New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, January 12, 1963 - Page 14
Chess: Final U.S. Title Game Classic of Chess Suicide
New York.
The last-round game that Bobby Fischer won from Arthur Bisguier in the United States Championship at the Henry Hudson Hotel clinched the title for the young international star. It was also a classic example of chess suicide on Bisguier's part.
To appreciate the state of mind of the two leaders as they faced each other for the decision, a resume of the trend of the preceding rounds highlights the picture. Fischer, after losing a 73-move game in the first round, forged steadily ahead and entered the final round with a 7-3 score.
Bisguier, too, entering the last round, had achieved the same score. His round-by-round journey had been almost the reversal of Fischer's. Off to a flying start, Bisguier was two points ahead of the field after the first six rounds. Then some indifferent draws against weaker opponents whittled away his lead. Entering the semi-final round, Bisguier was still half-a-point ahead.
Quickly, Fischer won his tenth-round game. But Bisguier, facing the veteran Sammy Reshevsky, was in great danger of losing at adjournment time. After more than 20 hours of day and night analysis, he found ways to draw and salvage the precious half-point.
Against Bisguier, Fischer essayed the aggressive Ruy Lopez. Bisguier resorted to the little-used Berlin Defense. After surmounting all the opening difficulties, and with a better pawn skeleton, Bisguier, as he admitted afterward, overlooked a shattering interpolation by his opponent, 24 Kt-B5. This gave Fischer a poisonous hold on the position that he never relinquished until Bisguier resigned.
