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Chess With Sam Laird 22 Jan 1959, Thu Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
One reason for the failure of the United States to finish better than fourth, probably, was Bobby Fischer's absence from the team. It is news to us, however, if the reason for his absence was “because he had not been guaranteed a big enough fee,” as the London weekly says. There was the little matter of Bobby's attending classes at Erasmus Hall. Even a chess prodigy in the USA isn't excused from school for weeks to play chess—and what “fees” does the London writer think American chess players get or expect for playing in tournaments?
It was known of course, that Reshevsky's refusal, as an orthodox Jew, to play on Fridays and Saturdays and the refusal of the tournament organizers to schedule his matches on other days, was a big handicap to our team. The London magazine also says the most important matches, by chance, seemed to fall on the days he could not play.
“If this were not enough,” says the News, our “next best player, William Lombardy, went driving a car without a license valid in Germany and involved himself in a minor accident. For several days he dared not start a game for fear that a summons to court might prevent him from finishing it!
Mikhail Botvinnik vs Frits Roessel
Wageningen Caltex (1958), Wageningen NED, rd 1, Nov-01
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation (E80) 1-0
