New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, January 04, 1960
Fischer In Draw With Reshevsky
Deadlock After 40 Moves Allows Byrne To Take 2d Behind Brooklyn Youth
Although the United States chess championship was clinched by Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn Saturday night, his last game with Samuel Reshevsky commanded a full house yesterday at the West Side Y.M.C.A.
The resulted was a draw in forty moves, the offer being made by the youthful champion. At the game's ending, each player had a rook and four pawns.
Had he won, Reshevsky, the former titleholder, would have had a share in the second prize. As it was, the runner-up position went to Robert Byrne of the University of Indianapolis, who had a score of 8—3, one full point below Fischer's 9—2.
Byrne, matches against Robin Ault of Cranford, won in thirty moves, to overtake Reshevsky, whose score was 7½—3½. Fischer and Byrne both emerged undefeated. Fischer won seven games and drew four. Byrne won five and drew six. Reshevsky won six games and drew three; he lost to Herbert Seidman and Arnold S. Denker.
Fourth place, now held by Pal Benko, the Hungarian refugee, remained in the balance when Benko adjourned his game with Sidney Bernstein of Brooklyn. This and two other adjourned games will be played off at the Manhattan Chess Club at 6:30 o'clock this evening. Arthur B. Bisguier, who has a chance to displace Benko, adjourned on even terms with James T. Sherwin after forty moves.
Herbert Seidman, whose defeat of Reshevsky had been one of the brilliancies of the tournament won last night from Edmar Mednis after forty moves of a center counter gambit adopted by Seidman. The latter wound up with a rook and a bishop pitted against a rook in a forced ending.
Raymond Weinstein of Brooklyn game a good account of himself against Denker, whose defeat of Reshevsky assured Fischer of his third consecutive title. At adjournment time, Weinstein was a piece ahead as the result of fine play against a Nimzo-Indian defense.
