Montreal 1979

[Dan Scoones]

On the Russian website ChessPro there is an interesting article on the Montreal 1979 "Tournament of Stars."

Here is the link: http://www.chesspro.ru/_events/2009/berdnikov.html

[Felix Dumont]

Re : Montreal 1979

At least there is pictures :D

The last picture is really interresting, with only white squares and pieces. There is actually the same chess sets for an exposition on Imagine by John Lennon, here in Montreal.

[Neil Sullivan]

Re: Montreal 1979

Many of us in Montreal remember this event with great fondness. It was incredible to see all these chess heros in the flesh.

I had the good fortune to be a volunteer at the event; doing the demo-boards. There was one of us per game, so there was plenty of time to look around and soak in the atmosphere. It was tremendous to see people lined up in advance of each round waiting to enter the theatre.

In addition to the giddy thrill of wearing the baby blue polyester suits they gave us, we got a chance to see the players up close and personal. I was able to get the event poster signed by all the players and TDs. I had to pretty much corner Hubner in the lunch room to have him sign a square in miniscule script. It still hangs on my wall.

There were a number of books on the event. I have Tal's effort, the one in French written by Spraggett et al and the official book of the event in French. The latter is an expanded translation of the official bulletins. I have my set of those too as we were given a copy every day.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Montreal 1979

PART 1/3

Here is the Babelfish translation of the article (with photo captions; note that the Russian word "mir" can mean "world" as well as "peace"). There are many references to Roger Lemelin - the editor of "La Presse" around that time. I didn't have time to figure out which player "pulley block" is (it reminds me of the Spanish to English translation which gave the name "Tony Thousands" (Tony Miles)).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANY ORANGES, MR. IS PREMIER!

Rovno thirty years ago, in April - May 1979, in Montreal took place one of strongest during entire history chess of tournaments, known as “the tournament of stars”. For organizers it was possible to complete organizational exploit and in very short time to gather composition of the participants exceptional on the force: the acting champion of peace, his two great predecessors, several aspirants and “simply” strongest grand masters. Competition caused the great interest of press and the good recollections of fans, who attended [turnirnyy] bay this small material it will add several, probably, interesting primes to the already well-known facts about the prehistory of tournament, about the enthusiasts of chess, its organized, and the events, which accompanied the game of elite.





Person, the gathering of the stars


Montreal -79 as the event of chess history is almost wholly obliged by its appearance and not last place in it to Canadian writer, to scenario, to owner, to journalist and to publisher to erysipelas To [lemlenu]. This name is little-known, although [Lemlen] attained the acknowledgement of its literary creation not only in Canada, also in Europe, and it was honored for it all possible prestigious rewards. [Lemlen] was chess player- amateur, it gave much time to chess, their popularization, and, which can be even more importantly, were used its significant influence and connections, and therefore there would be correct [popodrobnee] to introduce the readers to the biography of this many-sided person.



To erysipelas Of [lemlen] (photo from the book Of [realya] of Bertrand “splendid to erysipelas Of [lemlen]”).



To erysipelas Of [lemlen] it was born ninety years ago, in April 1919 in Quebec. After trying in the youth many occupations, it, after all, studied hack writing and with journalism - in the first half of the fortieth already wrote for the known American journals “[Layf]” and “time”. The success of its several books followed in the postwar time, and on the novel “family Of [pluff]” were placed extremely popular radio shows and multiple series film. But simultaneously with the occupations by the literature Of [lemlen] it led its matter, after earning state by the production of meat products.

In 1972 it becomes the President and the editor in chief of the most solid Canadian [frankoyazychnoy] newspaper “la press” and it will occupy this post during the following decade.

Because of [Lemlenu] in the newspaper first constantly began to appear chess materials, and subsequently use by authorities of official position, in their and millions of chess players interests, it led to the appearance and the outstanding realization of the plans of the organization of large competition in Montreal.

