APublic Opinion Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Thursday, September 18, 1958
Bobby Fischer, Grand Master
This seems like a pretty good time to salute Bobby Fischer, a fifteen-year-old pupil in Brooklyn, who is making quite a name for himself in some parts of the world. Bobby Fischer is chess champion of the United States, so the event didn't exactly seize the country's imagination. However, in chess circles, the young man's achievements made a sensation, and—after classes ended at Erasmus last June—young Bobby went to Europe to try his hand.
He played a little in Russia, though he was unable to book any matches against the top masters. But it was in Yugoslavia that Bobby Fischer really stirred things up. He entered the Portoroz interzone tournament, which brought together some of the world's keenest chess minds. Twenty-one players were entered, with the first six winning the right to qualify for next year's challengers' tourney. The winner of that one gets to play Russia's Mikhail Botvinnik in 1960 for the world title.
To make a long story short, Bobby qualified. He came in sixth which means that he now bears the designation of International Grand Master—the youngest in the world—and has started on the road which could lead him to the world's championship. All this makes even Van Cliburn look like a slowpoke.
Bobby Fischer has been called America's greatest chess genius since Paul Morphy, who operated 100 years ago. And Morphy never liked to play his matches in T-Shirt, dungarees and sneakers, which is Bobby's preferred costume. We hope Bobby Fischer continues to develop his phenomenal talent and one day comes home with the world championship. It's always comforting to have a genius in our midst.—New York Herald Tribune.
