ANew York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, December 26, 1959
Fischer To Meet Sherwin In Chess
Unbeaten Rivals Play Today in U.S. Tourney—Benko Will Face Weinstein
After a day of rest, the twelve competitors in the United States chess championship will resume play at the Manhattan Chess Club today. Five of the six games in the sixth round will start at 2 P.M. Samuel Reshevsky's sixth-round match with Robert Byrne is scheduled to begin at 7 P.M.
The highlight of the afternoon session will be the encounter between Bobby Fischer, the 16-year-old defender, and James T. Sherwin, currently the national speed champion. Fischer leads the field with a 4-1 score. Like Bobby, Sherwin is undefeated, with a tally of 3—1 (two victories and two draws). In addition, Sherwin has an adjourned game from the fifth round with Herbert Seidman. Seidman is a pawn behind, but is considered to have drawing chances.
Sherwin, a lawyer, held the intercollegiate and New York State championships in 1951 and was the first player to represent the United States in the world junior championship at Copenhagen. He also played in the tournament at Portoroz, where Fischer and Pal Benko qualified for the world challengers' tournament. Fischer will play the black pieces against him today.
In other sixth-round games, Seidman is paired with Arthur B. Bisguier, Raymond Weinstein with Benko, Arnold S. Denker with Edmar Mednis, and Robin Ault with Sidney Bernstein.
Ending Left Obscure
Because of the hurried play under time pressure the last phase of the fifth-round game between Benko and Byrne was left somewhat obscure, except that Benko, after losing a piece, had overstepped the time limit. This was the Hungarian refugee's first defeat.
Byrne, 31, a Yale graduate, is a faculty member at the University of Indianapolis. During the Nineteen Forties he won the New England and intercollegiate championships.
Against Benko, Byrne was in his old-time form, which carried him to international fame at the Olympics at Helsinki seven years ago.
Benko essayed the English opening, which the Yale man turned into a king's Indian defense. A combination initiated by his opponent cleverly was refuted with Byrne's fifteenth move. Castling on the queen's side of the board turned out to be an error of judgment on the part of Benko.
Byrne operated successfully against the white king, although the practical maneuvering indicated equality. For a time the white forces commanded the open queen's file, but with his thirty-sixth move Byrne tightened his grip on the position. With his clock running out Benko lost a knight and came to grief. The score:
