The sports club of Moscow’s Lomonosov University organized its first individual international tournament from January 2 to 18, in the Chigorin Hall of the Central Chess Club. At a tournament of this category, the II B type, a score of 6.5 points was required for the seventh star needed to confirm the Soviet master title.

The tournament was won by the youngest participant, the university student Razuvaev. He won his first three games, but after losing to me he had to fight for his master title right up to the last round. From the sixth round onward, Khasin led the tournament either alone or jointly. He was deprived of sole first place in the last round by his loss to Kostro, who until then had not won a single game. Khasin played sharply, taking great risks. This man, so severely affected by the war, fully deserves recognition for his unbroken fighting spirit.

Bagirov preserved his unbeaten score by cautious play. Soos had a lost position against me after move 40 in the third round. This gave him wings, and, playing confidently and well, he achieved the best result of his career so far.

As for myself: again, one more tournament in which I missed a fine sporting success. Yet it was there for the taking. Against Soos I spoiled a clearly won position into a draw; against Simagin I turned a pawn advantage into a loss; against Khasin I sacrificed an exchange for a pawn — in a sharp position, it is true — but after a weak sealed move I lost; and against Bagirov, right to the end, even in the adjourned position, I spoiled an easy draw into a loss.

The well-conducted tournament was also a success for the organizing body: two of its young masters obtained the Soviet master norm. The chief arbiter of the tournament was Grandmaster Estrin, the coach of the university team. The work of the tournament management was carried out in exemplary fashion by national arbiter Henkin and his assistants.

György Szilágyi