The Gift of Chess

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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 Takes A Step Closer To Chess Title

The Times and Democrat Orangeburg, South Carolina Thursday, August 24, 1972 - Page 12 ()

Fischer Takes A Step Closer To Chess Title
By Julie Flint, Associated Press Writer
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) —Bobby Fischer moved nearer to the world chess title Wednesday when by blunder or design champion Boris Spassky repeated a move three times, creating a draw.
Chess experts were bewildered, because Spassky appeared to have an edge to win the 17th game, resumed after being adjourned after the 40th move Tuesday. Spassky himself seemed surprised when Fischer claimed a draw.
Under the rules of chess, repeating the same move three times results in a draw, which counts half a point.
The draw gave Fischer a total of 10 points, putting him four-fifths of the way toward the title and preserving his three point lead. Ten games is 80 percent of the 12½ points he needs.
With only seven points, Spassky had the formidable task of amassing five points in the remaining seven games of the match. He needs 12 points to retain the title.
With each win counting a point, Spassky must defeat Fischer in three games and draw in the other four. Yet so far, he has beaten Fischer only twice in this championship series.
In addition, Fischer forfeited the second game to Spassky in a dispute over the use of television and movie cameras in the playing hall.
Spassky had appeared taken aback by Fischer's 41st move pawn to king's knight four. He thought for more than five minutes before replying. Experts suggested that his Soviet analysts perhaps had not prepared against that line.
Some thought the champion might be play-acting, backing up a Tuesday statement by his second, Efim Geller, that Fischer aides could have concealed electronic devices on the stage to interfere with the champion's play.
Among other charges, Geller suggested that the lighting — a special system installed on U.S. demand — might have been tampered with.
After his 44th move, Spassky looked searchingly up at the lights. Reminiscent of Geller's contention that the champion's “unusual slackening of concentration” might be caused by outside interference, Spassky looked listlessly around him, slumping forward. He normally sits poker-stiff.
Fischer preceded the punctual Spassky on stage Wednesday afternoon for the first time in the series.
Referee Lothar Schmid had asked the challenger's aides to endeavor to get him to the hall on time. He acted on Geller's contention that Fischer's insistent tardiness was ungentlemanly and “deliberately aimed at exercising pressure on the opponent, unbalancing him and making him lose his fighting spirit.”
Schmid said he hoped to satisfy the Russians' demand for a thorough and expert examination of the hall if the organizing Icelandic Chess Federation was able to bring together the necessary experts in gadgetry.
Schmid promised that the examination would be made in the presence of both sides as soon as possible, presumably before the 18th game Thursday.
Security measures were tightened Wednesday to satisfy Geller's complaint that outsiders were allowed into the backstage area reserved for the players.
Chess officials placed a 24 hour guard on the hall, and closed the players' section to everyone, including aides and seconds.
Schmid said that a Fischer aide, Fred Cramer had been reluctant to concede this point. He said Cramer had argued over the exact meaning of Article 16 — the relevant paragraph in the match rules — and had asked that the scene of play be opened when play was not in progress. Schmid refused.
In the 18th game, Fischer will play the white pieces, giving him the advantage of the first move.
Although he has been unable to lessen his three-point deficit, Spassky lately had been playing some of his strongest chess of the championship series. Before Wednesday, he had forced three draws in the last three games.
He started out the 17th game aggressively. When play was adjourned, he held a marginally better position. He was an “exchange ahead” as the masters put it.
Grandmasters thought the champion would fight to the bitter end, possibly beyond the six hours allowed for a resumed game and into a second adjournment.
In the 16th game, Spassky had spun out a hopelessly drawn position for more than 25 moves, giving rise to speculation he was intentionally needling Fischer.
Thus the experts were surprised that Spassky repeated moves forced a draw, because any player of stature is aware of the rule.
The Soviet complaint was released Tuesday during the 17th game. A statement said the Soviet delegation had received letters saying that “some electronic devices and a chemical substance which can be in the playing hall are being used to influence Mr. Spassky.”
The letters mentioned Fischer's chair and the special lighting installed at the insistence of the American challenger. They also cited the presence of Fischer's aides in the playing hall when the games were not in progress. The Russians asked for an examination of the hall.
Many doubted that the titleholder gave his blessings to the statement. Ivo Nei, one of his seconds, said he had not known of the statement in advance.

Fischer Takes A Step Closer To Chess Title

World Chess Championship Game 17 (Draw)
17th GAME ENDS DRAW — This is how the board looked after the 45th move Wednesday when the game was declared drawn putting the score at 10-7 in Bobby Fischer's favor over Boris Spassky. (AP Wirephoto).

Fischer Takes A Step Closer To Chess Title

'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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