42 moves, 1-0
Round 13, Game #98
Gulko vs Bronstein, 1975
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12, Game #99
Alburt vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #100
Furman vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(A42) Modern Defense, Averbakh System, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13, Game #101
Geller vs Balashov, 1975
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 13, Game #102
Doroshkievich vs Romanishin, 1975
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 52 moves, 1-0
Round 13, Game #103
J Klovans vs Vaganian, 1975
(C19) French, Winawer, Advance, 45 moves, 0-1
Round 13, Game #104
Dorfman vs Tal, 1975
(A13) English, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #105
Beliavsky vs Tal, 1975
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 34 moves, 0-1
Round 14, Game #106
Vaganian vs Dorfman, 1975
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 37 moves, 1-0
Round 14, Game #107
Romanishin vs J Klovans, 1975
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 48 moves, 1-0
Round 14, Game #108
Balashov vs Doroshkievich, 1975
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 22 moves, 1-0
Round 14, Game #109
M Dvoretsky vs Geller, 1975
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #110
Polugaevsky vs Furman, 1975
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 59 moves, 1-0
Round 14, Game #111
Bronstein vs Alburt, 1975
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 75 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 14, Game #112
Petrosian vs Gulko, 1975
(A17) English, 95 moves, 1-0
Round 15, Game #113
Gulko vs Beliavsky, 1975
(D83) Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit, 59 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #114
Alburt vs Petrosian, 1975
(D26) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #115
Furman vs Bronstein, 1975
(D48) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 44 moves, 1-0
Round 15, Game #116
Geller vs Polugaevsky, 1975
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #117
Doroshkievich vs M Dvoretsky, 1975
(E62) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #118
J Klovans vs Balashov, 1975
(C45) Scotch Game, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #119
Dorfman vs Romanishin, 1975
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 15, Game #120
Tal vs Vaganian, 1975
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 72 moves, 1/2-1/2

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