Pal Benko (1928-2019)

[Matt Mackenzie]

He reportedly passed away a few days ago, having been one of the last prominent "pre-Fischer" chess figures still living.

[IM Jack Rudd]

The last surviving member of the legendary 1962 Candidates' tournament.

[Steven DuCharme]

Perhaps Bobby will surrender his spot in heaven to him

[Kevin Thurlow]

That is sad - his Gambit gave some exciting games, but that wasn't his only contribution to chess.

[Roger de Coverly]

He reportedly passed away a few days ago, having been one of the last prominent "pre-Fischer" chess figures still living.

How many of the opposition in "60 Memorable Games" are still with us? One at least, the co-winner of the rapidplay at the Torquay British this year.

[Richard Bates]

He reportedly passed away a few days ago, having been one of the last prominent "pre-Fischer" chess figures still living.

How many of the opposition in "60 Memorable Games" are still with us? One at least, the co-winner of the rapidplay at the Torquay British this year.

FIDE list still has Sherwin, Spassky, Darga and Shocron (b. 1921!) - edit: latter died 2013

Edit: with only other possibility, and even probability, Ojars Celle.

[John Moore]

Sad news. Pal Benko wrote a fine endgame column in the American magazine Chess Life, much the best thing in that variable magazine.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Sad news indeed. He also published a number of articles with Chessbase (from 2009 onwards, though it seemed like he had been writing for them for a lot longer). Frederic Friedel has included a personal tribute in the Chessbase article here, including links to the articles by Benko (the most recent in July):

https://en.chessbase.com/post/pl-benkoe-dies-at-91

[Matt Mackenzie]

He reportedly passed away a few days ago, having been one of the last prominent "pre-Fischer" chess figures still living.

How many of the opposition in "60 Memorable Games" are still with us? One at least, the co-winner of the rapidplay at the Torquay British this year.

FIDE list still has Sherwin, Spassky, Darga and Shocron (b. 1921!) - edit: latter died 2013

Edit: with only other possibility, and even probability, Ojars Celle.

Portisch and Olafsson, also.

[Richard Bates]

How many of the opposition in "60 Memorable Games" are still with us? One at least, the co-winner of the rapidplay at the Torquay British this year.

FIDE list still has Sherwin, Spassky, Darga and Shocron (b. 1921!) - edit: latter died 2013

Edit: with only other possibility, and even probability, Ojars Celle.

Portisch and Olafsson, also.

Oops indeed! Olafsson was FIDE President so long ago I just sort of assumed he must have left us by now!

[Matt Mackenzie]

The last surviving member of the legendary 1962 Candidates' tournament.

Though strangely enough its three predecessors all have survivors - Olafsson in 1959, Spassky in 1956 and of course Averbakh in 1953.

[Nick Burrows]

http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/inde ... _1928-2019

Respect:

‘When I gave my place to Fischer for the Interzonal in Palma de Mallorca in 1970, I was sure Bobby would advance to the Candidates Matches and beat the Russians. My own career was nearing its end, so why shouldn’t I give Fischer a chance to embrace his fate? I never had any doubts about his success, and he didn’t disappoint me.’

[David Sedgwick]

Whilst amicable relations between Benko and Fischer had been restored by the time of Palma de Mallorca 1970, they were on rather different terms during Curacao 1962.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tA5 ... &q&f=false

[Jonathan Rogers]

http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/inde ... _1928-2019

Respect:

‘When I gave my place to Fischer for the Interzonal in Palma de Mallorca in 1970, I was sure Bobby would advance to the Candidates Matches and beat the Russians. My own career was nearing its end, so why shouldn’t I give Fischer a chance to embrace his fate? I never had any doubts about his success, and he didn’t disappoint me.’

He was "compensated" though, yes? By the American Chess Federation or whatever they were called?

[NickFaulks]

He was "compensated" though, yes? By the American Chess Federation or whatever they were called?

Yes, but I believe the American GM community of the time, a pretty cynical bunch, still felt that he had done a nice thing.