Rovinj, Round 8: Vlatko Kovacevic beats Bobby Fischer!

by André Schulz
4/17/2020 – Bobby Fischer started the tournament in Rovinj/Zagreb with 6½/7 and seemed to be unstoppable. But in round 8 he suffered a sensational loss against Vlatko Kovacevic who surprised the American in the opening and continued to outplay him convincingly. This is Fischer's first loss since his defeat against Efim Geller in Skopje 1967. Fischer still leads the tournament with 6½/8 but Svetozar Gligoric is only half a point behind. | Photo: Vlatko Kovacevic
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Tournament of Peace, Round 8

The big sensation of yesterday's 8th round of the 2nd Tournament of Peace in Rovinj/Zagreb was Bobby Fischer's loss against Vlatko Kovacevic. But who is this Kovacevic? He is 28 years old and comes from Dubrovnik. We met him after the game.

ChessBase: That was a sensational game, wasn't it...?

Kovacevic: Thanks. I have studied the French Defence intensively for years and I know it very well. Fischer's line is not particularly good.

The move ...b6 is a novelty, isn't it...?

Yes, in the past Black usually played 9...c5, like Euwe did against Alekhine, in their World Championship match 1935. Byrne also played like this against Fischer four years ago. The move is OK, but ...b6 is much better. The Bc8 comes into play.

When did you learn to play chess?

Late, I didn't start until I was 15. Then I was in the Marine Corps in Split but I made good progress in chess. In 1959 I became Junior Champion of Croatia and third at the Junior Championships of Yugoslavia. In 1961 I became a Master Candidate. But then I started to study.

What did you study?

Electrical engineering. They offered me an assistant position, but I decided to play chess.

With success, as you can see!

Yes, last year I also became Croatian Champion.

Do you still live in Dubrovnik?

No, I moved to Zagreb this year. I now play for SK Mladost.

Are you a professional chess player?

No, I work as a sports reporter for the radio in Zagreb.

During the game, when you took a walk, I saw Rona Petrosian talking to you. What did she want?

I don't know. I didn't understand her.

Thank you very much and good luck with your tournament.

Thanks.

Vlatko Kovacevic with his team: Udovcic, Damjanovic, Kovacevic, Hulak, Mrda, Nikolac and Bukal | Photo: Sah.hr

After this interview a player who wants to remain anonymous waved me aside:

"I'll tell you something, but don't mention my name or I'll get in trouble and in the end I might have to leave my country in a couple of years. When Fischer and Kovacevic were playing I sat next door in the café and watched the game, with Tigran and his wife Rona. You know, for him she is a blessing and she helped him to become World Champion, but nobody likes her.

Then Fischer set this trap with f3. Interesting I said, Fischer is allowing him to win the queen but if Kovacevic accepts the 'gift' he may even lose. Great was my astonishment when Petrosian's wife announced that she was going to tell Kovacevic about this trap. Kovacevic avoided it and won. He later confirmed that Rona did approach him. But he did not understand her Russian and found Fischer's trap on his own."


Rona and Tigran

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,180,95054%2421---
1.d4956,91055%2434---
1.Nf3285,50956%2441---
1.c4184,27056%2442---
1.g319,85756%2427---
1.b314,56954%2428---
1.f45,94648%2377---
1.Nc33,89750%2383---
1.b41,78848%2379---
1.a31,24754%2406---
1.e31,08049%2409---
1.d396550%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446554%2381---
1.c343851%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39267%2511---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.Qg4 Nf6 7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qh6 Nbd7 9.Ne2 b6 10.Bg5 Qe7 11.Qh4 Bb7 12.Ng3 h6 13.Bd2 0-0-0 14.Be2 Nf8 15.0-0 Ng6 16.Qxh6 Rh8 17.Qg5 Rdg8 18.f3 e3‼ The trap was 18...Nh4? 19.fxe4! Rxg5 20.Bxg5 and White has counterplay and sufficient compensation for the queen. But after the text move White is lost. 19.Bxe3 Nf8 20.Qb5 Nd5 White is two pawns up but cannot defend against Black's attack. 21.Kf2 a6 22.Qd3 Rxh2 23.Rh1 Qh4 24.Rxh2 Qxh2 25.Nf1 Rxg2+ 26.Ke1 Qh4+ 27.Kd2 Ng6 28.Re1 Ngf4 29.Bxf4 Nxf4 30.Qe3 Rf2 White resigned. He is virtually in zugzwang and will lose material. A surprising but convincing win by Kovacevic. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R-Kovacevic,V-0–11970C15Rovinj/Zagreb8

Games

 
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1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Be2 0-0 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.0-0 Nc6 10.b3 Bf6 11.Be3 d5 12.c5 Nc8 13.h3 Be6 14.Bb5 N8e7 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Nxg5 Nf5 17.Nf3 f6 18.Re1 Qd7 19.b4 Nfe7 20.Ba4 a6 21.Rb1 Bf7 22.b5 axb5 23.Bxb5 Ng6 24.Qd2 Rfe8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Bd3 Na5 27.Rb5 Qd8 28.h4 Ne7 29.Qf4 Qd7 30.Nd2 Bg6 31.Bxg6 hxg6 32.Rb1 Nec6 33.Nb5 Rc8 34.a4 Qf5 35.Qxf5 gxf5 36.f4 Kf7 37.Kf2 Ne7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Browne,W-Marovic,D-1–01970B05Rovinj/Zagreb1
Ghitescu,T-Udovcic,M-0–11970B06Rovinj/Zagreb1
Hort,V-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970C15Rovinj/Zagreb1
Ivkov,B-Bertok,M-½–½1970D58Rovinj/Zagreb1
Kurajica,B-Kovacevic,V-½–½1970B15Rovinj/Zagreb1
Minic,D-Kortschnoj,V-1–01970C04Rovinj/Zagreb1
Parma,B-Fischer,R-0–11970B97Rovinj/Zagreb1
Petrosian,T-Nicevski,R-1–01970E91Rovinj/Zagreb1
Smyslov,V-Gligoric,S-0–11970E61Rovinj/Zagreb1
Bertok,M-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970C85Rovinj/Zagreb2
Fischer,R-Nicevski,R-1–01970B80Rovinj/Zagreb2
Gligoric,S-Kurajica,B-½–½1970D58Rovinj/Zagreb2
Kortschnoj,V-Ivkov,B-1–01970D34Rovinj/Zagreb2
Kovacevic,V-Hort,V-0–11970E95Rovinj/Zagreb2
Marovic,D-Petrosian,T-½–½1970E41Rovinj/Zagreb2
Parma,B-Minic,D-½–½1970C67Rovinj/Zagreb2
Udovcic,M-Smyslov,V-½–½1970D77Rovinj/Zagreb2
Uhlmann,W-Browne,W-1–01970A35Rovinj/Zagreb2
Browne,W-Kovacevic,V-1–01970B15Rovinj/Zagreb3
Ghitescu,T-Kortschnoj,V-½–½1970D88Rovinj/Zagreb3
Hort,V-Gligoric,S-½–½1970C93Rovinj/Zagreb3
Ivkov,B-Parma,B-1–01970A33Rovinj/Zagreb3
Kurajica,B-Udovcic,M-½–½1970B81Rovinj/Zagreb3
Minic,D-Fischer,R-0–11970B99Rovinj/Zagreb3
Nicevski,R-Marovic,D-½–½1970C19Rovinj/Zagreb3
Petrosian,T-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970E89Rovinj/Zagreb3
Smyslov,V-Bertok,M-½–½1970A38Rovinj/Zagreb3
Bertok,M-Kurajica,B-½–½1970B13Rovinj/Zagreb4
Fischer,R-Marovic,D-1–01970B10Rovinj/Zagreb4
Gligoric,S-Browne,W-½–½1970A59Rovinj/Zagreb4
Kortschnoj,V-Smyslov,V-½–½1970C93Rovinj/Zagreb4
Kovacevic,V-Petrosian,T-0–11970A53Rovinj/Zagreb4
Minic,D-Ivkov,B-½–½1970C98Rovinj/Zagreb4
Parma,B-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970C87Rovinj/Zagreb4
Udovcic,M-Hort,V-0–11970D94Rovinj/Zagreb4
Uhlmann,W-Nicevski,R-0–11970E74Rovinj/Zagreb4
Browne,W-Udovcic,M-1–01970B88Rovinj/Zagreb5
Ghitescu,T-Minic,D-½–½1970A65Rovinj/Zagreb5
Hort,V-Bertok,M-½–½1970A56Rovinj/Zagreb5
Ivkov,B-Fischer,R-½–½1970B14Rovinj/Zagreb5
Kurajica,B-Kortschnoj,V-0–11970B70Rovinj/Zagreb5
Marovic,D-Uhlmann,W-0–11970E62Rovinj/Zagreb5
Nicevski,R-Kovacevic,V-½–½1970B32Rovinj/Zagreb5
Petrosian,T-Gligoric,S-0–11970E97Rovinj/Zagreb5
Smyslov,V-Parma,B-½–½1970E06Rovinj/Zagreb5
Bertok,M-Browne,W-½–½1970D47Rovinj/Zagreb6
Fischer,R-Uhlmann,W-1–01970C15Rovinj/Zagreb6
Gligoric,S-Nicevski,R-1–01970A69Rovinj/Zagreb6
Ivkov,B-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970D38Rovinj/Zagreb6
Kortschnoj,V-Hort,V-½–½1970B10Rovinj/Zagreb6
Kovacevic,V-Marovic,D-½–½1970B06Rovinj/Zagreb6
Minic,D-Smyslov,V-½–½1970C97Rovinj/Zagreb6
Parma,B-Kurajica,B-½–½1970B49Rovinj/Zagreb6
Udovcic,M-Petrosian,T-0–11970A04Rovinj/Zagreb6
Browne,W-Kortschnoj,V-0–11970B44Rovinj/Zagreb7
Ghitescu,T-Fischer,R-0–11970E82Rovinj/Zagreb7
Hort,V-Parma,B-½–½1970E11Rovinj/Zagreb7
Kurajica,B-Minic,D-½–½1970B47Rovinj/Zagreb7
Marovic,D-Gligoric,S-0–11970D78Rovinj/Zagreb7
Nicevski,R-Udovcic,M-0–11970B08Rovinj/Zagreb7
Petrosian,T-Bertok,M-½–½1970E14Rovinj/Zagreb7
Smyslov,V-Ivkov,B-1–01970E61Rovinj/Zagreb7
Uhlmann,W-Kovacevic,V-0–11970D38Rovinj/Zagreb7
Bertok,M-Nicevski,R-1–01970D40Rovinj/Zagreb8
Fischer,R-Kovacevic,V-0–11970C15Rovinj/Zagreb8
Ghitescu,T-Smyslov,V-½–½1970E16Rovinj/Zagreb8
Gligoric,S-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970D90Rovinj/Zagreb8
Ivkov,B-Kurajica,B-½–½1970D37Rovinj/Zagreb8
Kortschnoj,V-Petrosian,T-½–½1970E19Rovinj/Zagreb8
Minic,D-Hort,V-½–½1970B07Rovinj/Zagreb8
Parma,B-Browne,W-½–½1970B99Rovinj/Zagreb8
Udovcic,M-Marovic,D-1–01970C04Rovinj/Zagreb8

