Express and News, San Antonio, Texas, Sunday, December 07, 1958
Championship Chess
By Blake Stevens
Texas State Chess Champion
The season for simultaneous exhibitions is here, with several Texas cities sponsoring these events, George Koltanowski makes several trips a year through Southern states, and San Antonio invited him to lecture and play against local enthusiasts a few weeks ago.
“Kolty” as his friends call him, made a fine score, winning 21 games and drawing two. He had trouble in only one game when, in an effort to save a pawn, he lost his queen for two pieces.
After the game was concluded, his opponent irked by losing, told him that he should have won the game, to which Kolty replied, “I made one mistake, you made one mistake, but unfortunately, yours was the last mistake.”
His lecture was witty and entertaining, with the core of it concerning Bobby Fischer's chance at garnering the world chess crown. Mr. Koltanowski feels, as I do, that Fischer's potentialities can not easily be judged, that he has fooled the wise men more than once and might do it again.
Actually, if Fischer places one from the bottom, this would be quite an accomplishment when one considers the calibre of players against whom he will be pitted in the Candidates Tournament.
Surprised Russians
Fischer, as Kolty pointed out, refused to play in simultaneous tournaments or against lesser Russian masters on his recent trip to the U.S.S.R., which surprised (and irritated) the Russians. This shows remarkable wisdom on the part of this 15 year old
The Russians, it should be noted, did not give Fischer the chance of playing their top men, Smyslov, Keres, Tahl, or Bronstein. It is not impossible that Fischer could become the chess champion of the world.
Mr. Koltanowski concluded with two games played blindfolded at the same time, which he won handily. He then called for questions from the audience. At midnight the lecture ended, and everyone went home well satisfied.
