AThe Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, July 20, 1958
U.S. Olympic Chess Team Selection
President of the U.S.C.F. Jerry G. Spann in the latest issue of “Chess Life” writes:
“I don't know whether it's Reshevsky's fine accomplishment in the Dallas tournament, or Lombardy's crushing 11—0 victory in the world's junior championship, or the breath-taking heroics of one Bobby Fischer, or the combination of all three, but what was first a hunch has now become a conviction — we can win the world's championship at the Chess Olympics in Munich this Fall!”
Spann gives as the outstanding reason for his enthusiasm the fact that an Olympic team consists of four regulars and two alternates, therefore the U.S.A. will not suffer its usual disadvantage, weakness in depth. Our top four are probably a match for any quartet in the world and the Soviet Union's fantastic bench strength will be largely worthless in this competition. The U.S.C.F. and the American Chess Foundation are jointly sponsoring this event.
★ ★ ★
The American team is to be selected from Arthur Bisguier, Robert Byrne, Donald Byrne, Larry Evans, Bobby Fischer, William Lombardy, Sam Reshevsky and James Sherwin. George Koltanowski will act as non-playing captain. The players will receive no fees, just per diem expenses, because this is purely a work of love to enhance the prestige of America and American chess.