Standings after round 8

Rk. Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pts.
1 Robert James Fischer                 1     0 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 6.5 / 8
2 Svetozar Gligoric     1   ½ ½   1     ½     ½     1 1 6.0 / 8
3 Tigran V Petrosian   0   ½     ½     1   1   ½     1 ½ 5.0 / 8
4 Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoj     ½   ½ 1   ½ 0   1   1     ½     5.0 / 8
5 Vlastimil Hort   ½   ½     ½   ½ 1   1   ½ ½       5.0 / 8
6 Walter Shawn Browne   ½   0     ½     1   1   0 ½     1 4.5 / 8
7 Mario Bertok     ½   ½ ½   ½     ½   ½     ½ 1   4.5 / 8
8 Vassily V Smyslov   0   ½     ½   ½ ½     1   ½ ½     4.0 / 8
9 Dragoljub Minic 0     1 ½     ½     ½   ½   ½ ½     4.0 / 8
10 Mijo Udovcic     0   0 0   ½     ½         1 1 1 4.0 / 8
11 Bojan Kurajica   ½   0     ½   ½ ½   ½ ½   ½       3.5 / 8
12 Vlatko Kovacevic 1   0   0 0         ½     1     ½ ½ 3.5 / 8
13 Borislav Ivkov ½     0     ½ 0 ½   ½       1 ½     3.5 / 8
14 Wolfgang Uhlmann 0 ½ ½   ½ 1           0         0 1 3.5 / 8
15 Bruno Parma 0       ½ ½   ½ ½   ½   0     ½     3.0 / 8
16 Theodor Ghitescu 0     ½     ½ ½ ½ 0     ½   ½       3.0 / 8
17 Risto Nicevski 0 0 0       0     0   ½   1       ½ 2.0 / 8
18 Drazen Marovic 0 0 ½     0       0   ½   0     ½   1.5 / 8

