Cycle 76-78
The FIDE Central Committee met at Oosterbeek Netherlands from September 27 through 30 1975 It decided to nominate a Special Commission of eight to prepare proposals for the Regulations for the 1978 Match’ All FIDE member federations were asked to give their suggestions on the Regulations before December 31 1975. Only the US Chess Federation complied with this deadline
Named to the Special Commission were: World Champion A Karpov; Victor Baturinsky, USSR; Florencio Campomanes, Philippines; Rolf Littorin, Sweden; International Master Marovic, Yugoslavia; Frederick Townsend, USA; Juan Vega Fernandez, Cuba; and FIDE President Euwe, to chair the Commission.
The Special Commission met February 15-17 at the FIDE office in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Seven members were present, Mr. Littorin of Sweden being the only exception.
The following draft was prepared to be presented to the next Bureau meeting
4.1 The Winner: The player who wins six games wins the match and the Men’s World Championship. Draws do not count, and there is no limit to the number of games which may be played.
4.11 Drawn Match: If each player achieves five victories and the score is tied at 5-5, the match is terminated as drawn. The World Champion shall retain the title, but the Challenger has the right to play a second match under these same regulations. This second match shall start approximately one year after the beginning of the first match, but not less than nine months after he end of the first match. If the Challenger does not wish to play the second match, the World Champion shall retain the title. If in the second match each player achieves five victories and the score is tied at 5-5, the World Champion shall retain the title for the remainder of the cycle. If the World Champion does not agree to play the second match the Challenger shall be declared the new World Champion for the remainder of the cycle.
4.12 Unfinished Match: If a player resigns the or if he forfeits three times under Chess Laws 17-2, 17-4, or 18-2, the match shall be terminated as unfinished. His opponent shall be declared World Champion.
The same Committee met in Rome March 16-19, 1976
Here are the main points on which the Bureau’s recommendations differ from the draft presented to the Bureau by the Special Commission.
1. Any General Assembly held after that scheduled for October-November 1976 can still change the regulations adopted in 1976 (However, it is unlikely that the next regularly scheduled General Assembly—in 1978—will convene until after the dates set for the World Championship Match.)
2. The defending Champion cannot retain the title by achieving an equal score in the match. Play will continue until one contestant achieves six wins, and he is then World Champion for the next three years.
3. There will be no drawing of lots for colours. The minimal advantage granted to the defending Champion is that be shall play the White pieces in the first game.
The president Euwe journeyed from Rome to Belgrade, where was a guest during the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of CHESS INFORMANT. World Champion Karpov was also in Belgrade having journeyed there after his fine tournament in at Skopje.
Karpov was interviewed in Belgrade and asked his opinion of the proposed Regulations for the 1978 World Championship Match. Speaking of the Bureau decisions of the previous week, Karpov stated: “I will not defend my title if these new tournament rules are adopted by FIDE.” He made it clear that he insists upon a much with a 24-game limit, the Champion to retain the title in case of an equal score.
The following day, President Euwe was interviewed in Belgrade and asked what he thought of Karpov’s comments.
Applying it now for a slightly different reason, Dr. Euwe repeated the statement: “Karpov may become the first World Champion to both win and lose the title without playing a game.”
What a situation! Here we have a second consecutive World Champion talking about “his” title, adopting a non-negotiable position, and threatening not to play unless FIDE obeys his commands!
Interzonals
The two Interzonals were organized in Biel, Switzerland and in Manila, Philippines. In Biel with 17 IGM, Larsen showed his best by playing like in the seventies. Strong leader since the middle of the tournament he didn’t force too much and won the tournament without any opposition. Before the last round six players were fighting for three places. The main surprise of the last round came from Smyslov who was fighting for the qualification; against the Cuban player Diaz, who finished the tournament at the last position he could only secure a draw. Petrosian was luckier. He compensated an unexpected lost to the Colombian Castro by a good victory on Larsen and joined at the last minute Tal and Portisch at the second place. The tie-break was tragic for Tal who couldn’t win a single game.
In Manila, the Brazilian Mecking won his second Interzonal and Polugaevsky qualified some how quite easily for the second time to the Candidates. Hort had to wait till the last minute and the result of the game Tsheskovsky-Pachman (won by the last) to celebrate his first participation to the Candidates’ matches. Disappointment for Spassky just immigrated in France, who despite a victory against Mecking, finished only at the 10th place.
