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Chess by Isaac Kashdan 11 Jan 1959, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Chess by Isaac Kashdan
International Grandmaster
Fischer Retains U.S. Championship
Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn successfully defended the U.S. chess championship which he acquired a year ago, emerging a point ahead of the field in the tournament at the Manhattan Chess Club, according to a report from the New York Times.
The brilliant 15-year-old schoolboy, now an International grandmaster, had for his last-round opponent Robert Byrne of Indianapolis. Fischer, the only undefeated player in the tournament, had established himself so strongly in first place that he needed only a draw in this final effort.
Byrne, who had a minus score and was anxious to redeem himself, made every effort to win, but could make no headway against the champion's stout defense. They agreed to a draw, after 28 moves, giving Fischer the winning score of 8½-2½, comprising six games won and five drawn.
In the 10th round Fischer won a vital game against former U.S. Champion Arthur B. Bisguier. The latter, playing the black side of a Ruy Lopez opening, became very aggressive, offering the sacrifice of a bishop which Fischer found it prudent to refuse.
At adjournment time the game had been equalized and a draw seemed in prospect. But the young champion applied himself to the task of extracting something out of nothing. In an ending with one rook and one pawn on each side. Fischer managed to win his opponent's pawn and advance his own, scoring the point after 88 moves.
Samuel Reshevsky, who had ruled American chess for years until Fischer came along, finished strongly to take second place with a total of 7½-3½. He could not overcome his loss to the champion, which accounted for the margin of victory. Reshevsky lost no other game, finishing with five wins and as many draws.
In third place was Larry Evans, another former U.S. champion, with 6-4 and an adjourned game against James T. Sherwin. Evans, who played aggressively throughout, had two draws, less than anyone else, but lost three games while winning five.
Donald Byrne completed his schedule with a 6-5 score. Tied at 5½-4½, with one adjourned game each, were Bisguier, Sherwin and World Junior Champion William Lombardy. Each had prospects of advancing when the final results are tallied.
Paul Benko, who was in last place for half the tournament, recovered some ground to finish at 5½-5½. Other scores were: Robert Byrne, 4-7 Charles Kalme, 3½-6½; Raymond Weinstein, 3-8, and Edmar Mednis, 2½-7½.
Following are the results of the last rounds and games from the tournament.
ROUND 8—
Fischer ½, Evans ½;
Bisguier ½, Reshevsky ½;
Lombardy 1, Weinstein 0;
Sherwin ½, Kalme ½;
Benko 1, R. Byrne 0;
D. Byrne ½, Mednis ½
ROUND 9—
Mednis 0, Fischer 1;
Reshevsky 1, Lombardy 0;
Kalme ½, Benko ½;
R. Byrne 0, D. Byrne 1;
Weinstein ½, Sherwin ½;
Evans 1, Bisguier 0.
ROUND 10—
Fischer 1, Bisguier 0;
Lombardy 1, Evans 0;
Sherwin 0, Reshevsky 1;
Benko 1, Weinstein 0;
D. Byrne ½, Kalme ½;
Mednis 0, R. Byrne 1.
ROUND 11—
R. Byrne ½, Fischer ½;
Weinstein ½, D. Byrne ½;
Reshevsky ½, Benko ½
Kalme vs. Mednis, Evans vs. Sherwin and Bisguier vs. Lombardy adjourned.
Robert James Fischer vs Raymond Weinstein
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 4, Dec-??
Sicilian Defense: Fischer-Sozin Attack. Leonhardt Variation (B88) 1-0
Samuel Reshevsky vs William Lombardy
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 9, Dec-30
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation. Classical Main Line (E69) 1-0
Larry Evans vs Arthur Bisguier
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 9, Dec-30
Russian Game: Kaufmann Attack (C42) 1-0
Pal Benko vs William Lombardy
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 3, Dec-??
Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense (D38) 0-1
HIGH SCHOOL FINALS
The final rounds of the tournament for the individual chess championship of the Los Angeles area high schools will take place next Saturday at North High School, 3620 W 182nd St., Torrance. Play will be in the cafetorium building, on Yukon north of 182nd St.
The 20 players who qualified for the finals will convene at 8:30 a.m. to get their first-round alignments from tournament director Harry Borochow. Clocks will be used to control the games for the first time in high school chess.
