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USSR Championship (1963) The 31st Soviet Chess Championship was held in the city of Leningrad from November 23 to December 27, 1963. Twenty of the Soviet Union's strongest masters and grandmasters competed in the round robin event, with only two notable absences: the newly crowned world champion Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian and the newly deposed Mikhail Botvinnik. As usual, the field was composed chiefly of players who had qualified from the Soviet semi-finals held earlier in the year: Viacheslav Osnos, Boris Spassky, Alexey Suetin, and Igor Bondarevsky qualified from Kharkov; Lev Polugaevsky, Iivo Nei, Arkady Novopashin, and Alexander Zakharov qualified from Moscow; Ratmir Kholmov, Leonid Stein, Eduard Gufeld, and Semyon Furman qualified from Sverdlovsk; and Aivars Gipslis, Vladimir Bagirov, David Bronstein, and Janis Klovans qualified from Alma-Ata. Four invitations were also granted to former Soviet champions: Mark Taimanov, Viktor Korchnoi (the defending titleholder), Efim Geller, and Yuri Averbakh. The evenly matched field saw a three-way tie for first by the final, which was followed by a playoff from which Leonid Stein emerged as the champion. It was the first of what would be three Soviet crowns for Stein, and signaled his arrival as one of the world's strongest players. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Pts =1 Kholmov * ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 12 =1 Spassky ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 12 =1 Stein 1 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 12 =4 Suetin 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 0 1 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 1 11½ =4 Geller ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 11½ =4 Bronstein ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 11½ =7 Gufeld ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 * ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 11 =7 Polugaevsky ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 11 9 Gipslis 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½ * 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 10½ 10 Korchnoi ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 1 ½ 1 10 11 Bagirov ½ 0 1 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 9½ =12 Nei 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 * 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 1 9 =12 Averbakh ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 9 =14 Furman ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 1 0 1 0 1 8½ =14 Taimanov 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 * 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 8½ 16 Klovans 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 1 * 1 ½ 1 0 7½ 17 Zakharov 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 * ½ 0 0 7 =18 Bondarevsky ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ * 1 ½ 6½ =18 Novopashin ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 0 1 0 * 1 6½ 20 Osnos ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 0 * 5 Playoff (in 1964): 1 Stein ** 1½ ½½ 2½ 2 Spassky 0½ ** ½1 2 3 Kholmov ½½ ½0 ** 1½ This collection would not have been possible without the work and time of <Phony Benoni>. He has my eternal gratitude. Original collection: Game Collection: USSR Championship 1963, by User: suenteus po 147.  page 1 of 8; games 1-25 of 196  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Bagirov vs A Novopashin ½-½ 41 1963 USSR Championship C50 Giuoco Piano 2. Suetin vs Bronstein 1-0 59 1963 USSR Championship B17 Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation 3. Gipslis vs Averbakh   ½-½ 33 1963 USSR Championship B77 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack 4. Korchnoi vs Stein ½-½ 41 1963 USSR Championship E83 King's Indian, Samisch 5. Polugaevsky vs A I Zakharov ½-½ 58 1963 USSR Championship E91 King's Indian 6. Geller vs Spassky ½-½ 27 1963 USSR Championship C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed 7. I Nei vs Taimanov ½-½ 45 1963 USSR Championship E92 King's Indian 8. Kholmov vs Klovans 1-0 36 1963 USSR Championship C72 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O 9. Gufeld vs V Osnos   ½-½ 34 1963 USSR Championship B63 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack 10. Furman vs Bondarevsky 1-0 52 1963 USSR Championship D42 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3 11. Bronstein vs Bagirov 0-1 46 1963 USSR Championship B03 Alekhine's Defense 12. Taimanov vs Geller 0-1 38 1963 USSR Championship D23 Queen's Gambit