Jubilee International Tournament in Debrecen

The series of international tournaments organised in memory of Dr Lajos Asztalos reached an important milestone this year. The first three events had been held in Balatonfüred between 1958 and 1960. All three offered ideal conditions for the competitors, but they also had one serious disadvantage: in a holiday resort the tournament could not attract the desired number of spectators. There were many visitors, yet only the most devoted chess enthusiasts attended the otherwise excellent and attractive competitions.

The absence of a larger audience gradually became increasingly noticeable, and, through a fortunate combination of circumstances, Debrecen offered the best possible solution. In that year Debrecen, the “capital of the Tiszántúl”, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its sports association, and the city included the Asztalos Memorial among the sporting events organised for the jubilee.

The beautiful Nagyerdő district, the ideal surroundings, the exemplary hospitality of the staff of the Arany Bika Hotel, and the spacious tournament hall made available by the Society for the Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge provided the players with everything Balatonfüred had offered, while adding the important advantage of a much larger audience. The spectators followed every round with continuous excitement and hoped that one of the Hungarian competitors might eventually reach first place.

It may be said that the tournament became a powerful advertisement for chess in Debrecen and, at the same time, showed how new paths might be opened for the wider popularisation and development of chess. It would be desirable for other cities to follow Debrecen’s example in the coming years.

The tournament began on 15 July with eight foreign and six Hungarian players. The field consisted of two grandmasters, six international masters, five masters and one candidate master. At the opening ceremony Dr András Rapcsák, rector of the university and chairman of the organising committee, welcomed the participants. József Csabai, executive secretary of the city council, greeted them on behalf of the host city, while Zoltán Gábor, acting president of the Hungarian Chess Federation, officially opened the tournament. On behalf of the players, Dr Stefan Fazekas, the Hungarian master living in England, gave a short speech. After a brief interval the struggle began.

The very first round produced several surprises. The greatest was the victory of the Polish champion Tarnowski over Barcza. An even greater sensation among the Debrecen spectators was caused by Bánfalvi’s beautiful sacrificial victory over Ciocâltea.

Spanish Opening — Ciocâltea–Bánfalvi, first round

With bold and energetic play Bánfalvi launched a kingside attack and, after a series of sacrifices, forced a decisive breakthrough. The game was one of the most attractive encounters of the opening round.

Another exciting game, although of less importance for the leading places, was Paoli–Filep. The Debrecen master reached the adjournment with an extra pawn after 41...Re7–f7. After the resumption, however, Black found an unexpected resource and demonstrated that the Italian master’s assessment had been too optimistic. The struggle continued for many moves before ending in a draw.

Spanish Opening — Boleslavsky–Pogáts, fifth round

In this game Pogáts obtained a promising position and for a long time appeared to have the better chances. After the adjournment, however, Boleslavsky defended accurately. The Hungarian master later admitted that he had missed his best winning opportunity shortly before the second time control. The game was eventually drawn.

The tournament was by no means dull. Even Boleslavsky, after five draws, could not be regarded as certain to reach the top. Most of the players had already suffered defeats and relatively few had escaped the complications of the first part of the event.

After the fifth round the standings were: Szily 3½ points; Barcza, Haág, Paoli, Pogáts and Suetin 3; Bánfalvi and Boleslavsky 2½; Ciocâltea, Filep, Lokvenc and Tarnowski 2; Fazekas 1 point.

Master Szily subjected both himself and his opponent to an exhausting eleven-hour battle against Bánfalvi.

Bánfalvi–Szily, fifth round

The diagrammed position was reached after seven and a half hours of play, including repeated adjournments. An interesting feature of the preceding struggle was that, while pieces on both wings were under attack, Bánfalvi had sacrificed two pawns in the hope of obtaining winning chances on the b-file. He then handled the position too cautiously and underestimated the danger created by Black’s connected passed pawns. After further complications the passed pawns decided the game and White resigned.

This heavy defeat affected the previously unbeaten Bánfalvi so deeply that he lost three more games in the next four rounds. The most tragic consequence, however, befell the pawn he had sacrificed on the b-file: before the game ended, two more pawns joined it and the resulting group became the decisive force.

Catalan Opening — Fazekas–Szily, sixth round

Szily’s queen became trapped unusually early. Although Black obtained some practical chances, the material disadvantage was too serious and White converted his advantage.

Szily’s position at the top had now been shaken in three consecutive rounds. After five draws, Boleslavsky scored his first victory in round six against Ciocâltea. In the next round he won again, this time against Paoli in only twelve moves. By the ninth playing day he had gathered enough strength to challenge for first place. In the meantime Suetin and Haág had taken over the lead, while Pogáts remained close behind.

