8th International Chess Tournament :: Madrid 1973

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Crosstable

pos. name Elo flag 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 pts Berger + = -
1. GM Karpov, Anatoly 2660 URS ● ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 11 76.50 7 8 0
2. GM Tukmakov, Vladimir 2545 URS ½ ● ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 10½ 72.00 7 7 1
3. GM Furman, Semen 2540 URS ½ ½ ● ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 ½ 1 1 10 70.75 6 8 1
4. GM Hort, Vlastimil 2590 CSR ½ ½ ½ ● ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 9½ 68.00 4 11 0
5. GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang 2560 GDR 0 ½ 0 ½ ● ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 9½ 60.75 6 7 2
6. GM Andersson, Ulf 2555 SWE 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ● ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 9 58.25 5 8 2
7. GM Portisch, Lajos 2650 HUN ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ● ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 9 57.75 5 8 2
8. GM Browne, Walter Shawn 2530 USA ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ● ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 0 8½ 61.75 4 9 2
9. GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir 2565 YUG ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ● ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 8½ 52.75 5 7 3
10. GM Planinc, Albin 2525 YUG 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ● 1 0 1 0 1 1 6½ 40.75 4 5 6
11. GM Panno, Oscar 2585 ARG ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ● ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 6 39.25 2 8 5
12. IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo 2470 ESP 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 1 ½ ● ½ ½ 0 ½ 5 36.00 2 6 7
13.-14. IM Kaplan, Julio 2455 PUR 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ● 1 ½ 1 5 30.75 2 6 7
13.-14. GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo 2435 ESP 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 0 ● ½ 1 5 30.75 2 6 7
15. IM García Martínez, Silvino 2450 CUB 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 1 ½ ½ ● ½ 4 26.00 1 6 8
16. GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel 2400 ESP ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ● 3 21.50 1 4 10

The tournament was actually part of the Palma de Mallorca series, and moved to Madrid due to sponsorship issues.
Even if labelled as "8th Madrit international", it has no connection to previous editions.





Round by round results

1st round — 26th November 1973
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 1 - 0 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 0 - 1 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 1 - 0 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 ½ - ½ 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 0 - 1 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 ½ - ½ 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
1.-5. Karpov, Tukmakov, Hort, Uhlmann, Panno — 1; 6.-11. Furman, Andersson, Portisch, Browne, Planinc, Kaplan — ½; 12.-16. Ljubojević, Calvo Mínguez, Pomar Salamanca, García Martínez, Bellón López — 0;



2nd round — 27th November 1973
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 ½ - ½ 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 0 - 1 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 ½ - ½ 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 ½ - ½ 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 1 - 0 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 ½ - ½ 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 ½ - ½ 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
1.-6. Karpov, Hort, Uhlmann, Browne, Planinc, Panno — 1½; 7.-11. Tukmakov, Furman, Andersson, Portisch, Ljubojević — 1; 12.-15. Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca, García Martínez — ½; 16. Bellón López — 0;



3rd round — 28th November 1973
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 1 - 0 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 0 - 1 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 ½ - ½ 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 1 - 0 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 0 - 1 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 1 - 0 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 ½ - ½ 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 1 - 0 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
1.-2. Karpov, Uhlmann — 2½; 3.-5. Furman, Hort, Portisch — 2; 6.-11. Tukmakov, Browne, Ljubojević, Planinc, Panno, Kaplan — 1½; 12.-14. Andersson, García Martínez, Bellón López — 1; 15.-16. Calvo Mínguez, Pomar Salamanca — ½;



4th round — 30th November 1973
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 0 - 1 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 ½ - ½ 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 1 - 0 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 ½ - ½ 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 0 - 1 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 ½ - ½ 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 1 - 0 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 0 - 1 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
1. Uhlmann — 3½; 2.-4. Karpov, Furman, Hort — 3; 5. Panno — 2½; 6.-9. Tukmakov, Portisch, Browne, Ljubojević — 2; 10.-14. Planinc, Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan, García Martínez, Bellón López — 1½; 15. Andersson — 1; 16. Pomar Salamanca — ½;



5th round — 1st December 1973
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 0 - 1 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 0 - 1 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 ½ - ½ 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 0 - 1 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 1 - 0 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 ½ - ½ 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 ½ - ½ 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 ½ - ½ 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
1.-2. Hort, Uhlmann — 4; 3.-4. Karpov, Furman — 3½; 5.-7. Portisch, Ljubojević, Panno — 3; 8. Tukmakov — 2½; 9.-12. Andersson, Browne, Calvo Mínguez, Bellón López — 2; 13.-15. Planinc, Kaplan, García Martínez — 1½; 16. Pomar Salamanca — 1;



