60th US Open, Omaha, Nebraska, July 20-August 1, 1959

                                    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10   11   12
1   Arthur Bisguier                W107 W 42 W 71 W  7 D  5 D  9 W 19 W 28 D  2 D  3 W 18 W  8 10.0
2   Pal Benko                      W 39 W 29 W 21 D  4 D 19 W 15 W 10 W 18 D  1 W  6 W  9 L  3  9.5
3   Raymond Allen Weinstein        L 27 W 92 W 38 D 37 W 41 W 29 W 31 W 23 W 18 D  1 D  4 W  2  9.5
4   Eliot Sanford Hearst           W 54 W 27 W 30 D  2 D  6 L 10 W 45 W 59 W  5 D 13 D  3 W 17  9.0
5   Hans Berliner                  W 73 W 31 W 44 W 25 D  1 L 18 W 12 D  7 L  4 W 24 W 27 W 13  9.0
6   Robert H Steinmeyer            W 80 W 62 D 48 D 15 D  4 W 16 W 11 W  8 W 28 L  2 D 13 D 10  8.5
7   Curt Justin Brasket            W 77 W 36 W 32 L  1 W 22 W 44 D 28 D  5 L 13 W 16 W 25 D  9  8.5
8   Olaf Ulvestad                  W100 W 50 W 79 L 18 W 42 D 11 W 26 L  6 W 33 W 12 W 14 L  1  8.5
9   James T Sherwin                W 81 D 22 W 65 W125 W 63 D  1 L 18 W 35 W 10 W 27 L  2 D  7  8.5
10  Charles Henin                  W 91 W 97 L 28 W 82 W 79 W  4 L  2 W 60 L  9 W 30 W 23 D  6  8.5
11  Gilbert Ramirez                D129 W110 W 60 D 59 W 20 D  8 L  6 L 33 W 34 W 38 W 26 W 18  8.5
12  Robin Ault                     W109 L 18 W 94 W 93 W 21 D 14 L  5 W 31 W 32 L  8 W 33 W 30  8.5
13  Louis Levy                     W 72 L 44 L 37 W 95 W 53 W 91 W 73 W 19 W  7 D  4 D  6 L  5  8.0
14  Karl Burger                    W 90 D 65 W 56 D 22 W 32 D 12 D 36 W 24 L 27 W 21 L  8 W 40  8.0
15  Eleazar Jimenez-Zerquera       W112 D 60 W 35 D  6 W 59 L  2 D 61 D 48 D 20 D 31 W 62 W 27  8.0
16  Rogelio Ortega                 L 37 W 78 D 66 W129 W 69 L  6 D 30 W 50 W 46 L  7 W 31 W 32  8.0
17  Kenneth Smith                  L 82 W 95 L 90 L112 W102 W 87 W 94 W 44 W 59 W 28 W 36 L  4  8.0
18  Dr. Anthony Saidy              W 84 W 12 W 26 W  8 D 28 W  5 W  9 L  2 L  3 W 36 L  1 L 11  7.5
19  Brian E Owens                  W 68 W 34 D 20 W 33 D  2 W 27 L  1 L 13 D 29 D 32 W 61 D 21  7.5
20  Jack O'Keefe                   W132 W 46 D 19 D 41 L 11 W 85 L 23 W 75 D 15 W 69 D 22 D 25  7.5
21  Ted Edelbaum                   W 67 W 38 L  2 W 50 L 12 W 34 L 59 W 73 W 60 L 14 W 47 D 19  7.5
22  Richard Kause                  W 74 D  9 W 85 D 14 L  7 L 35 W 83 W 90 L 23 W 50 D 20 W 46  7.5
23  Edgar Thomas McCormick         W103 L 32 W 55 L 81 W 43 W 82 W 20 L  3 W 22 W 61 L 10 D 24  7.5
24  William Carr                   W 98 D 85 W 40 L 28 D 34 W 80 W 68 L 14 W 63 L  5 W 41 D 23  7.5
25  Erich Watkinson Marchand       W 43 W 76 W 41 L  5 W 61 L 28 W 81 L 27 W 62 W 35 L  7 D 20  7.5
26  Ross Sprague                   W 95 W 51 L 18 D 34 W 97 W106 L  8 L 32 W 84 W 29 L 11 W 44  7.5
