Milan 1975

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Milan 1975
Compiled by JoseTigranTalFischer

Since the introduction of the ELO rating system earlier in the decade, the 1970s saw a resurgence of the so-called "super" chess tournament where the very best in the world gathered to compete at international events. 1975 was one of the biggest years of the decade in that regard as a number of international "super tournaments" were held in which top rated masters participated. Milan, Italy in late summer saw the attendance of twelve such top rated world grandmasters, including the newly designated world champion, to its round robin event. The participants were (in order of ELO): Anatoli Karpov (2705) from the Soviet Union; Tigran Petrosian (2645) from the Soviet Union; Mikhail Tal (2645) from the Soviet Union; Lajos Portisch (2635) from Hungary; Bent Larsen (2625) from Denmark; Ljubomir Ljubojevic (2615) from Yugoslavia; Jan Smejkal (2600) from Czechoslovakia; Svetozar Gligoric (2575) from Yugoslavia; Ulf Andersson (2565) from Sweden; Walter Browne (2550) from the United States; Wolfgang Unzicker (2535) from West Germany; and Sergio Mariotti (2495) playing for his home country of Italy. The combined ratings of all the grandmasters qualified the tournament as a category XV event, making it stronger than most other international tournaments seen up to that point. Games were played from August 20th to September 14th. In addition to a round robin all-play-all format, a series of semi-final and final matches among the top four finishers were devised to follow the tournament. This would turn out to be a blessing for the Soviet grandmasters as the final of the tournament proper saw Portisch finish clear first, a half point ahead of shared seconds Petrosian, Karpov, and Ljubojevic. While Portisch dispatched Ljubojevic in their semi-final match, Petrosian and Karpov drew their match, allowing the higher rated world champion a shot at the tournament leader in the finals match for first place. Karpov only managed to win one game, but it was enough to put him over the edge and finish the entire event as clear first ahead of Portisch. It was to be one of the earliest of what would be copious super tournament victories for the new world champion.

The final standings and crosstable of the tournament:

1st Portisch 7/11 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 1 1 1

=2nd Karpov 6½/11 ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ ½

=2nd Petrosian 6½/11 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½

=2nd Ljubojevic 6½/11 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 1 ½ 1 0 ½ 1 1

5th Smejkal 6/11 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 ½

=6th Tal 5½/11 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 1 0 ½ 1 1

=6th Browne 5½/11 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1

=8th Andersson 5/11 1 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 0 0 1

=8th Unzicker 5/11 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ * 0 0 ½

=8th Gligoric 5/11 0 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 * 0 ½

=8th Larsen 5/11 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 1 * 1

12th Mariotti 2½/11 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 *

The final standings and crosstable of the semi-final matches:

1st Portisch 2½/4 ½ ½ 1 ½
2nd Ljubojevic 1½/4 ½ ½ 0 ½

=1st Petrosian 2/4 ½ ½ ½ ½
=1st Karpov 2/4 ½ ½ ½ ½

The final standings and crosstable of the final matches:

Third/Fourth Place match
=1st Ljubojevic 3/6 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½
=1st Petrosian 3/6 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½

First/Second Place match
1st Karpov 3½/6 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½
2nd Portisch 2½/6 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½

Round One, August 20th
Browne vs Gligoric, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ljubojevic vs Andersson, 1975
(B44) Sicilian, 40 moves, 1-0
S Mariotti vs Portisch, 1975
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 41 moves, 0-1
Petrosian vs Karpov, 1975
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smejkal vs Larsen, 1975
(E17) Queen's Indian, 52 moves, 1-0
Unzicker vs Tal, 1975
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 32 moves, 1-0
Round Two, August 21st
Andersson vs Unzicker, 1975
(A05) Reti Opening, 78 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Smejkal, 1975
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 55 moves, 1/2-1/2
Larsen vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(A77) Benoni, Classical, 9...Re8, 10.Nd2, 27 moves, 0-1
S Mariotti vs Petrosian, 1975
(C03) French, Tarrasch, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Portisch vs Gligoric, 1975
(E88) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6, 34 moves, 1-0
Tal vs Browne, 1975
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 44 moves, 0-1
Round Three, August 22nd
Browne vs Andersson, 1975
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gligoric vs Tal, 1975
(A56) Benoni Defense, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ljubojevic vs Karpov, 1975
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 57 moves, 0-1
Petrosian vs Portisch, 1975
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smejkal vs S Mariotti, 1975
(D79) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O, Main line, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Unzicker vs Larsen, 1975
(B50) Sicilian, 46 moves, 0-1
Round Four, August 23rd
Andersson vs Gligoric, 1975
(A13) English, 38 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Unzicker, 1975
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 22 moves, 1-0
Larsen vs Browne, 1975
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Mariotti vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(A05) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 0-1
Petrosian vs Smejkal, 1975
(A15) English, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2
Portisch vs Tal, 1975
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Five, August 24th
Browne vs Karpov, 1975
(E17) Queen's Indian, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gligoric vs Larsen, 1975
(E58) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Main line with 8...Bxc3, 72 moves, 0-1
Ljubojevic vs Petrosian, 1975
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smejkal vs Portisch, 1975
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 62 moves, 1/2-1/2
Tal vs Andersson, 1975
(B47) Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation, 26 moves, 1-0
Unzicker vs S Mariotti, 1975
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Six, August 26th
Karpov vs Gligoric, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 50 moves, 1-0
Larsen vs Tal, 1975
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 40 moves, 0-1
S Mariotti vs Browne, 1975
(B53) Sicilian, 42 moves, 0-1
Petrosian vs Unzicker, 1975
(E49) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Botvinnik System, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Portisch vs Andersson, 1975
(A17) English, 36 moves, 0-1
Smejkal vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 81 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Seven, August 27th
Andersson vs Larsen, 1975
(A21) English, 35 moves, 0-1
Browne vs Petrosian, 1975
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gligoric vs S Mariotti, 1975
(D07) Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense, 46 moves, 1/2-1/2
Ljubojevic vs Portisch, 1975
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Tal vs Karpov, 1975
(C43) Petrov, Modern Attack, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Unzicker vs Smejkal, 1975
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Eight, August 28th
Karpov vs Andersson, 1975
(B44) Sicilian, 79 moves, 0-1
Ljubojevic vs Unzicker, 1975
(A01) Nimzovich-Larsen Attack, 127 moves, 0-1
S Mariotti vs Tal, 1975
(B49) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 26 moves, 0-1
Petrosian vs Gligoric, 1975
(E88) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6, 39 moves, 1-0
Portisch vs Larsen, 1975
(A17) English, 31 moves, 1-0
Smejkal vs Browne, 1975
(B36) Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, 33 moves, 1-0
Round Nine, August 30th
Andersson vs S Mariotti, 1975
(A22) English, 41 moves, 1-0
Browne vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(A33) English, Symmetrical, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2
Gligoric vs Smejkal, 1975
(D87) Grunfeld, Exchange, 25 moves, 1-0
Larsen vs Karpov, 1975
(A28) English, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Tal vs Petrosian, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
Unzicker vs Portisch, 1975
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Ten, August 31st
Ljubojevic vs Gligoric, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 46 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Mariotti vs Larsen, 1975
(B20) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1
Petrosian vs Andersson, 1975
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Portisch vs Karpov, 1975
(A14) English, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Smejkal vs Tal, 1975
(A13) English, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Unzicker vs Browne, 1975
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Eleven, September 1st
Andersson vs Smejkal, 1975
(A15) English, 50 moves, 1/2-1/2
Browne vs Portisch, 1975
(C72) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O, 41 moves, 0-1
Gligoric vs Unzicker, 1975
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 30 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs S Mariotti, 1975
(A16) English, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Larsen vs Petrosian, 1975
(A22) English, 39 moves, 0-1
Tal vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 76 moves, 0-1
Semi-Final Matches, Round One, September 3rd
Portisch vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(D67) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, Bd3 line, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Petrosian, 1975
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Semi-Final Matches, Round Two, September 4th
Ljubojevic vs Portisch, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Petrosian vs Karpov, 1975
(E17) Queen's Indian, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Semi-Final Matches, Round Three, September 5th
Portisch vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(A04) Reti Opening, 66 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Petrosian, 1975
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2
Semi-Final Matches, Round Four, September 8th
Ljubojevic vs Portisch, 1975
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 47 moves, 1/2-1/2
Petrosian vs Karpov, 1975
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Final Matches, Round One, September 9th
Petrosian vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(A73) Benoni, Classical, 9.O-O, 30 moves, 1-0
Portisch vs Karpov, 1975
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Final Matches, Round Two, September 10th
Ljubojevic vs Petrosian, 1975
(E36) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Portisch, 1975
(C72) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O, 64 moves, 1-0
Final Matches, Round Three, September 11th
Petrosian vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Portisch vs Karpov, 1975
(A17) English, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Final Matches, Round Four, September 12th
Ljubojevic vs Petrosian, 1975
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 47 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Portisch, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
Final Matches, Round Five, September 13th
Petrosian vs Ljubojevic, 1975
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 16 moves, 1/2-1/2
Portisch vs Karpov, 1975
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Final Matches, Round Six, September 14th
Ljubojevic vs Petrosian, 1975
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 17 moves, 1/2-1/2
Karpov vs Portisch, 1975
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
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