The 85 spectators who coughed up $2.00 to watch the first round of the Lessing J. Rosenwald tournament deciding the 1961/62 US Championship must have been disappointed at the sight. Four of the nation's six active Grandmasters were missing, including the country's two leading figures in Robert Fischer and Samuel Reshevsky. The resulting field, considered one of the weakest in years, includes;

Pal Benko, Sidney Bernstein. Donald Byrne. Robert Byrne. Larry Evans. Eliot Hearst , George Kramer, Edmar Mednis, Herbert Seidman, James Sherwin, Abe Turner, Raymond Weinstein

The schedule of rounds was as follows:

Round 1: Sunday, December 17m 1961 (12:30 PM -5:30 PM)
Round 2: Monday, December 18, 1961 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 3: Tuesday, December 19, 1961 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 4: Thursday, December 21, 1961 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 5: Saturday, December 23, 1961 (12:30 PM -5:30 PM)
Round 6: Tuesday, December 26, 1961 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 7: Wednesday, December 27, 1961 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 8: Thursday, December 28, 1961 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 9: Saturday, December 30, 1961 (12:30 PM -5:30 PM)
Round 10: Tuesday, January 2, 1962 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Round 11: Thursday, January 4, 1962 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM)

The tournament site was the Prince George Hotel in New York City, with some adjournments played at the Manhattan Chess Club. Directors of play were Hans Kmoch and Frank Brady. The total prize fund was $3000, but outside of the $1000 first prize the allocation is not clear.

Evans and Benko, The two participating grandmasters, were probably the favorites. Abe Turner, quoted in the New York times for December 16, clearly had no doubts: "'This fellow Evans ... will finish very high if he has a bad tournament. If he has a good tournament, he will run through the field like this," and turner snuffed out a candle with a ginger ale-dampened forefinger.}

But it was Sidney Bernstein who may have had the most accurate forecast: "It's the kind of field where most anyone could beat most anyone else. Maybe."

And that's pretty much what wound up happening. (<1>)

Round 1: Sunday, December 17, 1961

1 Hearst 1/2 Kramer
2 Evans 1 Turner
3 Mednis 1 Seidman
4 Byrne, R 1/2 Benko
5 Bernstein 0 Weinstein
6 Byrne, D 1/2 Sherwin

Turner was the first to prove his laudatory pre-tournament comment about Evans. The New York Times reporter thought he had played well to only be a pawn down at adjournment. Bernstein - Weinstein was worth the price of admission.

1.0: Evans, Mednis, Weinstein

0.5: Benko, D. Byrne, R. Byrne, Hearst, Kramer, Sherwin

0.0: Bernstein, Seidman, Turner

Game sources

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 32 (all games)

"Chess Review", March 1962, p. 87.

"Evans on Chess" in "Chess Life", March 1962, p. 52 (Evans - Turner)

"New York Times", December 20, 1961 (Bernstein - Weinstein, R. Byrne - Benko

Round 2 (Monday, December 18, 1961)

7 Kramer 0 Sherwin
8 Weinstein 0 Byrne, D
9 Benko 0 Bernstein
10 Seidman 1/2 Byrne, R
11 Turner 1/2 Mednis
12 Hearst 0 Evans

2.0: Evans
1.5: D. Byrne, Mednis, Sherwin
1.0: Bernstein, R. Byrne, Weinstein
0.5: Benko, Hearst, Kramer, Seidman, Turner

Bernstein's "anybody" comment came to pass, but the real winner of the game was Benko's clock: the grandmaster lost on time with two moves to go while a solid pawn ahead. Evans went into the sole leader, while everybody had scored at least a half-point.

Game Sources:

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 32; New York Times where indicated.;

"Chess Review", February 1962, p. 58 (Hearst - Evans)

Round 3 (Tuesday, December 19, 1961)

13 Evans 1 Kramer
14 Mednis 1/2 Hearst
15 Byrne, R 1/2 Turner
16 Bernstein 1/2 Seidman
17 Byrne, D 0 Benko
18 Sherwin 1/2 Weinstein

3.0: Evans
2.0: Mednis, Sherwin
1.5: Benko, Bernstein, D. Byrne, R. Byrne, Weinstein 1.0: Hearst, Seidman, Turner
0.5: Kramer

After three straight wins, Evans had a point lead on the field. He would win only one game in the last eight rounds, but with nobody else able to make a serious charge he maintained that point lead until the last round.

