New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, December 09, 1962 - Page 80
Chess: The Hour of Decision
Next Sunday at 2 P.M., play for the United States chess championship will begin at the Henry Hudson Hotel, New York.
The entry list undoubtedly is the strongest ever recorded for this event. On the roster are the steely-nerved veteran Sammy Reshevsky, 50 years old, an ex-prodigy, and 19-year-old Bobby Fischer, also an ex-prodigy, whose recent exploits at Bled, Stockholm and Curacao originated many examples of triumphal flair by means of driving tactics, coupled with the will to win.
These two are the favorites to win first prize. The resumption of an intense rivalry, interrupted by the abortive Fischer-Reshevsky match of August, 1961, gives special luster to the star-studded playing field which includes: Pal Benko of New York; Hans Berliner of Washington, D.C.; Arthur Bisguier of New York; Robert Byrne of Indianapolis; the present United States champion, Larry Evans of New York; William T. Addison of Los Angeles; Edmar Mednis, Nicholas Rossolimo, James Sherwin, Robert Steinmeyer, all of New York.
The schedule of play follows: Sunday, Dec. 16, round one; Dec. 17, round two; Dec. 19, round three; Dec. 20, round four; Dec. 21, adjourned games; Dec. 22, round five.
On Sunday, Dec. 23, round six; Dec. 24, adjourned games; Dec. 25, adjourned games; Dec. 26, round seven; Dec. 27, round eight; Dec. 28, adjourned games; Dec. 29, round nine.
For the third week, Sunday, Dec. 30, round ten; Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and 2, adjourned games; Jan. 3, round eleven.
The regular playing sessions are five hours, beginning at 2 P.M. on Sundays, 6 P.M. on weekdays and 6:30 P.M. on Saturdays.
The four games herewith from recent tournaments prove the consistently high quality of American chess.
The game Miguel Cuellar, Colombia, versus Fischer, from the last interzonal at Stockholm, shows the American star to be a compelling tactician. Though White at one stage is a pawn plus and has the bishop-pair, he is outwitted in the middle game. Fischer's commanding rook on the seventh rank and black square bishop pose too many threats. White's advanced pawn on the queen rook file is picturesque but unavailing.
Cuellar starts well, but flounders. Fischer, once ahead, stays there.
In Fischer-Wolfgang Uhlmann, East Germany, from the same event, the American's counter-demonstration on the seventh rank is just sufficient to assure the draw. Played in the final round, this draw maintained Fischer's record of no outright losses. An exciting game.
Benko-Tigran Petrosian from the Varna Olympics shows the American's stubbornness to contain the rock-like positional style of the challenger for the world title.
In Mednis-M. Colon, Puerto Rico, also from the Varna Olympics, Black suffers from failing to castle. Hard pressed because of his weakened king side, he commits a serious error.
Note if Black plays 22 … Kt-B3 instead of the text, there follows 23 Kt-Q5, Q-Qsq 24 KtxBch, etc.
On the eve of the great St. Petersburg 1914 tournament, Lasker was asked “What do you do in this variation?” “If you don't know by now, it's too late to find out,” he replied.