6th round — 2nd December 1973
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 1 - 0 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 ½ - ½ 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 ½ - ½ 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 ½ - ½ 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 ½ - ½ 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 ½ - ½ 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 1 - 0 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
1.-3. Furman, Hort, Uhlmann — 4½; 4. Karpov — 4; 5.-8. Tukmakov, Portisch, Ljubojević, Panno — 3½; 9. Browne — 3; 10.-11. Andersson, Calvo Mínguez — 2½; 12.-13. Planinc, Bellón López — 2; 14.-16. Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca, García Martínez — 1½;



7th round — 4th December 1973
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 ½ - ½ 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 ½ - ½ 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 ½ - ½ 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 1 - 0 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 ½ - ½ 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 0 - 1 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 1 - 0 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 0 - 1 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
1.-3. Furman, Hort, Uhlmann — 5; 4.-5. Karpov, Portisch — 4½; 6.-7. Tukmakov, Ljubojević — 4; 8.-10. Andersson, Browne, Panno — 3½; 11.-13. Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca — 2½; 14.-16. Planinc, García Martínez, Bellón López — 2;



8th round — 5th December 1973
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 1 - 0 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 0 - 1 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 ½ - ½ 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 ½ - ½ 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 0 - 1 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 ½ - ½ 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
1.-2. Hort, Uhlmann — 6; 3.-4. Karpov, Furman — 5½; 5. Portisch — 5; 6.-7. Tukmakov, Ljubojević — 4½; 8.-9. Andersson, Browne — 4; 10. Panno — 3½; 11.-13. Planinc, Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan — 3; 14. Pomar Salamanca — 2½; 15.-16. García Martínez, Bellón López — 2;



9th round — 7th December 1973
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 0 - 1 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 ½ - ½ 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 1 - 0 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 0 - 1 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 ½ - ½ 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 1 - 0 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 ½ - ½ 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 ½ - ½ 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
1. Uhlmann — 7; 2.-3. Furman, Hort — 6½; 4. Karpov — 6; 5. Tukmakov — 5½; 6.-7. Portisch, Browne — 5; 8.-9. Andersson, Ljubojević — 4½; 10. Panno — 4; 11.-12. Planinc, Calvo Mínguez — 3½; 13.-14. Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca — 3; 15. Bellón López — 2½; 16. García Martínez — 2;



10th round — 8th December 1973
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 ½ - ½ 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 1 - 0 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 1 - 0 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 ½ - ½ 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 ½ - ½ 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 1 - 0 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
1. Uhlmann — 7½; 2.-3. Furman, Hort — 7; 4.-5. Karpov, Tukmakov — 6½; 6. Portisch — 6; 7.-9. Andersson, Browne, Ljubojević — 5½; 10. Panno — 4½; 11.-13. Planinc, Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan — 3½; 14. Pomar Salamanca — 3; 15.-16. García Martínez, Bellón López — 2½;



11th round — 9th December 1973
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 ½ - ½ 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 0 - 1 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 ½ - ½ 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 1 - 0 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 0 - 1 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 ½ - ½ 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 1 - 0 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 0 - 1 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
1. Uhlmann — 8½; 2.-5. Karpov, Tukmakov, Furman, Hort — 7½; 6.-7. Portisch, Browne — 6½; 8.-9. Andersson, Ljubojević — 6; 10. Panno — 5; 11. Planinc — 4½; 12.-13. Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan — 3½; 14. Pomar Salamanca — 3; 15.-16. García Martínez, Bellón López — 2½;



12th round — 11th December 1973
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 ½ - ½ 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 1 - 0 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 ½ - ½ 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 1 - 0 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 1 - 0 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 1 - 0 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
1.-4. Karpov, Tukmakov, Furman, Uhlmann — 8½; 5. Hort — 8; 6.-7. Portisch, Browne — 7; 8.-9. Andersson, Ljubojević — 6½; 10.-11. Planinc, Panno — 5; 12. Pomar Salamanca — 4; 13.-15. Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan, García Martínez — 3½; 16. Bellón López — 2½;



13th round — 12th December 1973
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 ½ - ½ 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 ½ - ½ 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 ½ - ½ 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 0 - 1 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 0 - 1 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 1 - 0 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 0 - 1 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 ½ - ½ 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
1.-2. Karpov, Furman — 9½; 3. Tukmakov — 9; 4.-5. Hort, Uhlmann — 8½; 6. Portisch — 8; 7.-8. Browne, Ljubojević — 7½; 9. Andersson — 7; 10.-11. Planinc, Panno — 5½; 12.-13. Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca — 4; 14.-15. Calvo Mínguez, García Martínez — 3½; 16. Bellón López — 3;