[Lemlen] loved to indicate that in whatever city of peace it was located, he always tried to visit the chess club, in which it felt itself as houses, despite not what lingual barriers, and that “chess, as music, do not need translator”. Its sociability, openness and enthusiasm by chess led once, during the visit of Canadian delegation to the USSR, to the amusing episode, which confirms this principle.

It is necessary to say that the seventieth- eightieth years were very complex for the interrelations of province Quebec and Canada. [Lemlen] criticized the idea of the department of Quebec, it spoke in the press with the articles in favor of the unity of the country and it supported in this of the effort of prime minister Pierre [Tryudo]. Famous politician valued the assistance of his compatriot, they associated, and once [Tryudo], being going to visit the USSR, invited [Lemlena] with itself for the adjusting of cultural contacts.

As recalled [Lemlen], program was saturated: besides Moscow, for it was in prospect to fly into Kiev and Tashkent. In this journey they, it goes without saying, everywhere accompanied it. The satellite Of [lemlena] was at first sufficiently restrained in the conversations, but suddenly Canadian asked, he chess. That wonderingly looked the journalist and answered, which yes, plays, and then [Lemlen] immediately filled up by its stories about the styles of game, the debuts and by all, that he knew about our champions from [Alekhina] to [Botvinnika].

They decided to play, but in the aircraft of chess it was not and they played blindly. “The surrounded us journalists with the surprise observed as two, as if robots, after crossing hands, with the fixed view, each minute uttered the strange formulas: d4, f5… We played approximately by the identical force and won each on the party. After game my partner shook hands into the sign of gratitude” - cites [Lemlena] its biographer real Bertrand.



Prime Minister of Canada Pierre [Tryudo].



That accompanying from this point on, began in every way possible to be a guardian it and about it to worry. On the way from Kiev to Tashkent, during the game it noted to guest that entirely does not appear well. [Lemlen] answered, that it cannot eat to the breakfast “of borstch”, but it is more nothing, no fruits, for example, they propose (now to no longer explain, of course, which was there in the menu in reality or in what to hour served the breakfast, but the cult for the foreigners means of Russian borsch on the motion of this narration it will intersect chess again). Then, after arrival into Tashkent, its satellite tried and reached specially for its chess partner the entire packet of scarce oranges.

[Lemlen] loved drawings, knowing that [Tryudo] adores fresh fruits, appeared with the citrus fruits to the press conference of its prime minister and beginnings on the eyes in it there is fruit. After finishing to answer questions of journalists, [Tryudo] it approached [Lemlenu], and took place the amusing dialogue:

- You where this did take orange?

- A you do know how chess, Mr. prime minister? - asked [Lemlen].

- No… - astonished politician.

- Then, concluded journalist, any to you oranges!



We return from the anecdotes to the matters with serious. Of course thought about the tournament of world class arose not immediately, but it became the result of the energetic activity Of [lemlena] and newspaper headed by it. The not bad experience of aid in conducting of the tournaments of national level was already accumulated to the middle of the seventieth.

And for sure it is possible to say that then yet not [issyakli] in air of Montreal the fluids of global projects - indeed city already assumed by that time the world exhibition of Expos -67 and game OF THE XXI Olympiad.

Thus, gradually everything was formed as cannot better, and it was decided to study the organization in Montreal of chess super-tournament.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Montreal 1979

PART 2/3


Where, with whom it is how much


Organization they undertook late (according to some accounts, it was only in February determined the date of beginning), and for organizers it was in prospect simultaneously, by Stakhanov methods to solve all three necessary and second-order condition: to find means, place of game and to invite famous, and, therefore, also very occupied participants.

For [lemlenu] was possible the main thing - to find sponsors and to persuade them that allocation of assets to the tournament of world stars the matter standing: not is only publicly honorable, but also useful for the capitalization of their image. After intensive negotiations among the contributing to tournament organizations proved to be the city hall of city, provincial government, national airline, two general national newspapers, large [monrealskiy] hotel and other very solid firms.

Rapidly was solved the problem of sport arena. After consulting with the urban head, they stopped at the pavilion of Quebec in the territory of Expos -67. From the world exhibition, recollections about which were also entirely fresh, they borrowed the official designation of the tournament: International chess tournament “the Earth people” (thus was called one of Saint- Exupery books; fastened in our chess literature name “tournament of stars” - transfer from the English). But also its emblem, ravine, speaking in the language of contemporary designers.



The emblem of Expos -67, until now, is encountered everywhere in Montreal, the same idea was beaten in the symbolism of chess tournament.



Nine of ten people will for sure see in this figure snowflake; after learning, what these are the emblem of the event, which occurred in Canada - snow, cold, hockey, in their opinion they will be affirmed… and will be mistaken, because this conditional image of humanity, which undertook herself hands - Earth people, briefly stated.

One of this chain they mobilized to the [turnirnuyu] symbolism. Which shuts with itself queen, so immediately and you will not say, if we do not know history. Quality mark, possibly, will resemble to some readers.

They, after all, completed preparation, they shook everything and the agreement of participants was obtained. From the strong did not play, perhaps, only three: [Petrosyan], [Polugaevskiy] (“otherwise simply it would come out the championship of the Soviet Union” - it reasonably noted one Canadian chess functionary) and [Korchnoy]. To Victor [Korchny] they composed straight line, without the diplomatic contrivances and the not completely logical failure: “If we you invite, then will begin political frictions with the USSR, that not in the interests either newspaper “la press” or government. Our enterprise is purely sport”. Grand master did not insist, but Soviet side, as it is accepted to speak, the position Of [lemlena] was estimated.

As a result for ten grand masters of eight countries were in prospect in the course of the month to dispute prize into 110 thousand dollars - record to the period. In the tournament they played: Anatoliy Karpov, Boris [Spasskiy], Lajos [Portish], Ian [Timman], [Bent] Larsen, Mikhail [Tal], [Vlastimil] Of [gort], Robert [Khyubner], Lyubomir [Lyuboevich] and Lyubomir [Kavalek].





Hockey, chess and the sun


What such is April in Montreal? April - this is the first sun, if it transports, then more- less warm, this is dust by post, because snow only descended, there were no rains and verdure thus far did not grow, these are the impulses of icy wind, and firstly, this hockey. By the middle of April concludes regular championship [NKHL] and begin games to the Stanley Cup.



April - this time of the beginning of games to the Stanley Cup, the restaurants, the stores, machines are decorated with flags “[Kanadiens]”.



And despite the fact that [Kanadiens]-1979 this completely not [Kanadiens]-2009 (even not two, but it can be four “large differences”), but nevertheless the fact: chess in the newspapers then could outdistance something larger than world sensations - they arose in the newspapers they level and even slightly outdistanced hockey.

For several days prior to the beginning of chess tournament in the press - except “la press”, tournament in the English also widely presented “[Gazett]”, began to appear detailed materials about the competition and the chess players: announcements on the first pages with the photographs, entire strips, diverted under the reports about the stages, forecasts, interviews, biographies it is simple advertisement with the timetable of tournament.

Forecasters weighed chances, accurately encouraging participants, it is said, “each it was capable to much”. The deputy director of tournament [aforistichno] he said that can, and it would know how to name conqueror, but it is difficult to represent that someone in this company will become the latter. But nevertheless the probability of Anatoliy Karpov's victory was evaluated above all, reviewers were not stingy: “great”, “brilliant”, “the king of kings” and even “[Gi] Of [lefler] of chess” (with the champions [kerlinga] they did not compare). [Veltmeyster] itself in the interview with these forecasts agreed: “I will win, because I is stronger than rest, and my rivals this know”. By the way, into one of the days off, as recalled [Lemlen], it was with Anatoliy Karpov on the hockey and grand master with the admiration controlled the game precisely Of [gi] Of [leflera].



