1957
Popel, Kalme Top NCO
This tournament was held over the Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 29 to Dec 1. Former French champion Stephen Popel, living in Detroit, tied with former US Junior champion Charles Kalme of Philadelphia for the lead (Popel winning on tiebreak) with Donald Byrne, Lajos Szedlacsek, and Curt Brasket finishing up just a half point back. Bobby Fischer played, and failed to win, finishing in 6th place. In a couple months time Fischer was to win the US Championship; in fact, this was the last US tournament Fischer played in that he failed to win.
1958
Benko Caps Off A Good Year
Once again in the Venetian Room of the Hotel Astor; it was the fifth time the tournament had been held here. This time it was won outright by Benko, who was having a very good year this year.
1959
Brasket Takes NCO
Minnesota Master Curt Brasket took the 1959 edition of the North Central Open with an unbeaten score of 6.5 points. Hans Berliner was right behind Brasket for most of the way, but the draw in their last round encounter sealed the tournament for Brasket.
Berliner had also gone undefeated, giving up the last round draw to Brasket and another draw in the fourth round to Kirby. Young Martin Harrow from Indiana put together another stellar performance to go with his finish in the Western Open earlier in 1959, scoring 6 points and going undefeated, yielding only a couple of draws, to O’Keefe in the fourth round and Kirby in the sixth.
1970
De Fotis Wins
Master Greg DeFotis won the 1970 North Central Open with an unbeaten score of 6.5 points (out of 7). DeFotis won on tiebreaks over Dr. Orest Popovych, who also finished with 6.5. DeFotis led all the way, only getting nicked for a draw in the final round by Andrew Karklins.
Karklins, a longtime regular at these events, finished even with Stephen Popel and Richard Kujoth, also regulars at this event, with 6 points. Rounding out the top six was Richard Verber, with 5.
Other notable entrants include Curt Brasket, Fred Cramer and Susan Sterngold, who won the trophy for best score by a female player in the event.