AJuly 06 1954
The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Tuesday, July 06, 1954
First Defeat For Touring Soviets
Canadian Beats Russian Chess Expert
TORONTO (CP)—A Canadian has beaten a Russian grand master of chess.
Frank Anderson, a young Toronto university student and co-champion of Canada's chess players, became the first Canadian to beat Igor Bondarevsky by defeating him in 44 moves in an exhibition game Monday night. Bondarevsky resigned after 5½ hours of play when Anderson threatened to force a pawn into promotion.
The 26-year-old Anderson, who lost to Bondarevsky in a Trans-Atlantic match by cable last February, was happy about the victory.
“It was wonderful,” he said. “It was a fine game.”
Bondarevsky, elevated to grand master when he became champion of the Soviet Union in 1941, made no excuses for defeat. He smiled as he congratulated Anderson. Both spent nearly a half-hour analyzing their moves.
Bondarevsky said he made his mistake in the 12th move when he captured a king's pawn with his Queen's pawn. He said he should have done it with his king's bishop's pawn.
Anderson, Canadian co-champion with Abe Yanofsky of Winnipeg, won in a queen and minor piece ending. He had the white pieces and won a pawn on the queen side before adjournment. Eventually he had two connected passed pawns on that wing. The 41-year-old Russian concede shortly afterward.
In another exhibition game, Alexander Kotov of Moscow, 41 and also a Russian grand master, defeated Paul Vaitonis of Hamilton in 50 moves. Vaitonis made a mistake in the mid-game. When Kotov advanced his pawns, Vaitonis was forced to give up a rook for a knight.
The games were part of a series the Russians are playing at the invitation of the Canadian Chess Federation.
Except for Anderson's victory, both Russians have been undefeated in their tour. Bondarevsky beat Yanofsky in 60 moves in an exhibition at Winnipeg. He was simultaneously engaged in an exhibition and scored 38 wins and two draws in 40 matches.
