Hawaii Tribune-Herald Hilo, Hawaii Sunday, September 14, 1958
15-Year-Old Grand Master
Portoroz, Yugoslavia — (AP) — Bobby Fischer, the 15-year-old Brooklyn wonder kid, has the distinction today of being the youngest grand master in the long history of chess.
Bobby achieved the title last night when he wound up fifth in the six-week international chess tournament set up to determine six potential challengers for the world title.
Bobby's tremendous showing in his first international competition qualified him and five others for next year's candidate's tournament. The winner of that will challenge world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in 1960.
If Bobby was overly impressed by his own success, however, he didn't show it. He treated himself to an extra piece of cake after dinner and said he was pleased to have qualified for next year's tournament.
Of his new title, he said; “The title of grand master will not make me play any better.”
Bobby will return home in a day or two to resume studies at Erasmus Hall High School, where he is a junior and—just an average student.”
