AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, December 21, 1958
U.S Championship Starts in New York
Twelve of the leading chess masters of the country, including five international grandmasters, have begun play for the United States Chess Championship, according to a report from the New York Times. The winner will receive custody of the Lessing J. Rosenwald Trophy.
The tournament will be a round-robin, extending through Jan. 5. Eight rounds will be played at the Manhattan Chess Club, and three at the Marshall Chess Club, both in New York City.
Bobby Fischer, the 15-year-old Brooklyn marvel, is the defending champion. He won the tournament last January. His chief rival will be Samuel Reshevsky, America's international ace who was runner-up to Bobby last year.
Another highly favored participant is Paul Benko, also a grandmaster, who finished third the recent Interzonal Tournament in Portoroz, Yugoslavia. Benko and Fischer are expected to represent the United States next year in the Challengers Tournament leading to a match with World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik of Russia.
The other grandmasters in the tournament are Arthur Bisguier and Larry Evans, both former U.S. champions. The other entrants are William Lombardy, Edmar Mednis, James T. Sherwin and Raymond Weinstein, all of New York; Donald Byrne of Indianapolis, and Charles Kalme of Philadelphia.
