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

Fischer's Chess Chair Arrives

Back to 1972 News Articles

The Daily Chronicle De Kalb, Illinois Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 3

Fischer's Chess Chair Arrives
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess match can begin—Fischer's favorite chair has arrived.
American chess challenger Bobby Fischer slipped into the Reykjavik Sports Arena before dawn today for a minute inspection of the facilities provided for the start of tomorrow's championship match with world titleholder Boris Spassky.
Chess sources said Fischer left a list of complaints about the lighting, the table and other facilities. They said all the complaints could be straightened out before Tuesday's game.
Fischer's second, the Rev. William Lombardy, said later the 20-year-old challenger was ready to play. “I don't know if he is thinking of chess but he is ready.” Lombardy said.
“Fischer does not like the lighting, the board and the pieces, the location of the TV cameras and some other minor details. These things are troublesome but not critical. The organizers are already doing something about it,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation.
Cramer said Fischer spent 80 minutes going through the set.
Earlier, Fischer had his favorite chair, a black leather and metal swivel model, flown in from New York.
Spassky's Russian advisers arrived shortly after the much talked about chair and studied it suspiciously. Then they left without comment.
Now the Icelandic organizers face a new problem: Where to find a similar chair in Iceland? “It would look better if both Spassky and Fischer had the same chairs,” said Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation.
Fischer took one look at the dozen different chairs the Icelanders had assembled from Reykjavik's furniture stores the other day, sat down in some of them and then gave his verdict: “Fly in my own chair.”
Spassky, the 35-year-old world champion, did not seem to worry much about details of the $250,000 match.
Before leaving for a salmon fishing tour of northern Iceland the defending champion said, “I am not going to argue about chairs, chess boards and sets. I will leave that to Bobby. It makes no difference to me.”
After lengthy and dramatic preludes, both Fischer and Spassky appeared ready to start the first of their 24 games Tuesday.
But the players still have to inspect and approve the facilities in the hall, where the organizers expect 3,000 fans paying $5 each to be on hand.
“Bobby is relaxed and ready. We will play Tuesday unless Spassky is ill,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation.
Gudmundur Arnlaugsson, deputy referee of the match, spent all day yesterday polishing off the fine details. He tested several chess boards and finally settled for one made in Iceland specially for the match. It has been put together from Icelandic stones.
Arnlaugsson, who had to take over when chief referee Lothar Schmid of Germany flew home Saturday, also has a choice of five or six different chess sets of various sizes.
Schmid said he would return Thursday after visiting his son, who was injured in a traffic accident.

Fischer's Chess Chair Arrives
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'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.

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