AJanuary 03, 1961
Corpus Christi Times, Corpus Christi, Texas, Tuesday, January 03, 1961
17-Year-Old Boy Wins Chess Title
(C) 1961, New York Times News Service
New York.—Bobby Fischer, the 17-year-old international grand master won his fourth straight United States chess championship at the Hotel Empire last night.
The Brooklyn boy who is considered the finest American chess player since Paul Morphy in 1850, clinched the title by drawing with Pal Benko the Hungarian grand master.
The tournament which began Dec. 18, will end tomorrow.
Fischer's tournament record now is six victories and four draws for eight points. Fischer's closest rivals are Arthur Bisguier of New York and Samuel Reshevsky, another international grand master.
Going into the match, Fischer needed only half a point to clinch the crown. After 15 moves he offered Benko a draw and Benko accepted.
Following the Fischer-Benko match Reshevsky and Bisguier drew after 27 moves.
The Fischer-Benko match was unexciting before it ended in its early stages. Benko played a conservative variation of the Sicilian defense against Fischer's king pawn opening.