27  Walter Harris                  W  3 L  4 W 87 W 71 W 39 L 19 W 64 W 25 W 14 L  9 L  5 L 15  7.0
28  Donato Rivera                  W101 W106 W 10 W 24 D 18 W 25 D  7 L  1 L  6 L 17 D 44 D 34  7.0
29  John B Freeman                 W127 L  2 D106 W 74 W125 L  3 D 62 W 49 D 19 L 26 D 63 W 64  7.0
30  John Pamiljens                 W 92 W 88 L  4 L 39 W101 D 42 D 16 W 91 W 48 L 10 W 73 L 12  7.0
31  Jeremiah F Donovan             W115 L  5 W 43 W 96 D 35 W 63 L  3 L 12 W 39 D 15 L 16 W 73  7.0
32  Glenn E Hartleb                W104 W 23 L  7 W 90 L 14 D 62 W 66 W 26 L 12 D 19 W 64 L 16  7.0
33  Howard Ohman                   D110 W 52 W 84 L 19 L 65 W 70 W 40 W 11 L  8 W 55 L 12 D 43  7.0
34  Dr. Victor (Vytas) Palciauskas W114 L 19 W 53 D 26 D 24 L 21 W 85 D 47 L 11 W 87 W 54 D 28  7.0
35  Arthur D Wang                  W126 D125 L 15 W 77 D 31 W 22 W 44 L  9 W 81 L 25 L 40 W 60  7.0
36  Jack F Shaw                    W102 L  7 W 68 W 86 W 45 D 48 D 14 D 61 W 65 L 18 L 17 D 39  7.0
37  Richard Vincent                W 16 L 79 W 13 D  3 L 60 W 77 L 63 L 38 W110 W100 W 45 D 49  7.0
38  William Batchelder             W119 L 21 L  3 D 83 W 67 L 47 W 74 W 37 W 45 L 11 D 52 W 59  7.0
39  A Cantone                      L  2 W101 W 67 W 30 L 27 L 64 W 93 D 72 L 31 W 85 W 48 D 36  7.0
40  Bruno Schmidt                  W 83 D 56 L 24 L101 W 58 W 55 L 33 D105 W 53 W 72 W 35 L 14  7.0
41  Henry Herbst                   W121 W 61 L 25 D 20 L  3 L 72 W 58 W106 D 68 W 63 L 24 W 62  7.0
42  Joseph G Sullivan              W 99 L  1 W100 W 80 L  8 D 30 D 72 L 46 L 70 W 94 W 93 W 61  7.0
43  Gary Abram                     L 25 W114 L 31 W102 L 23 W117 L 69 D 54 W 82 W 91 W 81 D 33  7.0
44  Lawrence C Gilden              W116 W 13 L  5 W 62 W 81 L  7 L 35 L 17 W 78 W 70 D 28 L 26  6.5
45  Peter Lapiken                  W 66 D 47 D 82 W 64 L 36 W 75 L  4 D 84 L 38 W105 L 37 W 80  6.5
46  Roger Smook                    W 78 L 20 L 49 W118 L 68 W108 W 52 W 42 L 16 D 48 W 55 L 22  6.5
47  John Alexander                 W133 D 45 L125 L 60 W 57 W 38 D 51 D 34 D 72 W 59 L 21 D 56  6.5
48  James E Warren                 W105 W 55 D  6 L 63 W 76 D 36 D 60 D 15 L 30 D 46 L 39 W 85  6.5
49  N Rabell                       L 76 W115 W 46 L 79 W 78 L 59 W 71 L 29 D 85 D 67 W 72 D 37  6.5
50  Sonja Graf-Stevenson           W124 L  8 W119 L 21 D 70 D 83 W123 L 16 W 94 L 22 W 79 D 53  6.5
51  Walter Grombacher              W134 L 26 L 86 W 88 L 64 W123 D 47 D 68 D 57 D 84 W 99 D 52  6.5
52  Maxwell Sokoler                D 89 L 33 L 58 W124 W129 D118 L 46 W 71 W 90 D 81 D 38 D 51  6.5
53  Ninus Aronson                  L 63 W132 L 34 W 89 L 13 W 86 W 82 L 69 L 40 W 78 W 68 D 50  6.5
54  Sam Priebe                     L  4 L 74 L102 L 72 W133 W119 W117 D 43 W 96 W 75 L 34 W 81  6.5
