AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Monday, December 18, 1961 - Page 24
Champ Silent On Reason: Chess Tourney Opens, Bobby Fischer Absent
New York (AP)—Competition for the U.S. chess championship began Sunday with four-time champion, 18-year-old Bobby Fischer, not defending his title — and refusing to say why.
Only one first-round match was determined. Abe Mednis, a U.S. master from Mount Vernon, N.Y., picked up one point to become the tournament leader, when his opponent, Herbert Seidman of Brooklyn, resigned.
Dispute Blamed
Two matches were played to draws and three were adjourned, to be resumed Wednesday.
Of Fischer's non-appearance, Fred Cramer, president of the U.S. Chess Federation, said, “he was invited and he didn't accept and he didn't say why.”
Frank Brady, until Sunday the federation's business manager and editor of its magazine, “Chess Life,” said Fischer didn't appear because of a dispute concerning his forfeited series with Samuel Reshevsky of Spring Valley, N.Y.
“The reason he is not playing is that the organization which forfeited him is sponsoring this tournament,” Brady asserted.
First-Round Results
“I'm not commenting on that,” said Fischer, a Brooklyn youth who won the U.S. title when he was 14 and has never lost it.
Results of first-round matches Sunday:
Mednis defeated Seidman, resigned 1-0.
Pal Benko, New York, draw with Robert Byrne. Indianapolis, ½-½.
Don Byrne, University Park, Pa., drew with James T. Sherwin, New York, ½-½.
Matches adjourned until Wednesday: Eliot Hearst, Arlington, Va., vs. George Kramer, Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Larry Evans, New York, vs. Abe Turner, Mount Vernon, N.Y.; Sidney Bernstein, Brooklyn, vs. Raymond Weinstein, Brooklyn.