14th round — 13th December 1973
GM Hort, Vlastimil CSR 2590 ½ - ½ 2545 URS GM Tukmakov, Vladimir
GM Karpov, Anatoly URS 2660 ½ - ½ 2650 HUN GM Portisch, Lajos
GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir YUG 2565 1 - 0 2585 ARG GM Panno, Oscar
IM Kaplan, Julio PUR 2455 ½ - ½ 2560 GDR GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang
GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel ESP 2400 0 - 1 2555 SWE GM Andersson, Ulf
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2435 ESP GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo
GM Furman, Semen URS 2540 0 - 1 2470 ESP IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo
IM García Martínez, Silvino CUB 2450 0 - 1 2525 YUG GM Planinc, Albin
1. Karpov — 10; 2.-3. Tukmakov, Furman — 9½; 4.-5. Hort, Uhlmann — 9; 6.-7. Portisch, Ljubojević — 8½; 8.-9. Andersson, Browne — 8; 10. Planinc — 6½; 11. Panno — 5½; 12.-14. Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca — 4½; 15. García Martínez — 3½; 16. Bellón López — 3;



15th round — 15th December 1973
GM Uhlmann, Wolfgang GDR 2560 ½ - ½ 2590 CSR GM Hort, Vlastimil
GM Planinc, Albin YUG 2525 0 - 1 2660 URS GM Karpov, Anatoly
GM Andersson, Ulf SWE 2555 1 - 0 2565 YUG GM Ljubojević, Ljubomir
GM Portisch, Lajos HUN 2650 ½ - ½ 2540 URS GM Furman, Semen
IM Calvo Mínguez, Ricardo ESP 2470 ½ - ½ 2455 PUR IM Kaplan, Julio
GM Panno, Oscar ARG 2585 ½ - ½ 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Pomar Salamanca, Arturo ESP 2435 ½ - ½ 2450 CUB IM García Martínez, Silvino
GM Tukmakov, Vladimir URS 2545 1 - 0 2400 ESP GM Bellón López, Juan Manuel
1. Karpov — 11; 2. Tukmakov — 10½; 3. Furman — 10; 4.-5. Hort, Uhlmann — 9½; 6.-7. Andersson, Portisch — 9; 8.-9. Browne, Ljubojević — 8½; 10. Planinc — 6½; 11. Panno — 6; 12.-14. Calvo Mínguez, Kaplan, Pomar Salamanca — 5; 15. García Martínez — 4; 16. Bellón López — 3;







Information

8th International Chess Tournament
Dates: 26th November - 15th December 1973
City: Madrid (Spain)
Venue: Castellana Hilton Hotel
Organizers: Castellana Hotel
Tournament Director: Sr. Jorge Puig Laborda
Chief Arbiter: IA Harry Golombek (ENG)
Players participating: 16 (incl. 13 GMs, 3 IMs)
Games played: 120
Competition format: Round Robin
Tie-breaks: 1. Sonnerborn-Berger
Time control:
Website: historiadelajedrezespanol.es
Other websites: chessgames.com
PGN game file: it-madrid1973.pgn





Tournament Review

By José María González, Jaque No.25

From 25 November to 16 December, the VIII Ciudad de Madrid International Tournament was held in the Goya and Sorolla rooms of the Castellana Hilton Hotel in Madrid, sponsored by the City Council of the capital and the Spanish Chess Federation. The organization was handled by the Castellana Hotel, and the tournament was directed by the British International Arbiter of FIDE, Harry Golombek.

In the FIDE rating list, Madrid reached category 12, the highest ever achieved in our country, together with the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal Tournament of 1970 and the recent international events in Leningrad and Petropolis.

This Madrid tournament should really have been called the IX International Tournament of Palma de Mallorca, which had traditionally been held on that beautiful island since 1965 thanks to that great chess enthusiast Juan Casal. But, because of a change of owner, it was left without a suitable venue, although the list of participants was already assured.

The Castellana Hilton Hotel in Madrid took over the list with considerable vision, thus allowing us to enjoy a major chess tournament in an outstanding and magnificent setting, which was continuously visited by a category-level public. In this respect, the famous Palma tournament had gained a great deal among chess activity venues. In others, however, we cannot forget the pleasant and almost family-like meetings at the Jaime I Hotel before and after each round. That atmosphere which, in essence, regular travellers to chess tournaments miss so much is not possible for the moment in the vast halls and facilities of the Castellana Hotel.

