Rovinj/Zagreb, Round 15: Walter Browne draws against tired tournament winner Fischer

by André Schulz
4/24/2020 – Bobby Fischer, who has dominated the 2. Tournament of Peace in Rovinj/Zagreb from the beginning, seems to be tired. In round 15 he was close to a loss against Walter Browne (pictured) but miraculously saved a draw. However, Viktor Kortschnoi fared even worse against Mario Bertok. But tired or not, with his draw against Browne Fischer is now certain to win the tournament. With two rounds to go he leads with 12.0/15 and is two and a half points ahead of Kortschnoi, Vassily Smyslov, Svetozar Gligoric and Vlastimil Hort who all have 9.5/15.
No other World Champion was more infamous both inside and outside the chess world than Bobby Fischer. On this DVD, a team of experts shows you the winning techniques and strategies employed by the 11th World Champion.

Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco delves into Fischer’s openings, and retraces the development of his repertoire. What variations did Fischer play, and what sources did he use to arm himself against the best Soviet players? Mihail Marin explains Fischer’s particular style and his special strategic talent in annotated games against Spassky, Taimanov and other greats. Karsten Müller is not just a leading international endgame expert, but also a true Fischer connoisseur.

Tournament of Peace, Round 15

Maybe it was Vlastimil Hort who inspired Bobby Fischer to choose the Alekhine defence in his game against Walter Browne in round 15. The Czechoslovakian grandmaster Hort is a well-known supporter of the Alekhine and has achieved some success with it. But does this opening really suit Fischer's style? At any rate, Browne seemed to be a little surprised and did not choose the most principled answer. But should Fischer ever play for the World Championship he might be well advised not to try this slightly dubious opening against Boris Spassky.

However, against Browne's rather tame handling of the opening Fischer had nothing to complain about and he soon was clearly better.

 
W. Browne vs B. Fischer
Position after 28.Rfe1

After the simple 28...Kf7 to protect the pawn on e6 things are fine for Black. Of course, 28...Nxa2 is not possible because of 29.Rxe6.

But Fischer played 28....f4? and after 29.a3 Nc6 30.Rxe6 he lost the e-pawn and soon after the d-pawn as well. Black defended the lost endgame tenaciously but should have lost. However, Browne failed to convert. 

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
C) Fischer's fortress
Endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are often a draw even if one side is one or two pawns up. However, additional pieces favour the attacker: 88.c7?! Browne misses the direct 88.Rh7! Kd8 89.c7+ Bxc7 90.Kxc5+- 88...Nd7 89.Kc6? 89.Rh7! Kxc7 90.Bc6! h1Q 91.Bxh1 (Sullivan) would still have won (the engines know that White will mate in 52 moves) because the opposite-coloured bishops favour the attacker. With bishops of the same colour this endgame would be a draw. 89...h1Q! 90.Bxh1 Ne5+ 91.Kb6 Bc5+! That was Black's idea. 92.Kxc5 Nxf7 93.Kb6 Nd6 Now Fischer's fortress is solid. 94.Bd5 Kd7 95.Bc6+ Kc8 96.Bd5 Kd7 97.Bb3 Nc8+ 98.Kb7 Ne7 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Browne,W-Fischer,B-½–½1970Rovinj/Zagreb 197015

This was the chance for Viktor Kortschnoi to shorten Fischer's lead. Kortschnoi and Fischer will meet in round 16, but in round 15 Kortschnoi first had to play Mario Bertok, a nominally weaker opponent. And the game indeed was one-sided – however, it was Bertok who was in charge.

 
Bertok-Kortschnoj

In this difficult position Black played 38...Nxc4 and lost on time. After 39.d5 Qc8 Black's position is worse but not as bad as it had been a couple of times before.

Vassily Smyslov

Former World Champion Vassily Smyslov notched up another win and convincingly outplayed Drazen Marovic with his favourite Grünfeld Defense. 

 
D. Marovic vs V. Smyslov

Smyslov now called the cavalry and demolished White's queenside. 20...Nd3 21.Rf1 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Nxb2 23.Ra2 Nd3 24.Rd1 Nc5 and Black is a pawn up and has the better position.

