Poughkeepsie Journal Poughkeepsie, New York Sunday, June 30, 1963 - Page 7C
Russian Champ Eyes Chess Title
Los Angeles (AP)—World chess champion Tigran (Tiger) Petrosian—a Russian who plays like a python—comes out as a favorite Monday in the opening round of play for the Pitaiagorsky Cup.
Petrosian, who won his world title last month by beaten Mikhail Botvinnik in Moscow faces seven of the world's greatest chess players in what sponsors call “one of the most important chess tournaments ever to take place in this country.”
Not since 1932 has a world champion competed in a major U.S. tourney. Another Russian, Alexander Alekhine, won a master tournament in Pasadena, Calif., that year.
The methodical and relentless Petrosian, 33, will meet the international grandmasters in a month-long double round robin competition that will give the winner first prize of $3,000 and the silver trophy.
Prizes, donated by the Pitagorsky Foundation, total $10,000. Mrs. Gregor Pitagorsky, wife of the celebrated cellist, heads the foundation.
Pushing Petrosian for top honors will be Samuel Reshevsky of Spring Valley, N.Y., Pal Benko of New York, Oscar R. Panno and Miguel Najdorf of Argentina, Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia, Fredrik Olafsson of Iceland and Paul Keres of the Soviet Union.
Bobby Fischer, the U.S. champion, will not attend.
Officials say they invited the 20-year-old chess prodigy, but he turned down the offer.
“He wanted special conditions, including more money than we are giving the others,” Mrs. Piatagorsky said. “We declined to meet his requests.”
The Pitagorsky foundation pays only traveling and living expenses, plus the prize money, for competitors attending the meet.
Petrosian, whose play has been likened to a python suffocating its victims, is tabbed by observers to take home the cup.
Said one: “He had a terrific test in the world championship and he passed. If he continues like that, he should win it.”
The double round robin tourney calls for each player to meet every other contestant twice. Games will be played at the Ambassador Hotel, with four games going on at the same time for the 14 sessions.
Each game won will give one point to the winner, nothing to the loser a half point to each in case of a draw.
Director Isaac Kashdan, said the meet is expected to draw about 800 spectators the first night.
Chess boards will be set up in separate rooms with experts on hand to explain the masters' moves play-by-play.