US Championship 1974

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US Championship 1974
Compiled by Phony Benoni

The US Championship came to the City of the Big Shoulders in 1974, continuing the Any Place But New York trend which began at El Paso the previous year. The players represented the usual mix of Old Guard and Impudent Youngsters, to wit:

Pal Benko, Arthur Bisguier, Walter Browne, Kim Commons, Larry Evans, Lawrence Gilden, John Grefe, Andrew Karklins, Samuel Reshevsky, bad player ID, Anthony Saidy, Andrew Soltis, Norman Weinstein, Bernard Zuckerman

The story here was Old Six-Time, Walter Browne, winning his first US Championship in commanding fashion. He led from the start, never even sharing the top spot after the first round. The famous game Browne vs A Bisguier, 1974 in round 9 gave him a 1.5 point lead with four rounds to go, and when nobody showed an inclination to make up ground he coasted home with four draws.

Benko tied Evans him for second place by beating him in the last round. Saidy had a chance to join them, but took a short last round draw instead. That tendency was endemic throughout the tournament. While having 55% of the games winding up drawn wasn't that bad, having nearly half of the draws go only 20 moves or less shows a certain lack of enterprise. Or perhaps boredom. Some of these guys had been playing against each other in the US Championship for fifteen or twenty years. Thing was, the youngsters caught Draw Fever as well.

The Fischer boom was bringing in some new blood, but we'll close with a quick mention of the old blood of Samuel Reshevsky. Now in his mid-60s, he showed there was still a little fire in the tank. He started +1 -1 =6, then lost two in a row. Instead of limping home, he won his last three games to finish with a plus score.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 1. Browne * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 9.5 2. Benko ½ * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 8.0 3. Evans ½ 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 8.0 4. Saidy ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 7.5 5. Reshevsky 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 1 0 ½ ½ 0 1 1 7.0 6. Bisguier 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 7.0 7. Grefe 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 7.0 8. Rogoff 0 ½ 0 1 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 7.0 9. Weinstein ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ 0 0 1 6.0 10. Zuckerman ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * ½ 0 1 0 5.5 11. Soltis 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ 0 5.5 12. Commons ½ 0 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 1 1 0 * 1 0 5.0 13. Karklins ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 0 * 1 4.5 14. Gilden 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 * 3.5

There were a number of mistaken results in the database. I hope to have caught them all, but if you spot one let me know.

Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
Evans vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 64 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
N Weinstein vs Benko, 1974
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
K Commons vs A Bisguier, 1974
(C69) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, Gligoric Variation, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
J Grefe vs Browne, 1974
(B99) Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line, 41 moves, 0-1
Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
K Rogoff vs A Soltis, 1974
(E62) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
A Karklins vs L Gilden, 1974
(B15) Caro-Kann, 32 moves, 1-0
Round 1 (Saturday, July 13)
A Saidy vs Reshevsky, 1974
(A37) English, Symmetrical, 9 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2 (Sunday, July14)
B Zuckerman vs Reshevsky, 1974
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2 (Sunday, July14)
L Gilden vs A Saidy, 1974
(B57) Sicilian, 55 moves, 0-1
Round 2 (Sunday, July14)
A Soltis vs A Karklins, 1974
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2 (Sunday, July14)
Browne vs K Rogoff, 1974
(B60) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 2 (Sunday, July 14)
A Bisguier vs J Grefe, 1974
(B06) Robatsch, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 2 (Sunday, July14)
Benko vs K Commons, 1974
(E08) Catalan, Closed, 60 moves, 1-0
Round 2 (Sunday, July 14)
Evans vs N Weinstein, 1974
(A37) English, Symmetrical, 68 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3
N Weinstein vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3
K Commons vs Evans, 1974
(B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 43 moves, 0-1
Round 3
J Grefe vs Benko, 1974
(C42) Petrov Defense, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3
K Rogoff vs A Bisguier, 1974
(E08) Catalan, Closed, 77 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3
A Karklins vs Browne, 1974
(B99) Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3
A Saidy vs A Soltis, 1974
(E92) King's Indian, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 3
Reshevsky vs L Gilden, 1974
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
B Zuckerman vs L Gilden, 1974
(C19) French, Winawer, Advance, 61 moves, 0-1
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
A Soltis vs Reshevsky, 1974
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
Browne vs A Saidy, 1974
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 70 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
A Bisguier vs A Karklins, 1974
(E21) Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights, 28 moves, 1-0
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
Benko vs K Rogoff, 1974
(B30) Sicilian, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
Evans vs J Grefe, 1974
(E99) King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 4 (Wednesday, July 17)
N Weinstein vs K Commons, 1974
(B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 35 moves, 0-1
Round 5
K Commons vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(E97) King's Indian, 45 moves, 1-0
Round 5
J Grefe vs N Weinstein, 1974
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 5
K Rogoff vs Evans, 1974
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 46 moves, 0-1
Round 5
A Karklins vs Benko, 1974
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5
A Saidy vs A Bisguier, 1974
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5
Reshevsky vs Browne, 1974
(A04) Reti Opening, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 5
L Gilden vs A Soltis, 1974
(A04) Reti Opening, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 6
B Zuckerman vs A Soltis, 1974
(C42) Petrov Defense, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6
Browne vs L Gilden, 1974
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 6
A Bisguier vs Reshevsky, 1974
(A37) English, Symmetrical, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6
Benko vs A Saidy, 1974
(B57) Sicilian, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6
Evans vs A Karklins, 1974
(A17) English, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 6
N Weinstein vs K Rogoff, 1974
(C42) Petrov Defense, 11 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 6
K Commons vs J Grefe, 1974
(E97) King's Indian, 53 moves, 0-1
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
J Grefe vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 10 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
K Rogoff vs K Commons, 1974
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 42 moves, 1-0
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
A Karklins vs N Weinstein, 1974
(B83) Sicilian, 54 moves, 1-0
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
A Saidy vs Evans, 1974
(A25) English, 9 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
Reshevsky vs Benko, 1974
(A15) English, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
L Gilden vs A Bisguier, 1974
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 61 moves, 0-1
Round 7 (Monday, July 22)
A Soltis vs Browne, 1974
(B95) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6, 43 moves, 0-1
Round 8
B Zuckerman vs Browne, 1974
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8
A Bisguier vs A Soltis, 1974
(E76) King's Indian, Four Pawns Attack, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8
Benko vs L Gilden, 1974
(A04) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 8
Evans vs Reshevsky, 1974
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8
N Weinstein vs A Saidy, 1974
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 8
K Commons vs A Karklins, 1974
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 34 moves, 1-0
Round 8
J Grefe vs K Rogoff, 1974
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9
K Rogoff vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(A39) English, Symmetrical, Main line with d4, 44 moves, 1-0
Round 9
A Karklins vs J Grefe, 1974
(B58) Sicilian, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9
A Saidy vs K Commons, 1974
(E81) King's Indian, Samisch, 30 moves, 1-0
Round 9
Reshevsky vs N Weinstein, 1974
(E64) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav System, 70 moves, 0-1
Round 9
L Gilden vs Evans, 1974
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 46 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9
A Soltis vs Benko, 1974
(B06) Robatsch, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 9
Browne vs A Bisguier, 1974
(C42) Petrov Defense, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 10
B Zuckerman vs A Bisguier, 1974
(C67) Ruy Lopez, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10
Benko vs Browne, 1974
(A04) Reti Opening, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10
Evans vs A Soltis, 1974
(E81) King's Indian, Samisch, 43 moves, 1-0
Round 10
N Weinstein vs L Gilden, 1974
(C10) French, 36 moves, 1-0
Round 10
K Commons vs Reshevsky, 1974
(E95) King's Indian, Orthodox, 7...Nbd7, 8.Re1, 27 moves, 1-0
Round 10
J Grefe vs A Saidy, 1974
(B11) Caro-Kann, Two Knights, 3...Bg4, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 10
K Rogoff vs A Karklins, 1974
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11
A Karklins vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(B58) Sicilian, 32 moves, 0-1
Round 11
A Saidy vs K Rogoff, 1974
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 36 moves, 0-1
Round 11
Reshevsky vs J Grefe, 1974
(E92) King's Indian, 55 moves, 1-0
Round 11
L Gilden vs K Commons, 1974
(B56) Sicilian, 45 moves, 1-0
Round 11
A Soltis vs N Weinstein, 1974
(B56) Sicilian, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11
Browne vs Evans, 1974
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 11
A Bisguier vs Benko, 1974
(B30) Sicilian, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12
B Zuckerman vs Benko, 1974
(B62) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12
Evans vs A Bisguier, 1974
(A22) English, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12
N Weinstein vs Browne, 1974
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 12
K Commons vs A Soltis, 1974
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 39 moves, 0-1
Round 12
J Grefe vs L Gilden, 1974
(C69) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, Gligoric Variation, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 12
K Rogoff vs Reshevsky, 1974
(C69) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, Gligoric Variation, 28 moves, 0-1
Round 12
A Karklins vs A Saidy, 1974
(B60) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 36 moves, 0-1
Round 13
A Saidy vs B Zuckerman, 1974
(A14) English, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13
Reshevsky vs A Karklins, 1974
(E47) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3, 40 moves, 1-0
Round 13
L Gilden vs K Rogoff, 1974
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 42 moves, 0-1
Round 13
A Soltis vs J Grefe, 1974
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13
Browne vs K Commons, 1974
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13
A Bisguier vs N Weinstein, 1974
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 13
Benko vs Evans, 1974
(A12) English with b3, 64 moves, 1-0
91 games

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