Biel 1976.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Total | |||
| 1 | Larsen,B | 2625 | Xx | 0 | 1 | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.5 |
| 2 | Petrosian,T | 2635 | 1 | Xx | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12.0 |
| 3 | Portisch,L | 2625 | 0 | = | xx | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12.0 |
| 4 | Tal,M | 2615 | = | = | 1 | xx | 0 | 1 | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.0 |
| 5 | Smyslov,V | 2580 | = | = | = | 1 | Xx | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | 11.5 |
| 6 | Byrne,R | 2540 | 1 | = | = | 0 | 1 | xx | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 11.5 |
| 7 | Huebner,R | 2585 | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | xx | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 11.5 |
| 8 | Andersson,U | 2585 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | xx | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10.5 |
| 9 | Csom,I | 2490 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | xx | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | = | 10.0 |
| 10 | Geller,E | 2620 | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | = | xx | = | 1 | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10.0 |
| 11 | Smejkal,J | 2615 | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | xx | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 10.0 |
| 12 | Sosonko,G | 2505 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | xx | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 9.5 |
| 13 | Liberzon,V | 2540 | 0 | = | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | = | Xx | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 9.0 |
| 14 | Rogoff,K | 2480 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | 1 | xx | = | 0 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 9.0 |
| 15 | Gulko,B | 2530 | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | xx | = | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 |
| 16 | Sanguineti,R | 2480 | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | xx | = | = | = | 1 | 8.5 |
| 17 | Matanovic,A | 2525 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | xx | = | = | 1 | 8.0 |
| 18 | Castro,O | 2380 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | Xx | 1 | = | 6.0 |
| 19 | Lombard,A | 2420 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | xx | 1 | 5.0 |
| 20 | Diaz,JC | 2385 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | xx | 2.5 |
Varese tie-break, 1976
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 1 | Petrosian,T | 2635 | Xxx | 1 = = = | = = = = | 4.5 |
| 2 | Portisch,L | 2625 | 0 = = = | xxx | = 1 = = | 4.0 |
| 3 | Tal,M | 2615 | = = = = | = 0 = = | Xxx | 3.5 |
Interzonal Manila 1976
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Total | |||
| 1 | Mecking,H | 2620 | xx | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13.0 |
| 2 | Polugaevsky,L | 2635 | = | xx | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 12.5 |
| 3 | Hort,V | 2600 | = | 1 | xx | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.5 |
| 4 | Tseshkovsky,V | 2550 | 0 | = | 1 | xx | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 12.0 |
| 5 | Ribli,Z | 2475 | = | = | = | = | xx | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 11.5 |
| 6 | Ljubojevic,L | 2620 | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | xx | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | 0 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 11.5 |
| 7 | Kavalek,L | 2540 | = | = | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | xx | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 10.5 |
| 8 | Panno,O | 2520 | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | Xx | 1 | 1 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 10.5 |
| 9 | Balashov,Y | 2545 | = | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | xx | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 10.5 |
| 10 | Spassky,B | 2630 | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | xx | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 10.0 |
| 11 | Gheorghiu,F | 2540 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | xx | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | 10.0 |
| 12 | Uhlmann,W | 2555 | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | xx | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | 10.0 |
| 13 | Mariotti,S | 2470 | = | = | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | Xx | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10.0 |
| 14 | Quinteros,M | 2540 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | xx | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 |
| 15 | Browne,W | 2585 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | 0 | xx | 1 | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | 8.5 |
| 16 | Torre,E | 2505 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | xx | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7.0 |
| 17 | Biyiasas,P | 2460 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | xx | 1 | = | 0 | 6.0 |
| 18 | Pachman,L | 2520 | 0 | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | xx | = | = | 5.0 |
| 19 | Tan,L | 2365 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | = | xx | = | 5.0 |
| 20 | Harandi,K | 2380 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | = | = | xx | 5.0 |
Candidates’ s Quarterfinal matches
On July 27, 1976 Korchnoi playing in Holland asked political asylum in Amsterdam. On August 3, the Dutch authorities granted him a visa for 6 months.
In a letter to the FIDE President Dr. Max Euwe, the USSR Chess Federation has challenged Viktor Korchnoi’s right to participate in the 1977 Candidates’ Matches
From: Yu. Averbach, Moscow (USSR Chess Federation letterhead)
To: Max Euwe, Amsterdam, FIDE President
Date: September 6, 1976
Dear Mr. President,
In accordance with the decision of September 3rd, 1976 the USSR Chess Federation disqualified Victor Korchnoi for his indecent conduct and in view of this requests to exclude him from the number of participants of the 1977 Candidates’ Matches because he will not be delegated to this competition by our Federation and may not represent the other Federation.
