California Chess Reporter 1955-1958

This volume has important events related to California chess. By 1955, the states highways had been improved to the point where car travel became feasible between Northern and Southern California. So it's no surprise that the 1955 56th U.S. Open, held in Long Beach, became the strongest and richest up to that time. GM Nicolas Rossolimo won the 1955 Buick over GM Sammy Reshevsky on tie-breaking points; Sammy had to be content with the $1,000 1st prize. The biggest shock in California chess history was IM Herman Steiner's sudden and totally unexpected heart attack during the 1955 California State Championship. Herman was a handsome, energetic, larger than life presence, who attracted many the chess playing Hollywood elite. The passing of the former U.S. Champion and Editor of the Los Angeles Times chess column (since 1933) left a void in Southern California chess which has never been filled. Bobby Fischer's first California appearance in 1957 was the San Francisco U.S. Junior. Bobby, the 14-year old defending champion, scored 8.5 points to beat out San Francisco's own 17-year old Gilbert Ramirez, who was the California State Champion and California Open Champion. Of course, the Reporter covered Fischer's first U.S. Championship win. This volume is so engrossing, that I often can't put it down until I've read it all the way through, again.