55  James M Wright                 W111 L 48 L 23 D 67 W 92 L 40 W109 W 97 W 66 L 33 L 46 W 89  6.5
56  Robert Sinclair Brieger        W130 D 40 L 14 L 69 L 77 D 92 W107 L 67 W 86 W 97 W 71 D 47  6.5
57  James Stallings                L 65 L 66 W111 W119 L 47 L 94 W103 W 79 D 51 D 83 +106 D 70  6.5
58  E E Hand                       L 62 D 77 W 52 L 97 L 40 W111 L 41 L100 W118 W 82 W 87 W 84  6.5
59  Walter Litwinczuk              W117 D 75 W 96 D 11 L 15 W 49 W 21 L  4 L 17 L 47 W 90 L 38  6.0
60  Anthony Suraci                 W120 D 15 L 11 W 47 W 37 W 65 D 48 L 10 L 21 L 64 W 83 L 35  6.0
61  Richard Alan McLellan          W 93 L 41 W 83 W 73 L 25 W 90 D 15 D 36 W 69 L 23 L 19 L 42  6.0
62  David Krause                   W 58 L  6 W 91 L 44 W 94 D 32 D 29 W 64 L 25 W 65 L 15 L 41  6.0
63  Erik D Osbun                   W 53 D 82 W 75 W 48 L  9 L 31 W 37 D 65 L 24 L 41 D 29 D 77  6.0
64  Marshall Rohland               W 86 L 71 W112 L 45 W 51 W 39 L 27 L 62 W 88 W 60 L 32 L 29  6.0
65  George Samuel Barnes           W 57 D 14 L  9 W 66 W 33 L 60 W106 D 63 L 36 L 62 D 77 D 67  6.0
66  Eva Aronson                    L 45 W 57 D 16 L 65 W 74 W125 L 32 W 76 L 55 D 77 D 67 D 69  6.0
67  William M Rebold               L 21 W118 L 39 D 55 L 38 W124 D 77 W 56 D 91 D 49 D 66 D 65  6.0
68  William Lukowiak               L 19 W126 L 36 W113 W 46 W 76 L 24 D 51 D 41 L 73 L 53 W 97  6.0
69  Luis E Suarez Navas            W123 L 96 D108 W 56 L 16 D 97 W 43 W 53 L 61 L 20 D 80 D 66  6.0
70  Harvey Weinstein               L125 W133 D 97 D 75 D 50 L 33 D105 W101 W 42 L 44 D 84 D 57  6.0
71  Henry Gross                    W 87 W 64 L  1 L 27 L 91 W 98 L 49 L 52 W101 W 95 L 56 W 99  6.0
72  Fred Cramer                    L 13 D116 L110 W 54 W109 W 41 D 42 D 39 D 47 L 40 L 49 W 94  6.0
73  Roger B Johnson                L  5 W 99 W 88 L 61 W 86 W 79 L 13 L 21 W 93 W 68 L 30 L 31  6.0
74  Clark R Harmon                 L 22 W 54 D 76 L 29 L 66 W 99 L 38 W102 D106 L 80 W113 W 91  6.0
75  Tom Lux                        W131 D 59 L 63 D 70 W 98 L 45 W 95 L 20 D105 L 54 D 91 W 93  6.0
76  David Taylor                   W 49 L 25 D 74 W109 L 48 L 68 W118 L 66 L 99 D102 W 95 W 90  6.0
77  Bernard Zuckerman              L  7 D 58 W116 L 35 W 56 L 37 D 67 W 96 D 83 D 66 D 65 D 63  6.0
78  Robert B Leewright             L 46 L 16 W130 W131 L 49 W 89 L 91 W 92 L 44 L 53 W102 W 98  6.0
79  Alfred Hulmes                  W113 W 37 L  8 W 49 L 10 L 73 L 84 L 57 W108 W 98 L 50 + 96  6.0
80  Alpen Murphy                   L  6 W123 W 98 L 42 W108 L 24 W 96 L 81 L 87 W 74 D 69 L 45  5.5
81  W Donnelly                     L  9 W113 W 89 W 23 L 44 W 84 L 25 W 80 L 35 D 52 L 43 L 54  5.5
