AThe Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Friday, October 02, 1959
THE ONLY REAL, MAJOR STAR who has gone forward and upward during the past year has been sixteen-year-old Bobby Fischer, the United States chess champion. But even Bobby has had his disappointments. In his case, considering his youth and his gifts, the setbacks are minor, indeed. Still they indicate that Fischer has quite a way to go before he comes as good as Sammy Reshevsky at his peak, and Mikhail Botvinnik, the present titleholder.
Fischer retained his American championship; qualified for a major tournament by finishing fifth in Yugoslavia; and came in third in a fine field in Zurich. In Zurich, he had not lost any games until the twelfth round and then he was beaten twice, just enough for him to lose out to Mikhail Tal of Russia. Nevertheless, Bobby is no flash-in-the-pan and his constant good showings prove his basic solidity as a player. A few more years of such tournament play will give to Fischer the necessary experience to meet Botvinnik, or whoever will be the champion when Bobby is ready for him.
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