Games

 
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1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Be2 0-0 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.0-0 Nc6 10.b3 Bf6 11.Be3 d5 12.c5 Nc8 13.h3 Be6 14.Bb5 N8e7 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Nxg5 Nf5 17.Nf3 f6 18.Re1 Qd7 19.b4 Nfe7 20.Ba4 a6 21.Rb1 Bf7 22.b5 axb5 23.Bxb5 Ng6 24.Qd2 Rfe8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Bd3 Na5 27.Rb5 Qd8 28.h4 Ne7 29.Qf4 Qd7 30.Nd2 Bg6 31.Bxg6 hxg6 32.Rb1 Nec6 33.Nb5 Rc8 34.a4 Qf5 35.Qxf5 gxf5 36.f4 Kf7 37.Kf2 Ne7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Browne,W-Marovic,D-1–01970B05Rovinj/Zagreb1
Ghitescu,T-Udovcic,M-0–11970B06Rovinj/Zagreb1
Hort,V-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970C15Rovinj/Zagreb1
Ivkov,B-Bertok,M-½–½1970D58Rovinj/Zagreb1
Kurajica,B-Kovacevic,V-½–½1970B15Rovinj/Zagreb1
Minic,D-Kortschnoj,V-1–01970C04Rovinj/Zagreb1
Parma,B-Fischer,R-0–11970B97Rovinj/Zagreb1
Petrosian,T-Nicevski,R-1–01970E91Rovinj/Zagreb1
Smyslov,V-Gligoric,S-0–11970E61Rovinj/Zagreb1
Bertok,M-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970C85Rovinj/Zagreb2
Fischer,R-Nicevski,R-1–01970B80Rovinj/Zagreb2
Gligoric,S-Kurajica,B-½–½1970D58Rovinj/Zagreb2
Kortschnoj,V-Ivkov,B-1–01970D34Rovinj/Zagreb2
Kovacevic,V-Hort,V-0–11970E95Rovinj/Zagreb2
Marovic,D-Petrosian,T-½–½1970E41Rovinj/Zagreb2
Parma,B-Minic,D-½–½1970C67Rovinj/Zagreb2
Udovcic,M-Smyslov,V-½–½1970D77Rovinj/Zagreb2
Uhlmann,W-Browne,W-1–01970A35Rovinj/Zagreb2
Browne,W-Kovacevic,V-1–01970B15Rovinj/Zagreb3
Ghitescu,T-Kortschnoj,V-½–½1970D88Rovinj/Zagreb3
Hort,V-Gligoric,S-½–½1970C93Rovinj/Zagreb3
Ivkov,B-Parma,B-1–01970A33Rovinj/Zagreb3
Kurajica,B-Udovcic,M-½–½1970B81Rovinj/Zagreb3
Minic,D-Fischer,R-0–11970B99Rovinj/Zagreb3
Nicevski,R-Marovic,D-½–½1970C19Rovinj/Zagreb3
Petrosian,T-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970E89Rovinj/Zagreb3
Smyslov,V-Bertok,M-½–½1970A38Rovinj/Zagreb3
Bertok,M-Kurajica,B-½–½1970B13Rovinj/Zagreb4
Fischer,R-Marovic,D-1–01970B10Rovinj/Zagreb4
Gligoric,S-Browne,W-½–½1970A59Rovinj/Zagreb4
Kortschnoj,V-Smyslov,V-½–½1970C93Rovinj/Zagreb4
