Chattanooga Daily Times Chattanooga, Tennessee Wednesday, December 24, 1958
Youthful Champ Scores In Chess - Bobby Fischer Victor for First Time—Evans Given His Initial Setback by Hermann Helms © New York Times News Service
New York— The 15-year-old United States chess champion, Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn started scoring for the first time Monday in he U.S. Chess Federation title tournament for the Lessing J. Rosenwald trophy at the Manhattan Chess Club. He had not finished any of his games in the first four rounds.
The famous youngster, now an international grandmaster, began with a draw with William Lombardy, world junior champion, in their first-round games after 47 moves. This he followed up with a hard-fought victory, lasting 72 moves, over James T. Sherwin, New York attorney, unfinished in the third round.
An exciting finish with Charles Kalme of Philadelphia was Fischer's next chore. It had been adjourned from the second round. Fischer had parted with one of his rooks to establish two passed pawns well up in enemy territory, supported by his king.
Kalme had two rooks and an idle pawn, but the position was one calculated to test the young Philadelphia master to the utmost. Kalme resigned after 56 moves when Fischer had a victory in sight. Fischer, 2½-½, took second place.
Larry Evans, former U.S. champion, after posting three victories in succession, sustained his first defeat at the hands of Donald Byrne of Valparaiso, Ind., who score in 56 moves of their second-round match.
In an ending under time pressure, Evans missed a drawing line, but Byrne was fully alert to the opportunity. Evans, with 3-1 to his credit, was then still ahead of the standing, but being closely pressed by Arthur B. Bisguier, William Lombardy and Samuel Reshevsky. Bisguier gained a notable success at the expense of Donald Byrne after 59 moves of their third-round game. Another third-round pairing, Kalme vs. Raymond Weinstein of Brooklyn, was recorded as drawn in 67 moves.
The fifth round was scheduled for Tuesday night from 6:30 to 11:30.
