Author: Soviet Union signed by Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi and Robert Byrne
Year: 1973
Publisher: Soviet Union Postal Service
Place: Moscow
Description:
Cancellation envelop (4 1/4" x 6 1/4") in Russian with pictorial knights and pawns to the cover and signed on the front cover by Robert Byrne, Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi the top three finishers in the tournament
In the preceding FIDE cycles there had been only one Interzonal, such as the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal (1970). The year of 1973 marked the debut of two Interzonals to allow the aspirants for the world title to advance. As was the case with the Petropolis Interzonal (1973), in July-August, the Leningrad Interzonal was held as an 18-player round robin with the top three players qualifying for the Candidates matches. Korchnoi (+11 =5 -1) and Karpov (+10 =7 -0) tied for first place with 13.5/17. Third was Byrne with 12.5, and just missing out with 11 was Smejkal, whose chances of qualification ended with his loss to Karpov from a favorable position in the penultimate round. Korchnoi, Karpov and Byrne were joined by Henrique Mecking, Lajos Portisch and Lev Polugaevsky (from the Petropolis Interzonal) for play against Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (who qualified as losing finalist in 1971) and Boris Spassky (who qualified as ex-World Champion in 1972) in the next year's Candidates matches.
Condition:
Lightly toned else very good.