1959 Zurich Chess Tournament Program

16 pages with photographs and tables. Royal octavo (9" x 6") bound in original publisher's pictorial stapled wrappers. Signed by all the contestants. First edition.

Ten grandmasters were invited to compete against six top Swiss masters, including the Swiss champion, at Zurich's Kongreßhaus from May 18th to June 8th, 1959. Among the grandmasters invited were Mikhail Tal and Paul Keres from the Soviet Union, Bobby Fischer from the United States, Svetozar Gligoric from Yugoslavia, Bent Larsen from Denmark, Wolfgang Unzicker from Germany, and Fridrik Olafsson from Iceland, a number of these participating in the world candidates tournament the same year. Although Tal viewed the tournament as a lesser event, it turned out to be closer than he would have expected. Although he easily defeated five of the six Swiss players, Edwin Bhend dealt the future world champion a fatal blow in the first round. After dispatching his countrymen later in the tournament, Tal felt in fine form, but then lost again, this time at the hands of Gligoric, who would trail him only by half a point in the final. This was also a significant tournament for young Fischer. His play was already improving dramatically at international events against stronger opposition, and he came close to tying Tal in the final. Fischer, then just 16 years old and the youngest-ever grandmaster, came close to tying Mikhail Tal in the final. However, a loss to Swiss champion Dieter Keller in the penultimate round cost Fischer a spot at the top—he had to settle for a third-place tie with Paul Keres, behind Svetozar Gligoric and tournament champion Mikhail Tal.

Condition:

Signed by each contestant under their photograph. Light edge wear else very good to fine of a unique item.