Geneva (1977) |
The event was organized by the Fédération Genevoise des Echecs, under the aegis of Trepp and Chappuis. (1) Twelve GM's and two IM's were invited, and the main attractions on the final list of participants were Viktor Korchnoi and Bent Larsen. They had promised to play immediately after their candidates matches. The Korchnoi - Petrosian Candidates Quarterfinal (1977) dragged out, however, and Korchnoi could not come. He was replaced by Liberzon. Also the Portisch - Larsen Candidates Quarterfinal (1977) dragged out, but Larsen put himself on the train (2) to Geneva and managed to reach round 3. His first two games were played later (on the rest days). The playing venue was Hôtel Méditerranée, and normal playing time was 5-10 pm (40 moves in < 5 hours). (3) Tournament category: 12 (GM norm 7 points). (4) Ties would be decided by Sonneborn-Berger (the newspaper has "Sonnenbrandberg") scores. (5) The organizers wanted to have the tournament as strong as possible, (4) and hired none other than USCF president Georges Koltanowski as chief arbiter. (6) With the venerable Harry Golombek as assistant. It is in an almost religious atmosphere that the master Golombek, tournament referee, has hit the gong which marks the beginning of two and a half weeks of exciting fight. (7) The draws were many, however (62,6%). Six of the players (Andersson, Sosonko, Torre, Liberzon, Timman and Ólafsson) came straight from Bad Lauterberg (1977) and were tired. (4) Yet Ólafsson played a 115 move game (4) in the last round against Liberzon, trying to extract more than a draw with rook and bishop versus rook. Timman, who had been second to Anatoly Karpov in Germany, was as low as tenth. Larsen too was very tired but seemed to find new energy as the tournament proceeded, to play in the adventurous style for which he is famous. (4) The closing ceremony was on 12 April, after the Ólafsson game had finished. (5) Geneva, Switzerland, 26 March - 11 April 1977 Elo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 Pts SonBe
1 GM Larsen 2615 * ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 8½
2 GM Andersson 2565 ½ * ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 8
3 IM Dzindzichashvili 2535 ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 7½ 48.25
4 GM Sosonko 2530 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 7½ 45.00
5 GM Pachman 2485 1 1 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 7 47.00
6 GM Torre 2550 1 0 0 ½ ½ * 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 7 43.00
7 GM Liberzon 2550 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 6½ 42.75
8 GM Ivkov 2510 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 6½ 41.00
9 GM Sigurjónsson 2520 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ * 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 6½ 39.50
10 GM Timman 2590 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 * ½ ½ 1 0 6 39.50
11 GM Byrne 2580 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½ 6 37.00
12 GM Ólafsson 2560 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 * 1 1 5½
13 IM Hug 2445 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 * ½ 5
14 GM Westerinen 2430 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 0 ½ * 3½ Dzindzichashvili made a GM norm. (4) Special prizes went to Larsen, for H Westerinen vs Larsen, 1977 (best game), Liberzon, for V Liberzon vs E Torre, 1977 (brilliancy prize), Andersson, for Ulf Andersson vs E Torre, 1977 (best endgame), and Westerinen, for Timman vs H Westerinen, 1977 (best attack). (4, 5) In addition to the main event there was the Geneva Junior Championship (23 March - 3 April) and an open tournament of 7 rounds (8-11 April) with about 130 players. (1, 8) Dates are from Journal de Genève at https://www.letempsarchives.ch/rech..., with a little help from Dutch newspapers at https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten. Both Koltanowski (in Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 29 May 1977 p. 120) and Golombek (in The Times 16 April 1977 p. 10) wrote a report afterwards. Notes
1) Journal de Genève, 5 March 1977, p. 20.
2) Het Vrije Volk, 28 March 1977, p. 23.
3) Journal de Genève, 24 March 1977, p. 9.
4) The Times, 16 April 1977, p. 10.
5) Journal de Genève, 13 April 1977, p. 9.
6) Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 29 May 1977, p. 120.
7) Journal de Genève, 28 March 1977, p. 7.
8) Journal de Genève, 9 April 1977, p. 9.
Original collection: Game Collection: Geneva 1977 by User: Tabanus.
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page 2 of 4; games 26-50 of 91 |
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Game |
| Result | Moves |
Year | Event/Locale | Opening |
26. Westerinen vs Pachman |
| ½-½ | 20 | 1977 | Geneva | C67 Ruy Lopez |
27. Ivkov vs Sosonko |
| ½-½ | 17 | 1977 | Geneva | E17 Queen's Indian |
28. Sosonko vs Andersson |
| ½-½ | 19 | 1977 | Geneva | E19 Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3 |
29. E Torre vs Westerinen |
 | 1-0 | 46 | 1977 | Geneva | C92 Ruy Lopez, Closed |
30. Timman vs Ivkov |
 | 1-0 | 35 | 1977 | Geneva | D34 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch |
31. G Sigurjonsson vs Larsen |
| 0-1 | 40 | 1977 | Geneva | E54 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System |
32. Dzindzichashvili vs F Olafsson |
| ½-½ | 25 | 1977 | Geneva | E95 King's Indian, Orthodox, 7...Nbd7, 8.Re1 |
33. W Hug vs R Byrne |
| ½-½ | 13 | 1977 | Geneva | B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack |
34. Pachman vs V Liberzon |
| ½-½ | 28 | 1977 | Geneva | E84 King's Indian, Samisch, Panno Main line |
35. F Olafsson vs Sosonko |
| ½-½ | 13 | 1977 | Geneva | E12 Queen's Indian |
36. R Byrne vs Dzindzichashvili |
| ½-½ | 14 | 1977 | Geneva | B52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack |
37. Westerinen vs W Hug |
| ½-½ | 11 | 1977 | Geneva | C10 French |
38. V Liberzon vs E Torre |
 | 1-0 | 45 | 1977 | Geneva | B08 Pirc, Classical |
39. G Sigurjonsson vs Pachman |
 | 1-0 | 27 | 1977 | Geneva | C72 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O |
40. Andersson vs Timman |
| ½-½ | 12 | 1977 | Geneva | A29 English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto |
41. Larsen vs Ivkov |
 | ½-½ | 71 | 1977 | Geneva | C50 Giuoco Piano |
42. Larsen vs Sosonko |
| 1-0 | 46 | 1977 | Geneva | A17 English |
43. Timman vs F Olafsson |
| ½-½ | 39 | 1977 | Geneva | A30 English, Symmetrical |
44. E Torre vs G Sigurjonsson |
 | 1-0 | 23 | 1977 | Geneva | B96 Sicilian, Najdorf |
45. Sosonko vs R Byrne |
| ½-½ | 19 | 1977 | Geneva | E06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3 |
46. W Hug vs V Liberzon |
| 1-0 | 57 | 1977 | Geneva | A07 King's Indian Attack |
47. Ivkov vs Andersson |
| ½-½ | 14 | 1977 | Geneva | E81 King's Indian, Samisch |
48. Pachman vs Larsen |
 | 1-0 | 41 | 1977 | Geneva | A56 Benoni Defense |
49. Dzindzichashvili vs Westerinen |
| ½-½ | 60 | 1977 | Geneva | E74 King's Indian, Averbakh, 6...c5 |
50. Larsen vs Andersson |
 | ½-½ | 44 | 1977 | Geneva | B21 Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4 |
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page 2 of 4; games 26-50 of 91 |
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