Our request is based on Article 2.1 of the FIDE Statutes according to which the FIDE Members are the National Chess Federations which govern the chess activity in their countries and delegate their chess players for participation in the official and unofficial competitions held under the aegis of the FIDE.
This is also confirmed in the decision of the last FIDE Congress of 1974 that the organizers of the International Tournaments should send invitations to players via their National Federations or at least inform these Federations by the copy of the text of the invitation. The Tournaments, where take part the players not recommended by their Federations, are not considered while awarding the International Titles (Annex 25, point 2).
Points 13, 21, 23, 38, 39 of the Regulations for the Candidates’ Matches for the 1977 Men’s World Championship provide that an number of functions while organization and holding of the competition should be realized with participation of the National Federations of the participants of the Matches with taking into account their opinions.
Thus, though the right to take part in the competition for the World Championship is won by the player as a result of his sports performances, however, each participant of such competition should represent a certain National Federation – the FIDE Member and compete as a member of this Federation.
At the same time we believe it necessary to take a decision on holding in due time (before the end of the current year) the Match between the players who took the fourth places in two Interzonal Tournaments to determine the player for the vacant place in case of non-participation of Korchnoi in the 1977 Candidates’ Matches.
Please inform us of the decision made.
Yours sincerely,
Yu. Averbakh
President of the USSR Chess Federation
However, FIDE declared that its statutes make clear that participation is earned as an individual right, no matter where the player in question may live. Dr. Euwe is expected to reject the claim on this basis at the FIDE Congress. The Netherlands Ministry of Justice granted Korchnoi “resident’s status in the Netherlands for an indefinite period”. Korchnoi had requested political asylum but this was, with no reason given, rejected.
Korchnoi in his biography: “It was painful to read the names of those who had signed the letter. For twenty years I had exchanged ideas with each one of them, and we had shared our last bread-and-butter. However, I have eye-witness evidence to prove that at least one of them never actually saw the letter, and didn’t know anything about it, but that his signature nevertheless appeared below the document. In particular, it should be noted that this crude attack by the Soviet authorities was not supported by Karpov”.
Il Ciocco, II-III, 1977.
For the third time the ‘enemy brothers’ met for the Candidates. Playing a quality down Petrosian lost normally the 5th game but recovered fast by mating Korchnoi the 6th game. In the decisive one, playing quietly with White, he suddenly sacrificed a exchange and lost completely control. It is interesting to note that for the first time, Korchnoi played under “stateless” banner.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total | |
| Korchnoi V | = | = | = | = | 1 | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 6.5 |
| Petrosian T | = | = | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | 5.5 |
Rotterdam, II-III, 1977.
Beautiful fight in Holland but it was hard to understand the way that Larsen played his last game…so weak.!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total | |
| Larsen B | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | 3.5 |
| Portisch L | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 6.5 |
Lucerne, II-III, 1977.
The second game won with the black color, after Mecking blundered on move 41, was enough for Polugaevsky to control the match.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total | ||
| Polugaevsky L | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 6.5 | |
| Mecking H | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 5.5 |
Reykjavik, II-III, 1977.
Robert Fischer was seated to play Hort but since didn’t register he was replaced by Spassky who was qualified as one of the two losers (the other was Petrosian, already qualified) of the Candidates’ semifinals 1974. So after unqualified through the Interzonal once again Spassky qualified to the Candidates.
Leading the match since round three, Spassky was catch-up in the tenth game. According to the rule a tie-break of two games was played which ended even then a second one which was decisive.
What would happened if Hort didn’t loose both games on time and especially the last one with a complete winning position?
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Total | ||
| Spassky B | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | 8.5 | |
| Hort V | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | 7.5 |
Semifinal matches
Played in the French city of Evian the match showed two things. First the willingness of Korchnoi to destroy any communist representative and secondly to prove the world that he will be again the right challenger to play Karpov. Helped with the English Grandmaster’s pair Ray Keene and Michael Stean, Korchnoi knocked out immediately Polugaevsky. The Soviet could never recover the 5 loses in the first even games.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Total | |
| Korchnoi V | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | 8.5 |
| Polugaevsky L | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | 4.5 |
Geneva, VII-VIII, 1977.
The match previously scheduled to be played in Evian, was moved to Switzerland at the request of Portisch, who refused to play in the new country residence of Spassky. The match started well for Portisch who won with Black a difficult Ruy Lopez’s game. Twice Spassky recovered immediately to level the score. Then he overplayed the Hungarian with two impressive and decisive victories.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Total | |
| Spassky B | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | 8.5 |
| Portisch L | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 6.5 |
