Back in 1972, we were all Fischer fans. Who wasn't? Unless you were a Botvinnik or Petrosian fan. Our only other idol was Tal. Around this time, two other players caught our fancy: Bent Larsen and, of course, Viktor Korchnoi. It was Baruch Wood's writing that introduced me to the play of the legendary warrior.
Baruch Wood | Photo: Kingpin Magazine
Apart from the famous CHESS magazine, Wood founded and edited the Sutton Coldfield Magazine and found time to write a popular column for The Illustrated London News.
He was an engaging writer and it was a pleasure to read him. Back in 1972, I saw his column describing the ups and downs of a “crazy” game that Viktor had played in a simultaneous display at Teesside, UK.
Now, how did this come about? The great man had shared first place with the rising star Anatoly Karpov at the 1971-72 Hastings Tournament and had time to spare for a simultaneous display before returning home. In the picture below, we can see a characteristic show (not from Teesside).
Korchnoi simul at Liverpool, 1972 (from L to R: John Ripley, John Beach, Griff Parsonage and Loius McGrath) | Photo: Liverpool Chess Club
In those days, Viktor was still in the prime of life and was a serious contender for the World Championship. As is known, chess for him was a fight and he shunned draws. An offer of peace treaty was often met with a curt “nyet”. On occasion, he inspired his opponents, who put up a big fight before going down in flames. That’s what happened when he met M.J. Graham from Leeds at the Teesside simultaneous display.
From this point onwards we shall follow Baruch Wood’s narrative:
In the following position Black has captured the rook on e1 and is feeling quite happy. If White takes the bishop, Black will reply…NxB. He remains with a rook for a bishop, which in fact counts as a slight material advantage.
White to move
Here Korchnoi played 1.Bxe5+!
Everyone thought the great man had blundered. After all, he was racking his brains at 39 other boards. So, the unsuspecting opponent replied 1…fxe5
Now came the stunning move that Viktor had seen before, 2.Qf7!!
Not one of the spectators who had clustered around this board (some of them really strong players) had thought of this move. Now Graham really got round to it and — in the five minutes before Korchnoi’s return — found the clever reply which the grandmaster himself had suddenly noticed, 2…Bxf2+!
There followed a fiery counterattack, which was met by a cold-blooded defence by Korchnoi: 3.Kh2 Bg3+ 4.Kxg3 Qg5+ 5.Kh2 Rxh3+ 6.gxh3 Rd2+ 7.Rxd2 Qxd2+ 8.Kg1 Qe3+ 9.Qf2 Qxf2+ 10.Kxf2 Nxa6 and White won the ending.
The complete line for replay:
But that is not the end of the story. The knight on c5 was found missing in the original diagram, and a number of readers phoned or wrote Baruch Wood to tell him how Black should have continued. Among them were Mr. Vasey of Wisbech and his son Philip, who set up the position to solve. While the father was briefly away, 15-year-old Philip came up with a remarkable discovery. Graham missed a winning move and Korchnoi should have lost! Was he right?
A phenomenal might-have-been!
For the record, Baruch Wood mentions the following:
At Teesside Simultaneous Display, Korchnoi scored 33 wins, six draws and only one loss in less than 4½ hours.
Four decades later, he was to repeat a similar performance. He scored 21 wins, four draws and one loss. His zest for the game had not dimmed:
The warlord’s uncompromising attitude became part of chess folklore. Here is an anecdote narrated by Genna Sosonko:
When Korchnoi plays chess, he forgets about everything. Tal once told me, before a simultaneous display in Havana, Viktor was told, “You will be playing Che Guevara. He is a rather weak player, but he loves chess passionately. He would be delighted if he were able to gain a draw.” Korchnoi understandingly nodded his head. A few hours later he returned to the hotel. “Well?” Tal enquired. “I crushed them all, all without exception!” “And Che Guevara?” “Che Guevara? I also crushed Che Guevara — he hasn't a clue about the Catalan Opening!”
-The Reliable Past, New in Chess, 2003