Mike Edland of Alhambra High School, with 6-0, led the field in the preliminary tournament. Dennis Busch of Fairfax and Gordon King of Franklin were close behind with 5½-½.
RESHEVSKY TO PLAY HERE
Samuel Reshevsky is planning an exhibition tour of the country which will take him to Los Angeles during the first week of February. Plans are under way for one or more simultaneous displays here. Details will be published as soon as available.
Anyone interested in playing against the grandmaster (probable fee $3) should write a note to Chess Editor, 103 Los Angeles Times.
MacARTHUR PARK CHESS
Douglas MacArthur Park was the scene of a six-round Swiss system tournament, completed last week end at the time limit of 30 moves in 30 minutes.
T. Weinberger was an easy first, winning with a score of 5½-½. Following were E. Bersbach, N. Hamburger and L. Simon, who tied at 3-3.
DALLAS TOURNEY GAMES
Daily bulletins were issued during the course of the Dallas International Masters Tournament, directed by your editor a year ago. The bulletins contained all 56 of the games, with comment, sidelights and pictures of the tournament. A few complete sets are still available at the original price of $2.
Many of the games were drawn, which is typical of competitions among the greatest players in the world, in the main these games had their share of struggle and excitement, as witness the following examples. The comments are from the bulletins.
PERPETUAL CHECK TO DRAW
The early part of the game was a positional battle for control of the central squares, with a rather blocked formation. With 23. … B-Q6 Larsen allowed the white pawns to advance and the game changed dramatically, Reshevsky going all out for attack.
The last few moves before adjournment at the 40th turn were played at rapid transit rate. The result was a curious situation, with Larsen ahead in material but no way to get out of check.
Samuel Reshevsky vs Bent Larsen
Dallas (1957), Dallas, TX USA, rd 7, Dec-07
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Bernstein Defense (E59) 1/2-1/2
SEE-SAW BATTLE TO DRAW
Evans built up a powerful game, and for a long time looked like a winner. Olafsson gave up the exchange to get his pieces free, but did not have adequate compensation. But at move 30 Evans disregarded a potent threat. 30. … QR-K was necessary.
Olafsson should have won the queen by 38. R-K6ch. He would have had a couple of pawns plus with a difficult but winning ending. Instead he played for mating threats, which nearly succeeded. Evans managed to wriggle out, however, and the final draw was a fair outcome to a see-saw battle.
Fridrik Olafsson vs Larry Evans
Dallas (1957), Dallas, TX USA, rd 10, Dec-10
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Panno Variation (E63) 1/2-1/2
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, January 11, 1959 Times Problem 3031 by S.C. Dutt. White mates in...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Saturday, February 8, 2020
Times Problem 3031 by S.C. Dutt. White mates in two.
FEN 6Q1/1q6/p2N1B2/1p2p3/p2NR3/P1k1K2b/R3P2r/n7 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qg3 exd4+ 2. Kf4#
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, January 11, 1959 Times Problem 3032 by Dr. U. Lancia. White mates...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Saturday, February 8, 2020
Times Problem 3032 by Dr. U. Lancia. White mates in three.
FEN 8/2p5/2p1b3/K1k1B3/8/1B6/1P1R4/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Rd7 Bxb3 2. Rd4 Bd5 3. b4#
The changed mates after Black's checks are the main idea in 3031. No. 3032 has surprising strategy for a lightweight.
Solver's List
Five points—
W. S. Aaron, F. Aks, J. C. Beaver, P. R. Cassidy, M. Chutorian, C. Foster, P. Geltner, J. Gotta, J. Kaufmann, M. Margolis, M. Morris, E. E. Penter, S. Simcoe, L. A. Victor.
Two points—A. Blair, D. Gibson, H. L. Hasbrouck, O. H. Ketchum, J. McKinney, M. H. Meierhaus, J. Roper, R. D. Sylvester, Maj. H. Triwush, W. B. Tudor, R. L. Turley, R. Van Voot, T. Waters.
One point——P. L. Bouvier, R. E. King, F. J. Lucas, C. P. Martin.
Pocket Chess and Checkers 11 Jan 1959, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
