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Sunday Gazette-Mail Charleston, West Virginia Sunday, December 27, 1959
AFTER THREE rounds of play in the national chess championship tournament in New York City Samuel Reshevsky, five-time U.S. title holder, was in the lead with 2½-½. Paul Benko and Herbert Seidman followed with 2 to 1.
Apparently the defending champion, 16-year-old Bobby Fischer, almost did not compete due to an objection on his part to the manner of making the pairings. Bobby wanted it done as they did in Europe.
The matter was finally smoothed out though, and the Brooklyn schoolboy set out after his third straight championship. But it may be harder this year since his opponents will be more inclined to play the boy quite cautiously this time.
