AChattanooga Daily Times Chattanooga, Tennessee Thursday, January 01, 1959
Fischer Leading In Chess Tourney - Youngster Is Point Ahead of 2 Chief Rivals ©New York Times News Service
New York—With one important exception, the leaders in the United States championship tournament for the Lessing J. Rosenwald Trophy won in the ninth round Tuesday night.
At the close of the five-hour session, Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn, 15-year-old titleholder, still led with a score of 7-2, after defeating Edmar Mednis, New York University, in 37 moves.
Two of his chief rivals, Larry Evans and Samuel Reshevsky, former champions, turned in a victory apiece, to tie at 6-3 a full point behind the youngster, with two rounds to go.
Evans was at his best against Arthur B. Bisguier, a former champion, who went astray on the black side of a Petroff defense and resigned after 27 moves. Reshevsky made steady headway against the King's Indian defense set up by William Lombardy, world junior champion, who gave in after 26 moves. Bisguier, 5½-3½, dropped to fourth place.
Three games were unfinished.
