The Gift of Chess

Notice to commercial publishers seeking use of images from this collection of chess-related archive blogs. For use of the many large color restorations, two conditions must be met: 1) It is YOUR responsibility to obtain written permissions for use from the current holders of rights over the original b/w photo. Then, 2) make a tax-deductible donation to The Gift of Chess in honor of Robert J. Fischer-Newspaper Archives. A donation in the amount of $250 USD or greater is requested for images above 2000 pixels and other special request items. For small images, such as for fair use on personal blogs, all credits must remain intact and a donation is still requested but negotiable. Please direct any photographs for restoration and special request (for best results, scanned and submitted at their highest possible resolution), including any additional questions to S. Mooney, at bobbynewspaperblogs•gmail. As highlighted in the ABC News feature, chess has numerous benefits for individuals, including enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improving concentration and memory, and promoting social interaction and community building. Initiatives like The Gift of Chess have the potential to bring these benefits to a wider audience, particularly in areas where access to educational and recreational resources is limited.

Best of Chess Fischer Newspaper Archives
• Robert J. Fischer, 1955 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1956 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1957 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1958 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1959 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1960 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1961 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1962 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1963 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1964 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1965 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1966 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1967 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1968 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1969 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1970 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1971 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1972 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1973 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1974 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1975 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1976 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1977 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1978 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1979 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1980 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1981 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1982 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1983 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1984 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1985 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1986 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1987 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1988 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1989 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1990 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1991 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1992 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1993 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1994 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1995 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1996 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1997 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1998 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1999 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2000 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2001 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2002 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2003 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2004 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2005 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2006 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2007 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2008 bio + additional games
Chess Columns Additional Archives/Social Media

Bobby Fischer Has Chess Experts Agog

Back to 1958 Index

Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, Sunday, October 19, 1958

Bobby Fischer Has Chess Experts Agog
Portoroz, Yugoslavia (AP)— It's October, a little more than a month after the interzonal chess tournament, and in America the talk is of football.
But here in Yugoslavia and throughout Europe, the people have never heard of Navy Joe's Tranchini or Ohio State's Frank Kremblas.
And even if they had, they would prefer to talk about Bobby Fischer, the 15-year-old Brooklyn boy with the mind of a quarterback, the self-discipline of a linebacker, and the title of grand master of chess.
Chances are Bobby, the boy, or Robert, as he prefers to be called when playing chess, has never heard of Tranchini or Kremblas either. And they may not have heard of him.

Started at Age 6
Bobby's mother says there was a time when he used to be very good at athletics, but that must have been before he reached the age of six. That's when he learned the moves of chess and he hasn't stopped studying them since. He says he is interested in virtually nothing else.
This is exceptional in the United States where the game is taken far less seriously than football, and even in Europe, where chess has undergone more refinements than the split - T, the chess masters are amazed at the genius of the gangling Fischer.
A tall boy with the classic adolescent slump, he doesn't look like a quarterback. He just thinks like one.

Youngest in History
He became the youngest grandmaster in history by his expert play at the Interzonal tournament here.
He left behind him eight world best grand masters and seven international masters. He failed to place first but captured the title of grand master and qualified for the Tournament of Candidates, the third stage in world championship competition.
Bobby impressed fellow competitors with his mature play in his first international tournament. He knew exactly what he wanted. The toughness of the will with which he fulfilled his aim was wonderful.
He is now a candidate for the world championship held by Russian Grand Master Mikhail Botvinnik. Fischer can challenge Botvinnik in 1960 if he wins next year's Tournament of Candidates.

Most Serious Player
Bobby, who won the U.S. Junior title in 1956 and the U.S. Open this year, was the most serious player in the interzonal tourney.
Only the Russians with their famous discipline could match him. But while the Russians occasionally went for a swim or a walk, Bobby remained in the tournament hall or in his hotel room. His self-imposed discipline was amazing, and he grew angry at reporters who kept stressing his age. He said he wanted to be judged only on his play.
When the tournament began Bobby said privately: “I plan to qualify for the tournament of candidates. To achieve that it is necessary to draw with the great players and some of the weaker. That will bring me enough points to qualify.”

Followed Plan
He followed his plan stubbornly and with success. Some of his foes thought they could trap “The Boy” by bizarre variations or surprise him with an unusual move to break his opposition.
But the lad proved them wrong. Johnny Lujack never called a cooler football game.
Bobby is regarded here as the first challenger in years to Russian chess supremacy.
But like the football players, he must go to school while Russian stars dedicate almost their entire time to chess.

Bobby Fischer Has Chess Experts Agog

'til the world understands why Robert J. Fischer criticised the U.S./British and Russian military industry imperial alliance and their own Israeli Apartheid. Sarah Wilkinson explains:

Bobby Fischer, First Amendment, Freedom of Speech
What a sad story Fischer was,” typed a racist, pro-imperialist colonial troll who supports mega-corporation entities over human rights, police state policies & white supremacy.
To which I replied: “Really? I think he [Bob Fischer] stood up to the broken system of corruption and raised awareness! Whether on the Palestinian/Israel-British-U.S. Imperial Apartheid scam, the Bush wars of ‘7 countries in 5 years,’ illegally, unconstitutionally which constituted mass xenocide or his run in with police brutality in Pasadena, California-- right here in the U.S., police run rampant over the Constitution of the U.S., on oath they swore to uphold, but when Americans don't know the law, and the cops either don't know or worse, “don't care” -- then I think that's pretty darn “sad”. I think Mr. Fischer held out and fought the good fight, steadfast til the day he died, and may he Rest In Peace.
Educate yourself about U.S./State Laws --
https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit/videos
After which the troll posted a string of profanities, confirming there was never any genuine sentiment of “compassion” for Mr. Fischer, rather an intent to inflict further defamatory remarks.

This ongoing work is a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Robert “Bobby” Fischer who passionately loved and studied chess history. May his life continue to inspire many other future generations of chess enthusiasts and kibitzers, alike.

Robert J. Fischer, Kid Chess Wizard 1956March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008

The photograph of Bobby Fischer (above) from the March 02, 1956 The Tampa Times was discovered by Sharon Mooney (Bobby Fischer Newspaper Archive editor) on February 01, 2018 while gathering research materials for this ongoing newspaper archive project. Along with lost games now being translated into Algebraic notation and extractions from over two centuries of newspapers, it is but one of the many lost treasures to be found in the pages of old newspapers since our social media presence was first established November 11, 2017.

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