The International Tournament in Varna

The international tournament in Varna was undoubtedly the biggest and most interesting event in Bulgarian chess that year. Its history was closely connected with the modern Black Sea resort of Golden Sands.

The first international tournament had been played there in 1957, when development of the previously almost deserted but naturally beautiful area had only just begun. The chess players were among the first guests of the new holiday complex. Milko Bobotsov won that event by two clear points. The tournaments of 1960 and 1964 were held before Olympiads: Nikola Padevsky and Soviet master Nikolai Krogius shared first place in 1960, while Soviet grandmaster Evgeni Vasiukov won outright in 1964.

In 1957 Bobotsov had still been only a national master, and in 1960 Padevsky an international master. Now both former winners returned to the fourth tournament as grandmasters. Could either of them win again? The field was strong and predictions varied widely. The boldest prediction came from a young Bulgarian master who declared that the 22-year-old Lubomir Kavalek, the youngest participant, would win by two points. He had recently watched Kavalek at the World Student Championship in Sinaia.

The tournament was played in one of the halls of the international sports centre. The atmosphere was pleasant; the sea, the landscape and the autumn weather offered ideal conditions both for creative struggle over the board and for recovery after hard games.

Kavalek attracted attention as early as the second round. His play repeatedly sought maximum complications and tactical tension. Even positions that appeared to be settling down could suddenly become sharp once Kavalek found an energetic resource. That uncompromising approach became the defining feature of his tournament.

The prediction proved remarkably accurate: Kavalek won the event and confirmed that his success was no accident. The Varna tournament became an important step on his road to the grandmaster title.