The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 08, 1961
Tal Wins At Bled, Fischer Second
Mikhail Tal of Latvia, until recently world chess champion, won a decisive victory in the international masters tournament at Bled, Yugoslavia, according to a New York Times report.
Tal put on the pressure in the last week, scoring three wins and a draw to bring his total up to 14½-4½. He lost one game to U.S. champion Bobby Fischer, who won 11 times and drew seven.
Fischer, who was the only player to remain undefeated throughout, finished in second place with a score of 13½-5½. He won eight games and drew 11. Among his victims were three Soviet grandmasters, Tigran Petrosian, Ewfim Geller, and Tal. Against the fourth Soviet representative, Paul Keres of Estonia, Fischer had an advantage, but could only draw after two sessions.
This was an excellent performance for the 18-year-old Brooklyn lad in his first tournament after the fiasco of the Reshevsky match. Fischer was evidently in better form or humor or both.
Keres, Petrosian and Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia tied for third with 12½-6½. After surviving 18 rounds without a loss, Gligoric was downed in the final round by Petrosian. Keres was held to a draw in the final round by Petrosian. Keres was held to a draw in the same round by J.H. Donner of the Netherlands.
Former U.S. champion Arthur S. Bisguier ended up with an even score after an erratic performance. He started with three points in his first four games, lost four of his next five, then won four out of five, finally picked up only 1½ points on his last five.