But in Montreal are encountered such places as the park Of [lafonten]: in the photographs the declaration is “the place of the game into chess and of card games (for the adult)” and the information, which cools the flame of the worshippers of national Canadian amusement, established in park pond.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Montreal 1979

PART 3/3

On April 11, after the solemn opening of tournament, was played the first stage. On the recollections of eyewitnesses, about four hundred spectators were assembled to look the duels “of titaniums”, “giants”, “ten kings of chess”. In the enthusiasm was focused attention not only to parties themselves, but also, for example, as who from the grand masters is held during the game: it walks, it sits, it makes faces, motions are written. In a word, in all was [pripodnyatnoe] holiday mood.

There was its unexpected contingency - no one's in nineteen courses in the party Karpov - [Khyubner]. But already in the following stage the champion of peace proved that this was an exception to the rule - followed its impressive victory above [Timmanom].

As it is sometimes during such important measures, it did not manage without the curious scandals. Boris [Spasskiy] after party refused in the autograph to the young gift of Louis Dughet, to champion [Dryummonvilya] (small city not far from Montreal). Newspapers directly boiled from the disturbance, began was strong noise; however, all rapidly settled (allegedly even diplomatic representation it interfered), and next day, and afterward all desiring obtained autographs not only “chess Maurice Richard”, but also all remaining grand masters.



End April 1979, epoch by one line:
- President Brezhnev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gromyko meet the President Jiskar [d]'[Estena].
- [Monrealskiy] symphony orchestra has an honor to present the concerts of Mistislav [Rostropovich] (photo “la press”).



Another misunderstanding was connected with the very meticulous spectator. It attempted to photograph in the hall, into entire voice proving to protection, that the declaration, which forbids survey, relates only to the press. Protection so loudly did not agree, proving reverse and attempting to derive it from the hall. Forces were unequal and it was possible to show out spectator. But organization committee introduced refinement, that the prohibition to the survey concerns all in the auditorium.

One additional interesting moment. Although the tournament lasted for long, almost exactly month, interest in it did not weaken and it was so it was great, but advertisement in media outlets is so effective, that among four hundred spectators, the regularly filled halls, were encountered and such, who practically did not know rules, to say nothing of reading commentaries to the parties. Specially for them [kvebekskaya] federation organized in the foyer of pavilion the chess liquidation of illiteracy: rule, the general principles of strategy, lecture.

Toward the end the first circle led “Russian Soviet comrades” Karpov (plus four) and pulley block (plus three), and also the Hungarian Of [portish] (also plus 3), and they locked table Dane Larsen and [Kavalek] from the USA.

But in the twelfth stage the acting champion of peace lost to Larsen, whom obtained for this the second prize for the beauty, founded to erysipelas his [Lemlenom] (the first it was reached to Mikhail [Talyu] for victory above Boris [Spasskiy]), and eighth champion it overtook, after tying [Lyuboevichem]. Remained third of distance were the captivating race of leaders.

Thirteenth stage: Karpov conquers by the blacks Of [spasskogo], pulley block white Of [khyubnera]. Then Karpov reduces two parties a draw, and pulley block is collected in these stages of one-and-a-half point and it leaves forward! Theoretically their both they can still overtake [Portish] and [Lyuboevich], but already after the fourteenth stage in “the la press” appears article with the title “tournament it became Soviet triumph”. Journalist first whether did prove to be by seer, then simply he hexed, but during the day of the international solidarity of workers and [Portish] (exactly To [talyu]), and [Lyuboevich] its sequential parties lose.

