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The King's Men 02 Aug 1959, Sun The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) Newspapers.com
Banks Attracts Big Crowd by Merrill Dowden
Chess and checker players and kibitzers of the Kentuckiana area turned out in force for the Newell W. Banks simultaneous exhibition at the Y.M.C.A. on a hot and humid night last Monday. It was a tangible demonstration of the resurgence in popularity of both games which seems to have become nationwide in scope.
Banks, who will be 72 next October 1, must have played some 40 games during the 4½-hour grind, an incredible exhibition of stamina as well as playing ability by a truly remarkable master.
The blindfold checker champion of the world lost no checker games, but yielded eight draws. Those getting draws were Albert N. Hunt, Otis True, Kay Fields, Charley W. Talbott, and Ross Stout of Louisville; Sgt. F.I. Bailey of Fort Knox; R. Smith of Sellersburg, Ind., and Leonard Slusher of Elizabeththown, Kentucky.
In the chess division, Banks lost three games—to Pat Forsee, 1958 Kentucky State champion; Robert Jacobs, who sometimes gives simultaneous exhibitions himself, and your chess editor.
Another former Kentucky champion, R.W. Shields, played banks to a draw, as did Robert Haskin and Richard Gott.
Although he's only 12 years old, Richard Gott, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Richard Gott, Jr., of Indian Hills Trail, was offered a draw by Newell Banks during the Banks simultaneous here. Naturally, Richard was happy to accept. Banks' generous gesture was in character; he always wants to encourage youngsters who show promise of developing into oustanding players. Here's the game:
Richard Gott (white) vs. Newell William Banks (black)
Russian Game: Italian Variation
