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.

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[Event "USSR vs. Rest of the World"]
[Site "Belgrade SRB"]
[Date "1970.3.31"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Bent Larsen"]
[Black "Boris Spassky"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
{Larsen Opening} 1. b3 {Inspired by another great Danish player, Nimzovich,
who often played 1.Nf3 and 2.b3. White prepares to fianchetto his B where it
will help control the central squares. Fischer played in five times in 1970,
winning all five games.} 1... e5 {The most common response, making a grab for
the center and limiting the scope of white's B.} 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. c4 {This isn't
played very often, but its results are on a par with the much more common
3.e3. } 3... Nf6 4. Nf3 {Real hypermodern stuff, luring the e-Pawn forward.}
4... e4 {Black does best to accept the challenge as either 4...Bc5 or 4...d6
allow white easy equality.} 5. Nd4 Bc5 6. Nxc6 {White's idea here is to get
rid of the N and gain control over d4 and e5.} 6... dxc6 {By capturing away
from the center Spassky opens up the diagonal for his B. Less effective seems
6...bxc6 7.Nc3 d5 which accomplishes the same thing.} 7. e3 Bf5 8. Qc2 Qe7 9.
Be2 O-O-O {White is already experiencing difficulties. Black has more space
and white is unable to play d4. For white castling K-side would be
disasterous. And if 10.Nc3 Rhe8 11.O-O-O black still has the better of it.
Clearly Larsen has not come out of the opening well.} 10. f4 {Already on move
10 Larsen makes the losing move.} 10... Ng4 {After this black can win in any
number of ways, including a sacrifice on d2 followed by Nxe3 which gives him a
winning attack. White has absolutely no move that offers any kind of
resistance! An amazing situation.} 11. g3 { According to Stockfish black has
9 moves that give him an advantage ranging from over a P and a half to over 4
Ps.} 11... h5 {The idea of this is to rip white's guts out with ...h4. Also
vicious is 11...Rxd2 12.Qxd2 Nxe3 threatening move like ...Rd8 and ...Nxg2 and
white would be helpless. White can stop ...h4, but if 12.h4 Rd3!! the R is
immune because ...exd3 and ...Nxe3 is fatal for white. Nor can white
eliminate the N on g4 and castle into safety. After 12. h4 Rd3!! 13.Bxg4 Bxg4
14.O-O Bxe3+!! and again, he gets eviscerated.} 12. h3 h4 {There's nothing for
white to do but await his fate. He can't even try to run to the Q-side with
his K. 13.Nc3 Nxe3!! 14.dxe3 hxge leaves him busted.} 13. hxg4 hxg3 14. Rg1
{Black could now also win with the coldblooded 14...Bxe3 15. dxe3 Rh1!!. If
white accepts the sacrifice with 16.Rxh1 then 16...g2 17.Rg1 Qh4 mate} 14...
Rh1 {This deflects the R back to h1 and so gains a tempo.} 15. Rxh1 g2 16.
Rf1 Qh4+ 17. Kd1 gxf1=Q+ {It's mate in three. What a humiliating debacle for
the world team's top board.} 0-1