Accepted 13. Furman vs Gipslis   ½-½ 38 1963 USSR Championship E48 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 14. A Novopashin vs Korchnoi ½-½ 23 1963 USSR Championship B43 Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3 15. Stein vs Polugaevsky   ½-½ 29 1963 USSR Championship B42 Sicilian, Kan 16. Bondarevsky vs Spassky ½-½ 21 1963 USSR Championship D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical 17. Klovans vs Suetin   ½-½ 25 1963 USSR Championship B49 Sicilian, Taimanov Variation 18. V Osnos vs Kholmov   ½-½ 22 1963 USSR Championship E19 Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3 19. A I Zakharov vs I Nei 0-1 45 1963 USSR Championship C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed 20. Averbakh vs Gufeld   ½-½ 25 1963 USSR Championship B32 Sicilian 21. Bagirov vs Klovans ½-½ 78 1963 USSR Championship D35 Queen's Gambit Declined 22. Korchnoi vs Bronstein   ½-½ 42 1963 USSR Championship A17 English 23. Geller vs A I Zakharov   1-0 41 1963 USSR Championship D25 Queen's Gambit Accepted 24. Gipslis vs Bondarevsky   ½-½ 39 1963 USSR Championship C72 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O 25. Polugaevsky vs A Novopashin   ½-½ 42 1963 USSR Championship A09 Reti Opening  page 1 of 8; games 1-25 of 196    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing> Apr-10-16    Everett: <At Montreal 1979 Spassky was completely shut out by the other two Soviets (Karpov and Tal) by a 0-4 score !> Spassky became a French citizen in '78 Apr-10-16    Sally Simpson: Interesting Stat No.139. Players who have played in the Most USSR Championships up to 2012. Geller & Taimanov - 23 times. Bronstein, Polugaevsky, Tal - 20 times. Smyslov - 19 times. Balashov, Kholmov, Korchnoi and Petrosian - 16 times. Plenty more Russian Championship stats here: https://www.chess.com/blog/Spektrow... (this lad needs a job, a girlfriend, a hobby and a lot more fresh air.) Apr-10-16    Mr. V: <most USSR Championship up to 2012> Umm... ok then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDX... Apr-11-16    Howard: Regarding Everett's recent comment, Spassky still played under the Soviet flag until 1984. In fact, Bugojno (sp?) 1984 was his last event while representing the Soviet Union. From a personal standpoint, I still remember playing at a tournament near Milwaukee over the 4th of July weekend that year, and I overheard a couple players mention that Spassky had just played his last event while representing the Soviet Union. Chess Life also briefly mentioned that, as I recall. Apr-11-16    AylerKupp: <A.T PhoneHome> People always talk how Soviets draw against each other at international events> This is the most comprehensive study I have found that analyzes whether the Soviets colluded in tournaments: http://www.fsb.muohio.edu/moulcc/so.... It is an update of the authors' 2007 paper on the same subject. It compares Soviet player performance in both Interzonal Tournaments and USSR Championships for the period 1940 – 1978. I have my opinion but draw your own conclusions. Apr-11-16    Everett: <Howard: Regarding Everett's recent comment, Spassky still played under the Soviet flag until 1984. In fact, Bugojno (sp?) 1984 was his last event while representing the Soviet Union.> Doesn't matter. He clearly wasn't in the fold by Montreal '79. Becoming a citizen of a different country the year before would not be lost on the authorities of the motherland. Apr-11-16    perfidious: <RookFile: Shows you how ridiculously strong these events were. Korchnoi was just in the middle of the pack.> With that coming the year after he won with ease, despite the final margin of merely one-half point; he scored -1 =4 at the finish in '62. <Marmot: This does not look like one of the stronger fields for a USSR ch. Besides Botvinnik and Petrosian several other notable players were missing - Tal, Keres, Smyslov....> Botvinnik never played in a Soviet championship after 1955 and by the sixties was generally rather more selective about appearances in the tournament arena. <....Probably the prize fund was not too attractive compared to international events like the Piatigorsky.> For the elite, such events were plums; Korchnoi (according to Wade in his work on Viktor the Terrible) was invited to play in the Cup but Keres was sent in his stead. Apr-11-16    Phony Benoni: <Sally Simpson>: Just for the record, I've compiled five lists of players from the USSR Championships 1920-1991, starting here: Game Collection: USSR Championship Player Index (A-E) It's been some years since I looked at them, and links may need to be updated. Apr-11-16    Sally Simpson: Hi P.B. That lad at Chess.com whose link I posted has really gone into great detail (I said up to 2012 because that was the date of his post.) His work is truly a labour of love. (I still think he needs a girlfriend.) Thought some here maybe interested in it. Shame to see all that effort just on one site. It should be shared. Apr-12-16    Howard: As far as what country Spassky was "from" in 1979, one could always look at the Informants from back then---what country is given next to Spassky's name in the crosstables? Hint: it wasn't France---not until the mid-80's, at least. Apr-12-16    Howard: Also, try pulling up a few articles that that late Robert Byrne wrote on the 1982 interzonal in Mexico, in which Spassky took part. See what country Byrne identifies him from.... Apr-12-16    Sally Simpson: this link from the 1982 N.Y. Times http://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/17/n... Says Boris was of the Soviet Union. Boris represented France at the 1984 Olympiad so between 1982 and 1984 he switched feds. Apr-14-16    Howard: Spassky was still playing under the Soviet flag until 1984, so my point about Montreal 1979 still stands. If you want some proof, kindly look at the Informants from, say, 1982. See which country Spassky is identified as from---hint: it ain't France. Also, do a Google job and look up the late Robert Byrne's chess columns from the Mexico interzonal in 1982. See which country he identifies Spassky as being from. Case closed---Spassky played for the Soviet Union for several years even after moving to France. Apr-18-16    Everett: <Howard> case isn't closed. I hope you pretend to have no idea how humans work. Perhaps that's why you are always asking for help in various positions and no one responds to you for months. The Soviets did not care about protecting Spassky at all in these tournaments, that's the point. Spassky was on the outs since losing in 1972. Go ahead and google that. Apr-30-16    Howard: All I know is that notwithstanding the fact that Spassky moved to France in 1977, he continued to represent the Soviet Union until 1984. How the Soviets felt about his leaving his homeland, is beside the point. May-05-16    Everett: <Howard: All I know is that notwithstanding the fact that Spassky moved to France in 1977, he continued to represent the Soviet Union until 1984.< How the Soviets felt about his leaving his homeland, is beside the point.>> No, how they felt is <exactly> the point, which is why his drubbing in 1979 by Karpov and Tal means nothing regarding their supposed history of collusion. May-05-16    perfidious: <Everett> In my opinion, Spassky was never really in so far as the chess bureaucracy went, but he constituted their best hope for succeeding Petrosian and maintaining Soviet hegemony. The hammer came down hard after Spassky's loss to Lombardy in their critical game at Leningrad 1960, and who knows when he would ever have got out had he been amongst the elite? As matters went, Korchnoi felt more than one taste of bureaucratic wrath, and Kholmov's troubles with the powers that be are well known. May-05-16    Keyser Soze: <Spassky was on the outs since losing in 1972. Go ahead and google that.> Agreed. Got even worse, after 74 when Karpov beat him. Karpov became their new favorite by all means. Feb-28-18    ughaibu: <In Soviet compatriots' meetings at Hastings, pacific intentions were certainly evinced, with Korchnoi vs Karpov, 1972, being, I think, the first decisive result.> In fact the first decisive game was Botvinnik vs Balashov, 1966 Mar-01-18    morfishine: Interesting, Suetin won more games than anyone else (8) but his 4 losses left him in a tie for 4 - 6 place ***** Mar-01-18    RookFile: Yep. In a tournament like this, draws count too. Spassky always understood this, for example. Mar-01-18    morfishine: Thanks <Rookfile> and quite a few very interesting games played in this tournament, very lively indeed May-13-20    ewan14: Spassky did not always understand about draws counting too. Only this zonal tournament where Bondarevsky , and he , decided the primary aim was not to lose games ! Sep-24-21    Fanques Fair: There is an error on the tournament standings, as it tells that Spassky was undefeated, but he did lose to Stein. Sep-24-21    suenteus po 147: <Fanques Fair> Spassky lost to Stein in the '64 playoff match, which is not counted in the final standings above. search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing> 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: No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members. Nothing in violation of United States law. 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