The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 21
Chess Club Members Here to 'Compete' Against Players in World Title Match
The Cenla Chess Club will hold world championship instant-replay matches while the Fischer-Spassky Tournament for the chess championship of the world is going on, Tom Heston, club president, said today.
One player in a game will be allowed to use a cribsheet with the moves made by either Fischer or Spassky in their battle for the chess title. The other will use nothing but his own brains to respond.
Whoever draws white in the first game will start with the opening used by white in the Iceland tourney's first match. His opponent, playing with the black men, will be on his own. For the first few moves at least, until the black player gets hopelessly lost or confused, the game will be identical to the Fischer-Spassky match. In succeeding games the players will switch colors.
“The idea isn't to improve on the champions' ideas, Heston said, but to see how close we can come to thinking like they think.”
The chess club meets Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Checkmate Room of the Alexandria Motor Inn. Heston asked chess players to show up promptly at that time so no one will be left waiting for an opponent.
Club members also meet at each others' homes during the week “to play the world's oldest and most fascinating game,” according to Heston. He invited old members and new chess players to attend the Saturday meeting at the Checkmate, and to bring their own sets and clocks if they have them.
With the world championship tournament bringing the game of chess more publicity than it has had in the last several thousand years, Heston said that more people than ever are trying to learn the game. He said the fundamental moves can be learned in less than an hour, and club members are available to teach beginners.
“Of course, it takes longer to develop skill, but that's what the game is all about,” the club president said. “You constantly learn and grow, by matching your skill against others.”
Chess Club Members Here to 'Compete' Against Players in World Title Match 07 Jul 1972, Fri The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) Newspapers.com
