By José María González

From 5 to 19 January, the fourteenth edition of the Costa del Sol tournament was held at the Hotel Cervantes in Torremolinos. This is the doyen of the international tournaments held in Spain, organised by the Málaga Chess Federation.

This competition, category 7 according to the ELO system officially established by FIDE, has been one of the most interesting held lately.

Eugen Torre, from the Philippines, deservedly defeated such figures as Gheorghiu, Lombardy, Quinteros, and others, with all merit, since he fought with great heart, taking many risks and going all out. Already in last year’s Orense tournament he “taught the lesson” and showed that one must reckon with him. In addition to the valuable award for triumph, he achieved his first grandmaster norm, something unprecedented for a player from Asian countries, which had never had a figure of this class. Given his rising trajectory and his youth, it is reasonable to suppose that very soon he will obtain the definitive title for the Philippines. Fans of that distant brother country are to be congratulated.

Torre needed to win in the final round against the Yugoslav grandmaster Ostojić in order to take first place. Draws were of no use to him, since by tiebreaks he had resolved nothing against his opponent, who, if he won, would finish second. They played the longest game of the tournament — 72 moves — after nine and a half hours of play, with the aggravating circumstance that the Filipino had had to play the previous night and that same morning, for two hours, an adjourned game against the Cuban Estévez. Both contenders, by mutual agreement, decided to postpone lunch until the game, which finished at 8 p.m., had ended.

Gheorghiu tied on points with Torre and also played a good tournament, showing himself to be in good form. He was the only undefeated player. Lombardy played in “Fischerian” style and took risks, losing three games against Westerinen, Tarjan, and Cardoso, who were the only ones that allowed him to aim for third place despite his seven victories.

Westerinen is not ill-suited to Spanish air, and his fourth place is good. Ostojić is a very strong player for an international master and difficult to beat, although our young compatriot Martín managed to do it.

We found Miguel Angel Quinteros very tired — he has played too many consecutive tournaments — and this great Argentine player, winner last year, had to settle this time for fourth place, which is no doubt not the one that corresponds to him. The American Tarjan, who started very well, deflated toward the end, but his placing is good. The young Martín had a very irregular performance. After meritorious victories over Ostojić, Quinteros, and Tarjan, he had two disappointing games. In general, I think that if his international performances continue, we have a great asset in the making.

The Cuban Estévez points to very good ways, and is another of the young players to be watched. I liked his play. Bellón, poorly. Tired from Orense, where he obtained his international-master title, he played here without grit and without enthusiasm. We are not going to discover his great class, nor is his low placing in this event strange, but his final results have been too meagre, and fortunately he reacted at the end, because otherwise...

Langeweg played below his possibilities, and Cardoso, apart from giving Lombardy and Bellón a nasty surprise in two very good games, did little more.

Our national champion Sanz is in a similar case to Martín’s, and needs more tournaments in order to enter into play with international figures. There is age and youth; the rest will come by itself.

Ruiz seems today the best player from Málaga, and he always sells the point dearly. We have seen him with better play than in previous years.

In sum, we have witnessed one of the most interesting tournaments held in our country. The Málaga Federation, without the fever that has become fashionable in any current organisation for bringing in the greatest names in world chess, has gathered a group of young players whose average age has been only 28, and who consequently fought to the death without giving quarter. It is enough to point out that of the 91 games played, only 22 ended in draws, which does not even reach 24 percent. And this is something that constitutes an authentic record of victories in a tournament. In the final round — very prone to sharing points — there was not a single draw, which ultimately made the tables possible. Positive organisation in favour of our young talents, which it will be appropriate to continue providing. Our congratulations to Pereiro and his “boys.”