The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, November 16, 1958
Golombek At Portoroz
Last week we ran part of an interesting article by Harry Golombek which was published in the November issue of the Chess Correspondent. Golombek was chief arbiter of the Interzonal Tournament at Portoroz, Yugoslavia.
Much more astonishing was the triumph of 15-year-old Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn. Starting off a little insecurely, he seemed to gather fresh strength and confidence with every round, until at the end it was the grand masters who were afraid of him. What interested the onlooker is the nature of his style. Unlike the normal good boy player, he does not spend his time looking for combinations. If, the complications come, then he can “ride the whirlwind and command the storm” with a calm ease worthy of a Capablanca. He can produce the appropriate combination at the appropriate moment, but for the most part he is content to win by utilizing a remarkably mature positional judgment.
The possibilities of such a player are truly enormous. Practically no bounds can be set on the development of a genius that is based on such secure foundations. He has already achieved much—U.S. champion and international grandmaster at 15—but certainly will achieve considerably more in the future.
Some six months ago I wrote that it would not be long before Bobby Fischer would be knocking at the door that led to the world championship, and he already is knocking louder than I or most other people anticipated.
