At that age he competed for first time in the USSR Chess Championship and most amazingly tied for 3rd in that event, gaining the Grandmaster title and the right to play in the Interzonal tournament.
At that age he competed for the first time in the USSR Chess Championship. He tied for third place in the 1961 Soviet Championship, gaining the Grandmaster title, and the right to play in the 1962 Stockholm Interzonal tournament.