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.
Kibitzing
