A
Let's Play Chess 22 Oct 1959, Thu Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) Newspapers.com
L'Affaire Reshevsky
By the good grace of E. Forry Laucks and the US Chess Federation, the former supplying some $3,500 in hard cash and the latter lending its official aura, Log Cabin's Silver Anniversary Tournament was conceived. Among nine other invitees was Sammy Reshevsky. He accepted. With such an auspicious start, it is unfortunate to record that the proceedings took an unholy turn. Reshevsky was advised by sponsor Laucks that the schedule, which included rounds on Friday night and Saturday, would be strictly observed.
In Reshevsky's case, this was tantamount to withdrawing his invitation. For he cannot play at these times without violating his Sabbath.
The subject, however, was brought up at a players' meeting, where it was agreed to accommodate the grandmaster if the unanimous consent of all concerned could be obtained. Six of the 10 players attended, namely Cross, Denker, Evans, Lombardy, Mednis and Sherwin.
Denker spoke in behalf of Reshevsky, persuaded some of the opposition but could not gain complete assent. In high dudgeon, he withdrew.
And Reshevsky did not play.
While we applaud the player who accommodates his colleague, we cannot condemn the hard and fast stickler for the rules. Yet we feel that this is not the pith of the issue here.
For the past 20-odd years, Reshevsky has participated in an untold number of events and not once, not even once, has he not been accorded the courtesy of his religion.
(Botvinnik once refused Reshevsky but in a team tournament in which the United States team had a replacement available.)
Always despite admitted inconvenience, arrangements were effected relatively to satisfy all and sundry. And, during all this time he has achieved a record equalled by few.
[...]
Why then was this man barred - who has contributed so much to chess and whose very existence is chess? Can it be that prestige and dignity are sacrificed to dollars? Can it be, heaven forbid, that since he cannot be beaten out, he is booted out?
This is a dark chapter in American chess.
