Paul Keres - Unmatched International Team Successes

Unmatched International Team Successes

After being forced to become a Soviet citizen, Keres represented the Soviet Union in seven consecutive Olympiads, winning seven consecutive team gold medals, five board gold medals, and one bronze board medal. Of note was his appearance on board one for the USSR in 1952, when the Soviets entered the event for the first time; Keres was the only Soviet team member with Olympiad experience (from his previous appearances for Estonia), and world champion Mikhail Botvinnik was not on the Soviet team. His four straight board gold medals from 1954–1960 is an Olympiad record. Although not selected after 1964, Keres served successfully as a team trainer with Soviet international teams for the next decade. Altogether, in 11 Olympiads, playing for both the USSR and Estonia (counting the unofficial Munich 1936 event), and in 161 games, Keres accumulated a brilliant total of (+97 =51 −13), for 76.7%. His detailed Soviet Olympiad results are:

  • Helsinki 1952, USSR board 1, 6.5/12, team gold;
  • Amsterdam 1954, USSR board 4, 13.5/14 (+13 =1 −0), team gold, board gold, best overall score;
  • Moscow 1956, USSR board 3, 9.5/12 (+7 =5 −0), team gold, board gold;
  • Munich 1958, USSR board 3, 9.5/12 (+7 =5 −0), team gold, board gold;
  • Leipzig 1960, USSR board 3, 10.5/13 (+8 =5 −0), team gold, board gold;
  • Varna 1962, USSR board 4, 9.5/13 (+6 =7 −0), team gold, board bronze;
  • Tel Aviv 1964, USSR board 4, 10/12 (+9 =2 −1), team gold, board gold.

Keres also appeared three times for the Soviet Union in the European Team Championships, winning team and individual gold medals on all three occasions. He scored 14/18 (+10 =8 −0), for 77.8%. His detailed Euroteams results are:

  • Vienna 1957, USSR board 2, 3/5 (+1 =4 −0), team gold, board gold;
  • Oberhausen 1961, USSR board 3, 6/8 (+4 =4 −0), team gold, board gold;
  • Kapfenberg 1970, USSR board 8, 5/5 (+5 =0 −0), team gold, board gold.

Keres also represented the USSR in many international team matches, in Europe and the Americas, with great success. He represented Estonia on top board with distinction in Soviet team championships, contested between regions.

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