Remembering Svetozar Gligoric (Part three)

‘In the previous Olympiad in Leipzig 1960, the Americans pushed us away from our ‘silver’ position. That was the first time Fischer played for the US. To Zlatni pjasci [which translates to Golden sands], the famous resort near Varna, they came as gold prospectors. Silver was not enough for them. They were lead by Fischer, who went into the match with us [the Yugoslav team] as the acknowledged moral victor over Botvinik.

Botvinnik vs Fischer in Varna 1962 – the game ended in a draw

The round pairings were done according to the wishes of the best film directors. The drama was rising. The Soviets had already secured the gold medal. Whereas a direct clash with the Americans, in the last round of the tournament, was to decide how the plot was going to unfold. Before the start of the round we had half a point more than the youthful confident Fischer team, but not a particularly great tradition in matches with our main competitors. They beat us in Leipzig and had two more points than our bronze. In Zlatni pjasci we only needed a 2:2 score. In any other situation nothing impossible, nothing worrisome. But now?

Before the start of the match it seemed that my friends had an unhealthy pale-green colour. No one was eager to play, and those who ‘voluntarily’ had to, were not very calm. It felt like they were already stomping on us... Gligoric had the most difficult task. Bobby was eager for a rematch for his defeat in Leipzig, and what was worse, he had the white pieces. A decisive game. But in whose favour?
Until that round, against e4 we (Gligoric, Matanovic and myself), very successfully played an un-penetrable variant of the Spanish game. But now, should we just stubbornly defend or play something sharper, with chances for both sides? Gligoric’s choice was the bravest, a Sicilian. The first good move, the tenth, belongs to Fischer. By the adjournment it seemed to us, in fear the eyes are big, that there was no salvation for Gliga.

A rare thing happened to me in that round. I played my game with Robert Byrne quickly and efficiently and was able to adjourn it a full hour before the time control. With a sense of comfort I moved into the audience. Feeling like I already had the full point in my pocket, I sat down near ‘Gica’ Maric who was immersed in Gligoric’s position against Fischer. Joining Gica, I right away shared his concerns. It was the critical moment of the game; will Fischer keep or even increase his advantage?

‘Bobby’s pawn on f6 reminds me of horror films – Maric whispered. Like those scenes when the attacker pushes his foot into the door and doesn’t allow the victim to close it...’ But almost imperceptibly, the position changed. Gligoric’s queen cut the diagonals, and then the rooks, long entrenched in the defence of the king, left their trenches and.... an adjournment. But an adjournment which Fischer himself would have wanted if he had Gligoric’s pieces.’

'It was 2 am. The captain of the American team knocked on the door [of Ivkov’s room, which was serving as the Yugoslav team headquarters]. Someone immediately knocked down the pieces on the boards where we we're looking at the adjourned games. The guest addressed Karaklajic, our captain. He suggested – well, in words suggested, but in tone, expressions, gestures, body language, he pleaded – Fischer will resign without resuming play, so could the other game, R. Byrne-B. Ivkov, be declared a draw without resumption?

Karaklajic said that he had to ask me, and by shaking my head and with the expression on my face I declined the offer. When our night visitor left, I explained. It's not only the sports aspect; I have a winning position when it's enough that both I and Gliga draw our games. I have three subjective reasons. First, at the previous Olympiad in Leipzig I lost a much better positions in time pressure to that same Byrne. Second, before the match they were so sure of themselves, they were even arrogant. And third, how can I damage Argentina, my second homeland, where I became a grandmaster when I was 22.

The next day, everything ended according to our expectations – and the American fears. In the golden sands near Varna, Yugoslavia again rose to the silver pinnacle of world chess, the Argentines overtook the Americans and claimed the bronze, and the silver team from Leipzig, the Fischer four, ended fourth without a medal'.