Singer Cup 1959
Singer Cup 1959 – Final Standings
|
|
Team |
G |
W |
B |
P |
Points |
|
1 |
Gambit |
X |
3½ |
4 |
4 |
11½ |
|
2 |
Waterloo |
2½ |
X |
3½ |
3½ |
9½ |
|
3 |
Brisbane |
2 |
2½ |
X |
5 |
9½ |
|
4 |
Postal Institute |
2 |
2½ |
1 |
X |
5½ |
The following article appeared in Queensland Chess magazine (Nov 1959, Vol 1 No 3) and is re-produced here in its entirety. It should be noted that The Gap Chess Club was not in existence at this time.
For the benefit of country readers the Singer Cup is a Trophy donated some years ago by Dr Singer for annual competition between the Metropolitan Clubs. Each club fields a team, usually six, and a round robin is played.
Gambit Chess Club has been fortunate in holding the Cup every year since the war, except in 1957, when Waterloo achieved a splendid victory. Gambit recaptured the Trophy last year and 1959 show signs of being fiercely contested.
The first match of the tournament got off to a hotly debated start. Played on October 22, between Brisbane and Gambit Clubs, Gambit claimed that Brisbane team placed its players, not in the order of their strength as Gambit had done, but more with a view of matching strong players against weaker opponents.
Whilst there has been no ruling on this matter, it has been an unwritten law that players be placed in order of their strength. At a CAQ meeting on the following Thursday a rule was passed that teams be nominated in order of playing strength before the commencement of the tournament.
Gambit played the match under protest and won, 4-2. Individual results were: M Salm d T Simpson, M Sasanow d J Tarnawski, D Smyth lost to V Lapin, A Villums defeated F Pugh, J Jones defeated G Birks and W Brake lost to G Federenko.
Particularly noteworthy was the game between David Smyth and Vass Lapin. Vass seems to have a hoodoo over David for, of the five Tournament games they have played, David has lost every one. This time, however, it seemed as though the hoodoo would be lifted. Vass offered a draw but David decided to play for the win and pressed on. Unfortunately, his time was short, and the game was lost on the fall of the clock in apposition in which everyone, including Vass, agreed was a draw. Better luck next time, David!
The second match in the tournament was staged at Postal Institute Club on the 27th of October between Waterloo and Postal Institute. Waterloo put up a splendid performance in winning 3½-2½. The Wynnum Club palyed a man short and their No 1 board, Morrie Kay, was late and had to give 40 minute’s start to his opponent, an almost impossible handicap.
M Kay lost to J Preston, J Quinn d R Bean, J MacCulloch d H Brough, F Small d C Hurren, K Keyser lost on default to J Bryce, J Peel drew with L Wilkinson.
Gambit defeated Postal Club 4-2: M Sasanow 0, J Preston 1; D Smyth 1, R Vean 0; A Villums 1, J Bryce 0; W Brake 0, T Prickett 0; F Castagnola1, L Wilkinson 0.
Waterloo defeated Brisbane 3½-2½: J Quinn 0, V Lapin 1; M Kay 1, J Tarnowski 0; J McCulloch 0, S Bielicki 1; O Orav 1, G Federenko 0; F Small ½, H Franklin ½; K Keyser 1, W Brown 0.
Brisbane defeated Postal Institute 5-1. Gambit defeated Waterloo 3½-2½ and so retained the Cup.
To provide some historical perspective, the following articles appeared directly underneath the Singer Cup column.
Flash from Belgrade
The triennial Candidates’ Tournament to find the 1960 challenger to Botvinnik has been in progress now for some time and should be completed this month. There are eight competitors and they will meet each other four times. The players are: Keres, Estonia; Petrosyan, Armenia; Smyslov, Russia; Tal, Latvia; Gligorich, Yugoslavia; Benko, formerly of Hungary and now USA; Olavsson and Bobby Fischer, the 16½-year-old chess genius from America.
Bobbie Fischer created a sensation when he defeated Paul Keres in the early rounds. After four rounds the scores were: Petrosyan 3½, Fischer and Benko 2½, Smyslov, Keres, Tal 2; Gligorich 1, Olafsson ½.
Keres got his revenge and defeated Fischer in the eighth round. Tal defeated Smyslov. Olafsson caused a surprise and defeated Petrosyan.
These notes have been taken from the London Air Mail Times.
Result Candidates’ Tournament, Belgrade
It will not surprise our readers to learn that Tal (USSR) has won the right to challenge Botvinnik for the World’s Championship Title. It is understood that half of the forthcoming championship match will be played in Moscow next March and the other part at Riga. Smyslov was placed fourth and Keres, after being beaten by Fischer was also beaten by Olafsson in the very last round. Full results of the tournament: Tal 20, Keres 18½, Petrosyan 15½, Smyslov 15, Fischer and Gligoric 12½, Olafsson 10, Benko 8.