ANew York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, September 23, 1959
Fischer Defeats 10th-Round Rival
Triumphs Over Benko in 27 Moves With Forcing Play in Yugoslav Chess
Playing at top form, the United States chess champion, Bobby Fischer, defeated Paul Benko of New York yesterday in the tenth round of the challengers' tournament at Bled, according to a report from Yugoslavia.
The victory lifted the 16-year-old American from last place to fifth in the field of eight players. His record is 4—6.
As has been his custom, Fischer started with 1 P-K4, to which Benko retorted with the Sicilian defense. To break open the position, the Brooklyn schoolboy sacrificed a pawn, following with a vigorous attack against the black king.
After twenty-seven moves, Benko was forced to resign. Their first encounter, in the third round, had resulted in a draw.
Paul Keres of the Soviet Union took the lead at 6½-2½ with a victory in forty moves against Mikhail Tal, another Soviet representative. Keres' handling of the Nimzo-Indian defense encouraged risky play on the part of Tal.
Tal, at 6—4, tied for second place with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, who drew on the black side of an English opening in a game against Vasily Smyslov lasting twenty-eight moves.
The game between Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland and Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia was adjourned. The Icelander exerted a steady pressure against a King's Indian defense and had a slight positional advantage when play ceased after forty moves.