Wolfgang Uhlmann won against the solid Theodor Ghitescu. 

 
W. Uhlmann vs T. Ghitescu

Here Uhlmann played 25.Nf5 and after 25....Rc7 26.Rfb1 Kf8 27.f3 Nd2 28.Rxc7 Bxc7 29.Rb7 Rc8 30.Nb6 Bxb6 31.Nxd6 Rd8 32.Rxb6 Black had lost the pawn on d6 and White had a very good endgame.

Games

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
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
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
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
Browne,W-Minic,D-½–½1970B92Rovinj/Zagreb9
Hort,V-Ivkov,B-1–01970E46Rovinj/Zagreb9
Kovacevic,V-Gligoric,S-½–½1970B20Rovinj/Zagreb9
Kurajica,B-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970B50Rovinj/Zagreb9
Marovic,D-Bertok,M-½–½1970A94Rovinj/Zagreb9
Nicevski,R-Kortschnoj,V-0–11970B88Rovinj/Zagreb9
Petrosian,T-Parma,B-1–01970E06Rovinj/Zagreb9
Smyslov,V-Fischer,R-½–½1970B26Rovinj/Zagreb9
Uhlmann,W-Udovcic,M-1–01970E74Rovinj/Zagreb9
Bertok,M-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970E74Rovinj/Zagreb10
Fischer,R-Gligoric,S-1–01970C93Rovinj/Zagreb10
Ghitescu,T-Hort,V-½–½1970E12Rovinj/Zagreb10
Ivkov,B-Browne,W-1–01970A58Rovinj/Zagreb10
Kortschnoj,V-Marovic,D-½–½1970E94Rovinj/Zagreb10
Minic,D-Petrosian,T-½–½1970C95Rovinj/Zagreb10
Parma,B-Nicevski,R-½–½1970B28Rovinj/Zagreb10
Smyslov,V-Kurajica,B-1–01970E08Rovinj/Zagreb10
Udovcic,M-Kovacevic,V-0–11970E03Rovinj/Zagreb10
Browne,W-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970B87Rovinj/Zagreb11
Gligoric,S-Udovcic,M-1–01970A59Rovinj/Zagreb11
Hort,V-Smyslov,V-½–½1970D13Rovinj/Zagreb11
Kovacevic,V-Bertok,M-1–01970B08Rovinj/Zagreb11
Kurajica,B-Fischer,R-0–11970B50Rovinj/Zagreb11
Marovic,D-Parma,B-½–½1970E11Rovinj/Zagreb11
Nicevski,R-Minic,D-0–11970B23Rovinj/Zagreb11
Petrosian,T-Ivkov,B-½–½1970E14Rovinj/Zagreb11
Uhlmann,W-Kortschnoj,V-½–½1970D41Rovinj/Zagreb11
Bertok,M-Gligoric,S-½–½1970E75Rovinj/Zagreb12
Fischer,R-Udovcic,M-1–01970B06Rovinj/Zagreb12
Ghitescu,T-Petrosian,T-½–½1970A56Rovinj/Zagreb12
Ivkov,B-Nicevski,R-1–01970A38Rovinj/Zagreb12
Kortschnoj,V-Kovacevic,V-1–01970A25Rovinj/Zagreb12
Kurajica,B-Hort,V-½–½1970B19Rovinj/Zagreb12
Minic,D-Marovic,D-0–11970C07Rovinj/Zagreb12
Parma,B-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970C09Rovinj/Zagreb12
Smyslov,V-Browne,W-1–01970E60Rovinj/Zagreb12
Browne,W-Kurajica,B-½–½1970B47Rovinj/Zagreb13
Gligoric,S-Kortschnoj,V-½–½1970E41Rovinj/Zagreb13
Hort,V-Fischer,R-½–½1970B26Rovinj/Zagreb13
Kovacevic,V-Parma,B-½–½1970E12Rovinj/Zagreb13
Marovic,D-Ivkov,B-½–½1970A56Rovinj/Zagreb13
Nicevski,R-Ghitescu,T-½–½1970B86Rovinj/Zagreb13
Petrosian,T-Smyslov,V-½–½1970E12Rovinj/Zagreb13
Udovcic,M-Bertok,M-½–½1970A78Rovinj/Zagreb13
Uhlmann,W-Minic,D-0–11970A42Rovinj/Zagreb13
Fischer,R-Bertok,M-1–01970B24Rovinj/Zagreb14
Ghitescu,T-Marovic,D-½–½1970E84Rovinj/Zagreb14
Hort,V-Browne,W-1–01970A39Rovinj/Zagreb14
Ivkov,B-Uhlmann,W-½–½1970D78Rovinj/Zagreb14
Kortschnoj,V-Udovcic,M-1–01970E97Rovinj/Zagreb14
Kurajica,B-Petrosian,T-½–½1970C15Rovinj/Zagreb14
Minic,D-Kovacevic,V-½–½1970C05Rovinj/Zagreb14
Parma,B-Gligoric,S-½–½1970C93Rovinj/Zagreb14
Smyslov,V-Nicevski,R-1–01970A25Rovinj/Zagreb14
Bertok,M-Kortschnoj,V-1–01970A22Rovinj/Zagreb15
Browne,W-Fischer,R-½–½1970B04Rovinj/Zagreb15
Gligoric,S-Minic,D-½–½1970A77Rovinj/Zagreb15
Kovacevic,V-Ivkov,B-½–½1970E60Rovinj/Zagreb15
Marovic,D-Smyslov,V-0–11970D76Rovinj/Zagreb15
Nicevski,R-Kurajica,B-½–½1970B06Rovinj/Zagreb15
Petrosian,T-Hort,V-½–½1970D40Rovinj/Zagreb15
Udovcic,M-Parma,B-½–½1970D34Rovinj/Zagreb15
Uhlmann,W-Ghitescu,T-1–01970A53Rovinj/Zagreb15

