Author: Robert Graham Wade (1921- ) and L S Blackstock (editors)
Year: 1970
Publisher: The Chess Player
Place: Nottingham
Description:
234 pages with diagrams, tables and plates. Octavo (8 1/4" x 5 1/4") issued in wrappers. (Lusis:1565) First edition.
The ceremonial opening took place at reception by the Ayuntamiento de Palma de Mallorca in the Town Hall. There was never any doubt that Fischer would win the tournament after he defeated Geller in round twelve. This world championship series appeared as a formality leading up to the match of all time between Spassky and Fischer. The doubt existing before the Geller game stems from a poor patch from rounds seven to nine against Matulovic, Naranja and Larsen. Larsen had a grim battle to find his form, but his play in the later rounds was reminiscent of the joint winner of the Amsterdam 1964 Interzonal and at Sousse 1967. Geller's play is still impressive as, for instance, the round twenty defat inflicted on Reshevsky illustrates. Germans are the Candidates for the first time - two of them. Huebner's success was the surprise of the Interzonal, yet his place was gained almost as surely and Fischer and Geller. Excellent temperament, capacity for tremendously hard work during play and outstanding tactical ability and control, all contributed to this West German student's success. When Uhlmann plays well he can play very well, but when he starts losing he has difficulty applying the breaks. In rounds 17-21 he scored three losses, one win and a draw. Defeating Matulovic in a sharp game in the penultimate round made a big difference. Taimanov's robust, essentially practical style of play, combined with a great relentlessness, make him a worthy candidate and whereas some of his ideas do not stand up to the test of time, many others do. All the main qualifiers could blame themselves for many missed opportunities. Portisch applied himself round after round to defending very difficult and tiring games, the toll being taken in the second last round when he lost an untypical game to Jimenez. Hort came close to recovering from the psychological shock administered by a somewhat callous tournament organization in its handling of the opening drawing of numbers. Gligoric suffered from acute tiredness in the later rounds. Mecking suffered from comparative isolation of this country's chess as well as the conflict with his studies. Reshevsky's position was a disappointment, but his play had regained some of its vitality in the second half. Though problems over Fischer's and Reshevsky's playing schedules, and general conditions of play arose, these were all channeled through the USC director. Noisy spectators, was the main complaint from Fischer and these were broadly justified.
Condition:
A near fine copy
SOLD 2022