Blitz

Thank you for another great post, batgirl.

After that tournament, I recall a GM (can’t remember which one) marveling that Fischer had introduced innovations in opening theory in several games. Quite unexpected in blitz in those days: players wanted to save their surprises for actual tournaments.

Funny that first prize was only $400. That was a decent haul back then, but hardly worth the trouble today.

You might find Bill Wall's summary interesting: http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/articles/Tal-Fischer.htm

Fascinating. Some of the games have comments by Fischer, which should be well worth reviewing.

Wall says that the only major players who were absent were Spassky and Larsen. I might have included Gligorich in that list.

There were more than several individuals would could have contended, but nonetheless the lineup as it was is phenomenal.