82  John R Beitling                W 17 D 63 D 45 L 10 W 93 L 23 L 53 D 87 L 43 L 58 W119 +106  5.5
83  Gerald M Banker                L 40 W130 L 61 D 38 W110 D 50 L 22 W 95 D 77 D 57 L 60 D 88  5.5
84  Karl Zangerle                  L 18 W127 L 33 W105 W123 L 81 W 79 D 45 L 26 D 51 D 70 L 58  5.5
85  J H Allen                      W118 D 24 L 22 D108 W 96 L 20 L 34 W112 D 49 L 39 W100 L 48  5.5
86  Donald R Seifert               L 64 W103 W 51 L 36 L 73 L 53 L 92 W117 L 56 D108 W109 W105  5.5
87  Gerald D Johnson               L 71 W134 L 27 W114 L 90 L 17 W111 D 82 W 80 L 34 L 58 W108  5.5
88  B F Broderson                  W135 L 30 L 73 L 51 W107 L 93 W 98 W116 L 64 L 90 W111 D 83  5.5
89  G Pipiringos                   D 52 D129 L 81 L 53 W113 L 78 D102 W118 L100 W122 +105 L 55  5.5
90  William A Scott                L 14 W102 W 17 L 32 W 87 L 61 W 97 L 22 L 52 W 88 L 59 L 76  5.5
91  Wiliam Slater                  L 10 W104 L 62 W117 W 71 L 13 W 78 L 30 D 67 L 43 D 75 L 74  5.5
92  Spencer H Van Gelder           L 30 L  3 D124 W116 L 55 D 56 W 86 L 78 W112 L 93 L 96 W111  5.0
93  W Troy Miller                  L 61 W131 W107 L 12 L 82 W 88 L 39 W110 L 73 W 92 L 42 L 75  5.0
94  Phil W Morrell                 L 96 W120 L 12 W 99 L 62 W 57 L 17 W113 L 50 L 42 W107 L 72  5.0
95  Robert E Hart                  L 26 L 17 W104 L 13 W114 W115 L 75 L 83 W111 L 71 L 76 W117  5.0
96  Brian Murphy                   W 94 W 69 L 59 L 31 L 85 W101 L 80 L 77 L 54 W103 W 92 - 79  5.0
97  Ronald Simpson                 WF   L 10 D 70 W 58 L 26 D 69 L 90 L 55 W113 L 56 W115 L 68  5.0
98  S Noblin                       L 24 W111 L 80 W107 L 75 L 71 L 88 W114 W115 L 79 W101 L 78  5.0
99  William B Higler               L 42 L 73 W121 L 94 D100 L 74 W124 W109 W 76 D106 L 51 L 71  5.0
100 Kathryn Slater                 L  8 W124 L 42 L123 D 99 L109 W121 W 58 W 89 L 37 L 85 D107  5.0
101 Bill L Patteson                L 28 L 39 W120 W 40 L 30 L 96 W114 L 70 L 71 W112 L 98 W110  5.0
102 Edward R Westing               L 36 L 90 W 54 L 43 L 17 W126 D 89 L 74 W109 D 76 L 78 W115  5.0
103 Mildred Morrell                L 23 L 86 L114 W134 L115 W104 L 57 L111 W120 L 96 W112 W113  5.0
104 Robert Hochhalter              L 32 L 91 L 95 L130 W131 L103 W132 L107 W114 L115 +123 W121  5.0
105 Robert Fasano                  L 48 L107 W126 L 84 W132 W112 D 70 D 40 D 75 L 45 - 89 L 86  4.5
106 J R Martinson                  Bye  L 28 D 29 W110 W112 L 26 L 65 L 41 D 74 D 99 - 57 - 82  4.5
107 Dario Vissepo                  L  1 W105 L 93 L 98 L 88 L114 L 56 W104 W117 +116 L 94 D100  4.5
108 Paul Ligtvoet                  ---- Bye  D 69 D 85 L 80 L 46 L113 W120 L 79 D 86 W116 L 87  4.5
109 Dan W Denney                   L 12 W135 D129 L 76 L 72 W100 L 55 L 99 L102 W121 L 86 D122  4.0