It may surprise more recent fans that it is called the VIII Tournament of Madrid, but that is because since May 1961, when the seventh was held, there had been no international activity in the capital of Spain. The winners of the previous editions were: 1943, Keres of the USSR; 1951, Prins of the Netherlands; 1954, O’Kelly of Spain and Prins of the Netherlands tied; 1957, Darga of West Germany; 1959, F. J. Pérez and Pomar of Spain; 1960, Gligorić of Yugoslavia and Pomar of Spain tied, Portisch of Hungary and Donner of the Netherlands; 1961, Milić of Yugoslavia and Robatsch of Austria.

And so we come to the VIII International Tournament of Madrid, in which the young 23-year-old Soviet player Anatoly Karpov, candidate for the world title, won brilliantly in sole first place without suffering a defeat.

I knew Karpov only through news reports and through his games. Now I have dealt with him and have seen him: a young man of delicate appearance, lively and intelligent eyes, and pleasant manners, traits that can be seen in his games. He has a solid positional game, very effective where it is difficult to find the best moves; he does not play for the gallery but, based on a simple idea in the position, he applies it in the most effective and enormously practical way and dominates a large number of variations. This is a difficult virtue to grasp afterwards when one replays his games and has seen them all before. He plays with great strength and his fastidious appearance is only that: appearance.

Karpov has won and we should all congratulate ourselves because the best player won. The Soviet player will take away a magnificent memory of our country, because he also received the World Chess Oscar for 1973, the prize for the best game against Uhlmann, and the prize for the player with the highest score in the last five rounds. He only failed to win the prize for the best finish to a game, which was won by Ljubojević for his victory against Bellón.

His compatriots Tukmakov and Furman took second and third places, also without too much competition when it came to sinking the German Uhlmann after he lost to the winner and when the Czechoslovak Hort played conservatively, setting the record for draws with eleven, although he was the only player apart from the winner not to lose a game.

Portisch will have to play much better in a few days against Petrosian in Palma if he wants to defeat the Armenian. Here we saw him with a training plan for that match.

Browne also conceded too many draws, and his defeat against Bellón at that moment took away all his chances of first place.

The low standing of the two Yugoslavs should be borne in mind given their great category. Ljubojević seemed tired — perhaps from the tournaments he had just played in Manila — and from him we normally expect much more. Planinc, two points behind him, disappointed the Madrid public. In his defence, it must be said that his state of health was not optimal.

Nor did the Argentine Panno shine in Madrid. Winner of the last two Palma tournaments, we now discovered his extraordinary class and his classification — modest by current standards — does not do him justice. In spite of everything, he played very good games, and had they considered giving the tournament’s “consolation prize”, it would have been shared between Bellón and him.

Pomar seemed tired to me. Perhaps his poor performances this year are due to that, or else a chess halt will undoubtedly help him recover.

The Puerto Rican Kaplan gave a recital in “knowing how to be there”, and given his still few years I estimate that he has a good future over the board.

Calvo was, in my view, the Spaniard who played best. He fought without giving up his draws with Tukmakov and his victory against Furman. In other games he was irregular, but always within a line of good play.

Silvino García of Cuba showed the effects of having been away from major tournaments recently. He has class — and already a norm for grandmaster — and I believe that in Hastings, where he will take part in a few days, he will be different.

Juan Manuel Bellón kept the “red lantern” for himself, but in half a dozen games he played chess of a high standard. His draws with Karpov, which did not bear fruit in the final score, were due to time trouble and a lack of stamina after his discharge from the army. I would wager that very soon we shall have another international master in Bellón, because he has class to spare.

Honestly, this VIII International Tournament of Madrid has been enormously strong and unsuitable for Florituras. The play of our players was much more dignified than their precarious final standings suggest. There are very few category-12 tournaments in the world, and competing honourably in them against opponents of this class, completely professionalized, is something that deserves general applause and... measures to be taken.

A closing dinner, prize-giving ceremony, and the official announcement of the IX International Tournament of Madrid 1974 closed this important chess event. Congratulations, Madrid!

The vote to elect the ten best chess players of 1973, conducted by the specialized press from all over the world, was as follows:

World Chess Oscar for the Soviet Anatoly Karpov; 2nd: Spassky; 3rd: Portisch; 4th: Korchnoi; 5th: Tal; 6th: Petrosian; 7th: Mecking; 8th: Larsen; 9th: Byrne; and 10th: Polugaevsky.