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Monday, April 1, 2019

Russia vs. Rest of the World 1970

     There were two matches featuring the USSR vs. Rest of the World, in 1970 and 1984, and one match Russia (after the breakup of the Soviet Union) vs Rest of the World, in 2002. The USSR team won the first two matches and the "Rest of the World" team won the third match. 
     The first match tool place in Belgrade, March 29 – April 5, 1970 and was billed as "The Match of the Century – USSR versus the Rest of the World.” Dr. Max Euwe was the captain of the Rest of the World team and was responsible for determining the team’s board order which sounded simple enough...players would be assigned in order of their ratings. But, there was a snag. 
     Fischer, ranked number one, had been in seclusion for two years, but it was possible to get in contact with him and his answer was, “No.” He was then offered an all expense paid trip to Belgrade as an observer and that changed his mind about playing...provided his laundry list of 23 demands ranging from lighting to money were met. 
     Bent Larsen was then informed he’d have to play second board behind Fischer. That put Larsen in a snit, but since nobody actually believed Fischer would show up it was a moot point. 
     But, when it looked more and more like Fischer would play, Larsen changed his mind and refused to play if Fischer was on first board. An organizer managed to chase him down by phone and Larsen agreed to play, but a few days later changed his mind again; he would not play second board. 
     Organizers then invited Larsen and his wife to visit the match, all expenses paid of course. Once they arrived in Belgrade organizers tried to persuade him to take second board, but Fischer’s arrival only hardened his resolve not to play. After all, he had won more important tournaments in the last 2-3 years than Fischer had won in his whole career. When asked about the interests of the team, Larsen insisted there wasn’t any team; it was just ten matches of four games. A reporter asked him if that was the case, what difference did it make which board he played on? He didn’t answer. Even the Russians tried to convince him to play, but he still refused to play on board two. 
     Fischer had hinted before he left for Belgrade that he would let Larsen have board one...for a substantial fee. But, then he dropped a bombshell. Larsen could play on board one for nothing! But, there was fly in the ointment. Several weeks before the match the board order had been agreed to so that players would know who their opponent was and get prepared. Euwe’s list had Fischer on board one and now the Rest of the World was purposing a last minute change. When informed of the change the day before the start of the match the Russians disappeared for and hour to discuss it then returned and agreed to the change. 
Matulovic
     Meanwhile, Yugoslav GM Milan Matulovic announced he wasn’t going to play because he was on board 8 behind East German GM Wolfgang Uhlmann. After all, he had better recent results than Uhlmann and had even beaten him in a match. Nobody seemed to care about his threat, so he agreed to play anyway.
     The line up of the Russian team wasn’t based on ratings, but on recent results and juggled to insure they were matched against opponents against whom they had good records. For example, Botvinnik was way down on board 8 because his opponent, Matulovic, had a “Botvinnik complex” and had a poor record against him. Likewise, Taimanov on board 7 had a huge plus against Uhlmann. 
     At the beginning of round 1 it was announced that the match winners on the top two boards would get a new car and Tahl boasted he’d be returning to Moscow in Petrosian’s new car.; it didn’t happen.  It was clear early in the game that Fischer was stomping Petrosian who had not lost in his last 44 games. They were playing on a special table that had been given to a Yugoslav official by Fidel Castro at the 1966 Olympiad. The pieces were different, too. Fischer demanded they not be shiny. 
     Spassky got the better game against Larsen, played too fast and lost it, but then Larsen played too fast in the ending and the game was drawn. At adjournment the score was tied 3-3. But, the Soviets quickly jumped to a 5-3 lead. Hort nursed his microscopic advantage to a win against Polugayevsky and a tie was hanging on the outcome of the Portisch-Korchnoi game. Portisch, up two Pawns in the ending, missed the move that would have forced immediate resignation.  Then a few moves later he repeated the position twice, or so he thought. It was actually the third time and Korchnoi claimed the draw. Soviets 5.5-4.5. 
     In round 2 Fischer beat Petrosian again. Spassky crushed Larsen in 17 moves. Folks began to wonder about Portisch. He again had a better position against Korchnoi, who was extremely short of time having only seconds left for 9 moves, plus Portisch was about to win a Pawn. So what did Portisch do? He agreed to a draw! When Euwe questioned Portisch about his actions, all of a sudden Portisch forgot how to speak both English and Russian. Soviets 6-4. 
     In round 3, the battle on first board was an exciting one with the outcome hanging in the balance with both players short of time. Spassly finally blundered a piece and lost. Fischer and Petrosian drew. Fischer declined the car and took a special prize instead. Hort and Polugayevsky made the only GM draw in the whole match. 

