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The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, September 24, 1961
Fischer Beats Tal, Leads Bled Tourney
Bobby Fischer, 18-year-old United States chess champion, assumed sole possession of the lead at the half-way mark of the international masters tournament at Bled, Yugoslavia, according to a report from the New York Times.
After 10 rounds Fischer had five wins and as many draws for a score of 7½-2½. His outstanding success was the defeat of Mikhail Tal of Latvia, who recently lost his world championship title.
Tal played a backward variation of the Sicilian Defense, and Fischer quickly gained the initiative. After some sharp play Fischer won a passed pawn deep in Tal's territory. To support it Fischer gave up his queen, but gained more than equivalent in material.
It was Fischer's first victory over Tal, who scored four straight wins against him in the challenger's tournament in Yugoslavia two years ago.
Tal is tied for second place with Paul Keres of Estonia, each having a score of 7-3. Keres also suffered defeat at the hands of an American, former U.S. champion Arthur S. Bisguier of New York.
Svetozar Gligoric leads the Yugoslav contingent, being tied at 6½-3½ by Russian champion Tigran Petrosian. Gligoric is undefeated, whereas Petrosian succumbed to Lajos Portisch of Hungary.
Bisguier started well with three points in his first four games, including the win over Keres, but later lost three times to drop down to the second division with 4-5.
Following is the standing after 10 rounds, and games from the tournament.
