USSR Championship 1988

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USSR Championship 1988
Compiled by suenteus po 147

The 55th Soviet Chess Championship held in the capital city of Moscow from July 25th to August 18th, 1988 was a category XIV event. The Soviet Union's top eighteen players participated in the event, making it the strongest USSR championship since 1973. Eight grandmasters qualified for the championship from two First League swiss-style tournaments played the year before. Vassily Ivanchuk (2625), Leonid Yudasin (2505), Mikhail Gurevich (2630), and Viktor Gavrikov (2545) qualified from Lvov, with Alexander Chernin and Vereslav Eingorn (2560) qualifying as reserve players. Ilya Smirin (2500), Alexander Khalifman (2530), Andrei Kharitonov (2550), and Vladimir Malaniuk (2520) qualified from Sverdlovsk, with Vitaly Tseshkovsky and Boris Gelfand qualifying as reserve players. Alexander Beliavsky (2665), Valery Salov (2625), and Jaan Ehlvest (2580) qualified as the top three finishers of the 54th USSR Final. The remaining seats went out as invitations to the world champion, Garry Kasparov (2760), former world champions Anatoli Karpov (2725), Mikhail Tal, and Vasily Smyslov (2550), and world championship candidates Andrei Sokolov (2600), Rafael Vaganian (2595), and Artur Yusupov (2620). Games were conducted in Moscow's new International Hotel, where one thousand seats were set up for spectators, with Mikhail Botvinnik serving as the head arbiter. Tal was only able to play his first game of the tournament against Vaganian, where he was forced to draw quickly due to illness. When Yusupov was asked to play his round two game at Tal's sick bed in his hotel room, he refused and so it was determined that Tal should be replaced. Verelav Eingorn was pulled from the reserve list and played in Tal's place, forcing Vaganian to replay his first round draw. Tal's lone game is included in this collection for completeness and historical accuracy. The tournament itself was both a showcase of established Soviet chess brilliance, but also a debut for new talents and the next generation of players. Nevertheless, Kasparov and Karpov both emerged triumphant, tied for first having gone undefeated with 11½/17. While a play-off match was the normal course to determine a sole winner (see Beliavsky's triumphant play-off against Salov from '87), both Karpov and Kasparov refused to play an extraneous match against one another. Although everyone was disappointed and Botvinnik pleaded with both players to comply, it was understandable why both would be reluctant considering they had just played four world championship matches against each other in as many years. Since no resolution could be reached, both players were declared champion, and both received identical trophies to mark their achievement. It was Karpov's third and final Soviet crown, as well as his first shared, and it was Kasparov's second shared and final Soviet crown (though he would be sole first in the Russian Super-Final in 2004, after the fall of Soviet Russia). In the strongest championship in 15 years, the two strongest players in the world showed that once again they were without peer even among the very best of their own countrymen. The final standings and crosstable are as follows:

1 Kasparov 11½/17 * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1

2 Karpov 11½/17 ½ * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1

3 Yusupov 10/17 ½ 0 * 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1

4 Salov 10/17 0 ½ 0 * ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 ½

5 Eingorn 9½/17 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½

6 Ivanchuk 9½/17 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ * ½ 1 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1

7 Yudasin 9/17 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½

8 Beliavsky 8½/17 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ * ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1

9 Ehlvest 8/17 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ * 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½

