The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, September 10, 1961
Fischer Beats Tal In International
By Merrill Dowden
Some time ago, this department when out on a limb with the prediction that one of these days the young American grandmaster, Bobby Fischer of New York, would bring the world championship to the United States.
Bobby still has a long way to go, its true, but he took a long step in the right direction Thursday with a decisive victory over former World Champion Mikhail Tal of Latvia.
The upset occurred in the second round of the International Chess Tournament being held at Bled. In a smashing attack, the United States champion won two Rooks plus three Pawns for a Queen and went on to crack a Sicilian Defense set up by Tal in 47 moves. However, Klaus Darga of West Germany held Fischer to a draw after 38 moves of a King's Indian Defense in the third round.
Arthur B. Bisguier of New York, a former United States title-holder; Ewfim Geller, Soviet Union, and Dr. Petar Trifunovic, champion of Yugoslavia, were tied at 2½-½ for the lead after three rounds of the tournament. Each has won two games and drawn one.
Fischer, Tal, Darga and Tigran Petrosian, Soviet champion, 2-1 each, are next in the standings.
