15th Chess Olympiad
The 15th Chess Olympiad (Bulgarian: 15-ата Шахматна олимпиада, 15-ata Shahmatna olimpiada), organized by FIDE and comprising an open[1] team tournament, as well as several other events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between September 15 and October 10, 1962, in Varna, Bulgaria.

The Soviet team with six GMs, led by world champion Botvinnik, lived up to expectations and won their sixth consecutive gold medals, with Yugoslavia and Argentina taking the silver and bronze, respectively.
Results
Preliminaries
A total of 37 teams entered the competition and were divided into four preliminary groups of eight to ten teams each. The top three from each group advanced to Final A, the teams placed 4th-6th to Final B, and the rest to Final C, where they were joined by a Bulgarian "B" team that played outside the contest. All preliminary groups as well as Finals A and B were played as round-robin tournaments, while Final C with 14 teams was played as an 11-round Swiss system tournament.
The Soviet Union took first place in group 1, well ahead of the two German teams, East with half a point more than West. Sweden, Belgium, and Spain took the places 4–6, while Norway, Turkey, and Greece finished at the bottom of the group.
Group 2 was won by the United States, while the Bulgarian hosts and Romania were tied for second place. Israel, Mongolia, and Switzerland made up the middle part of the group, while Puerto Rico and Tunisia had to settle for Final C.
Yugoslavia clinched group 3, ahead of the Netherlands and Czechoslovakia. Poland, Iceland, and Finland had to settle for Final B. Meanwhile, France, Uruguay, Luxembourg, and Cyprus finished at the bottom of the group.
Group 4 was won by Argentina, ahead of Hungary and Austria. Denmark, Cuba, and England made up the middle part of the group, while Albania, India, Iran, and Ireland completed the field.
- Group 1:
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 3 | 3½ | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27½ | ||
| «A» | 1 | - | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3½ | 3½ | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 21½ | ||
| «A» | ½ | 2 | - | 2½ | 3 | 2½ | 2½ | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 21 | ||
| «B» | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 2½ | 4 | 3 | 1 | 17 | ||
| «B» | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 2 | - | 2½ | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 3 | 3 | 2 | 16 | ||
| «B» | 0 | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1½ | - | 2½ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 16 | ||
| «C» | 1 | ½ | 1½ | 1 | 2 | 1½ | - | 3 | 2½ | 2 | 5 | 1 | 13 | ||
| «C» | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1½ | 1½ | 0 | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7½ | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1½ | ½ | 0 | 1½ | 1 | - | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4½ |
- Group 2:
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 24 | ||
| «A» | 2 | - | 2 | 3½ | 3½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 20 | ||
| «A» | 1½ | 2 | - | 2 | 3½ | 4 | 3½ | 3½ | 4 | 1 | 2 | 20 | ||
| «B» | ½ | ½ | 2 | - | 3 | 1½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | ||
| «B» | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | - | 3 | 3½ | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | ||
| «B» | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2½ | 1 | - | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | ||
| «C» | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | ½ | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7½ | ||
| «C» | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | - | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6½ |
- Group 3:
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 27½ | ||
| «A» | 2 | - | 2 | 4 | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | 3½ | 2½ | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 25 | ||
| «A» | 1½ | 2 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ | 3½ | 3½ | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 25 | ||
| «B» | 1½ | 0 | 1½ | - | 2½ | 4 | 3½ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 25 | ||
| «B» | 1 | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 2½ | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 21 | ||
| «B» | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 0 | 2 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 19½ | ||
| «C» | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1½ | 1½ | - | 3½ | 4 | 3½ | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | ||
| «C» | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 2½ | ½ | - | 3½ | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 12 | ||
| «C» | 0 | 1½ | 0 | 0 | 1½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | - | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 6½ | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | - | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1½ |
- Group 4:
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 2 | 3½ | 2½ | 3 | 3½ | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 29½ | ||
