Adversity for Ståhlberg in Stockholm

Bent Larsen in second place

The most remarkable feature of this tournament, held in Stockholm from 26 December to 5 January, was Ståhlberg’s placing. The Swedish grandmaster, who had dominated Swedish chess since returning home from Argentina in 1948, suffered his first major failure here.

He finished seventh in a tournament containing only two foreign participants and seven other Swedish players. Three of the Swedes defeated him, while two others also obtained winning positions against him but failed to convert them. Within the space of a week, the other members of the Swedish national team lost much of the great respect they had previously shown for Ståhlberg’s strength, and in future many Swedish players will probably play actively for a win against the grandmaster.

But has Ståhlberg really become so weak? No, he has not, but he is in decline, which is entirely natural at his age. He is 47, and modern tournament chess is an exhausting sport. His condition during this tournament was not at its very best; otherwise his result would have been better, although I do not believe that he would have been capable of winning the tournament.

As the table shows, the winner was Martin Johansson. This Dalecarlian, who is virtually unknown outside Sweden, is a very strong player and possesses a calmness and confidence that may bring to mind our own Christian Poulsen. Martin — his surname is rarely used — may perhaps have had a little luck, but his victory must nevertheless be considered fully deserved and popular.

I was satisfied with second prize, but I was especially pleased with the course of the tournament, since it provided good training for my match against Ólafsson. The tournament was very exhausting because I had many adjourned games. My game against Martin, for example, lasted 103 moves and took a total of fourteen hours.

On the day when I played Ståhlberg, I felt so tired that it was almost an achievement merely to keep my eyes open. The reaction to those exertions did not appear, however, until the game against Carlsson, where I made a completely idiotic finger-slip in a slightly better position. Apart from that game, I played very confidently in Zagreb, which strengthens my confidence before the match in Reykjavík.

The Spanish master Torán played several games rather aimlessly and was hardly in his best form. Hörberg was very inconsistent. The junior Söderborg — he is 22 — would have liked the opportunity to take part in a strong tournament. Naturally, he lacked experience, but not ability.

The question of how young Swedish chess talents should be helped to develop is currently a highly topical one in Sweden. The answer given by the national-team class, together with several proposals made in connection with it, has almost been marked by desperation.

Bent Larsen

Fine Victory for “Hedemora”

To have secured victory in a tournament before the final round is always such an exclusive achievement that it deserves special emphasis; ordinarily it also removes any discussion about whether the winner was the rightful one.

In this year’s Christmas and New Year tournament organised by the Stockholm Chess Federation and Dagens Nyheter, Martin Johansson achieved such a decisive victory. Last year he finished a good second behind Ståhlberg, and therefore the fact that “Hedemora” has now gone one step further does not come as any particularly great surprise.

Ståhlberg was out of form and, by his own account, played very poorly in this tournament. The Danish champion Bent Larsen is no longer an unknown quantity, and we have every reason to be satisfied that at least one Swedish player finished ahead of him.

The Spaniard Torán, who made the long journey north and caught a cold in the process, hardly lived up to expectations. Curiously enough, he achieved exactly the same score and placing in the tournament at Beverwijk that followed immediately afterwards.

Burchall probably played somewhat better than expected. Sven Carlsson of Västerås made himself available at the last moment after another player withdrew. He performed well and, among other things, won an excellent game against the Dane.