The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 55

Loser never had chance Si Duncan Suttles, 25, of Vancouver, Canadian chess champion, analyzes the world quarter-final match played here between American Bobby Fischer and Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union- journment, was in a losing endgame. However, Fischer misplayed the position and by the end of the second session his advantage was no longer sufficient to win. In the third session, Taimanov had practically forced the draw with the material greatly reduced to bishop and pawn versus knight, but, on Move 81, he moved his king hastily in the wrong direction and resigned two moves later when he realized his error. In the third game, Taimanov improved on the variation used in the opening of the first and achieved a promising position. However, unable to find a decisive continuation, he retreated his knight on Move 20 after which Fischer seized the initiative and repulsed Taimanov's attack.

After this second defeat with white, Taimanov probably gave up any hopes he had although, to his credit he did make one last effort to win in his final game with white, in game five, and did have the advantage until he made a gross blunder, losing a full rook. In the fourth and sixth games, Taimanov fought an uphill struggle all the way. Once out of the opening phase, Taimanov's play became mechanical and Fischer effortlessly converted his opening advantages into victories. Thus the match ended with an historic 6-0 score and Fischer enters the semi-finals of the candidate matches with a tremendous psychological edge. This edge may not be so much against his next opponent, 'h By DUNCAN SUTTLES Bobert Fischer 6, Mark Taimanov 0.

This was the score that made chess history in Vancouver. Never before had a match at the candidates' level of play ended with a perfect score. Although the match received only cursory coverage in the Soviet press and the score was often recorded with no comment, in the long run some reasons will have to be found as to how a leading Soviet grandmaster could have lost so disastrously to any player. Certainly Soviet theoreticians will produce vouminous annotations that will show how Taimanov should have drawn this game or won that one. It will be claimed that the games were much closer than the score indicated and that Fischer's victory was due to a combination of luck and perhaps his opponent's ill health (one game was postponed due to Taima-nov's high blood pressure).

But these analyses and explanations will probably ignore one factor, the most important one: the dynamic quality of Fischer's play and the incredible aura and Bent Larsen, of Denmark, who has a fearless and imaginative style, but certainly so against his future Soviet opponent should he defeat Larsen. The chess world has wait- ed several years for a Boris Spassky-Fiseher match and hopefully the match played in Vancouver will help bring about that event. Spassky, of the Soviet Union, is world champion. QUIZ (fl 0 i tension under which many of his opponents find themselves spellbound and are almost unavoidably led to make mistakes that later appear to be crass blunders. In this match, no one can deny that Taimanov did play resourcefully and that Fischer did not overwhelm his opponent with one-sided strategical victories.

But Fischer's tremendous self-discipline so outclassed that of Taimanov that the latter never really had a chance. Taimanov is a great fighter and from inferior positions, he wrested equality or even an advantage in some of the games, but once he had an inkling of an advantage, and then made some error, his fighting spirit seemed to evaporate and his game deteriorated rapidly. This was evident in the first and third games and after those defeats the match was virtually over. In the first game, Taimanov tried a well-known pawn sacrifice that he has played many times before in similar positions. However, his timing was faulty and Fischer had the superior position as earlv as Move 12.

On Move 16 Taimanov, wishing to induce some weakness in black's position as compensation for the pawn lost, played a losing move. The rest should have been a matter of technique, but, on Move 20, Fischer attempted to force the issue with a rash pawn advance. Although a pawn ahead, Fischer's position had become compromised and it was unclear which side had the advantage. In the end, superior tactics by Fischer repulsed his adversary's attack and forced simplification into a winning endgame that Taimanov resigned without continuing play after adjournment. The opening of the second game was a battle of prepared variations with Fischer having superior preparation.

By Move 27, Taima-nov's pieces were tied down to defensive positions and Taimanov decided to return his extra pawn to try to break the stranglehold. Although this plan was almost successful, Taimanov failed to find a tactical continuation maintaining material equality and, at ad Solutions to the puzzle below should be sent to Chess Contest, The Province, Vancouver 9. Those submitting correct solutions will participate in a weekly draw for free membership in the B.C. Chess Federation plus an annual subscription to Northwest Chess Magazine. Prizes will also be awarded at the end of 25 puzzles to the persons submitting the most correct solutions.

Interested chess players can get instruction on the correct method of writing solutions by writing the Chess Contest Editor. BLACK am MAKES TUEM I Tit A. XUr.s Si 73 4- ok L-i I grated coarse into the saucepan, and two heaped teaspoons brown sugar (or a bit more of honey), and half a lemon (peel and all). Boil (lid on) 10 to 15 Ginger tea needs friends, and a candle is nice, and a good dinner first is great and wine is always wine. For each person: a mugful of water and an inch or so of fresh green ginger Pour (strained just hold back the shreds with something) into mugs and drink as net as you can.

The first sip liberates your taste buds (the Japanese do the same thing with sliced gin- gei for sushi), the secenft (which should be a good mouthful) clears your bead, and half way through the cup you should get off nice and warm and loose. mmmmmmmmmmmmm WHITE "White moves World champ confirms visit here GO BACK TO GO AHEAD IF Tior 1)1 II ST FINISH HICH SCHOOL CALL OR WHITE NATIONAL COLLEGE (B.C.) By PAUL EAUGUST World chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union has confirmed he will play in the Canadian open championship in Vancouver this summer. About 100 players are expected to compete in the tournament, to be held Aug. 24 to Sept. 3 at the University of B.C.

The Canadian open, to be held in Vancouver for the first time, will be held in conjunction with the world congress of the International Chess Federation (F.I.D.E.). A total of S4.100 in prize money will be offered to the finalists in four divisions, with first place in the first division being worth $1,000, second S600 and third S350. Entry fee will be S25 for seniors and S15 for juniors (under age 19). The Vancouver tournament follows the conclusion of the U.S. open, being held in Ventura, and it is hoped that many of the international grandmasters competing there will come to Canada as well.

The Swiss system of competition will be employed in the Canadian open, with one round scheduled each day over the 11 days of competition. Rate of play will be 45 moves in 2V2 hours and 18 moves an hour thereafter. Canadian champion Sun- can Suttles of Vancouver has indicated he will be playing. In confirming his intention to play in Vancouver, Spassky said U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer has the best chance to challenge him for the world title.

The challengers for the world title have been whittled down to four in a qualification tournament. Fischer meets Bent Larsen of Denmark in one semi-final and two Soviet players, Tig-ran Petrosian and Viktor Eorchnoi, clash in the other. Spassky said Larsen is a seasoned fighter "whose sporting, fighting qualities are even superior to those of his opponent." (Both Fischer and Larsen refuse to offer or accept draws in international competition.) But Spassky said Fischer "has an advantage as a master of chess." KU. Vancouver A Canadian liomc Study THE FliOVESCE, Friday, June 11, 1971.