Game Sources

Chess Life, February 1962, p. 33 (All games)

"American Chess Bulletin, January / February 1962, p. 2 (Sherwin - Weinstein)

"New York Times", December 21, 1961 (Evans - Kramer, Mednis - Hearst, Sherwin - Weinstein)

Round 4 (Thursday, December 21, 1961)

19 Kramer 1 Weinstein
20 Benko 1 Sherwin
21 Seidman 1 Byrne, D
22 Turner 1/2 Bernstein
23 Hearst 1/2 Byrne, R
24 Evans 1/2 Mednis

3.5: Evans
2.5: Benko, Mednis
2.0: Bernstein, R. Byrne, Seidman, Sherwin
1.5: D. Byrne, Hearst, Kramer, Turner, Weinstein

Evans was content to stay a full-point ahead of Mednis, while Sherwin lost his share of second to Benko after a mutual time scramble that appears to have left the surviving score incomplete. Overall the race tightened, with only one point separating second and last places

Game sources:

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 33 (All games);

"Chess Review", February 1962,p. 59 (Kramer - Weinstein)

"New York Times", December 27, 1961 (Evans - Mednis)

Round 5 (Saturday, December 23, 1961)

25 Mednis 0 Kramer
26 Byrne, R 1/2 Evans
27 Bernstein 0 Hearst
28 Byrne, D 1/2 Turner
29 Sherwin 1 Seidman
30 Weinstein 1/2 Benko

4.0: Evans
3.0: Benko, Sherwin
2.5: R. Byrne, Hearst, Kramer, Mednis
2.0: Bernstein, D. Byrne, Seidman, Turner, Weinstein

The round ended with the standings in the same relative, with Evans a point head and everybody else within one point separating everyone else. But getting there was half the fun. Robert Byrne, after outplaying Evans the entire game, made a mistake just before the time control that allowed the leader a hidden perpetual check combination.

Game sources:

"Chess Life" February 1962, p.33- 34 (All games)

"American Chess Bulletin", January / February 1962, p. 2 (Byrne - Evans); p. 3 (Bernstein - Hearst)

"Chess Review", February 1962,p. 57 (Sherwin - Seidman); March 1962, p. 85 (R. Byrne - Evans); May 1962, p. 154 (Bernstein - Hearst)

"New York Times" December 27, 1961 (Bernstein - Hearst)

Round 6 (Tuesday, December 26m 1961)

31 Kramer 0 Benko
32 Seidman 1 Weinstein
33 Turner 0 Sherwin
34 Hearst 1/2 Byrne, D
35 Evans 1 Bernstein
36 Mednis 1/2 Byrne, R

5.0: Evans
4.0: Benko, Sherwin
3.0: R. Byrne, Hearst, Mednis, Seidman
2.5: D. Byrne, Kramer
2.0: Bernstein, Turner, Weinstein

After near disaster, Evans apparently decided another win might provide a useful cushion. Besides, he was playing tail ender Bernstein, who needed to be punished for that "anybody" comment. The win did come in handy since both Benko and Sherwin won to strengthen their hold on second place. Robert Byrne drew his sixth straight game to fall two points down with only five games to play, seemingly out of the running.

Game sources

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 34 (All games)

"American Chess Bulletin?, January / February 1962, p. 3 (Seidman - Weinstein)

Chess Review, May 1962, p. 155 (Seidman - Weinstein)

"New York Times" December 30, 1961 (Seidman - Weinstein)

Round 7 (Wednesday, December 27, 1961)

37 Byrne, R 1 Kramer
38 Bernstein 0 Mednis
39 Byrne, D 1/2 Evans
40 Sherwin 1/2 Hearst
41 Weinstein 1 Turner
42 Benko 0 Seidman

5.5: Evans
4.5: Sherwin
4.0: Benko, R. Byrne, Mednis, Seidman
3.5: Hearst
3.0: D. Byrne, Weinstein
2.5: Kramer
2.0: Bernstein, Turner

Game sources:

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 34-35 (all available games)

"American Chess Bulletin", January / February 1962, p. 4 (Weinstein - Turner)

Chess Review, June 1962, p. 188 (Weinstein - Turner)

"New York Times', December 30, 1961 (Weinstein - Turner)

The game Benko 0 Seidman did not appear in the Chess Life compilation, and has not yet been found.

Round 8 (Thursday, December 28, 1961)

43 Kramer 0 Seidman
44 Turner 1/2 Benko
45 Hearst 1/2 Weinstein
46 Evans 1/2 Sherwin
47 Mednis 1 Byrne, D
48 Byrne, R 1 Bernstein

The Mednis - D. Byrne game was postponed due to Byrne's illness. Its actual date is unclear, but was possibly January 3, 1962.

