Geneva 1977

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Kibitzing

Geneva 1977
Compiled by Tabanus

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 train2 to Geneva and managed to reach round 3. His first two games were played later (on the rest days). The playing venue was Hotel 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 as strong a tournament as possible4 and secured none other than USCF president IA 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, Ólafsson) came straight from Bad Lauterberg (1977) and were tired.4 Yet, Ólafsson played a 115 move game4 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

Hotel Méditerranée (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), 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 approx. 130 players.1, 8

Dates are from Journal de Genève at http://www.letempsarchives.ch/Defau..., with a little help from Dutch newspapers at http://kranten.delpher.nl/. 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.

Round 1 March 26
Dzindzichashvili vs Sosonko, 1977
(D73) Neo-Grunfeld, 5.Nf3, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Hug vs Timman, 1977
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 43 moves, 0-1
V Liberzon vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(E61) King's Indian, 59 moves, 1-0
G Sigurjonsson vs F Olafsson, 1977
(C81) Ruy Lopez, Open, Howell Attack, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
E Torre vs Ivkov, 1977
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
Played March 29 as Larsen arrived late
H Westerinen vs Larsen, 1977
(B00) Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, 33 moves, 0-1
Round 2 March 27
Ulf Andersson vs E Torre, 1977
(A10) English, 46 moves, 1-0
Robert E Byrne vs G Sigurjonsson, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivkov vs Hug, 1977
(E91) King's Indian, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
F Olafsson vs Pachman, 1977
(D42) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Timman vs Dzindzichashvili, 1977
(E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, 64 moves, 0-1
H Westerinen vs V Liberzon, 1977
(B44) Sicilian, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Played April 2 as Larsen arrived late
Larsen vs Sosonko, 1977
(A17) English, 46 moves, 1-0
Round 3 March 28
Dzindzichashvili vs Ivkov, 1977
(D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Hug vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Liberzon vs Larsen, 1977
(B00) Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
G Sigurjonsson vs H Westerinen, 1977
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 22 moves, 1-0
Sosonko vs Timman, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 10 moves, 1/2-1/2
E Torre vs F Olafsson, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 41 moves, 1-0
Round 4 March 30
Ulf Andersson vs Dzindzichashvili, 1977
(A38) English, Symmetrical, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Robert E Byrne vs E Torre, 1977
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 18 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivkov vs Sosonko, 1977
(E17) Queen's Indian, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Larsen vs Timman, 1977
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 39 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Liberzon vs G Sigurjonsson, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 49 moves, 1-0
F Olafsson vs Hug, 1977
(E71) King's Indian, Makagonov System (5.h3), 40 moves, 1-0
H Westerinen vs Pachman, 1977
(C67) Ruy Lopez, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 5 March 31
Dzindzichashvili vs F Olafsson, 1977
(E95) King's Indian, Orthodox, 7...Nbd7, 8.Re1, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
Hug vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs V Liberzon, 1977
(E84) King's Indian, Samisch, Panno Main line, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
G Sigurjonsson vs Larsen, 1977
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 40 moves, 0-1
Sosonko vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Timman vs Ivkov, 1977
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 35 moves, 1-0
E Torre vs H Westerinen, 1977
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 46 moves, 1-0
Round 6 April 1
Ulf Andersson vs Timman, 1977
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
Robert E Byrne vs Dzindzichashvili, 1977
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Larsen vs Ivkov, 1977
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 71 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Liberzon vs E Torre, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 45 moves, 1-0
F Olafsson vs Sosonko, 1977
(E12) Queen's Indian, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
G Sigurjonsson vs Pachman, 1977
(C72) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O, 27 moves, 1-0
H Westerinen vs Hug, 1977
(C10) French, 11 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round 7 April 3
Dzindzichashvili vs H Westerinen, 1977
(E74) King's Indian, Averbakh, 6...c5, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2
Hug vs V Liberzon, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 57 moves, 1-0
Ivkov vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(E81) King's Indian, Samisch, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs Larsen, 1977
(A56) Benoni Defense, 41 moves, 1-0
Sosonko vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Timman vs F Olafsson, 1977
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 39 moves, 1/2-1/2
E Torre vs G Sigurjonsson, 1977
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 23 moves, 1-0
Round 8 April 4
Robert E Byrne vs Timman, 1977
(B68) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 9...Be7, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Larsen vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 44 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Liberzon vs Dzindzichashvili, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
F Olafsson vs Ivkov, 1977
(A33) English, Symmetrical, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs E Torre, 1977
(E81) King's Indian, Samisch, 71 moves, 1/2-1/2
G Sigurjonsson vs Hug, 1977
(C10) French, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
H Westerinen vs Sosonko, 1977
(A06) Reti Opening, 37 moves, 0-1
Round 9 April 5
Ulf Andersson vs F Olafsson, 1977
(A13) English, 40 moves, 1-0
Dzindzichashvili vs G Sigurjonsson, 1977
(E69) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Main line, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Hug vs Pachman, 1977
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivkov vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Sosonko vs V Liberzon, 1977
(D97) Grunfeld, Russian, 58 moves, 1-0
Timman vs H Westerinen, 1977
(E92) King's Indian, 39 moves, 0-1
E Torre vs Larsen, 1977
(B00) Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, 49 moves, 1-0
Round 10 April 7
Robert E Byrne vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 37 moves, 0-1
Larsen vs F Olafsson, 1977
(D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 47 moves, 1-0
V Liberzon vs Timman, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 62 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs Dzindzichashvili, 1977
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
G Sigurjonsson vs Sosonko, 1977
(B72) Sicilian, Dragon, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
E Torre vs Hug, 1977
(C04) French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2
H Westerinen vs Ivkov, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 33 moves, 0-1
Round 11 April 8
Ulf Andersson vs H Westerinen, 1977
(A15) English, 23 moves, 1-0
Dzindzichashvili vs E Torre, 1977
(E73) King's Indian, 32 moves, 1-0
Hug vs Larsen, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 58 moves, 0-1
Ivkov vs V Liberzon, 1977
(D57) Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Defense, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
F Olafsson vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 42 moves, 0-1
Sosonko vs Pachman, 1977
(D24) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2
Timman vs G Sigurjonsson, 1977
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 30 moves, 0-1
Round 12 April 9
Hug vs Dzindzichashvili, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
Larsen vs Robert E Byrne, 1977
(D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 36 moves, 1-0
V Liberzon vs Ulf Andersson, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pachman vs Timman, 1977
(A49) King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2
G Sigurjonsson vs Ivkov, 1977
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
E Torre vs Sosonko, 1977
(B50) Sicilian, 8 moves, 1/2-1/2
H Westerinen vs F Olafsson, 1977
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 58 moves, 0-1
Round 13 April 11
Ulf Andersson vs G Sigurjonsson, 1977
(A10) English, 11 moves, 1/2-1/2
Robert E Byrne vs H Westerinen, 1977
(C74) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
Dzindzichashvili vs Larsen, 1977
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 6 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivkov vs Pachman, 1977
(C11) French, 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
F Olafsson vs V Liberzon, 1977
(B83) Sicilian, 72 moves, 1/2-1/2
Sosonko vs Hug, 1977
(E77) King's Indian, 49 moves, 1-0
Timman vs E Torre, 1977
(A03) Bird's Opening, 10 moves, 1/2-1/2
91 games

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