Cycle 1970-72
After 8 years of ‘exile’ Fischer came back to the Interzonal. Actually he was not qualified to play because he didn’t participate to the US Championship and FIDE refused to make exception. However he was lucky that US IGM P. Benko, a friend of him, was kind enough to give his seat! In Palma de Majorca Fischer triumphed with a 3.5 point advantage thereby beating the record of Kotov in 1952.
Interzonal
One of the strongest tournaments ever organized was held in Palma de Majorca from November 9th till December 13th, 1970. Fifteen grand masters and international masters fought for one of the six places that would give them the right for the Candidates tournament together with Petrosian and Korchnoi who are privileged because of the status in the last world championship cycle. It was not clear if Fischer would take part or not because he did not play in the last US Championship – which was also Zonal tournament, he considered the number of rounds to be too few. But the USCF had persuaded the FIDE congress at Siegen to permit his participation provided that they could persuade Reshevsky, Addison or Benko to drop out and provided that none of the other US championship participants wished to take the place vacant.
By financial inducement Benko gave up his place and performed in the role of Reshevsky’s and Addison’s second, the other Americans disdained without any money. And after the agreement that the advanced honorarium would be paid, Fischer agreed to play after tense negotiations with the USCF as the copy of the letter by Edmondson shows:
Fischer to agree to play. Apparently, however, at the end of October, Fischer changed his mind…
(#1787)
[USCF letterhead]
October 29, 1970
Mr. Robert Fischer
Room 1525
Hotel McAlpin
Broadway at 34th Street
New York, New York 10001
Dear Bobby,
As I told you on the phone last night, your letter which arrived October 27 can only be described as heartbreaking.
When you were here last week, we discussed how truly important your participation in the World Championship Cycle is to you, to USCF, and to chess in the United States. We discussed all conditions relating to the entire Cycle, including realistic honorariums–not only for the Interzonal but also for the
Candidates and World Championship Matches. I gave you a straightforward appraisal of the situation and promised to do everything that I possibly could on your behalf throughout the entire Cycle.
After two days of what certainly must have been careful consideration apparently climaxing weeks of formative thought on your part, you told me on Thursday night that you had decided to play. We shook hands on it, all that is really necessary for a valid agreement between two sincere and honorable men–a category in which I place both of us.
I emphasized during our discussions last week that FIDE regulations require all contestants in the Interzonal be named to the host federation and to FIDE a minimum of fourteen days before the tournament commences. This includes any
substitutions, such as Fischer for Benko, and the requirement was particularly noted by the General Assembly last month when they voted to permit your entry. On the basis of our mutual agreement, and having heard nothing to the contrary by Saturday night, October 24, I wired both Spain and Dr. Euwe that you
would be replacing Benko. They undoubtedly received these wires on Sunday, the deadline for naming Interzonal entrants.
Despite my dismay–almost disbelief–upon receiving your letter with its conditions quite beyond what we had agreed upon, I immediately contacted USCF President Dubeck and Messrs. Kasper, Fried, and Reeves of the American Chess Foundation. I explained your letter to them and attempted to obtain financial support beyond that which I had promised you last week. Each of these people–and several others contacted–feels very strongly that additional financial support will be forthcoming as you progress up the five steps leading to the World Championship.
Certainly by the time of the final Candidates Match and the World Championship Match there will be great excitement and enthusiasm over the prospect of your bringing the title to the U.S.A. As this excitement mounts, we can no doubt gain financial backing (probably even from non-chess sources) to host at least two of the Matches and to insure unprecedented prize funds for them. In my opinion, the honorariums and the prize money would amount to well over $30,000.
These are my honest expectations, concurred in by other reliable chess organizers and patrons. However, it is not easy to raise or to guarantee tens of thousands of dollars when even the first step has not been taken. More than anything else, I want to help you to become World Champion–I can only do so if
there is a high degree of cooperation and faith between us. I strongly urge you to play in the Interzonal and in the Candidates Matches, trusting me as you progress to fight every step of the way for the best possible playing and financial conditions on your behalf. I ask this of you with the understanding that, if conditions for the final Candidates Match and World Championship Match are not satisfactory, then of course you need not play. But I think this is an extremely unlikely possibility; we will be able to secure exceedingly favorable conditions once you are that close to our mutual goal.
With the foregoing in mind, here are the conditions which we can guarantee at this time. I repeat that improvements will more than likely be possible and that the Prize funds which come on top of these honorariums will be unprecedented. These, as I told you before we shook hands in agreement last week, are realistic conditions. I could say yes to anything you ask, knowing that my acquiescence was based upon a hope or even an outright lie. But I have never worked that way and don’t intend to start now. I will only promise that which I am certain can be attained. I believe you appreciate this fact and ask that we again confirm agreement on the following.
