AThe Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 23
Chess? It's Booming With Fischer by Ken Kobayashi
Bobby Fischer: The Great American Hope.
He can bring to America a world championship that the Soviet Union has dominated for 35 years (and some say always will should he lose).
And he can bring to chess what Ali brought to boxing, Palmer to golf, Namath to football: a hero image which would add flesh to that intellectual game and give it the popularity boost chess players have been long yearning for.
A LOT OF people are hoping he does both by beating world champion Boris Spassky of Russia in their best-of-24-game match which starts today in Iceland.
And some of those people are the regulars who play chess tirelessly on the benches along Kalakaua Avenue near Kuhio Beach.
“It's a tossup,” says Glenn Kageyama, who teaches the game at Fort Shafter. “The world grandmasters are divided.”
So are the local experts.
“FISCHER,” says Allan Kuwahara, president of the Hawaii Chess Association made up of about 30 active members, about 70 more inactive. “He's the most flawless player there is.”
“Spassky,” says Chris Au, a 20-year-old whiz with a 1,680 rating, similar to about a five-handicapper in golf. “Probably because he has the edge with all the Russian analysis. The Soviet Union has all the grandmasters. The United States has fewer than 10, the U.S.S.R. 30 to 40.”
IT GOES ON. Fischer supporters point to his unprecedented comeback, which included beating three grandmasters in his fight to gain the right to meet Spassky. The American defeated the first two in 12 straight games, unheard of since draws are common.
But Spassky supporters say even on Fischer's comeback, the Russian outplayed his challenger, and has an impressive overall record against Fischer, beating him three times, drawing twice and never losing.
Regardless, though, most of the players were happily surprised by all the publicity over the match and believe it can only help increase interest in the game.
EVEN NOW, the Honolulu Bookstore at Ala Moana notes that chess paperbacks are going as fast as they can be shelved. “They're going as soon as they're out,” says a sales clerk. “Interest has been up over the past couple of months.”
The best seller? “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.”
For Kuwahara and his club which meets first and third Sundays each month 1 p.m. at the Moiliili-McCully library, the Fischer phenomenon has had considerable impact.
“I had a lot of calls during the past few weeks, especially from young people,” he said. “We can hardly keep up. They're all hungry for tournaments.”
KUWAHARA, who has been playing the game 19 of his 29 years, thinks interest will take an even bigger jump should Fischer win.
“Fischer is interested in money,” said Kuwahara, an accountant. “If he wins, he'll go on an exhibition tour and he's wanted everywhere. That's going to create even more interest.”
Chess? It's Booming With Fischer 11 Jul 1972, Tue The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii) Newspapers.com
Chess? 11 Jul 1972, Tue The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii) Newspapers.com
If Fischer loses, Kuwahara thinks chess will still gain in popularity as it has locally over the past couple of years, but not as fast.
Some disagree.
“Chess will probably peak,” says David Wong, 22, a 1,600-rated player, “and drop off again … into obscurity.”
IF SO, it won't be anything new to the players, who have been quietly pushing their pawns and kings along the Waikiki benches for years. And who will probably do so regardless of what happens.
“It'll be a tremendous boost for chess in Hawaii if Fischer wins,” said Leslie Au, 1,740. “I THINK Spassky will win.”
And then he adds like everyone else:
“But I HOPE Fischer does.”
