chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Chessgames premium membership fee will increase to $39 per year effective June 15, 2023. Enroll Now!

🏆
TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Tallinn Tournament

Mikhail Tal12/15(+9 -0 =6)[games]
Lev Polugaevsky10.5/15(+6 -0 =9)[games]
Yuri Balashov9/15(+5 -2 =8)[games]
David Bronstein9/15(+4 -1 =10)[games]
Paul Keres9/15(+6 -3 =6)[games]
Boris Spassky9/15(+4 -1 =10)[games]
Ulf Andersson8/15(+3 -2 =10)[games]
Iivo Nei8/15(+4 -3 =8)[games]
Jan Timman7.5/15(+4 -4 =7)[games]
Helmut Pfleger6.5/15(+3 -5 =7)[games]
Josef Pribyl6.5/15(+3 -5 =7)[games]
Boris Rytov6.5/15(+3 -5 =7)[games]
Luben Popov6/15(+2 -5 =8)[games]
Hillar Karner5.5/15(+3 -7 =5)[games]
Anthony Saidy4/15(+3 -10 =2)[games]
Heikki Westerinen3/15(+1 -10 =4)[games]
*

Chessgames.com Chess Event Description
Tallinn (1973)

In the good old days, Tallinn organized a large scale international tournament every two years. The 1973 edition was the strongest to date, with two ex-world champions, former challenger Bronstein and the local ace Keres. After Sukhumi (1972), the USSR Championship (1972) and Hoogovens (1973), Mikhail Tal scored his fourth tournament victory in a row. There were hopes that he might continue in this vein and rise to challenge Robert James Fischer in 1975, but unfortunately three months later, at the Leningrad Interzonal (1973), he managed only an even score and was never in contention for a spot in the Candidates matches.

Tallinn, Soviet Union (Estonia), 20 February - 13 March 1973

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pts 1 Tal * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 12 2 Polugaevsky ½ * 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 10½ =3 Balashov ½ 0 * ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 9 =3 Bronstein ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 9 =3 Keres 0 0 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 9 =3 Spassky 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 9 =7 Andersson ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8 =7 Nei 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 8 9 Timman 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 0 * ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 0 7½ =10 Pfleger ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½ 0 1 1 6½ =10 Pribyl 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 * 1 ½ ½ 1 1 6½ =10 Rytov ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 * 1 1 ½ 1 6½ 13 Popov 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 * 1 1 ½ 6 14 Kärner 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 * 0 1 5½ 15 Saidy 0 0 1 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 1 * 1 4 16 Westerinen 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 * 3

Original collection: Game Collection: Tallinn 1973, by User: sneaky pete.

 page 1 of 5; games 1-25 of 120  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Andersson vs Polugaevsky  ½-½291973TallinnE17 Queen's Indian
2. Westerinen vs Balashov  ½-½311973TallinnB31 Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation
3. Bronstein vs A Saidy 1-0411973TallinnB10 Caro-Kann
4. L Popov vs Keres  0-1561973TallinnE15 Queen's Indian
5. Spassky vs H Karner  ½-½411973TallinnB06 Robatsch
6. H Pfleger vs Tal ½-½331973TallinnA40 Queen's Pawn Game
7. Timman vs J Pribyl 1-0711973TallinnA05 Reti Opening
8. I Nei vs B Rytov ½-½201973TallinnA47 Queen's Indian
9. Balashov vs Timman  ½-½321973TallinnE17 Queen's Indian
10. H Karner vs Bronstein 0-1441973TallinnD02 Queen's Pawn Game
11. Keres vs Westerinen 1-0301973TallinnB06 Robatsch
12. Polugaevsky vs Spassky ½-½251973TallinnA14 English
13. Tal vs A Saidy 1-0391973TallinnA30 English, Symmetrical
14. H Pfleger vs I Nei  ½-½311973TallinnD43 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
15. J Pribyl vs Andersson  0-1271973TallinnA19 English, Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian Variation
16. B Rytov vs L Popov  1-0411973TallinnE60 King's Indian Defense
17. Andersson vs Balashov  0-1431973TallinnA09 Reti Opening
18. Bronstein vs Polugaevsky  0-1431973TallinnA56 Benoni Defense
19. Timman vs Keres  ½-½221973TallinnD34 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch
20. Spassky vs J Pribyl 1-0231973TallinnB29 Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein
21. I Nei vs Tal 0-1431973TallinnE92 King's Indian
22. L Popov vs H Pfleger  ½-½191973TallinnD57 Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Defense
23. A Saidy vs H Karner 1-0281973TallinnA41 Queen's Pawn Game (with ...d6)
24. Westerinen vs B Rytov  0-1521973TallinnB18 Caro-Kann, Classical
25. Keres vs Andersson  ½-½231973TallinnE14 Queen's Indian
 page 1 of 5; games 1-25 of 120  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
May-03-14  Chessdreamer: For the record, this was Spassky's first tournament since the loss of the world title.
Jan-23-15  mcgee: Hmmm. Is that right? Chessmetrics suggests he played the West German (open) Championship in Dortmund and at Amsterdam (both in early 1973) just prior to this tournament. He didn't play any chess in 1972 other than the Fischer match though.
Jan-23-15  Chessdreamer: <mcgee> The Dortmund tournament ran from the 17th of May to the 2nd of June [Paul Keres, Photographs and games, page 433]. I have not the exact dates for Amsterdam IBM 1973, but it took place in July /August.
Jul-13-16  zanzibar: Hedrick Smith, in a very interesting Special entitled:

<Spassky's Defeat Produces Change

Sovite Chess Circles Feel Shake-up--Loser Chided

Moscow-March 31>

from NY Times 1973.04.01 reports this in the penultimate and closing paragraphs:

<Spassky was not overly impressive in his first outing since the loss to Fischer--the 16-man invitation tournament in Tallinn that ended on March 15. Spassky tied with three other players for third place, well behind the winner, Mikhail Tal, the Soviet national champion and a former world champion, who is reportedly playing in top form.

The 36-year-old Spassky looked healthy, well rested, and not particularly perturbed by the controversy over his loss. ...>

.

Sep-14-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Not a bad result for Tal. Did this tournament take place during one of his two amazing unbeaten streaks during the early 70s?
Sep-14-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <An Englishman....Did this tournament take place during one of his two amazing unbeaten streaks during the early 70s?>

Yes; the first run.

Apr-12-19  andrewjsacks: Absolutely great tournament result. Performance rating sky high.
Apr-12-19  spingo: When I look at a tournament crosstable I prefer to look at the "+" scores.

Here Tal took first place with +9.

Polu was second with +6, but no one else had better than +3.

1st and 2nd were a long way out in front - but Tal won by a distance.

A starker example in St. Petersburg (1909).

Lasker & Rubinstein were 1st= with +11, but the next best player was +4.

That is a <big> difference.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific tournament only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC