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Zuerich (1959) Ten foreign players, including eight grandmasters, were invited to compete against six top Swiss players, including national champion Keller, at Zurich's Kongreßhaus. Among the grandmasters invited were Mikhail Tal and Paul Keres from the Soviet Union, Bobby Fischer from the United States, Svetozar Gligoric from Yugoslavia, Bent Larsen from Denmark, Wolfgang Unzicker from Germany, and Fridrik Olafsson from Iceland, five of whom participated in the world candidates tournament the same year. Although Tal viewed the tournament as a lesser event, it turned out to be closer than he would have expected. Although Tal easily defeated five of the six Swiss players, Edwin Bhend dealt the future world champion a blow in the first round. After dispatching his countrymen later in the tournament, Tal felt in fine form, but then lost again, this time at the hands of Gligoric, who would trail him only by half a point in the end. This was also a significant tournament for young Fischer. His play was already improving dramatically at international events against stronger opposition, and he came close to tying Tal in the final. Alas, a loss to the Swiss champion in the penultimate round cost Fischer a spot at the top and he had to settle for equal third with Keres. Tal won clear first with 11½ points out of 15 rounds. Zurich, Switzerland, 19 May - 8 June 1959 1, 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pts 1 Tal * 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 11½ 2 Gligoric 1 * 1 0 1 ½ 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 11 =3 Fischer ½ 0 * 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 10½ =3 Keres ½ 1 0 * ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 10½ =5 Larsen 0 0 ½ ½ * ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 9½ =5 Unzicker 0 ½ 0 0 ½ * ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 9½ 7 Barcza ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ * 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 0 1 1 8½ 8 Olafsson 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 * 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 8 9 Kupper 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 1 1 * ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 7 =10 Bhend 1 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 0 ½ * 1 1 0 0 ½ ½ 6½ =10 Donner 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 * 0 1 1 1 1 6½ 12 Keller 0 0 1 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 1 * 1 1 1 0 6 =13 Walther 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 1 0 0 * 1 ½ 1 5 =13 Dückstein 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 0 ½ 1 0 0 0 * 1 1 5 =15 Blau 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 * ½ 2½ =15 Nievergelt 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 1 0 0 ½ * 2½ 1 Magyar Sakkelet, 1959, p. 106. In Gino Di Felice, Chess Results 1956-1960, p. 374. 2 Rounds and dates from Alexander Khalifman (ed.), Mikhail Tal Games 1963-1972 (Chess Stars 1995), pp. 242-251. Original collection: Game Collection: Zurich 1959, by User: suenteus po 147. Additional research by User: Chessical.  page 1 of 5; games 1-25 of 120  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. E Walther vs Fischer ½-½ 63 1959 Zuerich B99 Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line 2. M Blau vs Keres 0-1 59 1959 Zuerich C85 Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD) 3. Tal vs E Bhend 0-1 45 1959 Zuerich A43 Old Benoni 4. F Olafsson vs D Keller   1-0 51 1959 Zuerich A22 English 5. A Dueckstein vs E Nievergelt   1-0 42 1959 Zuerich B63 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack 6. Barcza vs Unzicker   ½-½ 56 1959 Zuerich A05 Reti Opening 7. J H Donner vs J Kupper   1-0 36 1959 Zuerich E54 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System 8. Gligoric vs Larsen 1-0 40 1959 Zuerich B29 Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein 9. Fischer vs E Bhend 1-0 40 1959 Zuerich B27 Sicilian 10. Keres vs A Dueckstein   ½-½ 24 1959 Zuerich C18 French, Winawer 11. J Kupper vs Tal 0-1 24 1959 Zuerich B96 Sicilian, Najdorf 12. Larsen vs J H Donner 1-0 31 1959 Zuerich A00 Uncommon Opening 13. E Nievergelt vs Barcza   0-1 38 1959 Zuerich A20 English 14. Unzicker vs Gligoric   ½-½ 22 1959 Zuerich B96 Sicilian, Najdorf 15. D Keller vs M Blau   1-0 61 1959 Zuerich C44 King's Pawn Game 16. E Walther vs F Olafsson   ½-½ 83 1959 Zuerich E46 Nimzo-Indian 17. F Olafsson vs Fischer 0-1 40 1959 Zuerich E93 King's Indian, Petrosian System 18. Barcza vs Keres ½-½ 45 1959 Zuerich A04 Reti Opening 19. Tal vs Larsen 1-0 41 1959 Zuerich B32 Sicilian 20. M Blau vs E Walther   ½-½ 41 1959 Zuerich E60 King's Indian Defense 21. A Dueckstein vs D Keller   0-1 42 1959 Zuerich C45 Scotch Game 22. Gligoric vs E Nievergelt 1-0 29 1959 Zuerich B63 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack 23. J H Donner vs Unzicker 0-1 57 1959 Zuerich E54 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System 24. E Bhend vs J Kupper   ½-½ 21 1959 Zuerich B40 Sicilian 25. Fischer vs J Kupper 1-0 25 1959 Zuerich B88 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack  page 1 of 5; games 1-25 of 120    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   Nov-10-14    zanzibar: Where are the round numbers for these games from? Nov-11-14    Phony Benoni: Round numbers confirmed. <American Chess Bulletin>, May/June 1959, p.34, 48. Nov-11-14    zanzibar: <Phony> Most excellent, many thanks. Dec-16-14    suenteus po 147: Man, Gligoric was a monster this tournament, beating both Tal and Fischer. Feb-01-16    perfidious: <Although Tal viewed the tournament as a lesser event, it turned out to be closer than he would have expected.> What is the source for this? It was not the sort of statement Tal would ever have made. 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. 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