Kovacevic,V-Petrosian,T-0–11970A53Rovinj/Zagreb4
Minic,D-Ivkov,B-½–½1970C98Rovinj/Zagreb4
Parma,B-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970C87Rovinj/Zagreb4
Udovcic,M-Hort,V-0–11970D94Rovinj/Zagreb4
Uhlmann,W-Nicevski,R-0–11970E74Rovinj/Zagreb4
Browne,W-Udovcic,M-1–01970B88Rovinj/Zagreb5
Ghitescu,T-Minic,D-½–½1970A65Rovinj/Zagreb5
Hort,V-Bertok,M-½–½1970A56Rovinj/Zagreb5
Ivkov,B-Fischer,R-½–½1970B14Rovinj/Zagreb5
Kurajica,B-Kortschnoj,V-0–11970B70Rovinj/Zagreb5
Marovic,D-Uhlmann,W-0–11970E62Rovinj/Zagreb5
Nicevski,R-Kovacevic,V-½–½1970B32Rovinj/Zagreb5
Petrosian,T-Gligoric,S-0–11970E97Rovinj/Zagreb5
Smyslov,V-Parma,B-½–½1970E06Rovinj/Zagreb5
Bertok,M-Browne,W-½–½1970D47Rovinj/Zagreb6
Fischer,R-Uhlmann,W-1–01970C15Rovinj/Zagreb6
Gligoric,S-Nicevski,R-1–01970A69Rovinj/Zagreb6
Ivkov,B-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970D38Rovinj/Zagreb6
Kortschnoj,V-Hort,V-½–½1970B10Rovinj/Zagreb6
Kovacevic,V-Marovic,D-½–½1970B06Rovinj/Zagreb6
Minic,D-Smyslov,V-½–½1970C97Rovinj/Zagreb6
Parma,B-Kurajica,B-½–½1970B49Rovinj/Zagreb6
Udovcic,M-Petrosian,T-0–11970A04Rovinj/Zagreb6
Browne,W-Kortschnoj,V-0–11970B44Rovinj/Zagreb7
Ghitescu,T-Fischer,R-0–11970E82Rovinj/Zagreb7
Hort,V-Parma,B-½–½1970E11Rovinj/Zagreb7
Kurajica,B-Minic,D-½–½1970B47Rovinj/Zagreb7
Marovic,D-Gligoric,S-0–11970D78Rovinj/Zagreb7
Nicevski,R-Udovcic,M-0–11970B08Rovinj/Zagreb7
Petrosian,T-Bertok,M-½–½1970E14Rovinj/Zagreb7
Smyslov,V-Ivkov,B-1–01970E61Rovinj/Zagreb7
Uhlmann,W-Kovacevic,V-0–11970D38Rovinj/Zagreb7
Bertok,M-Nicevski,R-1–01970D40Rovinj/Zagreb8
Fischer,R-Kovacevic,V-0–11970C15Rovinj/Zagreb8
Ghitescu,T-Smyslov,V-½–½1970E16Rovinj/Zagreb8
Gligoric,S-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970D90Rovinj/Zagreb8
Ivkov,B-Kurajica,B-½–½1970D37Rovinj/Zagreb8
Kortschnoj,V-Petrosian,T-½–½1970E19Rovinj/Zagreb8
Minic,D-Hort,V-½–½1970B07Rovinj/Zagreb8
Parma,B-Browne,W-½–½1970B99Rovinj/Zagreb8
Udovcic,M-Marovic,D-1–01970C04Rovinj/Zagreb8

Translation from German: Johannes Fischer; Viktor Kortschnoi (Chess is My Life) contributed reporting.

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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