The 10th anniversary championship of Yugoslavia was played in the National Assembly of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. The reserve player, Master Nikola KaraklajiÃÂ, played the draw of his life against GligoriÃÂ in the last round (otherwise he would have played an additional match with him for the title) and deservedly and convincingly won the title. The first 6 gained the right to participate directly in the next championship, the first 10 won prizes, and the first 15 directly participated in the semi-finals. Five debutants, five Candidate Masters, fought for 8.5 points (50%), in which only Milan MatuloviÃÂ succeeded and thus became a Master.
The first six from the 1953 SFR Yugoslavia Chess Championship had a direct right to participate: Vasja Pirc, Braslav Rabar, Andrija Fuderer, Borislav MiliÃÂ, Dragoljub Janoà ¡eviàand Svetozar GligoriÃÂ, as well as members of the Olympic team: Petar Trifunoviàand Aleksandar MatanoviÃÂ. The others qualified through the semi-final tournaments, from Skopje: Stojan Puc, Borislav Ivkov, Milosav Vukoviàand Lajoà ¡ Segi, from Sarajevo: Juraj Nikolac, Petar Smederevac, Milan Matuloviàand Rajko BogdanoviÃÂ, and from Trstenik: Mario Bertok, Boà ¾idar ÃÂuraà ¡eviÃÂ, Mihajlo Trajkoviàand Zdravko Voà ¡pernik. Applications were considered until January 17. Svetozar Gligorià(due to busy schedule), Andrija Fuderer (due to exams) and Juraj Nikolac canceled. It is mentioned that old grandmasters (but it is not clear if they actually had the right to play) Milan Vidmar (due to illness) and Borislav Kostià(who originally signed up) also canceled. Chess Federation of Yugoslavia closed the list with 19 participants on the 20th January, where the subsequent application of Svetozar Gligoriàwas received (who, in the meantime, was delegated with Borislav Ivkov for the tournament in Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires), and Nikola Karaklajiàwas accepted as the first reserve (the best fifth placer with three semi-finals). A few days before the start of the tournament, Vasja Pirc (due to illness) and Milosav Vukovià(as a military conscript could not get a leave) canceled, and the remaining fifth-placed players from the semi-finals, Arsenije Lukiàand Mijo UdovÃÂiÃÂ, were included as reserves (he was forgiven a three-month suspension for violations in semi-final). The last one who canceled was Petar Trifunovià(due to family reasons), who thus missed the opportunity to be a jubilee player and take part in the championship for the tenth time. In the end, the list was left with 18 players, and the jubilee players are Svetozar GligoriÃÂ, Borislav Miliàand Stojan Puc.