     At adjournment the score was 5-5. In an oddity, Fischer and Reshevsky were seen together analyzing Reshevsky’s game against Smyslov. Reshevsky won the adjourned game while being pestered with repeated draw offers from Smyslov. And, what about Portisch? At adjournment he had an inferior position, but managed to win! Matulovic was a Pawn down against Botvinnik, but still managed to win draw. How did he do it? Botvinnik’s explanation was that Matulovic’s play was so bad that Botvinnik had gotten confused! Soviets 5.5-4.5.
     Round 4. Spassky was replaced on board 1 by 3-time Soviet Champion Leonid Stein and because it was Saturday, Reshevsky was replaced by Olafsson. Both Stein and Olafsson lost. Because Larsen won, he took the car prize. Gligoric managed to get the upper hand against Geller, but in the last few moves let it slip and drew. Ivkov tried his best to win against Keres, but took too many chances and lost. What about Portisch? This time he was the exchange up against Korchnoi when he agreed to the draw. Final score: Soviets 20.5-19.5.
     Who was to take the blame for the one point loss? Euwe for making poor choice in substitution? Uhlmann who played badly and lost two games? Portisch for giving Korchnoi three draws? 
Portisch

     The Yugolavs themselves graciously took the blame saying there were too many of them on the team. They had played so many matches against the Russians that their weaknesses were well known and that’s why they only scored 4-8 against their Russian opponents. 
     In other sidelights, some of the GMs formed an international association to prepare a proposal for the world championship, but it never amounted to anything. In addition to playing on a special board and set, Fischer also received special treatment in his refreshment of mineral water mixed with milk. He demanded it neither warm, nor cold nor tepid. What’s left?
     After the match there was a double round blitz tournament held in Herceg Novi in which 12 players took part. Fischer dominated, scoring 19.0, and finished ahead of Tal (14.5) and Korchnoi (14.0). There were no tie scores and the remaining finishers were: Korchnoi, Petrosian, Bronstein, Hort, Matulovic, Smyslov, Reshevsky, Uhlmann, Ivkov and Ostojic.

2 comments:

  1. " Matulovic was a Pawn down against Botvinnik, but still managed to win. How did he do it?" Quite simple. He didn't. Matulovic lost his mini-match +0=3-1 in this match. His lifetime score against Botvinnik was as far as I know +0=3-3. I can only assume that you are confusing this game with another one of Botvinnik's and I guess it could be against Janosevic from Belgrade 1969 where Botvinnik indeed lost from an overwhelming position a pawn up.

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  2. Right guys, right event. The result was mixed up! In round 3 six games were adjourned. Matulovic was Pawn dawn and fought desperately in an ending that was very similar to those Botvinnik had previously explored. Botvinnik made a couple of imprecise moves and asked the team captain for permission to offer a draw and was told no. Finally, Botvinnik shocked everybody when he fell into a one move stalemate. When questioned about how it happened, Botvinnik’s explanation was that it was because Matulovic had played the adjournment so badly. Others thought it was Botvinnik’s “revenge” for not being given permission to offer the draw. (Dragoslav Andric’s account in Chess Life and Review)

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