Sunday Gazette-Mail Charleston, West Virginia Sunday, July 03, 1966 - Page 25
Grandmaster Chess Event On Horizon
The Piatigorsky Cup International All Grandmaster Chess Tournament — one of the most important chess events of the year opens July 17 in Santa Monica, Calif. The field of ten is headed by Tigran Petrosian of the USSR, champion of the world. The American champion Robert Fisher and the veteran Samuel Reshevsky will represent the United States. A second Soviet representative is Boris Spassky, who recently lost a title match to Petrosian by one point.
Miguel Najdorf of Argentina was a participant in the first Piatigorsky Cup tournament. Bent Larson of Denmark has been called the strongest player in the Western world; he lost in a semi-final challenger match to Mikhail Tal by only one point. Lajos Portisch of Hungary has increased his prestige in the chess world during the past couple of years, while Borislav Ivkov of Yugoslavia and Wolfgang Unzicker of West Germany are both formidable players. The Holland representative, Jan Hein Donner, might he somewhat outclassed by the other chess stars in the 10-man field; however, the committee evidently knew what they were doing when they invited him.
This Piatigorsky Cup tourney will undoubtedly he the outstanding event of the year for American chess and Robert Fisher could just make this affair perfect for the players of the U.S.A by winning first prize. Whoever wins this double-round-robin tournament will have his work cut out for himself. Eighteen rounds will sorely test the stamina of all concerned. especially the older Players (such as Reshevsky and Najdorf).
