AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, July 20, 1966 - Page 27
Argentine and Soviet Players Lead in Chess
Miguel Najdorf of Argentina and Boris Spassky of the U.S.S.R. led Tuesday with 1½ points after the completion of two rounds in the Piatigorsky Cup International Chess Tournament at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.
Each played brilliantly to score decisive victories in the second round. Najdorf was the first to finish, defeating Borislav Ivkov of Yugoslavia in 26 moves Monday night.
Najdorf obtained a slight positional advantage in the opening. By clever maneuvering, his queen was able to capture a pawn deep in Ivkov's territory.
Najdorf's 23rd move was decisive. He apparently gave up a rook, but mate would have followed had Ivkov attempted to capture it. The result was a sizable material advantage, which prompted Ivkov to resign.
King Side Attack
A direct king side attack was Spassky's method in his game with Wolfgang Unzicker of West Germany. By sacrificing a knight temporarily, Spassky obtained an overwhelming advantage.
The game was adjourned Monday midnight after 40 moves. Another six moves were required when play was resumed Tuesday morning before Unzicker resigned.
The other three games of the second round resulted in draws, all of them going into the second session.
World chess champion Tigran Petrosian drew after 41 moves with former U.S. champion Samuel Reshevsky of Spring Valley, N.Y. Petrosian had a freer game for most of the way, but could not extend his advantage against Reshevsky's sturdy defense.
Perhaps the most sustained interest was aroused by the encounter between U.S. champion Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn and Lajos Portisch of Hungary.
The first 20 moves followed published analysis with which both players were apparently familiar. Fischer gave up a rook for knight, but gained one pawn and soon picked up a second.
When the game was adjourned after 44 moves it seemed that Fischer had winning prospects. The endgame had exciting moments, but Portisch was able to hold the draw, which was agreed after 71 moves.
Larsen-Donner Draw
Another draw was scored after 58 moves between Bent Larsen of Denmark and Jan Donner of Holland. Here Larsen had seemed to have the upper hand.
In the end game each advanced a pawn to queen. By then each had only one remaining pawn, and the game had become too simplified for any winning prospects.
In an adjourned game from the first round, Larsen resigned to Ivkov without resuming play. The third round of the tournament will start at 6:30 p.m. today at the Miramar. The pairings will be: Reshevsky vs. Spassky, Portisch vs. Petrosian, Ivkov vs. Fischer, Donner vs. Najdorf and Unzicker Vs. Larsen.
Following are the details of the two masterpieces of the tournament to date:
