The 30th annual Hoogovens international chess tournament was held in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands in 1968. Korchnoi had an incredible run, winning ten of his first eleven games, before falling to Lajos Portisch in the twelfth round

http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo196...

Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands 10-28 Jan 1968

                 Elo  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6  Pts                     
  1 GM Korchnoi  2660 * 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1  12½
 =2 GM Portisch  2610 1 * 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 1 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½  9
 =2 GM Hort      2570 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½  9
 =2 GM Tal       2650 0 ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1  9
  5 GM Gheorghiu 2530 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1  8½
 =6 GM Ciric     2530 0 0 ½ 1 ½ * ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1  8
 =6 GM Matanovic 2550 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1  8
 =8 GM Ivkov     2560 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½  7½
 =8 IM Ree            0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ * 0 ½ ½ 1 0 1 1  7½
=10 GM Padevsky  2480 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½  7
=10 GM Donner    2530 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1  7
=10 GM Bobotsov  2540 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 1  7
 13 IM Karaklajic     0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½  6½
 14 GM Rossolimo      0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 * ½ 1  6
 15 IM Langeweg       ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½  5
 16 IM Van Geet       0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ *  3

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Korchnoi Viktor Korchnoi

USSR Mar-23-1931

Grandmaster 1956 Gaige, p.222

Sousse Interzonal (1967) (15 Oct - 15 Nov) Shared 2nd, behind Bent Larsen.

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Portisch Lajos Portisch

Czechoslovakia Apr-04-1937

Grandmaster 1961 Gaige, p.337

Sousse Interzonal (1967) (15 Oct - 15 Nov) 5th.

Palma de Mallorca (1967) (27 Nov - 17 Dec) 4th.

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Hort Vlastimil Hort

Hort unbeaten in event, one of 3 wins was against Portisch

Czechoslovakia Jan-12-1944

Grandmaster 1965 Gaige, p.179

Sousse Interzonal (1967) (15 Oct - 15 Nov) Shared 6th.

Hastings (1967/68) (27 Dec 1967 - 5 Jan 1968) Shared 1st with Alexey Suetin, Leonid Stein and Florin Gheorghiu

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Tal Mikhail Tal

USSR Nov-09-1936

Grandmaster 1957 Gaige, p.418

USSR Championship (1967) (7-26 Dec) (Swiss sysetem) Shared 1st with Lev Polugaevsky.

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Gheorghiu Florin Gheorghiu (Unbeaten in event)

Romania Apr-06-1944

Grandmaster 1965 Gaige, p.138

-<Vrnjacka Banja FIDE Zonal 1967> (11 Jan - 5 Feb) Fourth, behind Ivkov, Matanovic and Barczay. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" p.439

-<Bucharest 1967> (13-28 May) 1st, over Pfleger, Vasiukov, Soos, Partos, Haag, Ghitescu and others. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp.363-364

Moscow (1967) (21 May - 16 June) 14th.

-<Poland-Romania Match 1967> In Warsaw (25-27 June) First board for Romania vs Sliwa, with +0 -0 =2. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" p.478

-<Harrachov Student Olympiad 1967> (15-31 July) First board for Romania, with +4 -0 =7. Romania finished 5th in the Final. http://www.olimpbase.org/1967y/1967...

Winnipeg (1967) (3-13 Oct) Shared 6th with Szabo, behind Darga, Larsen, Keres, Spassky and Benko. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" p.441

-<20th Romanian Championship 1967> In Bucharest (4-24 Nov) 1st, over Ciocaltea, Buza, Ghitescu and others. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp. 364-365

-<4th European Team Championship Semifinal 1967> (1-10 Dec) First board for Romania, with +1 -0 =1 vs Lazaros Vizantiades; +1 -0 =1 vs Uhlmann; and +0 -0 =2 vs Bobotsov. Romania failed to qualify for the Final. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp.464-465; http://www.olimpbase.org/1970eq/197...

Hastings (1967/68) (27 Dec 1967 - 5 Jan 1968) Shared 1st with Alexey Suetin, Vlastimil Hort and Leonid Stein

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Ciric Dragoljub Ciric

Yugoslavia Nov-12-1935

Grandmaster 1965 Gaige, p.72

-<Sarajevo 1966> (20 March - 7 April) Shared 1st with Tal, over Ivkov, Pachman, Matulovic, Pietzsch, Janosevic, Minev, Jansa and Kotov, with +9 -2 =4. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," p.303

-<Yugoslavian Championship 1967> In Kraljevo (20 April - 13 May) Shared 2nd with Matanovic, Ivkov, Bogdanovic and Bukic, behind Matulovic. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," pp.388-389

-<Sarajevo 1967> (20 March - 7 Aprl) Shared 5th with Byrne, behind Ivkov, Stein, Benko and Savon. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," p.303

-<Yugoslavia-USSR Match 1967> In Budva (21 June - 5 July) This was an 11 round all-play-all format. The USSR won 43.5 - 28.5. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," p.469

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Matanovic Aleksandar Matanovic

Yugoslavia May-23-1930

Grandmaster 1955 Gaige, p.273

-<Yugoslavian Championship 1967> In Kraljevo (20 April - 13 May) Shared 2nd with Ciric, Ivkov, Bogdanovic and Bukic, behind Matulovic. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," pp.388-389

Winnipeg (1967) (3-13 Oct) 8th.

Sousse Interzonal (1967) (15 Oct - 15 Nov) 10th.

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Ivkov Borislav Ivkov

Yugoslavia Nov-12-1933

Grandmaster 1955 Gaige, p.188

-<Sarajevo 1967> (20 March - 7 Aprl) Shared 1st with Stein, over Benko, Savon, Byrne and Ciric. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," p.303

-<Yugoslavian Championship 1967> In Kraljevo (20 April - 13 May) Shared 2nd with Matanovic, Ciric, Bogdanovic and Bukic, behind Matulovic. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967," pp.388-389

Sousse Interzonal (1967) (15 Oct - 15 Nov) Shared 11th.

Palma de Mallorca (1967) (27 Nov - 17 Dec) 6th

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Ree Hans Ree

Netherlands Sep-15-1944

International Master 1968 Gaige, p.349

-<Netherlands Championship 1967> In Zierikzee (3-15 July) 1st, over Donner and Langeweg Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" p.443

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Padevsky Nikola Padevsky

Bulgaria May-29-1933

Grandmaster 1964 Gaige, p.316

-<Bulgarian Championship 1967> In Sofia (21 Oct - 14 Nov) Shared 8th, behind co-champions Radulov and Peev, and Bobotsov 3rd. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp.425-426

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Donner Jan Hein Donner

Netherlands Jul-06-1927

Grandmaster 1959 Gaige, p.96

-<Netherlands Championship 1967> In Zierikzee (3-15 July) Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" p.443

-<Capablanca Memorial 1967>

-<Amsterdam IBM 1967>

-<Venice 1967> (21 Oct - 5 Nov) 1st, over Tigran V Petrosian, Evans, Janosevic, Pachman and others. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp.438-439

Palma de Mallorca (1967) (27 Nov - 17 Dec) Shared 10th.

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Bobotsov Milko Bobotsov

Bulgaria Sep-30-1931

Grandmaster 1961 Gaige, p.43

Moscow (1967) (21 May - 16 June) Shared 2nd with Tal, Vasily Smyslov and Aivars Gipslis, behind Leonid Stein.

-<Bulgarian Championship 1967> In Sofia (21 Oct - 14 Nov) 3rd, behind co-champions Radulov and Peev. Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp.425-426

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Karaklajic Nikola Karaklajic

Yugoslavia Feb-24-1926

International Master 1955 Gaige, p.204

-<Beverwijk Hoogovens 1967> 1st in the "Masters" section. The "Grandmasters" section was won by Boris Spassky.

Gino Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" pp.358-359

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Rossolimo Nicolas Rossolimo

Kiev, Ukraine Feb-28-1910

Grandmaster 1953 Gaige, p.362

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Langeweg Kick Langeweg

Netherlands Mar-07-1937

International Master 1962 Gaige, p.238

-<Netherlands Championship 1967> In Zierikzee (3-15 July) Di Felice, "Chess Results 1964-1967" p.443

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Van Geet Dirk Daniel van Geet

Netherlands Mar-01-1932

International Master 1965 Gaige, p.440

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Wikipedia article: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

http://chess.about.com/od/chesshist...

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http://www.endgame.nl/wijk.htm

The tournament moved to Wijk aan Zee in 1968. Hotel Kennemerduin became the playing hall. Commentary was given on the main floor. The higher groups played upstairs and the lower classes belonged in the cellar.

Photo: venue http://www.endgame.nl/kennemerduin....

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http://archive.org/stream/zandvoort...

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http://zanchess.wordpress.com/2014/...

Photo: Tal at Wijk aan Zee: http://interlistchess.files.wordpre...

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Harry Golombek "Encyclopedia of Chess"

Hilary Thomas "Complete Games of Mikhail Tal 1967-1973"

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Korchnoi "Chess is my Life"

"Early in 1968 I went off to play in Holland aat the Wijk aan Zee Tournament. This was the first time for many years that I had been to an international tournament in a capitalist country. Such tournaments, where the prizes are in convertible currency, are especially valued, and only the top grandmasters gain the opportunity to play in them. The conditions were unusual for me, in that there were two adjournment sessions a day. On the whole I tend to have lots of adjourned games, and here at the very start I adjourned against Padevski, a game which was to continue almost to move 100, and each day I found myself working nine hours, not including preparations for the following round. What are trade unions for in this enlightened twentieth century? On round gave way to another, and all the time I was playing on the same adjourned game, winning each new encounter on the way! The situation cleared up after a week, when I had scored 7 out of 7. The eighth game was with Tal. Away from the board we were on friendly terms, and the tournament was going indifferently for him, but we had to make a game of it, especially since everyone around expected us to agree to a quick draw. Tal played the first part of the game accurately, and gained approximate equality, but then made a mistake. I managed to open up the position to my advantage, and win the game. It was only on the following day that I had my first draw, with Donner.

In this series of seven wins there were several good games. Before this, in the Interzonal, I had played badly against the Yugoslavs, scoring only one point out of four. Here I gained my revenge, winning against Ivkov, Matanovic, Ciric and Karakajic. I consider my game with Matanovic (game 45) to be one of the best achievements in my life in the field of chess strategy. With 10 1/2 points (p.59) out of 11, I was heading for a new record in the tournament, but in round twelve, with the better position against Portisch, I blundered away a piece. The tournament lost interest for me, and I drew the remaining three games without a fight. Even so, it wasn't too bad: I had scored 12 points out of 15, three points ahead of Tal, Portisch and Hort.(p.60)"

A Matanovic vs Korchnoi, 1968

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Mikhail Tal (Life and Games)

"The following year, 1968, brought me few laurels, and it all started in January, at the traditional tournament at Wijk aan Zee. I played there with Korchnoi, and the Leningrad player once again set a furious pace, scoring 6.5 out of 7 at the start. From my first games I felt that I had neither the enthusiasm, nor the right sort of mood, for chess.

From the whole tournament there were only two games that I could boast about. The game against Donner is given here in this book, and this is the other (Rossolimo).

This tournament was my last test before the start of the Candidates matches, and showed that, to put it mildly I was not in my best form. This was also confirmed by the start of my match with Gligoric." (339) Rossolimo game diagram on (340)

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Hilary Thomas "Complete Games 1967-1973"

"Tal's first visit to the annual tournament in Holland sponsored by the Hoogoven Steel company was also part of his 'warming-up' for the 1968 series of world championship candidate matches. He was dissatisfied with his play and intensified his preparations for the coming encounter with Gligoic." (19)

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"Nieuw Israelietisch weekblad" 26-01-1968

http://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/vi...

Tim Krabbe:

Een der deelnemers aan het thans bijna beeindigde Hoogoven-schaaktoernooi, een deelnemer aan de belangrijkste groep, die der grrotmeesters nog wel, beklaagde zich na enkele ronden in een interview over het feit dat hij op het ogenblik zo veel zwakker schaakte dan een jaar of vijf geleden.

