Second International Tournament of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.Buenos Aires, Argentina, 19 July - 15 August 1970
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Fischer * 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15.0
2 Tukmakov 0 * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 11.5
3 Panno 0 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 11.0
4 Gheorghiu 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 10.5
5 Najdorf ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 0 1 10.5
6 Reshevsky ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 10.5
7 Smyslov ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 9.0
8 Mecking ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8.5
9 Quinteros 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8.5
10 Damjanovic 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 8.0
11 O'Kelly 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8.0
12 Bisguier 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 * 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 1 7.5
13 Szabo 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 1 ½ ½ 0 * ½ 1 ½ 1 1 7.5
14 Garcia 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 1 0 1 7.0
15 Rubinetti 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 0 0 * ½ ½ 1 6.5
16 Rossetto 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 ½ 5.5
17 Schweber 0 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 ½ 1 * 0 5.5
18 Agdamus 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 * 2.5
The score table does not show the preliminary difficulties. Some had to do with Fischer, undoubtedly the player most in demand today for major chess tournaments. Discussions between tournament officials and Fischer went on along with the other preparations. Before full agreement could be reached and the plane tickets actually transmitted to Fischer, the time had come for play to begin. Fischer was not there, and the first round started without him. Fischer actually arrived several hours before the third round, and that too was postponed for him.The result was a number of schedule changes, more days off for the other players, and an extension of the tournament by several days. This caused problems for some of the other players, who had commitments to meet. With good will on all sides, everything was somehow resolved.
Once he started, it was clear that Fischer would dominate the tournament. Winning his first two games already put him in first place, since no other player had done as well. Actually Fischer ran off a fantastic streak of six wins before being held to a draw by the veteran Najdorf. Then came five more wins in a row, and Fischer's score after 12 rounds was 11.5-0.5!
After a draw with Mecking and another win, Fischer had 13-1 after completing 14 rounds, and was already certain of first prize, with three rounds to go! Only then did he relax somewhat, drawing with Reshevsky and Smyslov. In the final round Fischer again went all out, scoring his 13th win of the tournament. No one else had won more than seven games. The 3.5 point margin over the field clearly established Fischer in a super class, for this event at least.
In second place was 24-year-old Tukmakov, a brilliant success for the new Russian star who had come to Buenos Aires without a title. He achieved the grandmaster norm, the only player besides Fischer to do so. However, since FIDE permits only one advance at a time, he will be awarded the title of international master. Tukmakov started badly by losing to Fischer in the opening round. That proved to be his only loss, however, and his pace was steady throughout.
Panno was third with 11 points. He lost to both players ahead of him, but otherwise won seven games and drew eight. Tied for fourth were oldtimers Najdorf and Reshevsky and former world junior champion Gheorghiu. Each achieved his score in a different fashion. Najdorf was aggressive, He forced the issue and frequently had bad games, from which he did not always emerge. As it happens, his two losses were against fellow Argentinians, Quinteros and Schweber.
Reshevsky realized that he could not engage in a hard struggle each round, and was generally ready for a short draw. He was one of only three players who emerged undefeated. Fischer and Smyslov were the others. Gheorghiu also played steadily. He lost only to Fischer, but drew too many games for a higher standing.
Smyslov had perhaps the most curious score of all for a grandmaster and former world champion. He beat Szabo and drew all his other 16 games. A number of the draws were real battles, notably against Fischer, when Smyslov displayed his great defense skill, and against Agdamus. This game was one that Smyslov tried hard to win, but to no avail.
Two of the youngest players in the tournament tied with 8.5 points. For 17-year-old Mecking this was a disappointment. He had hoped for a grandmaster score, but did not come close. Mecking was the only player to have an advantage against Fischer, but could not find a win. He earned the international master title and finished ahead of five of the grandmasters.
The next four players in the standings, O'Kelly, Damjanovic, Bisguier and Szabo, all had the grandmaster title, but hardly played up to it. Szabo particularly was hardly recognizable, with seven losses, more than anyone else except the two tailenders. Bisguier often obtained good games, but inexact play accounted for several losses.
The five Argentinians at the bottom of the list had much less experience than most of the others in major international tournaments. Among them they won only two games against those above them, Schweber vs. Najdorf and Rubinetti vs. Bisguier - Isaac Kashdan in the tournament book Buenos Aires 1970.
Compiled by User: TheFocus.
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