The current World Series of chess promises to be the most exciting of the lot, if only because it is the first time since World War II that a non-Russian enters the struggle as one of the pre-tourney favorites. And what great stimulation for American chess it would be if Bobby could conquer at Curacao and face Botvinnik in a title match next year! Leaving sentimentality aside for the moment (if that is possible), let's take a look at the eight competitors and use our newly-polished crystal ball - out of service since we predicted another decisive victory by Tal over Botvinnik - to survey the relative chances of each of the participants.

It's usually best to work in reverse when making predictions, or so the baseball commentators declare, so let's eliminate first those who have no chance to capture the first prize at Curacao. Paul [sic] Benko, the ex-Hungarian freedom-fighter, now a combination grandmaster and investment broker from New York, cannot be considered a serious threat for the title. Benko has achieved some fine results in past years -qualifying for the Challengers' Tourney two consecutive times is a tremendous achievement in itself - but he lacks constant practice against grandmasters and has neither the time nor the inclination to keep abreast of the latest advances in chess theory, a major disadvantage when faced with seven other well-prepared opponents. In addition, Benko is saddled with a seemingly incurable compulsion to get into time pressure even in the simplest positions, and this failing cost him dearly in the last Challengers' Tourney where he finished eighth. Benko laughs about his chances at Curacao and I think he himself will be surprised if he finishes in the top six!

Because of a serious illness, Grandmaster Miroslav Filip of Czechoslovakia did not participate in very many major chess events between 1958 and 1960. He has the reputation of being an extremely solid player, very difficult to defeat, who almost always is willing to accept a quick draw against any worthy opponent. One American international master told me recently that Filip belongs to a group of grandmasters who "enjoy the life and prestige of a chess master and are content merely to demonstrate their equality, not superiority, with the best of the world; they never go all-out to win against any of their professional associates!" In view of Filip's attitude toward the game, it is hard to imagine him as a threat to the leaders in Curacao, but he'll probably draw at least two of his four games with each of the other seven competitors.

Thanks for the intersting articles, <Petrosianic> and <resignation trap> - It was very informative!

All we have left to dispose of now are five Russians and Fischer. Of the Russians, Victor Korchnoi and Ewfim Geller seem to be the two with the least chance for first prize. Both are extremely imaginative, ambitious, and adventurous - a combination of qualities which frequently leads to erratic results and has actually done so in the past for these Soviet stars. Korchnoi probably is the best player in the world in the sphere of counter attack and aggressive defense, but on occasion he has permitted much weaker opponents to obtain overwhelming attacks against him and has lost to players who have finished last in tournaments he has won. His terrific plus score against Tal (no losses, five wins) signifies that he is capable of outstripping the world's best, but over the course of 28 games in Curacao his provocative style is likely to cost him too many valuable points to win the tournament. Geller is an attacking player par excellence, who has in the past held his own with the best in the world, but his performances since 1956 have not matched those of the earlier years. Russian grandmaster Kotov, the "party spokesman" for Russian chess, has recently criticized Geller for his traits of character which make him not a serious enough student of theory; Kotov thinks that Geller should be much more demanding of himself ("Geller could learn a lesson from Alekhine who said, "With the help of chess, I developed my character.'") Apparently the Soviet chess leaders do not consider Geller a threat at Curacao, either.

Paul Keres, the veteran of the tournament at 46, is the unknown quantity - the long shot - in the tourney. In 1959 he was, in Tal's words, the moral victor of the Challengers's event, since he was acknowledged to have played the best chess and actually won three out of his four games against winner Tal. Keres first was recognized as world-championship timber back in 1938 when he won the AVRO tourney ahead of Fine (who tied with him in game points but lost the tiebreak), Botvinnik, Alekhine, Euwe, Reshevsky, Capablanca and Flohr. He has competed in every Challengers's Tourney since the new qualifying procedure was instituted in 1950 and has finished second three times and fourth once. Keres is certainly capable of winning the Curacao tourney and is the sentimental favorite of many because this may be his last chance for the world championship at the game to which he has devoted his life. However, his age may prove to be a decisive disadvantage in such a long and grueling event as the Curacao meeting.

Our crystal ball (or are we supposed to be looking through a kaleidoscope?) illuminates Petrosian, Fischer and Tal as the three main contenders for the right to challenge Botvinnik. Petrosian has been in the thick of the fight for the title since 1953, but he has always been kept back by his prudent style of play and the numerous half-points that follow his name in the scoretable. Tigran is not a tiger; V. Vassilev in "Chess Silhouettes" tries to trace the origins of Petrosian's cautious style to the privations of his early family life, the difficulties of the wartime, and the endless Georgian snows, which developed the qualities of aversion-to-risk and avoidance-of-the-unanalyzable in the young chess expert. Whether or not Vassiliev's analysis is valid, there is no doubt that Petrosian must play more aggressively than heretofore if he is to win the honor of playing Botvinnik. Since chess styles which have evolved over many years are very difficult to change, it is likely that Petrosian will draw too many games to win the Curacao tourney. If he does win the tourney, he'll be a tough man for Botvinnik to face in a match, since Petrosian's style seems ideally suited for match play.

Who do you think will win the match between Botvinnik and Fischer?

Such a strategy could not succeed in a Soviet championship, nor would have brought first place in the Interzonal tournament at Stockholm; but here in Curacao it had every chance of success. True, there was one indispensable condition - that none of the players set such a burning pace, as had Tal and Keres in the previous Candidates. [In the 1959 Candidates Tournament Tal scored 20 out of 28, Keres scored 18½.]

That left Korchnoi. This 'cavalier without fear or reproach' was capable of anything. He would no doubt take up an uncompromising position, but Petrosian was sure that Korchnoi's usually proud motto, 'All or nothing!' would prove suicidal in Curacao.

http://www.edcollins.com/chess/glos...

Source: Bill Wall, “500 Ruy Lopez Miniatures”, Chess Enterprises Inc, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, 1986

Thank you Eliot, for everything.

The infection was not cured until Hearst returned to the United States and took anti-biotics.

Thank you for your contributions to my Fischer book.

Rest in peace, sir. thank you for your help and contributions.

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