New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, December 29, 1959
Fischer Extends His Lead In Chess
Champion Beats Bernstein in 38 Moves—Sherwin, Byrne Play Draws
Bobby Fischer, defending his title, scored his fifth victory of the United States championship tournament at the Marshall Chess Club last night.
Bobby defeated a fellow Brooklynite, Sidney Bernstein, who has held the championships of both the Marshall and Manhattan Chess Clubs. The match lasted thirty-eight moves.
Fischer's eight-round victory left the 16-year-old Erasmus Hall High School student with five games won, three draws and none lost. He has a score of 6½-1½ in the competition for the Lessing J. Rosenwald Trophy.
Fischer's closest rival, Samuel Reshevsky, did not play. He had been scheduled to meet Arnold S. Denker, the 1944 champion, but Denker received a leave of absence to celebrate his wedding anniversary.
The match, in which Reshevsky will play the black pieces, was postponed until Friday morning. Reshevsky's score of 5-2 comprises four games won, two drawn and one lost—to Herbert Seidman.
Only Robert Byrne, who has drawn six times, and James T. Sherwin are, like Fischer, still undefeated.
Seidman and Byrne drew a French defense in eleven moves when Seidman forced an exchange of queens. Another draw was recorded between Sherwin and Edmar Mednis, both of New York. Mednis adopted his favorite Dutch defense. They agreed to split the point in twenty-one moves.
Raymond Weinstein held Arthur B. Bisguier, a former title-holder, to a draw in a Slav defense lasting thirty-one moves.
The last game to be finished was won by Paul Benko after an exciting contest with Robin Ault, the national junior champion. Benko outmaneuvered his youthful opponent on the black side of a Sicilian defense and scored in thirty-six moves.
The ninth round is scheduled for the Manhattan Chess Club at 6:30 tonight.
The scores of the games:
