Slow start, strong finish

 Modern Opening Chess Theory (MOCT) was a publication that covered various events in the 1960's and 70'. I picked up a copy of issue No. 104, which covered the 1969 Palma de Mallorca tournament, and was written by Bob Wade. The tournament was probably the strongest event in 1969 ( it included Spassky, Petrosian, and Korchnoi), but was won by Bent Larsen. What was remarkable about this was that he started with 2 losses and was only on 2/5, after losing a 3rd game. He then scored 10/12 to finish outright 1st on 12/17. Petrosian finished 2nd on 11.5, although the 14 move final round draw showed he was content with 2nd, rather than fighting for 1st

Here is the 1st game for Larsen in the event, where he was beaten by the enigmatic Henrique Mecking

Larsen,Bent - Mecking,Henrique [A08]
Palma de Mallorca Palma de Mallorca (1), 1969

1. g3 g6 2. Bg2 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. O-O d5 7. a3 Nge7 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Bd2 Rb8 10. b4 cxb4 11. axb4 b5 12. e4 a5 13. exd5 Nxb4 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15. Ng5 Bd5 16. Nge4 Bc6 17. Ne2 f5 18. Ng5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nec6 20. h4 h6 21. Nf3 Kh7 22. Bc3 Bxc3 23. Nxc3 Nd4 24. Nxd4 Qxd4 25. Ne2 Qc5 26. Rb2 Nd5 27. Re1 f4 28. gxf4 Nxf4+ 29. Nxf4 Rxf4 30. Qe2 Qd5+ 31. f3 Rbf8 32. Rf1 b4 33. Rbb1 R8f7 34. Rbe1 Rxh4 35. Qe5 Qc6 36. Rf2 Rg4+ 37. Kh1 Rxf3 38. Qe7+ Rf7+ 39. Kh2 Rxe7 40. Rxe7+ Kg8 0-1