Grand Prairie Daily News Grand Prairie, Texas Tuesday, July 18, 1972 - Page 1
Fischer-Spassky: Chess Club Follows Title Game
Chess - a game somewhat regarded for the aloof and intellectual - may be taking on a new image in the United States.
That is due to the fact an American, Bobby Fischer, is challenging world title holder Boris Spassky in Iceland. The United States has never before had a world champion in chess.
However, the game has already attracted quite a following in the Grand Prairie area before the Fischer-Spassky duel made headlines.
During the last school term there were more than 50 members of a chess club at South Grand Prairie High School and Jackson Junior High and another club at Adams Junior High.
A few of the club members are following the game during the summer.
Herbert Summers is sponsor of the club and while he readily admits he's no master on the chessboard, he has made himself knowledgeable of the game and its players since he took over.
“When they (the students) asked me to be sponsor, I hadn't played any chess in quite awhile, so I decided to update myself,” he said.
A history teacher at South Grand Prairie High, he believes interest will pick up in the game if Fischer goes on to defeat Spassky in the showdown.
“There has been a steady growth of chess in this country,” he said.
He already had some interest stimulated in the games at South Grand Prairie. Between meetings for club business and friendly games, the teams participated in tournaments.
“I think my students learned more about the game from participating in tournaments than playing informally,” he said.
“We played Adams Junior High twice — and they beat us twice,&rduqo; he said wryly.
Chess competition can be mentally exhaustive. Grandmasters follow the adage of a healthy body produces a healthy mind and exercise daily.
“I know it produces quite a headache when you sit down to play someone equal to you just in an informal game, so I can imagine the strain on the masters.”
Commenting on Fischer, Summers said, “I guess he's what you call ‘good copy’ in the newspaper business.
“So I guess Fischer is not quite that eccentric. But the man is genius, no doubt about it. He remembers every move of every tournament he's played in.
“I've read a few of his games, but I don't pretend to understand Fischer. He's on a much higher plane than we are,” Summers said.
“As far as the benefits of chess, if mental exercise is good for you then so is chess,” he noted.
Several of the students are replaying the matches in Iceland by reading area metropolitan newspaper accounts which give each move in chess writing so it can be interpreted into a replay.
Fischer-Spassky: Chess Club Follows Title Game 18 Jul 1972, Tue Grand Prairie Daily News (Grand Prairie, Texas) Newspapers.com
Concentration 18 Jul 1972, Tue Grand Prairie Daily News (Grand Prairie, Texas) Newspapers.com
