ASeptember 04 1957
Rapid City Journal, Rapid City, South Dakota, Wednesday, September 04, 1957
Washington Man Takes Chess Title
Yankton (AP)—Hans Berliner, young chess master from Washington, D. C., attained the country's newest chess title in the finals of a first-time champion of champions tournament held at the Hotel Charles Gurney here over the Labor Day weekend.
As U.S. Champion of Champions, he was awarded a tournament trophy and split the top prize money of $400 with Curt Brasket, chess master from Minneapolis, Minn., who tied with Berliner at a count of 5½ points.
In the final games, Berliner drew with John V. Ragan of St. Louis, Mo., and Brasket's match with Anthony Santasiere of New York City also ended in a draw. Santasiere was top seeded player entering this event.
Only state champions were eligible to play in the champion of champions tournament, and there were 19 contenders.
Santasiere emerged with 4½ points and Didlee McGee of Omaha. Also in the money class were the following with 4 points each:
Ragan, Jack Shaw, Albuquerque, New Mexico;
Gilbert Ramirez, San Francisco, Calif.,
Dan Reynolds, Des Moines, Iowa.
O. W. Manney, Ketchikan, Alaska, and Orman T. Whitaker, Baltimore.
Running concurrently was the Paul Morphy centennial open chess tournament. Winner of this event was H. Hesse of Bethlehem, Pa., with 5½ points. Just half a point behind the leader were Rudolf O'Petters of Dacono, Colo., and Richard McLellan of Omaha, who tied for second place.
Other prize winners in the Morphy centennial with 4 points each were Dale Ruth, Midwest City, Okla.;
Henry King, San Francisco, Calif.;
Dr. Ibela Rozsa, Tulsa, Okla.;
Phillip Rehberger, Denver;
D. G. Maylin, Denver and J. D. Define, Florissant, Mo.
In the final round Hesse defeated Naylin to win the title. Thirty-four players participated in the Morphy event.
Directing the two important tournaments was George Koltanowski, San Francisco, international chess master and blindfold exhibitionist.