| «A» | 2 | - | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3½ | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 28 | ||
| «A» | ½ | 1 | - | 2½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3½ | 6 | 2 | 1 | 21 | ||
| «B» | 1½ | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3½ | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 19½ | ||
| «B» | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 2½ | - | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 19 | ||
| «B» | ½ | 1 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3½ | 3 | 4 | 2 | 19 | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | - | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 14½ | ||
| «C» | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 0 | 1½ | - | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 14½ | ||
| «C» | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 2½ | 1 | 7 | 1 | 8½ | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6½ |
Final
Final A # Country Players Points MP 1
Soviet UnionBotvinnik, Petrosian, Spassky, Keres, Geller, Tal 31½ 2
YugoslaviaGligorić, Trifunović, Matanović, Ivkov, Parma, Minić 28 3
ArgentinaNajdorf, Bolbochán, Panno, Sanguineti, Rossetto, Foguelman 26 4
United StatesFischer, Benko, Evans, R. Byrne, D. Byrne, Mednis 25 5
HungaryPortisch, Szabó, Bilek, Barcza, Lengyel, Honfi 23 6
BulgariaPadevsky, Tringov, Minev, Kolarov, Milev, Popov 21½ 7
West GermanyUnzicker, Darga, Schmid, Tröger, Hecht, Mohrlok 21 8
East GermanyUhlmann, Pietzsch, Malich, Zinn, Fuchs, Liebert 20½ 10 9
RomaniaCiocâltea, Ghițescu, Gheorghiu, Soós, Radovici, Günsberger 20½ 9 10
CzechoslovakiaFilip, Pachman, Hort, Fichtl, Blatný, Trapl 18½ 11
NetherlandsEuwe, Donner, Bouwmeester, Langeweg, Prins, Kramer 18 12
AustriaRobatsch, Dückstein, Beni, Gragger, Kinzel, Lokvenc 10½
Final B # Country Players Points MP MW HTH 13
SpainPomar, del Corral, Puig Pulido, Franco Raymundo, Ridameya Tatche, Serra Olives 26½ 16 14
EnglandPenrose, Clarke, Golombek, Littlewood, Barden, Wade 26½ 14 15
IsraelPorat, Aloni, Czerniak, Kraidman, Domnitz, Szapiro 25 16
CubaJiménez, Cobo Arteaga, García, Ortega, Calero 22½ 12 17
SwedenJohansson, Sköld, Nilsson, Buskenström, Olsson, Söderborg 22½ 11 4 2½ 18
PolandŚliwa, Balcerowski, Doda, Tarnowski, Schmidt, Filipowicz 22½ 11 4 1½ 19
BelgiumO'Kelly, Dunkelblum, Limbos, Boey, De Rijcke 22 20
FinlandOjanen, Raisa, Rantanen, Niemelä, Westerinen, Fred 20½ 21
MongoliaPurevzhav, Möömöö, Myagmarsuren, Chalkhasuren, Tsagan T., Namzhil 20 9 3 22
SwitzerlandBlau, Castagna, Roth, Gebauer, Luginbühl 20 9 2 23
IcelandÓlafsson, Guðmundsson, Pálsson, Thorsteinsson, Torvaldsson, Kristinsson 19 24
DenmarkKølvig, Holm, From, Søby, Korning, Brinck-Claussen 17
Final C # Country Players Points MP 25
NorwayJohannessen, Lindblom, Hoen, Vinje-Gulbrandsen, Zwaig, Stensholt 32½ -
Bulgaria "B"Filipov, Karastoichev, Daskalov, Bogdanov, Chipev, Burkhanlarsky 29½ 26
AlbaniaPustina, Duraku, Konçi, Veizaj, Siliqi, Omari 28½ 17 27
TunisiaBelkadi, Lagha, Kchouk, Kahia, Mohsen, Ennigrou 28½ 16 28
IndiaAaron, Sakhalkar, Ali, Hassan, Nawab, Shukla 26½ 29
IranHemmasian, Farboud, Parniani, Safvat, Zandifar 25 30
FranceBoutteville, Bergraser, Thiellement, Noradounguian, Ferry, Ravinet P. 23½ 31
Puerto RicoColón Romero A., Rivera D., Navas, Reissmann, Colón Romero M., Prieto Azúar, Rabell Méndez[2] 22½ 32
UruguayEstrada Degrandi, Etcheverry, Alvarez del Monte, Bauzá, Silva Nazzari 22 33
GreeceKokkoris, Anastasopoulos, Papapostolou, Vizantiadis, Paidousis, Hadziotis 18½ 34
LuxembourgConrady, Philippe, Schneider, Zeyen, Aloyse Neu, Leners 18 35
TurkeySüer, Boysan, Akakinci, Günsav 17 36
IrelandReid, Murphy P., Reilly, Loughrey, O'Hare, Cassidy 14½ 37
CyprusKleopas, Lantsias, Ioannidis, Fieros 1½
Final «A»
| № | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3½ | 2½ | 2 | 3½ | 3½ | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 31½ | ||
| 2 | 1½ | - | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3½ | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 28 | ||
| 3 | 1½ | 2 | - | 1 | 2½ | 3 | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 26 | ||
| 4 | 1½ | 1 | 3 | - | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 25 | ||
| 5 | 1½ | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | - | 2 | 3½ | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 23 | ||
| 6 | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1½ | 2 | - | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 4 | 21½ | ||
| 7 | ½ | 1½ | 1½ | ½ | ½ | 2 | - | 2½ | 3½ | 2 | 3½ | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 21 | ||
| 8 | 1½ | ½ | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | - | 2½ | 2½ | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 20½ | ||
| 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | - | 2½ | 3 | 3½ | 3 | 5 | 3 | 20½ | ||
| 10 | ½ | 1 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 18½ | ||
| 11 | ½ | 1½ | 1 | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | ½ | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 2½ | 3 | 6 | 2 | 18 | ||
| 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | - | 0 | 10 | 1 | 10½ |