The sixteenth stage, Karpov - pulley block - no one's, two additional stages, and pulley block on shelf is in front. In following stage both play black with the Lyubomirs. In [Talya] peace [Kavalekom], and Karpov beat to order [Lyuboevicha] - it is again “exact”, as tennis-players speak. On Sunday, sixth May, Anatoliy Karpov and Mikhail [Tal], after completing their parties a draw, won the [monrealskiy] international tournament of the fifteenth category “the Earth people”, strongest to the period, and being remained one of the strong in the history, until now, after it is exact three decades.



Victors of Montreal -79 Anatoliy Karpov and Mikhail [Tal] (photo “la press”).



Now promised earlier. Newsmen, after calculating the being been due to conquerors prize, noted that now “they can flavor by oil borsch”. It sounds in the literal translation in the Russian absurdly, but it is completely understandable for the [frankoyazychnogo] reader, because in French “to flavor by oil spinach” exactly means that someone earned rather well. But Soviet grand masters conquered once, however, then where by them to still throw oil, as not into the plate with the borsch.



In the days the anniversary of tournament in Montreal is passed exhibition “visualize peace” in the honor of another event - 40 years ago John Lennon and Yoko Ono conducted famous action, calling to the peace and giving out to interview in the bed of the number of [monrealskogo] hotel.
The numerous halls of the [monrealskogo] museum of depictive skills, returned under the exhibition, are filled with installations in only white, in the color of peace. In two halls are established the completely white complete sets of chess, to see which is more than strangely, however, with a certain effort above itself, to play in them it is possible.



On the ceremony of closing chess players they greeted the main inspirer of event to erysipelas Of [lemlen], the mayor of city, the representative of government. [Lemlen] noted that the tournament “took place under the sign of brotherhood, humanity and peace”. In [podtverzhenie] of this, in the past year Director-General of the [kvebekskoy] federation Richard [Berube] in the interview noted: “Soviet chess players Karpov and [Tal] and Alexander [Roshal] were for us the real ambassadors of your culture to Canada”.

Under the impression from the success sounded the proposals about the fact that this tournament must become yearly, and which to the government of province would be rather well found special prize.

Unfortunately, these plans remained for a long time only plans, but several years ago [monrealskie] chess enthusiasts returned to the idea to carry out to Montreal super-tournaments and began successfully it to personify - in what it is necessary, undoubtedly, to them to wish success.

[Guy Brunet]

Re: Montreal 1979

Many of us in Montreal remember this event with great fondness. It was incredible to see all these chess heros in the flesh.

I had the good fortune to be a volunteer at the event; doing the demo-boards. There was one of us per game, so there was plenty of time to look around and soak in the atmosphere. It was tremendous to see people lined up in advance of each round waiting to enter the theatre.

In addition to the giddy thrill of wearing the baby blue polyester suits they gave us, we got a chance to see the players up close and personal. I was able to get the event poster signed by all the players and TDs. I had to pretty much corner Hubner in the lunch room to have him sign a square in miniscule script. It still hangs on my wall.

There were a number of books on the event. I have Tal's effort, the one in French written by Spraggett et al and the official book of the event in French. The latter is an expanded translation of the official bulletins. I have my set of those too as we were given a copy every day.

Jan Timman, in one of his books (maybe "Art of Analysis") wrote something like the organization had some failures, i.e. sometimes when the players arrived for a round the chessboards were not at the playing tables, and they(the players) had to bring the boards themselves from the back scene or something like that. Do you remember anything similar?

On the other hand, I remember quite well that tournament.
I had bought myself a pass for the whole duration and it was really a feast seeing in person all those Grandmasters!

Today, in any tournament, each time I see or hear someone talking near a board where players have not finished their game, I can't help remembering Lajos Portish asking the chief referee, Svetozar Gligoric, to tell Karpov and Tal stop talking besides his table as he was trying to concentrate on his next move!!

Nice souvenirs

[Neil Sullivan]

Re: Montreal 1979

Jan Timman, in one of his books (maybe "Art of Analysis") wrote something like the organization had some failures, i.e. sometimes when the players arrived for a round the chessboards were not at the playing tables, and they(the players) had to bring the boards themselves from the back scene or something like that. Do you remember anything similar?