1. Honorariums
A. Interzonal…$4,000
B. Candidates Match, Quarter-Final…3,000
C. Candidates Match, Semi-Final…3,000
D. Final Candidates Match…4,000
E. World Championship Match…5,000
Total guaranteed honorariums…$19,000
2. The honorariums are separate from prize money, which will be provided by the organizers and augmented to the maximum extent obtainable through the efforts of myself and your other friends in American chess.
3. Reimbursement at first-class rates for all travel actually performed in connection with the Interzonal and the Matches.
For example, round-trip from New York to Palma de Majorca for the Interzonal (USCF already reimbursed you in Germany for a return to Los Angeles. I cannot justify paying you twice for the Los Angeles portion of a journey which will be performed only once.)
4. Incidental expenses (excess baggage, taxis, hotels en route, etc.) as you request, to a maximum of $300 for each event.
5. Acting in your behalf, I will explain to the organizers of the various events in the Cycle that you must stay at the best hotels and eat at the best restaurants; depending upon the site of each event, we can agree in advance what the food expenses should amount to. If the organizer’s reimbursement to you falls short of that figure, USCF will make up the difference. I will
also guarantee that your “pocket money” will be twice that given to other contestants in each event.
6, As I have already told you, your standards of lighting, spectator control, and control of photography and television will be met in every Match. Mr. Puig has already assured us that absolutely no cameras or TV will be allowed at Palma once the games have begun and that spectators will be kept at a respectable distance and under control. The eagerness of the Spanish Chess Federation to have you play and to meet your requirements is shown by a cable just received. It reads “We guarantee installation for required lighting.”
7. As I told you last night, there is a limit as to how much cash can be raised immediately–we must act now for the Interzonal– and as to how much we can predictably guarantee for a second of your choice throughout the Match series. The only second practical at Palma is Benko. We are already committed to paying him $2,000 for stepping aside and making room for you; he is willing to act as your second in return.
Evans wants $3,000 plus all expenses. Believe me, we can afford no second for the Interzonal other than Benko. During the Matches, we can guarantee a second’s expenses plus a $1,000 honorarium to him for each of the first two Candidates Matches; a $1,500 honorarium for the final Candidates Match; a $2,000 honorarium for the World Championship Match. Frankly, such guarantees mean greater difficulty in raising the total amount needed and, therefore, could conceivably hold down the increase in amounts which eventually come to you. Please weigh this carefully against your need for a second to aid in winning each match.
8. You can depend upon me to see that your rights are protected during the events. USCF will do everything within its power to obtain satisfactory–even a favorable–political balance of Tournament Directors and Arbiters, plus a western or neutral playing site in each instance.
As I emphasized last night, there is a very real danger in hesitating over a final decision on participation in the Cycle.
On behalf of USCF, last Saturday I had to notify Spain and FIDE that our entrants in the Interzonal are Reshevsky, Addison, and Fischer. In an attempt to protect USCF’s right to have three players in the Interzonal, today I wired Spain that your participation is after all uncertain and that Benko might yet
play. In view of the strict fourteen days advance requirement of FIDE–specifically reconfirmed during the General Assembly meetings at Siegen–I don’t really know what to expect from the Spanish and FIDE. At this point, if you decide not to play, they could tell us that Benko had not been named and could not participate. Spain is very eager to put in one of its own players, but I have asked them to hold off until this Saturday for a final decision on your participation and to permit us to enter Benko if you do not play. I hope they will hold still for these few additional days while you consider the conditions given above.
This letter should reach you on Friday. You have been considering your course of action for a long time, and I urge you to contact me before your Sabbath commences Friday evening.
Every hour’s delay in reaching a final decision heightens the probability that FIDE will rule for only two U.S.A. players and tell Spain to name a participant to fill the vacancy. Let’s not gamble needlessly on something as important as the World Championship. Trust me to do the best I can for you, and let’s go!
Your friend,
/s/ E.B. Edmondson
Executive Director
The prize fund was $ 1.500 for the first place, down to about $ 45 for last place.
Prof. Y. Estrin (USSR) commented from Moscow the outcome of the tournament:
“An exceptionally intense struggle is how one can best describe the recently ended 7th Interzonal Tournament on the Spanish island of Palma de Majorca. Of all the tournaments over the past 22 years, this was possibly the closest one.
