ANew York Times, New York, New York, Monday, December 23, 1957
Sherwin In Draw With Lombardy
Holds Lead in U.S. Chess—Mednis Beats Kramer—Reshevsky Scores
James T. Sherwin drew with William Lombardy last night to keep the lead in the United States chess championship at the Manhattan Chess Club.
Sherwin, a former New York State champion, has a score of 3-1. He pressed Lombardy with a Giuoco Piano attack, against which the world junior champion defended faultlessly for the forty moves.
Edmar Mednis of the Marshall Chess Club moved into second place, a half-point behind the leader, by defeating George Kramer, another ex-state champion, in a French defense lasting only twenty-two moves.
Third place was taken by Samuel Reshevsky, with a score of 2-0. The international grandmaster won handily in twenty-six moves from Arthur Feuerstein, who played the King's Indian defense. Reshevsky developed his side with a double fianchetto formation and at no time relinquished the initiative.
Retreat Cut Off
He obtained control of the king's file with his rooks and, as his opponent prepared to retreat, successfully attacked the black king. Reshevsky wound up with a check by his queen, which, as the grandmaster pointed out when his adversary resigned, led to a checkmate in all variations.
Arnold S. Denker, United States champion in 1944, defeated Arthur S. Bisguier, the defender, in thirty-two moves. Denker played the Nimzowitsch defense. All went well with Bisguier until he permitted a rook to be pinned in an untenable position.
The only other victory in the fourth round was posted by Herbert Seidman, who defeated Abe Turner in a Queen's Indian defense lasting forty-eight moves.
Bobby Fischer, 14-year-old national open champion, resorted to his favorite Sicilian defense against Sidney Bernstein, champion of the Marshall Chess Club. Both played in energetic style, out Fischer set in motion a well-directed attack against the white king, which was driven to the edge of the board. After forty moves they adjourned with Fischer in the ascendancy.
Fischer, Reshevsky Adjourn
Fischer and Reshevsky adjourned early this morning after a five-hour session of forty-one and a half moves. A draw appeared likely.
Meanwhile, the decision of Hans Kmoch, tournament director, in awarding the first-round game between Lombardy and Bernstein to Lombardy was allowed to stand yesterday by a jury of three named by Maurice J. Kasper, president of the Manhattan Chess Club. The jury comprised of Israel A. Horowitz, Arnold S. Denker and Edgar T. McCormick.
Bernstein had claimed the game on the ground that Lombardy had overstepped the time limit of forty moves in an hour. Kmoch ruled that the automatic clock was defective and ordered Bernstein to continue. Bernstein, who held an inferior position, declined to do so and Lombardy was declared the winner after thirty-five moves.