"Ik heb mijn oude kracht niet meer" zei hij. Het zal de lezer weinig moeite kosten te raden wie die klager was; Viktor Kortsjnoi natuurlijk. Toen de Rus zijn uitspraak deed voerde hij de ranglijst aan met 6 uit 6, op het ogenblik dat ik dit schrijf doet hij dat met 9 1/2 uit 10. En wanneer u dit leest doet hij het ongetwijfeld nog, al is het ons niet gegeven reeds nu te weten met hoeveel-en-een-half uit 13 dat zal zijn.

En toch ben ik er van overtuigd dat Korchnoi's vreemd aan-doende opmerking niet gerangschikt dient dient te worden onder het zelfbeklag dat even onverbrekelijk bij schakers hoort als pionnen, paarden, en de Mannheimervariant van het Aangenomen Dame-gambiet. Evenmin lijkt KOrchnoi er des te meer bewondering voor zijn ongelofelijke prestatie mee te willen oproepen. ("Ach ja, met dat schijntje van mezelf dat ik nu nog maar ben, hak ik ze er ook allemaal wel af.") Als je hem ziet zitten, geloof je in zijn eerlijkheid. Hij is een stoere, stevige man, maar als je even niet kijkt, ben je zijn gezicht alweer vergeten.

Nee, dan Donner, die ondertussen al meer in de publiciteit moet zijn geweest dan ex-wereldkampioen Euwe. Met Donner gaat het in dit toernooi alweer niet zo best. Na zijn fraaie zege in de eerste ronde op Portisch heeft hij geen partij meer gewonnen, maar er wel twee verloren. De aandacht richtte hij pas weer op zich, toen hij in de 9e ronde de eerste was die Korchnoi op remisie hield. "Zo ver is het nu al met me gekomen," gromde Donner na afloop, "ze feliciteren me nu al als ik remise speel." Maar wat zijn nu eigenlijk Donners uitschieters? Zijn dat Zierikzee 1967, IBM 1967, Havanna 1967, Palma 1967 en Hoogovens 1968? Of is het toch het door hem gewonnn grootmeester toernooi te Venetie? Wil dat laatste niet het geval zijn, dan zal Donner toch weer spoedig een ware grootmeester-prestatie moeten afleveren.

One of the participants in the now almost discontinued Blast-chess tournament, a participant in the main group, that of grrotmeesters still, complained after a few laps in an interview about the fact that he is so much weaker at the moment abducted than five years ago.

"I have my old power anymore" he said. It will advise the reader little effort who the complainant; Viktor Kortsjnoi course. When the Russian his statement did he headed the list with 6 out of 6, at the moment I write this he does with 9 1/2 out of 10. And when you read it does undoubtedly, though it is not us already given to know now how many and one-half of 13 that will be.

And yet I am convinced that Korchnoi's strange-duty remark should not ranked to be among the self-pity that belongs as inseparable as chess pawns, horses, and Mannheimervariant the assumed Dame gambit. Nor Korchnoi seems to want it all the more calls admiration for his incredible performance with. ("Oh yes, with that pittance of myself that I now only am I chop them all well off.") If you see him sitting, your faith in his honesty. He's a tough, sturdy man, but if you look just not, you've already forgotten his face.

No, Donner, who meanwhile must have been more publicity than former world champion Euwe. With Donner goes in this tournament again not so good. After his splendid victory in the first round on Portisch he has won a lot, but there two lost. The attention he founded again only on himself, when he was the first in the 9th round Korchnoi stopped remisie. "So far it's already come with me," Donner growled after, "they all congratulate me when I play a draw." But what are actually Donners outliers? That Zierikzee 1967, IBM 1967, Havana 1967, Palma de Mallorca in 1967 and Hoogovens 1968? Or is it the gewonnn he grandmaster tournament in Venice? Would the latter is not the case, Donner will yet again soon must deliver a true master achievement.

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KRANTEN Wijk aan Zee 1968

http://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/re...

http://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/vi...

http://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/vi...

http://www.schack.se/tfsarkiv/histo...

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Notes

Original collection Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1968 by User: suenteus po 147. Introduction written and sourced by User: WCC Editing Project