The competition was won by Maurizio Pollini of Italy, becoming the first winner not from Poland or the Soviet Union.

The competition consisted of two elimination stages and a final with twelve pianists.

Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini won first prize, with Arthur Rubinstein, honorary chairman of the jury, declaring "that boy can play the piano better than any of us".

[1] Audience favorite Michel Block failed to win a prize and only received an honorable mention.

[2] Outraged, Rubinstein created a special prize bearing his name on the spot, and awarded it to Block.