Standings

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     ½ 1 ½   1 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 12.0 / 15
2 Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoj     ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ 0 1 1   ½ ½ 1 1 9.5 / 15
3 Vassily V Smyslov ½ ½   0 ½ ½ ½   1   ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 9.5 / 15
4 Svetozar Gligoric 0 ½ 1   ½ 1 ½ ½   ½ ½ ½ ½ ½   1 1 1 9.5 / 15
5 Vlastimil Hort ½ ½ ½ ½   ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½   1   9.5 / 15
6 Tigran V Petrosian   ½ ½ 0 ½   ½ 1 ½ ½ ½   ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 9.0 / 15
7 Dragoljub Minic 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½   ½ ½ 1   ½ ½ ½ ½ 0   1 8.0 / 15
8 Vlatko Kovacevic 1 0   ½ 0 0 ½   ½ 1 1 0 ½ ½   ½ 1 ½ 7.5 / 15
9 Borislav Ivkov ½ 0 0   0 ½ ½ ½   ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½   1 7.5 / 15
10 Wolfgang Uhlmann 0 ½   ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½   ½ 1   ½ 1 1 1 0 7.5 / 15
11 Mario Bertok 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½   0 ½ ½   ½ ½   ½ ½ ½ 1 7.5 / 15
12 Walter Shawn Browne ½ 0 0 ½ 0   ½ 1 0 0 ½   ½ ½ ½ 1 1   6.5 / 15
13 Bojan Kurajica 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½   ½ ½   ½ ½   ½ ½ 6.0 / 15
14 Bruno Parma 0   ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½   ½ ½   ½ ½ ½ ½ 6.0 / 15
15 Theodor Ghitescu 0 ½ ½   ½ ½ ½   ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½   ½ 0 ½ 6.0 / 15
16 Drazen Marovic 0 ½ 0 0   ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0   ½ ½   0 ½ 5.0 / 15
17 Mijo Udovcic 0 0 ½ 0 0 0   0   0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1   1 5.0 / 15
18 Risto Nicevski 0 0 0 0   0 0 ½ 0 1 0   ½ ½ ½ ½ 0   3.5 / 15

Translation from German: Johannes Fischer

Links

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

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.