On the other hand, I remember quite well that tournament.
I had bought myself a pass for the whole duration and it was really a feast seeing in person all those Grandmasters!

Today, in any tournament, each time I see or hear someone talking near a board where players have not finished their game, I can't help remembering Lajos Portish asking the chief referee, Svetozar Gligoric, to tell Karpov and Tal stop talking besides his table as he was trying to concentrate on his next move!!

Nice souvenirs

In The Art of Chess Analysis, Timman annotates his game with black against Spassky. In the introduction he writes:

"Often the boards and pieces were not set up until 5 minutes before the beginning of the round. Apparently the tasks had not been very efficiently divided among the local organizers. Or did they find it beneath their dignity to perform such chores? The arbiter, Svetozar Gligoric, usually had to do most of the work, but once I saw Spassky carrying the boards into the hall while Hort was setting out the name cards."

Tal's book, Montreal 1979, contains an interview with Gligoric. In it he says "One thing that tells it is true, is the oganizers' lack of experience with staging major chess events ...".

Camille Coudari makes no mention of this in le grand tournoi international d'échecs: terre des hommes: montréal 1979.

I did find it odd to see Gligoric setting up the boards. I tried to help once but got shooed away. With all the bodies that were on hand, the smallest effort at organizing them would have solved the problem immediately.

Even amongst the demo board volunteers, we just showed up and picked a game. Some people chose to do audience duty; shushing noisy people and trying to stop pictures being taken during rounds. There didn't seem to be much direction.

An interesting incident occured just before the start of a round. A wild-looking fellow in a CCCP hockey jersey jumped up on the stage. I was considering jumping down from my perch to confront him when he went and spoke to Spassky and Tal. They seemed surprised, but shook his hand. He them left the stage.

I remember being surprised at the lack of security. Certainly an attack on any of the players would have marred the tournament beyond repair.

[Howard Streit]

Re: Montreal 1979

I have a number of memories with mixed emotions.

- I remember being a "board boy" (age 30) and working most of the games.

- Security was quite lax:
On one occasion a fellow from the audience walked up to the edge of the stage in front of Spassky's board and asked Spassky if he could "borrow" a pen from him so he could record the moves from the audience. Spassky politely declined.

Walking through security one day (in my uniform) with my bearded friend Eric Deskin, he was stopped hesitatingly by a guard who then mumbled apologetically, "Ah, Bent Larsen" and waved him through (for free). Eric has been recounting the tale ever since of the day he was thought to be the Great Dane!

-Rumours:
At one point there was a rumour floating around that Bobby Fischer was going to show up disguised in a long, false beard. Ever after that the audience was periodically scanned by many to see if a bearded, anarchist type was in the audience. Unfortunately no sightings were registered.

-Pettiness:
At the end of the last round several of us board boys, who had worked many hours, several days, each week for free, found ourselves in the playing hall alone and took the opportunity to remove from the wall a souvenir each of the small paper poster of the tournament. There were many still hanging around. A wife of one of the organizers stormed in and accused us in French of pilfering these posters (one each) and raised a fuss demanding that we leave the hall empty handed. We did, with a sour taste in our mouths.

-To be a star:
Larry Bevand organized that a simultaneous exhibition be arranged for free each day while the rounds were in progress. I played in two of these, 20 boards each day, and did quite well, mostly a reflection of the relative strengths of my opponents. The thrill was to have many ask for my autograph, which I humbly did. The hardest part of a five hour simul, by the way, is definitely the soreness of the feet over the last two hours.

-Painful association:
I returned home after the final round to discover that my, seemingly healthy, mother had been rushed to hospital for five hours of emergency surgery. She pulled through, but died three months later from complications.

