Gligorić in Scotland - 1970

In mid-January Yugoslav Grandmaster Svetozar Gligorić paid another very welcome visit to Scotland, his tour taking him to Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

On Thursday 15th, he faced 24 opponents in a display at Glasgow University. Playing at a brisk pace he conceded several draws early on, but later he produced a stream of wins to finish 16 wins, 6 draws and 2 losses. The winners were Martin Brodie and David Watt, and draws were obtained by Miss J. Bain, Miss LM Hogarth, R. Kaczynski, Miss Mary McGinn, J. Parkin and I. Sinclair (last to finish!). Appropriately, the 4 "home" players were the most successful, scoring 2 wins, 2 draws, and no losses!

Gligoric - Martin J. Brodie [B09]
Glasgow (simul) 1970

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.Be3 Qa5 10.0-0 Ng4 11.Bd2 Nd4 12.Qe1 Qc5 13.Kh1 Qh5 14.Qg3 Nxf3 15.gxf3 Nh6 16.Nd5 Kf8 17.Qg5 Qxg5 18.fxg5 Ng8 19.f4 h6 20.f5 gxf5 21.exf5 hxg5 22.Bxg5 Be5 23.Rf2 Nf6 24.Nxf6 exf6 25.Bf4 Bd7 26.Be4 Bc6 27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Rd1 Ke7 29.c4 Rh4 30.Bxe5 fxe5 31.b3 Rd8 32.Kg2 Rg8+ 33.Kf1 Rgg4 34.Rfd2 Rf4+ 35.Kg1 Rh6 36.Rf1 Rhh4 37.Rfd1 Rh6 38.Rf1 Rxf1+ 39.Kxf1 Rh4 40.Rf2 d5 41.cxd5 cxd5 42.Ke2 Kd6 43.Kd3 Rh3+ 44.Ke2 e4 45.Kf1 Ke5 0-1

Martin Brodie comments:-
"I was assured by spectators (DNL Levy and others) that I was winning most of the way. At the time I was not at all sure who was winning and to be quite honest I am still not sure!"

On the following Saturday Gligorić played a special exhibition game against David Levy and Craig Pritchett (playing in consultation). Gligorić explained his moves to the audience in a lively and witty manner, using a demonstration board. Indeed, if anything, he was too communicative, giving himself little time for concentrated thought. As a result he missed the best defence, and the Scots' sharp play led to a mating attack. Here is the game:-

Levy and Pritchett - Gligoric [B84]
Glasgow (Exhibition game) 1970

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Be3 a6 9.f4 Qc7 10.Qe1 b5 11.Bf3 Bb7 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nfd7 14.Qg3 Bc5 [14...Bxf3 15.Qxf3!]
15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Rae1 Nc6? [Now White's attack becomes dangerous. Better 16...Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Nc6]
17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Ne4! Bxe3+ 19.Rxe3 Rad8 In order to answer 20. Nf6+ by 20...Nxf6 21. exf6 g6 22. Qg5 Rd2. 20.Qh4! Nxe5?! [20...Qb6 was necessary.] 21.Rh3 h6 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qg5! Black resigns.
There is no defence to the threat of Rxh6+. 1-0

Unfortunately, despite the uniqueness of the exhibition and the popularity of our guest, the attendance was disappointing to an extent which could not be entirely explained by the inadequate publicity. It is perhaps time that the average chessplayer stopped taking for granted the efforts made on his behalf by organisers.

Gligorić's other results - from G. Bonner
In Dundee, Gligorić played 22, winning 18 and drawing 4. His Edinburgh display of 15 resulted in 12 wins for him and 3 draws.

Sources:
High School of Glasgow Bulletin, 28 February 1970.

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland