1966 Havana Chess Olympiad

The 17th Chess Olympiad organized by FIDE and comprising an open team tournament, as well as several other events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between October 23 and November 20, 1966, in Havana, Cuba.
The 52 participating countries arrived on the island. According to many this was most dazzling, splendorous event held with unique flourish. A few million dollars were the budget and more than 1,000 of technical staff were at disposal of the players during the Olympiad.
West Germany boycotted the Havana Olympiad from political reasons while USA, just couple of years after Cuban crisis did not hesitate to come to Havana. USSR brought new blood info their squad and left Botvinnik, Smyslov and Keres home.
USA were missing Reshevsky this time but we have seen them with Fischer at top board together with Byrne, Benko and Evans constituting a team that might threaten the Soviets at least theoretically.
Yugoslavia were only team - apart from USSR - to have six GMs at their disposal while Czechoslovakia and Hungary had four.
The Soviet team won the Championship for the eighth time, displaying convincing form throughout and conceding but one drawn match. Three of the Soviet players also made the best scores on their respective boards. The second place achieved by the United States was primarily due to Fischer, who gave a remarkable individual display. The Hungarians who tied on points with Yugoslavia were lead by Portisch who scored well but was overwhelmed by Bárczay's phenomenal result of 11/12. Szabó and Bilek went throughout the contest undefeated. Only Lengyel was fairly disappointing.
Yugoslavia who were so unlucky to miss the medal zone had excellent Čirić in their squad (he scored a perfect 8/8 but did not play vs major teams). Their general rule was: the lower the player was seeded, the better his result was. Panno for Argentina was the strongest part of their team whereas Czechoslovak #4 Kaválek played same role in his team. Uhlmann's record at top board for East Germany is remarkable. Cuba made huge impression in the preliminaries but then were totally disappointing and won as little as 2 games in the final.

[@mendoncacorreia]

In the opening image you find at Fischer's left side two of the very best Portuguese players of those days : IM Joaquim Durão and NM António Augusto Rocha.

[@davidc5191]

On the Soviet team, I saw Petrosian, Spassky, Stein, Korchnoi and Polugaevsky. On the US team I only recognized Fischer, R. Byrne and Benko (with a funny moustache!) Didn't recognize who the others on the team were.

[@adflicto1]

The way Castro looked at Fischer :D I wonder, what did he tell him?

[@user-cf8yq6lg8v]

que buen video me quede con las ganas de ver más. saludos

[@MrSupernova111]

Wow! Thanks!

[@jorgeponce5512]

1:55 With a pistol at a Chess Olympiad official reception. Ridiculous.

[@davidc5191]

And did Petrosian dare to beat him in the simul if he was still sporting that gun? 6:30 Of course Cuban armaments were paid for by Russia, so maybe not.

[@eduardjozefgregor5103]

To bola vodná pištoľ. Strela z nej by neublížila ani muche.

[@jorgeponce5512]

@@eduardjozefgregor5103 Coal e to bola asere?

[@jorgeponce5512]

@@eduardjozefgregor5103 I had to go to Google Translate. Agree pistolita de agua

[@paulsontag9233]

You’re ridiculous. Did you see the players walking by? Relaxed and in great spirits even Fischer.