Maróczy Memorial Tournament in 1952 (6th part)
Submitted by
cgs on Mon, 07/21/2008 at 10:12am.
Balance of „half-time”
(by grandmaster Viacheslav Ragozin)
Once 100 years ago, people played chess as they didn’t bother about his adversary, with his caracteristic feature and style of his play. The attention and all eyes were focused just for chessboard. Step by step drew the various sorts of elements of sport into the chess-playing. Appeared special chess-clock, which controls the number of moves. The compulsary writing of game was indicated and the chess fighting began before that the players set down to chessboard…. In consequence of these on the tournaments the players use two alternate tactics. One can reach the success solely by judgement of position, the other follows with attention the style of opponent and recently the role in the tournament in his own interest to reach result.
Every participant of MMT selected the later system, the modern tactics of fight. Conspicuous is the good theoretical preparedness, this is the reason of the strong battles in every round and games of the tournament.
Terminated the first half of the tournament and possible talk about form of competitors. Successively with four victory began the tournament Geller soviet master as the best of all and he leads after nine round. In good form is grandmaster Stahlberg too. Stahlberg is older with 17 years as Geller and suitable is for his age his start wasn’t a stormy, on the other hand it’s due to his experience and calm play that he is the only participant of tournament who still didn’t lose game. Behind the head of tournament go forward Szabó and Keres grandmasters with difference one points. Keres in some games demonstrated the profoundity of chess-playing. It is not accidental that has a role between vanquished Geller and Smyslov. Grandmaster Szabó after a weak start followed example of Geller: he won four times successively! Gained very meaningful victory against Keres. (here is the game)…
Behind they are Botvinnik world champion, O’Kelly Belgian champion and Szily with half points difference. Botvinnik has an alternating role in this tournament, so far… He is still far away from his best form, when he fought the game out to a finish evenly and strongly. Considering his world champion character his placing is humble… O’Kelly in this tournament hazards nothing and has the most draws, in nine game is five.
Among Hungarians have a role successfully Barcza and Szily. The Hungarian champion Barcza has an original style in chess… Attacks bravely, as in the game against Gereben, and defends himself powerful and gently, as example against Stahlberg… Master Szily is is a good practical chess-player. Gave evidence of his victory against the world champion. (the game is at previous article)
Now follows the most difficult part of tournament, the final spurt. Before us will be a lot of interesting and exciting games. Will be triumphant who disposes of his time well for the long and tiring course: for 17 series of games!
Above on the picture there are Maróczy’s wife, Maróczy, Maróczy’s daughter in 1928, in Hotel Gellért. There was a gala to have respect for the olympic victory of Hungarian team in Haga. This is only a detail from a great photograph.
The leader group of MMT:
Geller 7, Stahlberg 6,5, Keres, Szabó 6-6, Botvinnik, O’Kelly, Szily 5,5-5,5, Barcza, Pilnik 5-5, Gereben, Golombek, Petrosian, Smyslov 4,5-4,5.
Szabó won the third beauty-prize with his game against Keres.
Results, VIII. series of games:
Platz – Gereben 0-1 Smyslov – O’Kelly 1-0
Botvinnik – Benko" ½-½ Petrosian – Szabó 0-1
Troianescu – Kottnauer 0-1 Keres – Stahlberg ½-½
Barcza – Szily ½-½ Pilnik – Golombek ½-½
Analyzed by Csaba Gerencsér
Results, IX. series of games:
Geller – Smyslov ½-½ Benko" – Barcza 0-1
Golombek – Sliwa 1-0 Kottnauer – Botvinnik 0-1
Stahlberg – Pilnik ½-½ O’Kelly – Troianescu 1-0
Gereben – Petrosian ½-½ Szily – Platz 1-0
Analyzed by László Szabó