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
Chess Columns Additional Archives/Social Media

18th Chess Game Ends In Draw, Score 10.5-7.5

The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Friday, August 25, 1972 - Page 5

18th Chess Game Ends In Draw, Score 10.5-7.5
By Jim Ward
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Bobby Fischer invoked the repetition-of-moves rules for the second consecutive time today and claimed and got a draw in the 18th game of his world championship match with Russian Boris Spassky to maintain his three-point lead.
It was not clear immediately whether world champion Spassky had blundered again as he apparently did in the 17th game or whether Fischer had deliberately called for a draw because he sensed danger. But the decision appeared to be mutual as the two players looked at the board, nodded and shook hands.
The draw means Fischer leads 10.5 points to 7.5 points and needs only two more points to become the second American world champion in history. The match consists of 25 games, and a draw counts as one half a point for each.
Fischer arrived 13 minutes late, played through five moves upon resumption of the game, then summoned arbiter Lothar Schmid just before making his own 48th move, and pointed out the move he intended to make.
Schmid nodded his head and Fischer held out his hand to Spassky for the handshake. Then Bobby stood up, took a sip of water and walked out.
Fischer held what grandmasters called “winning chances” at adjournment Thursday night.
“There must have been danger in the air, otherwise Bobby would not have offered a draw,” Yugoslav Grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric said. “He was a pawn up and is reputed never to gun for a draw.”
The enforced repetition-of-moves rule followed a similar draw in the 17th game in which Spassky held the advantage but had to settle for a draw when Fischer pointed out three moves in which the position had not changed on the board. The rule, a basic chess rule taught in every chess primer, says that if the same position occurs three times during a game with the same player to move, it is a draw should one of the players make the claim.
“I knew it was coming,” Schmid, the arbiter, said. “Bobby looked at Spassky. They nodded and then shook hands.”
The three repetitions came on the 45th through the 47th moves in a maneuver between the two over their queens. Grandmasters agreed at adjournment Thursday night that Fischer held a possible winning position and the American stood a pawn up over the champion. Some grandmasters predicted before the resumption of the game today “the final nail is about to be driven into Spassky's coffin.”
Having successfully blocked a strong Spassky attack earlier in the game Thursday, the challenger played his 42nd move and leaned back confidently to watch his opponent.

18th Chess Game Ends In Draw, Score 10.5-7.5

Chess Game Play-by-Play
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The moves of the 18th game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship:

18th Chess Game Play by Play

Chart of position of pieces after Fischer-Spassky adjourn in 18th game

Spassky- Fischer, 18th Match
Chart shows the position of the pieces after Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky adjourned the 18th game of their world championship chess match Friday on the 42nd move with Fischer holding a pawn advantage. The play resumes today in Reykjavik, Iceland, with one grandmaster predicting “the final nail is about to be driven into Spassky's coffin.” (UPI Telephoto).

18th Chess Game Ends In Draw, Score 10.5-7.5

'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.

Special Thanks