6.0" Evans
5.0: R. Byrne, Mednis, Seidman, Sherwin
4.5: Benko
4.0: Hearst
3.5: Weinstein
3.0: D. Byrne
2.5: Kramer Turner
2.0: Bernstein

Game sources

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 35 (all games)

"New York Times", January 3, 1962 (Kramer - Seidman, Hearst - Weinstein)

Round 9 (Saturday, December 30, 1961)

49 Bernstein 1 Kramer
50 Byrne, D 1/2 Byrne, R
51 Sherwin 1/2 Mednis
252 Weinstein 1/2 Evans
53 Benko 1/2 Hearst
54 Seidman 0 Turner

6.5: Evans
5.5: R. Byrne, Mednis, Sherwin
5.0: Benko, Seidman
4.5: Hearst
4.0: Weinstein
3.5: D. Byrne, Turner
3.0: Bernstein
2.5: Kramer

Herbert Seidman was proving to be the Wild Man of the tournament. He won more games than anybody else with five, but was equally capable of losing to anybody. In this round, Abe Turner's only win of the tournament knocked him out of second.

Game sources:

"Chess Life, February 1962, p. 37-38.

Round 10 (Tuesday, January 2, 1962)

55 Kramer 1/2 Turner
56 Hearst 0 Seidman
57 Evans 1/2 Benko
58 Mednis 1 Weinstein
59 Byrne, R 1 Sherwin
60 Bernstein 0 Byrne, D

7.0: Evans
6.5: R. Byrne, Mednis
6.0: Seidman
5.5: Benko, Sherwin
4.5: D. Byrne, Weinstein
4.0: Turner, Weinstein
3.0: Bernstein, Kramer

At long last, Evan's lead was sliced to a bare minimum. Mednis' score is a bit deceiving since he would not reach 6½ points until finishing his adjourned game with Weinstein several days later.

In the last round, Evans would play the unpredictable Seidman, Robert Byrne a distinctly out-of-form Raymond Weinstein, while Mednis had a tough road with Black against Benko.

Game sources

"Chess Life", February 1962, p. 37-38;

"Chess Review", February 1962, p. 57 (Byrne - Sherwin)

Round 11 (Thursday, January 4) 61 Byrne, D 1/2 Kramer
62 Sherwin 1 Bernstein
63 Weinstein 1/2 Byrne, R
64 Benko 1 Mednis
65 Seidman 1/2 Evans
66 Turner 0 Hearst

                            1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
1  Larry Melvyn Evans       * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 7.5
2  Robert Eugene Byrne      ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 7.0
3  Pal Benko                ½ ½ * 1 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 0 6.5
4  Edmar J Mednis           ½ ½ 0 * 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 0 1 6.5
5  Herbert Seidman          ½ ½ 1 0 * 0 1 1 1 0 1 ½ 6.5
6  James T Sherwin          ½ 0 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 6.5
7  Eliot Sanford Hearst     0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 5.5
8  Donald Byrne             ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½ 1 5.0
9  Raymond Allen Weinstein  ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 0 * 1 0 1 4.5
10 Abe Turner               0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ 0 * ½ ½ 4.0
11 George Mortimer Kramer   0 0 0 1 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ * 0 3.5
12 Sidney Norman Bernstein  0 0 1 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 * 3.0
ties broken by Sonnenborn-Berger

Game sources

"Chess Life", February 1962, p. 38, 41;

"Chess Review", March 1962, p. 86 (Benko - Mednis)

In an interview after the tournament, Evans commented on the differences in style and approach between himself and Fischer:

"Once I got the lead I tried to hold it and not gamble it and being the front-runner forces you to change your style. I was playing to the score, minimizing risk... I defend myself against being absorbed by the game ... while Fischer uses the game to defend himself against the world." (<2>).

Notes

(<1>) "New York Times, December 16, 1962

(<2>) "Chess Life, February 19962, p. 21.

Sources

"American Chess Bulletin, January / February 1962, p. 1-4. Games annotate by Anthony Santasiere.

"Chess Life", December 1961, p. 337; February 1962, p. 21-22, 32-35, 37-38, 41.; March, 1962, p. 53-55. Games not annotated.

"Chess Review", February 1962, p. 55-59; March 1962, p. 85-88; May 1962, p. 154155; June 1962, p. 188. Games annotated by Hans Kmoch.

"New York Times", December 16, 1961 - January 8, 1962. Games not annotated.