ASeptember 24 1947
The Guardian, London, Greater London, England, Wednesday, September 24, 1947
Russia's 15-5 Chess Victory
Match with Britain
From our Chess Correspondent
London, Tuesday.
The closing day of the Anglo-Russian chess match was devoted to the conclusion of the adjourned games—six from the first round and two from the second and the final result was a heavy defeat for the home team, who scored four points in the first round, but only one in the second. Russia thus won by 15-5, a margin which the team fully deserved by its fine play.
The adjourned games from the first round ended in a draw for Alexander against Keres; a loss for Winter against Bondarevsky; a draw for Fairhurst against Flohr (these players also drew in the second round); losses for Aitken and Abrahams against Ragozin and Bronstein and a win for Newman against Tolush.
As Golombek and Smyslov (who eventually won) agreed to finish their second-round game this morning, there remained only the second game between Alexander and Keres to be decided this afternoon.
Hard-Fought Game
Alexander had a heavy task before him, with queen, bishop, two knights, and three pawns against queen, rook, bishop, knight, and three pawns, and with his king badly exposed. In his favour he had a passed pawn, but no farther advanced than the fourth rank. Keres had every inducement to play for a win, as he had apparently missed a winning line in the other adjourned game in the morning.
After a period of deliberation a quick series of exchanges followed, which left Keres with rook and knight against two knights, and two pawns each. In the ensuing play for position the superior mobility of the rook was a great asset to Keres. Alexander made a brave defence, but on the seventy-third move he was forced to resign after losing a pawn and having to exchange one of his knights.
The proceedings closed with speeches of congratulation by the president of the British Chess Federation and Sir George Thomas on the Russian victory.
The teams have now been selected for the radio match. Great Britain v. Australia, on Saturday week. The British team win be the same as that against Russia, except for the substitution of R. J. Broadbent for Sir George Thomas. The Australian team will be L. Steiner, C. J. S. Purdy, G. Koshnitsky, Dr. M. Gellis, M. E. Goldstein. F. Crowl, Martin Green, B. Y. Mills, H. Klass, and S. Karoly. The British team will play at Australia House.