The honorary president of the International Chess Federation, Mr. F. Rogard, remarked that the interzonal tournament had been the largest and most interesting tournament or some time. Firstly, many outstanding chess players from all over the world had taken part, and secondly, it had been impassible to tell right up to last round who, apart from Fischer, would be among the winners. If Fischer plays in the challengers’ competition (I say ‘if” bearing in mind his character,) he will be one of the finalists. I can’t make my mind up about the others.
The new USSR champion, Victor Korchnoi, thought the performance of the Soviet chess players at the tournament had been highly successful. He said that there was nothing unusual in the fact that not all four of our Grandmasters had become challengers. Competition from other countries was growing and would continue to grow. The surprises of the tournament had been the failures of Hort, Portisch and Polugaevsky, and the great success of Huebner. And Fischer had once again proved that he was the strongest Western player. Korchnoi also said hat he was not very happy with the outcome of the draw; rather than Geller he would have such preferred not only Uhlmann and Huebner, but even Larsen. “The only thing which consoles me about the draw,” he went on, “is the thought that possibly lam not the partner Geller wanted either.”
As for Fischer, he said: “I’m quite happy with my victory in the tournament but not with my play. I cannot say anything about the outcome of the forthcoming challengers’ matches. I am not in best shape I feel I am not sufficiently played in, I need more tournaments. I have so far played match only with Cardosa (1956) and Reshevsky (1961). Huebner is the discovery of the tournament.”
Larsen expressed himself more positively: “I am disappointed with the way I played at the tournament, but I shall be the winner of the challengers contest and play Spassky for the world championship! Huebner was the great surprise of the Interzonal tournament. I was also surprised that Portisch was not amongst the challengers.”
Huebner, a 22 year old student from Cologne, reckoned he had no chance of success in his match with Petrosian. “It would have been better if I had got Larsen, Fischer or someone else …,“ he went on. At the same time, this young player was very pleased with his result, which had given him the rank of International Grandmaster. Before the tournament started he had expected to gain only 5 of the possible points, whereas in fact he had become a challenger for the world championship.
Taimanov, from Leningrad, again qualified as a challenger for the world championship after 18 years! This was without doubt a great success. But many chess enthusiasts have already been quick to express their sympathy to Mark Yevgenevich on his being paired with Fischer in the quarter—finals. However, Taimanov himself, a great optimist by nature, thinks differently. After telephoning home from Paris, he said that he was very pleased to be up against such a strong opponent. After all, Fischer has certain defects. Above all, he lacks match experience. Therefore his strength might not show in a short match. But undoubtedly playing against him would be very interesting.”
Here is what ex-world champion M. Botvinnik said about the results of the Interzonal tournament:
“As for the performance of the Soviet competitors, it was difficult to suppose that they would play better. Before the start of the Interzonal tournament I said that if two, at most three, of our Grandmasters came among the top six, this would be excellent. But as the competition progressed, the situation clearly turned in our favour. The Hungarian L. Portisch did not play very well, although everyone had considered him a clear favorite, and the same was true of the Yugoslav S. Gligoric and the Czech V. Hort. These vacant places might quite easily have been taken by two of our Grandmasters who fell by the wayside — V. Smyslov and L. Polugaevsky. Smyslov simply did not wake up till half the tournament was over and when he got down to business, it was too late. And Polugaevsky did not realize even at the end how one ought to play against whom.
Before the competition I thought that Polugaevsky and Taimanov would be sure to come among the top six but not at all because they are mare talented than Geller and Smyslov. I considered that for a mixed tournament, such as the one on Palma de Majorca, Polugaevsky and Taimanov were the better prepared. Smyslov had not performed very well recently and Geller it seemed to me would not stay the distance in such a strenuous tournament. As you see, I did predict Taimanov’s result, but Polugaevsky did not pass the test.
What happened to Polugaevsky? Why did he come lost of our 4 players? And how can one account far the excellent play of Geller?
Polugaevsky turned out to be poorly prepared for the tournament, mainly from the psycho logical paint of view, and did not show the necessary sporting flair. He played excessively cautiously, got very het up at times, and was clearly rather afraid of his weaker opponents. It looked as though Polugaevsky was merely waiting for serious mistakes from them. But his opponents did not always make such mistakes, and such indecisive play from Polugaevsky could not fail to affect his results. He is undoubtedly a very talented player, but he locks character. Geller, on the other hand, was perfectly prepared for the tournament. He played baldly and surely, and fully deserved to be one of the winners. He has considerable talent. He is a thorough—going perfectionist in training, and so makes up for his slightly reduced capacity for work.
Now for a few words about Fischer and Larsen.
Fischer is undoubtedly an outstanding player and in the Interzonal tournament he played of course better than everyone else. But from the point of view of strategy, Fischer is not very original. He has few ideas of his own. After his return match with M. Euwe, Alekhine wrote that Euwe had learnt everything perfectly in training for the match, but had thought up very little that was original. Too certain extent Alekhine’s remark can be applied to Fischer as well. Abroad many people consider Fischer a genius. This point of view is held also by the Grandmaster and journalist A. Kotov. One may point out that other players in the past have been called geniuses. For example, from 1933 to 1935, Flohr was even being compared with Napoleon, and Napoleon really was a genius. I do not want to offend the recent guest of the Tumen chess players, but Flohr was not a genius. P. Keres was also taken for a genius when he had enormous success between 1936 and 1938. And then M. Tal was termed a genius after he progressed from being a Master to world champion in a short space of time. Now it is Fischer’s turn.
But what is a genius? The well—known English computer specialist Ashby wrote that a genius is a profound specialist in his own field, but that in everything else he may be simply a foal. As regards the creative side of the American Grandmaster, he strongly reminds me of the young Smyslov. I came to this conclusion whilst preparing for a match with Fischer and then heard the same from Tal 18 months later.
In the Interzonal tournament Larsen played insufficiently surely, and only after showing all his determination at the finish was he able to succeed in the competition.
Larsen has very great talent and in my opinion he has a real chance of emerging the winner in the challengers’ contest. He is an intelligent, subtle and determined competitor. His weak ness lies in his excessive optimism. Larsen’s present position in the chess world and his successes has not been achieved easily. He has realized that nowadays success can only be gained by a professional, and he has dedicated his life to chess. Creatively Larsen is more complex than Fischer.
Both Larsen and Fischer go in for self—advertisement. Each one of them thinks he will be champion of the world, both maintain that one plays harder than the other. But those are their human weaknesses. It is beyond doubt that Fischer and Larsen are perfectly worthy rivals of our leading Grandmasters.”
In Palma de Majorca Fischer triumphed with a 3.5 point advantage thereby beating the record of Kotov in 1952.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | ||
| 1 | Fischer,R | xx | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 18.5 |
| 2 | Larsen,B | 1 | xx | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | = | 15.0 |
| 3 | Geller,E | 0 | = | Xx | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | 15.0 |
| 4 | Huebner,R | = | = | 0 | xx | = | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15.0 |
| 5 | Taimanov,M | 0 | 1 | = | = | xx | = | = | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14.0 |
| 6 | Uhlmann,W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | Xx | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14.0 |
| 7 | Portisch,L | = | = | = | = | = | 0 | xx | = | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13.5 |
| 8 | Smyslov,V | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | Xx | 1 | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13.5 |
| 9 | Polugaevsky,L | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 0 | xx | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | 0 | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 13.0 |
| 10 | Gligoric,S | 0 | = | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | xx | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | 0 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 13.0 |
| 11 | Panno,O | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | xx | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 12.5 |
| 12 | Mecking,H | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | xx | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.5 |
| 13 | Hort,V | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | xx | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | 11.5 |
| 14 | Ivkov,B | 0 | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 0 | Xx | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 10.5 |
| 15 | Suttles,D | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | xx | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 10.0 |
| 16 | Minic,D | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 1 | xx | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 10.0 |
| 17 | Reshevsky,S | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | Xx | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 9.5 |
| 18 | Matulovic,M | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | xx | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 9.0 |
| 19 | Addison,W | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | Xx | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 |
| 20 | Filip,M | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | xx | = | 1 | = | 0 | 8.5 |
| 21 | Naranja,R | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | xx | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8.5 |
| 22 | Ujtumen,T | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Xx | 1 | = | 8.5 |
| 23 | Rubinetti,J | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | xx | 1 | 6.0 |
| 24 | Jimenez,E | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | xx | 5.5 |
Portoroz playoff, –, 1971.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | |
| Portisch L | = | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | 3.0 |
| Smyslov V | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | 3.0 |
Quarterfinal matches
Before the drawing of lots, Kazic asked all the candidates about their chances:
Petrosian: “I have to work hard to return chess crown back. I hope that I’ll be able to show good play in the matches. Larsen, Fischer and Soviet GMs Korchnoi and Geller have the best chances. Taimanov will be in a difficult situation because he is in the group with Fischer and Larsen. Fischer achieved the remarkable result at Mallorca but his play was not very impressive. This is a paradox. But sometimes it happens that a chess player scores a lot of points but does not demonstrate good play. Speaking about the system the drawback of matches is that not all the Candidates play with each other. It would be better to organize the tournament of six Candidates (in 4 rounds) or even four (8 rounds).”
Larsen: “Bent Larsen will be a new World Champion. “I will be the winner of the Candidates matches. Fischer and I have the best chances but finally I will be the winner. Every time there is something new that attracts in chess: sometimes it is a struggle, next time it is an art then it is a psychological rivalry. I perceive it in this way. I play with optimism and belief in myself not being afraid of defeat. I believe in myself. I say this not for a sensation but because feel stable belief in my own power.
I play too much and some of my failures are the result of it. I am an chess professional and I should perform all the time to earn money. Sometimes the quality of the play suffers as it is impossible to have good results always. I came to Interzonal tournament to earn the right for Candidates and did not try to become a winner. But in the Candidates I will play only for victory.
If I became the World Champion I would be for an abolition of Zonal and Interzonal tournaments. Nearly a half of participants of Interzonal tournament did not think even about playing title- match with Spassky. I think that 16 strongest chess players of the world should play in matches with each other to bring out a candidate for the title match. I think that it is worth to keep the match system at least because at the tournament the chess players from one country can perform as one team. It happens in such sports as e.g. bicycle races, where the whole team is working on the leader.
There is nothing of that kind in chess but to avoid any doubts I am for the matches.”
Korchnoi: “I do not appreciate myself too much now and my chances are not so good in coming matches. In the quarter final I got very difficult opponent, GM Geller. The score of our previous encounters is nearly equal. The favorites of the forthcoming matches, to my mind, will be Fischer and Petrosian. Without any doubt Fischer is very dangerous for Soviet chess players.
On my opinion we should refuse Zonal and Interzonal tournaments in future. Computer can easily select 32 strongest chess players on the basis of the previous results, who will play matches with each other. It is very simple and interesting.”
Geller: “I participate in the Candidates for the sixth time this year. I must confess that Spassky as well as Korchnoi are the most difficult opponents for me. It seems to me that these short matches are not real criterion of chess strength. These duels are not the best kind of contest. The style of the opponent is very important in such encounters, the psychological aspects are of great importance, and as a result a weaker chess player manages to succeed. Only one loss in a short match means psychological crash. That is why I am against Candidates matches. I think it is better to hold a tournament of the strongest GMs and certainly the complicated system of qualifying tournaments for the World Championships should be changed.”
Taimanov: “It is extremely interesting to play with such an excellent chess player Fischer. I met him in 1960 at Buenos Aires and at Mallorca Interzonal tournament. The first game ended with a drew, the second I lost. And now it will be a real fight.
Fischer and Larsen are two chess players whose strength is equal with leading Soviet GMs. I like Larsen more, as he is more creative.
Chess is an art for me. The artistic side of chess is that attracts me to this ancient game. Chess is of big social importance due to friendly connections arousing between people. as a chess player and a pianist, I have two passions: when I was deep in music, I was thinking about chess; when I devoted myself to chess I was thinking about music!”
Uhlmann: “Generally the principle of modern system for championships is right, but numerous FIDE tournaments last too long. The Candidates is interesting but matches are fairer to my mind.
I had to work hard before the match versus Larsen. He is certainly very strong, but the chess players of such sharp style give good chances to the opponents. My goal is to get into the semi-final.”
Fischer: “I am satisfied with the result of Interzonal tournament but not with my play. I have to train a lot now. I should be properly prepared for the Candidates as my match experience is not enough.
Difficult to say who will be the winner at Candidates and play the title match with Spassky. Soviet GMs probably won’t be in the final for the first time.
I think that in our group Taimanov will not be able to win Larsen and me. I hope Larsen or me will play title match with Spassky…
If I became the World Champion first of all I would try the regulations of Candidates matches be changed. I would suggest matches to be played till six or more victories. Draws should not be taken onto account. Now the matches are short, a chess payer can win a game by chance and this can be decisive.
I also would like to propose the title matches be played till certain number of victories without draws. I think that Interzonal tournaments are worth to be kept.”
Hubner: “I have no chances in the match versus Petrosian. I also did not have chances to get into semi-final before. And now when by drawing of lots I was to play versus Petrosian -all hopes melted.
Petrosian’s style of play is very unpleasant for me. I would prefer to play with Larsen, Fischer or somebody else. But of course I will fight and try to do my best.
Geller and Larsen played brilliantly at the Interzonal tournament. Fischer performed well but there were some drawbacks in his play. I think that Korchnoi and Fischer will play in the final. American GM in this duel has all the chances for victory but he will lose the match versus Spassky.”
