The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, June 01, 1958
New Russian Prodigy
The Soviet Union unveiled its answer to America's 15-year-old chess champion. Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn. He is Ernest Kim, a 5-year-old prodigy who has been slaying the chess giants in his home town of Tashkent in Central Asia.
The child has trounced adults of the third and second categories, according to a report from the New York Times. Ernest gained a third-category rating only six months after he learned the game.
Tass, the official government agency, sought an assessment of the situation from Mikhail Botvinnik, who earlier this month recaptured the world chess championship. The boy has talent, Botvinnik noted, but needs care.
Fischer, when informed of the new Russian chess star, said, “If Botwinnik says Kim is good, you can believe it.” Fischer and Kim may meet this summer, as Bobby will spend a month in Russia on a special exhibition tour.