110 Richard H Moore                D 33 L 11 W 72 L106 L 83 D129 W116 L 93 L 37 L111 W120 L101  4.0
111 Jeffrey Kurtz                  L 55 L 98 L 57 W120 W119 L 58 L 87 W103 L 95 W110 L 88 L 92  4.0
112 Gilbert Raich                  L 15 W121 L 64 W 17 L106 L105 W115 L 85 L 92 L101 L103 W119  4.0
113 Kalman Farkas                  L 79 L 81 W132 L 68 L 89 W131 W108 L 94 L 97 W123 L 74 L103  4.0
114 W T Mayfield                   L 34 L 43 W103 L 87 L 95 W107 L101 L 98 L104 L120 W132 W126  4.0
115 Bruce Evans                    L 31 L 49 L131 W133 W103 L 95 L112 W123 L 98 W104 L 97 L102  4.0
116 Jerry Spann                    L 44 D 72 L 77 L 92 W120 W130 L110 L 88 D124 -107 L108 W127  4.0
117 Wilmer Stevens                 L 59 L119 W134 L 91 W126 L 43 L 54 L 86 L107 W131 W122 L 95  4.0
118 Katherine McGregor             L 85 L 67 W127 L 46 W130 D 52 L 76 L 89 L 58 L119 L121 W132  3.5
119 F Hutchins                     L 38 W117 L 50 L 57 L111 L 54 D126 W121 L122 W118 L 82 L112  3.5
120 Elliott Forry Laucks           L 60 L 94 L101 L111 L116 W127 W131 L108 L103 W114 L110 D128  3.5
121 Ralph G Houghton               L 41 L112 L 99 L126 D127 W132 L100 L119 W131 L109 W118 L104  3.5
122 Walter Cronk                   ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- W134 W127 W119 L 89 L117 D109  3.5
123 George R McMahon               L 69 L 80 W133 W100 L 84 L 51 L 50 L115 W132 L113 -104 ----  3.0
124 James A Creighton              L 50 L100 D 92 L 52 W134 L 67 L 99 W126 D116 ---- ---- ----  3.0
125 Lewis J Isaacs                 W 70 D 35 W 47 L  9 L 29 L 66 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  2.5
126 William R Trinks               L 35 L 68 L105 W121 L117 L102 D119 L124 W128 W132 L127 L114  2.5
127 Henry E Rock                   L 29 L 84 L118 W132 D121 L120 L130 L122 Bye  L128 W126 L116  2.5
128 Sam Sloan                      ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- L126 W127 W131 D120  2.5
129 N Robinson                     D 11 D 89 D109 L 16 L 52 D110 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  2.0
130 Francis Collins                L 56 L 83 L 78 W104 L118 L116 W127 ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  2.0
131 Cecilia Rock                   L 75 L 93 W115 L 78 L104 L113 L120 L132 L121 L117 L128 Bye   2.0
132 J W Alexander                  L 20 L 53 L113 L127 L105 L121 L104 W131 L123 L126 L114 L118  2.0
133 C F Houdek                     L 47 L 70 L123 L115 L 54 W134 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  1.0
134 Elizabeth Anderson             L 51 L 87 L117 L103 L124 L133 L122 ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  0.0
135 David Jordan                   L 88 L109 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  0.0