English Opening — Barcza–Suetin, sixth round

The game developed into a sharp tactical struggle. Barcza appeared to have active possibilities, but Suetin’s counterplay and piece activity gradually took control. After a complicated middlegame the Soviet master won.

Suetin did not enjoy the fruits of this victory for long. In the very next round he lost to Pogáts.

Pogáts–Suetin, eighth round

After the game Suetin regarded his defeat as one of the simplest of the tournament. Black’s opening choice was not in itself the cause of the loss; the decisive error was the subsequent handling of the position. Pogáts created two connected passed pawns, and these finally forced Black to resign.

Suetin held the sole lead for only one round. Haág, after beginning with five draws and obtaining only a fortunate victory against Pogáts in the first round, gradually found his best form. His play became increasingly energetic and enterprising, and he began to score in a more convincing style.

English Opening — Haág–Paoli, fourth round

Haág built up a dangerous attack. Black’s queen became exposed and the Hungarian master’s initiative soon produced a decisive material gain.

At the beginning of the tournament Boleslavsky’s customary strict and forceful style was not yet visible. By the second half, however, he had changed completely. His victories were not especially spectacular; he often had to work hard to convert only a very small positional advantage. Nevertheless, his technique and patience steadily brought him closer to the leaders.

By the final third of the tournament, Boleslavsky and Haág had established themselves as the principal contenders for first place. Padevsky also improved considerably after his poor start. His victories were generally based on careful positional play rather than brilliant combinations. After defeating Pogáts and Szily he entered the eleventh round level with the leaders.

The tension reached its climax before the final round. Boleslavsky and Haág each had 8½ points, Suetin was half a point behind, and Padevsky had secured fourth place. Pogáts, with seven points, was safely fifth and needed only half a point to fulfil the international-master norm.

Spanish Opening — Boleslavsky–Ciocâltea, third round

Boleslavsky conducted the attack with great precision. After opening lines against the black king he obtained a decisive initiative and forced resignation.

Spanish Opening — Filep–Tarnowski, seventh round

This was one of the tournament’s most attractive positional games and was considered for the beauty prize. Filep steadily increased his advantage and finally broke through in the endgame.

Paoli–Padevsky, thirteenth round

The game quickly became tactical. Padevsky obtained active counterplay and, after a series of forcing moves, won.

Haág–Lokvenc, thirteenth round

According to the initial assessment, the position offered Black adequate defensive chances. Haág, however, continued to increase the pressure and created threats against the king. Lokvenc’s defence finally collapsed, and White’s victory enabled Haág to remain level with Boleslavsky.

Sicilian Defence — Tarnowski–Boleslavsky, thirteenth round

Of the three leaders, Boleslavsky faced the most difficult task. Tarnowski had obtained a dangerous attacking position, but Boleslavsky defended calmly, neutralised the threats, and then launched a decisive counterattack. Black’s victory secured a share of first place.

Haág had already demonstrated his excellent form in the penultimate round against Barcza. In the final round he again showed strong nerves and excellent technique against Lokvenc. Consequently the fourth Asztalos Memorial ended in a tie for first place between Haág and Boleslavsky. The Berger–Sonneborn calculation placed Haág first in the official order.

Haág’s performance earned him the title of international master. Suetin finished third and Padevsky fourth. Pogáts’s carefully secured fifth place also represented a major success, since it gave him the international-master norm. Szily’s performance was likewise noteworthy: after recently making a successful debut in the European team championship, he now confirmed his strength in an international individual tournament.

Final standings

The tournament schedule included complete rest days after rounds three, six and nine. The first rest day was devoted to an excursion to Hortobágy, while the other two included hospitality organised by the university and cultural programmes. The organisers believed that this arrangement contributed greatly to the competitors’ comfort and to the good atmosphere of the event.

The successful organisation of the tournament owed much to Ferenc Pákózdy, tournament director Andor Kovács, and chief arbiter Lajos Ökrös, whose experience, goodwill and enthusiasm overcame every difficulty. The players also expressed their thanks to the officials of Debrecen, the Hungarian Chess Federation and the members of the local organising committee.

At the closing ceremony every participant received a commemorative gift. Ciocâltea received the beauty prize for his victory over Barcza. Filep was awarded the prize for the best defence for his game against Padevsky, while Paoli received the prize for the best game played against one of the prize-winners.

The following morning the participants left for Budapest by bus. At Szolnok, the local chess federation arranged a simultaneous exhibition and a joint dinner. This symbolic conclusion once again showed how chess can strengthen mutual respect, friendship and solidarity.

Gedeon Barcza