Final «B»
| № | Country | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | - | ½ | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 2 | 3½ | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 26½ | ||
| 14 | 3½ | - | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 1½ | 3½ | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 3½ | 6 | 3 | 2 | 26½ | ||
| 15 | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2 | 3½ | 2½ | 3 | 1 | 2½ | 3½ | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 25 | ||
| 16 | 1 | 2½ | 2½ | - | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 3½ | 4 | 3 | 4 | 22½ | ||
| 17 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | - | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22½ | ||
| 18 | 1 | 2½ | ½ | 2 | 1½ | - | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2½ | 2 | 1½ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22½ | ||
| 19 | 2½ | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 22 | ||
| 20 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1½ | - | 2½ | 3½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 20½ | ||
| 21 | 1½ | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 20 | ||
| 22 | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 2½ | ½ | 2 | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 20 | ||
| 23 | ½ | 2 | ½ | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1½ | 2 | 2 | - | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 5 | 19 | ||
| 24 | 2 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 2½ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1½ | - | 2 | 6 | 3 | 17 |
Final «C»
| № | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 3½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3½ | 9 | 0 | 2 | 32½ | ||
| 33 | 34 | 27 | 26 | # | 30 | 31 | 36 | 28 | 35 | 32 | |||||||
| # | 2½ | 2 | 2½ | 3½ | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 29½ | ||
| 32 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 36 | 30 | 29 | 37 | |||||||
| 26 | 2½ | 2 | 3½ | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3½ | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 28½ | ||
| 29 | # | 34 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 36 | 33 | |||||||
| 27 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3½ | 2½ | 7 | 2 | 2 | 28½ | ||
| 36 | 31 | 25 | 29 | 26 | # | 37 | 28 | 33 | 34 | 30 | |||||||
| 28 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3½ | 3½ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3½ | 4 | 2 | 5 | 26½ | ||
| 30 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 26 | # | 27 | 25 | 37 | 36 | |||||||
| 29 | 1½ | 2 | 3½ | 1½ | 1½ | 3½ | 2½ | 2 | 1½ | 2 | 3½ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 25 | ||
| 26 | 28 | 35 | 27 | 32 | 37 | 36 | 25 | 34 | # | 31 | |||||||
| 30 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3½ | 3½ | ½ | 1½ | 4 | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | 4 | 5 | 2 | 23½ | ||
| 28 | 32 | 33 | 36 | 34 | 25 | 35 | 37 | # | 31 | 27 | |||||||
| 31 | 3 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 4 | 3½ | 1½ | 1½ | 2½ | 1½ | ½ | 4 | 6 | 1 | 22½ | ||
| 35 | 27 | # | 32 | 37 | 33 | 25 | 26 | 36 | 30 | 29 | |||||||
| 32 | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 1 | 2½ | 4 | 1 | ½ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | ||
| # | 30 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 35 | 26 | 34 | 37 | 33 | 25 | |||||||
| 33 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ½ | 2 | ½ | 2½ | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 18½ | ||
| 25 | 37 | 30 | # | 36 | 31 | 34 | 35 | 27 | 32 | 26 | |||||||
| 34 | 4 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3 | 1½ | 1½ | 2½ | ½ | 2½ | 4 | 7 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 37 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 36 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 35 | |||||||
| 35 | 1 | 2½ | ½ | 4 | ½ | 2 | 2½ | 2 | ½ | 0 | 1½ | 3 | 6 | 2 | 17 | ||
| 31 | 36 | 29 | 37 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 26 | 25 | 34 | |||||||
| 36 | 1 | 1½ | 3 | ½ | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 0 | 1½ | 2 | ½ | 1 | 8 | 2 | 14½ | ||
| 27 | 35 | 37 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 29 | # | 31 | 26 | 28 | |||||||
| 37 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1½ | ||
| 34 | 33 | 36 | 35 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 28 | # |
Individual medals
- Board 1:
Friðrik Ólafsson 14 / 18 = 77.8% - Board 2:
Tigran Petrosian 10 / 12 = 83.3% - Board 3:
Boris Spassky 11 / 14 = 78.6% - Board 4:
Borislav Ivkov and
Raúl Sanguineti 13½ / 16 = 84.4% - 1st reserve:
Efim Geller 10½ / 12 = 87.5% - 2nd reserve:
Mikhail Tal 10 / 13 = 76.9%
At the other end of the spectrum, Milton Ioannidis of Cyprus lost all of his 20 games, the worst score ever of any player at any Olympiad.
References
- Although commonly referred to as the men's division, this section is open to both male and female players.
- The extra team-member was allowed to replace withdrawn player on a basis of special permission granted by organizing committee.
- 15th Chess Olympiad: Varna 1962 OlimpBase