US Open Directed by: George Koltanowski; San Francisco, CA US Junior Championship Directed by: Howard Ohman, Omaha, NE -----

Open
Winners: 1st - Arthur Bisguier - 10
2nd - Pal Benko - 9.5
3rd - Raymond Weinstein - 9.5
4-5th - Eliot Hearst - 9
4-5th - Hans Berliner - 9

US Junior Champ:
1st - Robin Ault - 7
2nd - Gilbert Ramirez - 7
3rd - Larry Gilden - 6.5
4th - Ray. Weinstein - 6.5
5th - Walter Harris - 6
(* US Junior Champ was held July 13-18th at the Hotel Rome in Omaha; there were 40 entrants, and it was a 9rd swiss.)

A total of $2,225.00 in prize money was distributed at a banquet following the final round. Trophies were awarded to Arthur Bisguier, Robin Ault, for the highest score made by a USCF rated Expert, Walter Harris, for the highest score made by a Class A player, to Donald Seifert, for the highest score made by a Class B player, to Sonja Graf Stevenson, for the Woman's Open Championship.

Highlights of the banquet included a series of anecdotes about interesting incidents which occurred during the Open as noted by internationally famous tournament director George Koltanowski of San Francisco, California.

One noteworthy incident involve two players each of whom had a beautiful board and chess set. Each insisted that he would play only with his own set and board! In the ensuing altercation, the players appealed to director Koltanowski who felt the matter may well have been decided by the simple expedient of "flipping a coin." But, to his momentary dismay, the participants would have none of his suggestion. Thereupon, Koltanowski demanded both boards and sets immediately! In return, he gave them an old battle-scarred board and a not too desirable set of men and both players returned to the battle arena content that neither of them had won their point!

Another interesting incident involved a strong player who had lost a number of games in the early rounds on the time limit. The reason remained a mystery for some rounds until Koltanowski took an interest in the proceedings. It appeared that the player who was losing on time was using his own clock and carried it around with him constantly and even refused to let anyone else handle his clock! Normally, in such a tournament with 50 moves in 2.5 hour rule, time pressure rarely develops before 3.5 to 4 hours after comencement of the round; and yet due to this clock, the poor player was in fantastic time pressure only 2.5 hours after the round started! After watching watching one of the games of this player, Koltie perceived that, while the clock on one side was functioning properly, the clock on the other side continued to run without abating even when the lever was pushed down. Ironically, during each of the games of this player, he unwittingly sat on the defective side of his own clock!

Source: Quoted with some alterations from the Introduction, "Selected Games from the 14th United States Junior Chess Champ. and the 60th United States Open Chess Championship"; American Tournament Series, Vol. XXVIII, Jack Spence, 1959.

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** 1959 Open Jottings ** by William Slater

"Not so many grandmasters, but general level highest ever. Half of entire field rated as expert or above. To quote Tournament Director George Koltanowski, 'There were no fish!'... Younger players advancing so rapidly posted ratings based on performance figures of perhaps a year or two previous give little indication of current strength. Good idea when paired agains a Junior to mentally add one or two hundred points to published ratings to allow for the inevitable improvement... Frank Brady's newly anounced plan of bringing out monthly rating supplements should be great help to get true picture of our rapidly advancing Juniors... New Junior Champion Robin Ault and San Francisco's Gil Ramirez also scored heavily in the big event. Brooklyn's Ray Weinstein's smashing last round victory over previously unstopped Grandmaster Benko (which gave first place to Cousin Arthur Bisguier) an all-time high in tourney thrills...

Title still wide open going into the last round. Depending on how the chips fell either Benko, Bisguier, or even Seattle's Ollie Ulvestad who had suddenly moved into the picture, could have emerged the ultimate winner..."

"Sheraton-Fontanelle Hotel contributed largely to success of the event. Chess players given the red carpet treatment, with air-conditioned playing quarters ideal with separat analysis room outside, and losers could conslole themselves listening to Bob Darch's honkey-tonk piano in the Golden Nugget." ...

Source: Excerpts from "Chess Life"; Sept 5, 1959, pg 7, "1959 Open Jottings" by William Slater.

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MILESTONES

15: Lewis J Isaacs

10: Arthur Bisguier, Erich Watkinson Marchand

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SOURCES

American Chess Bulletin, July/August 1959, p.50-54.

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