An eyewitness:

6 hours were reserved for 3 adjourned games that Reshevsky had to finish; one with Keres, one with Alekhine, the third with Fine. Against expectations two difficult endgames were drawn within an hour, thus leaving, a half hour pause according to regulations included, three hours for the final of Fine vs Reshevsky.

Fine, convinced that it wouldn't be his turn that day, was having siesta in his hotel when he was summoned by telephone to appear in the tournament hall. He refused. He was threatened with a loss by forfeit, if not disqualification. Fierce argument, with a not uncertain outcome.

Unkempt, unshaven, sleepy and possessed by the devil Fine stormed to the tournament hall and started defending his precarious position against Reshevsky. Alekhine watched, standing, his back turned to Capablanca, seated on an adjacent table.

One should have seen the American rivals Fine and Reshevsky in action to predict what follows. For their first few moves the gents took two hours reflection time together. They each had only a few seconds left to make the last 10 moves until the time control. No more notation, only hammering on clocks and skittling around chess pieces.

Very efective skittling around, especially by Fine. No sooner had he thrown the saving move on the board, when he was told: "You have exceeded the time limit!". Fine, with an eye on the clock: "You have exceeded the time limit!". Both claims were true, but Fine's flag had fallen first. Against the verdict of the attentive tournament director there was no appeal.

Fine, furious: "Why must I always lose always against the worst patzers?". Prompt some strong unfriendly remarks were returned.