[Larry Bevand]

Re: Montreal 1979

-Pettiness:
At the end of the last round several of us board boys, who had worked many hours, several days, each week for free, found ourselves in the playing hall alone and took the opportunity to remove from the wall a souvenir each of the small paper poster of the tournament. There were many still hanging around. A wife of one of the organizers stormed in and accused us in French of pilfering these posters (one each) and raised a fuss demanding that we leave the hall empty handed. We did, with a sour taste in our mouths.

-To be a star:
Larry Bevand organized that a simultaneous exhibition be arranged for free each day while the rounds were in progress. I played in two of these, 20 boards each day, and did quite well, mostly a reflection of the relative strengths of my opponents. The thrill was to have many ask for my autograph, which I humbly did. The hardest part of a five hour simul, by the way, is definitely the soreness of the feet over the last two hours.

Hi Howard,

All was not perfect with Montreal 1979 but there were far more positives than negatives. I could tell some tales too :).

Instead I will focus on the positives. It was a great celebration of chess at the former Expo 67 site...almost a full month..from April 11 to May 6, 1979....with 300 - 400 paying chess fans showing up for each round! They came from across Canada and around the World!

My favorite Montreal mayor, Jean Drapeau, pulled the strings to make a dream come true for La Presse Publisher Roger Lemelin who took his chess columnist and very talented IM Camille Coudari on-board to make the event happen.

It launched my career in chess retail. Tal said in a book on the event that he had never seen such an impressive collection of chess material for sale in one place, or words to that effect :).

It was also the year when table top chess computers made their way onto the market. A unit selling for $350 rarely castled. When I asked Fidelity Elctronics about this at the time, they told me that the computer considers castling as a move, but it doesn't consider it to be the best move in the position...

What they lacked in ability (playing about 1200 strength) they tried to make up for in looks with a very fine brief case to hold the unit and a wood finish casing for the unit...complete with an adaptor :)

An important memory for me...not as impressive as Expo 67 but certainly way up there :).

Having decided in 1978 to try and earn a living in chess, this event came along at the right time for me!

Larry

[Neil Sullivan]

Re: Montreal 1979

I have a number of memories with mixed emotions.

Sounds like a very mixed bag of memories Howard. I recall that there was a sleazy character called Shiloh Quinn involved with the event. He was quite keen on showing his superior status by trying to deny us the right to have a copy of the daily bulletins as we were promised. I doubt he understood any of it, but he still insisted on getting his copy before others.

I wrote him off as a lost cause until he partially redeemed himself by showing up with one of the curviest females I had ever seen at the post-event party. :)

Here is a shot of the poster with a close-up showing some autographs.

[Neil Sullivan]

Re: Montreal 1979

It launched my career in chess retail. Tal said in a book on the event that he had never seen such an impressive collection of chess material for sale in one place, or words to that effect :).

In the Montreal 1979 book by Tal, Aleksandr Roshal wrote in the section "Montreal Diary":

"I, for example, have never seen such a large number of chess publications at any one time ... On display were numerous articles so sought after by chess players: clocks, chess sets of every possible of every possible size - travelling, pocket, or for tournaments - scorebooks for recording games, transfers of chess pieces for diagrams - the list is endless!"

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: Montreal 1979

I remember dropping by for a few days. It was an impressive corporate-level event. It was interesting to see Karpov walk among the boards when it was his opponent's turn; if he can do it so can I. There was a buzz when Karpov lost a piece, I think to Tal. I didn't say anything when I shared a hotel elevator with Karpov and Tal, not wanting to interupt their lively conversation. And Larry was a great host to take us out for a night on the town.

[Guy Brunet]

Re: Montreal 1979

Does my memory play tricks on me or did Edward Lasker spent some time at the tournament?

[Howard Streit]

Re: Montreal 1979

The most positive, long lasting benefit to come out of Montreal '79 was the explosion in chess that occurred due to the successful guidance of Echecs et Maths under the tutelage of Larry Bevand. Its effects are still being felt today throughout Canadian chess.