ANew York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, September 28, 1958
Eight Will Play In World Chess
Six Stars Who Qualified at Interzonal, Smyslov and Keres Will Compete
Two years ago, at Amsterdam, the Netherlands, ten competed in the challengers' tournament which determined the candidate to meet Mikhail Botvinnik of Russia for the world championship at chess.
It resulted in a triumph for Vassily Smyslov who, in due course, became Botvinnik's successor, but lost the title in the return match. Smyslov, as well as Paul Keres, the runner-up, were seeded into the challengers' test of 1959.
They will meet the six that recently qualified in the interzonal at Portoroz, including Bobby Fischer, U.S. champion. Of these only Tigran Petrosian of Russia again will be competing.
Others are Mikhail Tal the Soviet champion; Svetozar Gligoric, Yugoslavia; Fridrik Olafsson, Iceland; and Pal Benko, a Hungarian refugee soon to return to Cleveland, where he has made his home.
Benko, still in Europe, has been added to the United States delegation at the chess Olympics starting Tuesday in Munich. He will serve in an advisory capacity.
Iceland in Running
The International Federation at Stockholm as intimated that if Argentina fails to be host to the challengers tournament, the bid of Iceland will receive serious consideration.
The enthusiasm for chess in Reykjavik has been heightened by the brilliant showing made by Olafsson at Portoroz, where he finished in fifth place.
Winning eight games, drawing eight and losing four, he made a score of 12—8, equal to that of Fischer. Olafsson will head the team representing Iceland at Munich.
Another selection of games played in Portoroz, including specimens of Olafsson's play and two by Tal, winner of the tournament, have reached here from Yugoslavia, as follows:
Mednis and Fischer Tie
Edmar Mednis, New York University star and a member of the United States intercollegiate team at Varna, shared the honors of the weekly speed tournament with Bobby Fischer. United States champion, at the Marshall Chess Club. Both rolled up a score of 13-2 in a field of 16.
Jack W. Collins, former New York State champion, who was the only player able to win from the 15-year-old international grandmaster, recently returned from Portoroz.
James T. Sherwin, also a contestant in the tournament at Portoroz, placed third with 12-3. Allen Kaufman, 11½-3½, was fourth. Collins tied at 11-4 with Vincent Noga.
