AThe Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, January 04, 1959
Fischer In Lead, Beats Reshevsky
In the most sensational game to date in the tournament for the United States Chess Championship, 15-year-old Bobby Fischer, playing in defense of his title, defeated former champion Samuel Reshevsky, according to a report form the New York Times.
Playing in the sixth round of the tournament at the Manhattan Chess Club in New York, Reshevsky countered Fischer's P-K4 with the Sicilian Defense. On his eighth turn Reshevsky moved his knight to the QR file, to exchange it for Fischer's bishop. This turned out to be a blunder.
Fischer promptly seized the opportunity for a subtle combination, based on the lack of mobility of the black queen. He sacrificed his bishop and followed with a move of his knight that imprisoned the queen. Reshevsky was forced to abandon that powerful piece in exchange for two minor pieces.
Reshevsky fought on but with virtually no hope. Fischer soon won a pawn and established a passed pawn on the queen side which could not be halted in the long run. Reshevsky resigned the struggle after 42 moves.
In two other completed games last week Fischer drew with Paul Benko and Donald Byrne to lead the tournament with a score of 4½-1½. He had previously defeated James T. Sherwin and Charles Kalme and drawn with William Lombardy.
Reshevsky came back in the seventh round with an important victory over Larry Evans, who had been in the lead for the first week. Playing the white pieces against the Nimzo-Indian Defense, Reshevsky started a king's side attack, sacrificing a pawn to obtain control of the king's bishop file.
Step by step Reshevsky gained ground until his pursuit of the black king was rewarded. Faced by a threatened checkmate, Evans gave up his queen for a rook but obtained only temporary relief. He was actually checkmated on the 39th move.
As a result Evans and Reshevsky were tied for second at 4-2, a score which was equaled by Arthur B. Bisguier. The latter is the only undefeated player beside Fischer.
Following are last week's results and games from the tournament:
