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
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Chess: Despite Petrosian's Record, He Is Only a Fischer Victim

Back to 1972 News Articles

New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, June 20, 1972 - Page 80

Chess: Despite Petrosian's Record, He Is Only a Fischer Victim by Al Horowitz
Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, the former world champion, has been a top-ranking player for more than 20 years, but he is probably best known to thousands of new chess fans around the world as Bobby Fischer's latest victim—the man whom Fischer defeated and so earned his forthcoming title match against Boris Spassky, the current champion.
Fischer beat Petrosian 6½-2½ in a match held last November in Buenos Aires. The match was tied at the end of five games, but Fischer won four in a row at the end.

Fischer's Style Analyzed
Fischer's previous victims have all remained silent about their dismal experiences against him, but Petrosian, in a long article in the Soviet journal 64, speaks freely about the encounter in Buenos Aires.
His comments about the haggling over the site of the match and about the play itself was strongly colored by his chagrin at the outcome. He also offers, however, an analysis of Fischer's style that, if not entirely objective, is at least a clue to the kind of coaching Spassky will receive before his match with the American challenger.
“Among top-ranking American players,” Petrosian writes, “the ones with the largest repertoires have, as a rule, the greatest chances for success. It is easier for one who has played the greatest variety of positions to cope with a new situation. Thus the player with the greatest number of openings should have the best chances.
“But in this respect,” he continues, “Fischer is unique. He plays the same variations again and again and with success. Only very seldom does he venture to play something novel, and then he is like a fish out of water. That he plays so surely and so quickly can probably be explained by the fact that he is so familiar with his pet variations. I myself always try to play systems that are little-analyzed.
“If we carefully review the games of the first half of the match, it is easy to see that in every one, with the exception of the first, Fischer was drawn into positions that are novel. I must also add that in the systems which the American knows thoroughly, he almost never commits a blunder.”
The implication of this last sentence is obviously that in positions Fischer does not know well, he blunders frequently, but this is hardly substantiated by the games themselves. How much credence Spassky lends to his compatriot's views remains to be seen.
Petrosian has played very little since his defeat by Fischer. The two games below are from his most recent tournament, held recently at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in which he finished second.

Tigran V Petrosian vs Vlastimil Hort
Bosna 15th (1972), Sarajevo BIH, rd 7, Mar-27
English Opening: Agincourt Defense. Wimpy System (A13) 1-0

Tigran V Petrosian vs Milan Matulovic
Bosna 15th (1972), Sarajevo BIH, rd 9, Mar-30
Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation (A87) 1-0

Despite Petrosian's Record, He Is Only a Fischer Victim

'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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