APress and Sun-Bulletin Binghamton, New York Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 5
Master Bobby Fischer Defended: It's Hard to Judge Chess 'Genius' by Tom Muller
The criticism of American chess master Bobby Fischer for his actions at the world chess championship is unwarranted because “geniuses are not properly judged by the ordinary mortal's standards.”
That is the opinion of Harold C. Evans of Binghamton, a former president of the New York State Chess Association and former New York State Amateur Chess Champion.
Fischer has been strongly criticized by some U.S. chess enthusiasts for his failure to show up at the scheduled world chess championship with Boris Spassky of Russia at Reykjavik, Iceland, last week.
Fischer refused to participate until more prize money was offered. He later apologized to Spassky for the delay and the championship is expected to begin Tuesday.
“In assessing Fischer's actions, it is imperative that we weigh the long and arduous path that Fischer has had to pursue in a free democracy,” Evans said. “Chess is not subsidized in this country as it is in Russia.
“In the whole realm of American chess, only a handful of masters have been able to eke out a miserable living.
Evans calls Fischer “possibly the greatest chess genius the world has ever known,” who has scored “the most impressive string of victories the world has ever witnessed.”
Spassky will also benefit from Fischer's holdout for higher stakes, Evans said, and “since Fischer has already sincerely apologized for not making the deadline, it seems the match should be started without further ado.”
“Until the advent of Fischer, people labored under the peculiar idea that all chess players were eccentrics who had no need for money or a living,” Evans, who lives at 2 Grand Boulevard, said.
“Chess, due to Fischer's Herculean efforts, is rapidly becoming recognized in this country as the great sport and art it truly is. This act in itself should make us all thankful to Fischer and force all of us to wish him well. Too long everyone tried to belabor what is wrong with the U.S.A. and Americans.”
Fischer will “make America Number One in chess,” Evans said. “I feel strongly on this matter. We've got something great in him.”
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