10 Smyslov 8/17 ½ ½ 0 0 1 1 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½

11 Gavrikov 8/17 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½

12 Sokolov 8/17 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½

13 Vaganian 8/17 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½

14 Khalifman 7½/17 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½

15 Smirin 7/17 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 1 ½

16 Gurevich 7/17 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½

17 Malaniuk 6/17 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ * ½

18 Kharitonov 6/17 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ *

Round One
V Eingorn vs Vaganian, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 25 moves, 1-0
Gavrikov vs Smirin, 1988
(E15) Queen's Indian, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs Salov, 1988
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 41 moves, 0-1
Ivanchuk vs Khalifman, 1988
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 66 moves, 1-0
Yusupov vs Kasparov, 1988
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 42 moves, 1-0
V Malaniuk vs Ehlvest, 1988
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs Beliavsky, 1988
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
A Sokolov vs Yudasin, 1988
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Two
Beliavsky vs Karpov, 1988
(E04) Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3, 67 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Eingorn vs Yusupov, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Kasparov vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 24 moves, 1-0
Khalifman vs M Gurevich, 1988
(E12) Queen's Indian, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
A V Kharitonov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A81) Dutch, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Salov vs A Sokolov, 1988
(D62) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox, Rubinstein Attack, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smirin vs Smyslov, 1988
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 28 moves, 1-0
Vaganian vs Ehlvest, 1988
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 62 moves, 1-0
Yudasin vs Gavrikov, 1988
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Three
Ehlvest vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gavrikov vs Salov, 1988
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs Kasparov, 1988
(D97) Grunfeld, Russian, 32 moves, 0-1
Ivanchuk vs V Eingorn, 1988
(C03) French, Tarrasch, 65 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yusupov vs Vaganian, 1988
(E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Smirin, 1988
(E15) Queen's Indian, 46 moves, 1-0
V Malaniuk vs Beliavsky, 1988
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs Yudasin, 1988
(A08) King's Indian Attack, 43 moves, 0-1
A Sokolov vs Khalifman, 1988
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 74 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Four
Beliavsky vs Ehlvest, 1988
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Eingorn vs M Gurevich, 1988
(E16) Queen's Indian, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yusupov vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 40 moves, 0-1
Kasparov vs A Sokolov, 1988
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Khalifman vs Gavrikov, 1988
(D85) Grunfeld, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Salov vs Smyslov, 1988
(D17) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 57 moves, 1-0
Smirin vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(C90) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 70 moves, 1-0
Vaganian vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(A25) English, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yudasin vs Karpov, 1988
(C53) Giuoco Piano, 68 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Five
Ehlvest vs Smirin, 1988
(B89) Sicilian, 30 moves, 1-0
Gavrikov vs Kasparov, 1988
(E97) King's Indian, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs Yusupov, 1988
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 44 moves, 0-1
Ivanchuk vs Vaganian, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Salov, 1988
(E17) Queen's Indian, 51 moves, 1/2-1/2
A V Kharitonov vs Beliavsky, 1988
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 39 moves, 0-1
V Malaniuk vs Yudasin, 1988
(A67) Benoni, Taimanov Variation, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs Khalifman, 1988
(A04) Reti Opening, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
A Sokolov vs V Eingorn, 1988
(C18) French, Winawer, 19 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Six
V Eingorn vs Gavrikov, 1988
(A15) English, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk vs M Gurevich, 1988
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yusupov vs A Sokolov, 1988
(E04) Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3, 41 moves, 1-0
Kasparov vs Smyslov, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Khalifman vs Karpov, 1988
(E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Salov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A80) Dutch, 73 moves, 1-0
Smirin vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Vaganian vs Beliavsky, 1988
(A14) English, 42 moves, 0-1
Yudasin vs Ehlvest, 1988
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Seven
Beliavsky vs Smirin, 1988
(A56) Benoni Defense, 42 moves, 1-0
Ehlvest vs Salov, 1988
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 82 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gavrikov vs Yusupov, 1988
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs Vaganian, 1988
(E12) Queen's Indian, 44 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1988
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
A V Kharitonov vs Yudasin, 1988
(E12) Queen's Indian, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Malaniuk vs Khalifman, 1988
(D17) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs V Eingorn, 1988
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 46 moves, 1-0
A Sokolov vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(B85) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Eight
V Eingorn vs Karpov, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs A Sokolov, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 19 moves, 1-0
Ivanchuk vs Gavrikov, 1988
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yusupov vs Smyslov, 1988
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 37 moves, 1-0
Kasparov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A81) Dutch, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Khalifman vs Ehlvest, 1988
(D17) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 26 moves, 1-0
Salov vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(A13) English, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Vaganian vs Smirin, 1988
(A15) English, 46 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yudasin vs Beliavsky, 1988
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Nine
Beliavsky vs Salov, 1988
(A13) English, 39 moves, 0-1
Ehlvest vs Kasparov, 1988
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gavrikov vs M Gurevich, 1988
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Yusupov, 1988
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 43 moves, 1-0
A V Kharitonov vs Khalifman, 1988
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Malaniuk vs V Eingorn, 1988
(E20) Nimzo-Indian, 43 moves, 0-1
Smirin vs Yudasin, 1988
(B83) Sicilian, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 52 moves, 1-0
A Sokolov vs Vaganian, 1988
(C16) French, Winawer, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Ten
V Eingorn vs Ehlvest, 1988
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs Smyslov, 1988
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 44 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk vs Karpov, 1988
(B14) Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack, 13 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yusupov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A80) Dutch, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Kasparov vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 35 moves, 1-0
Khalifman vs Beliavsky, 1988
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 44 moves, 0-1
Salov vs Smirin, 1988
(A48) King's Indian, 73 moves, 1/2-1/2
A Sokolov vs Gavrikov, 1988
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2
Vaganian vs Yudasin, 1988
(A04) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Eleven
Beliavsky vs Kasparov, 1988
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ehlvest vs Yusupov, 1988
(C18) French, Winawer, 85 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gavrikov vs Vaganian, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs M Gurevich, 1988
(E15) Queen's Indian, 60 moves, 1-0
A V Kharitonov vs V Eingorn, 1988
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 18 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Malaniuk vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(E20) Nimzo-Indian, 34 moves, 0-1
Smirin vs Khalifman, 1988
(B58) Sicilian, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs A Sokolov, 1988
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yudasin vs Salov, 1988
(B50) Sicilian, 41 moves, 1-0
Round Twelve
V Eingorn vs Beliavsky, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 43 moves, 1-0
Gavrikov vs Smyslov, 1988
(C53) Giuoco Piano, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A10) English, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk vs Ehlvest, 1988
(E92) King's Indian, 39 moves, 0-1
Yusupov vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(A13) English, 59 moves, 1-0
Kasparov vs Smirin, 1988
(E97) King's Indian, 41 moves, 1-0
Khalifman vs Yudasin, 1988
(D39) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
A Sokolov vs Karpov, 1988
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Vaganian vs Salov, 1988
(A13) English, 61 moves, 0-1
Round Thirteen
Beliavsky vs Yusupov, 1988
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ehlvest vs M Gurevich, 1988
(A13) English, 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Gavrikov, 1988
(E16) Queen's Indian, 40 moves, 1-0
A V Kharitonov vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(D48) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 42 moves, 0-1
V Malaniuk vs A Sokolov, 1988
(E25) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 35 moves, 0-1
Salov vs Khalifman, 1988
(E97) King's Indian, 60 moves, 1-0
Smirin vs V Eingorn, 1988
(C15) French, Winawer, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smyslov vs Vaganian, 1988
(D03) Torre Attack (Tartakower Variation), 49 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yudasin vs Kasparov, 1988
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 30 moves, 0-1
Round Fourteen
V Eingorn vs Yudasin, 1988
(D39) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gavrikov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A81) Dutch, 44 moves, 0-1
M Gurevich vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ivanchuk vs Beliavsky, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 52 moves, 1-0
Yusupov vs Smirin, 1988
(E73) King's Indian, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Kasparov vs Salov, 1988
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 58 moves, 1-0
Smyslov vs Karpov, 1988
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 14 moves, 1/2-1/2
A Sokolov vs Ehlvest, 1988
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Vaganian vs Khalifman, 1988
(A04) Reti Opening, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Fifteen
Beliavsky vs M Gurevich, 1988
(A80) Dutch, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ehlvest vs Gavrikov, 1988
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 61 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Vaganian, 1988
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2
Khalifman vs Kasparov, 1988
(B80) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
A V Kharitonov vs A Sokolov, 1988
(D63) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 18 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Malaniuk vs Smyslov, 1988
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Salov vs V Eingorn, 1988
(A04) Reti Opening, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smirin vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yudasin vs Yusupov, 1988
(C53) Giuoco Piano, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Sixteen
V Eingorn vs Khalifman, 1988
(E17) Queen's Indian, 87 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gavrikov vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
M Gurevich vs Smirin, 1988
(A56) Benoni Defense, 29 moves, 1-0
Ivanchuk vs Yudasin, 1988
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yusupov vs Salov, 1988
(A13) English, 42 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A87) Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation, 35 moves, 1-0
Smyslov vs Ehlvest, 1988
(A06) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 1-0
A Sokolov vs Beliavsky, 1988
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2
Vaganian vs Kasparov, 1988
(E92) King's Indian, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Seventeen
Beliavsky vs Gavrikov, 1988
(D82) Grunfeld, 4.Bf4, 56 moves, 0-1
Ehlvest vs Karpov, 1988
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2
Kasparov vs V Eingorn, 1988
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Khalifman vs Yusupov, 1988
(E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
A V Kharitonov vs Smyslov, 1988
(A17) English, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
V Malaniuk vs Vaganian, 1988
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Salov vs Ivanchuk, 1988
(E17) Queen's Indian, 12 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smirin vs A Sokolov, 1988
(B83) Sicilian, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Yudasin vs M Gurevich, 1988
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Expunged First Round Game
Tal vs Vaganian, 1988
(D59) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
154 games

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