Des Moines Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, August 10, 1959
No Money for Travel For Our Chess Champ
Sixteen-year-old Bobby Fischer, reigning United States chess champion, won the right last year to compete in European matches designed to pick a challenger for World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik of the Soviet Union. Young Fischer did so well he has been invited to come back next month as one of a select group of eight finalists that includes four Russians. But the invitation may have to be rejected.
Young Fischer's mother explains in a letter to the New York Herald Tribune that he has “already poured his own prize winnings, and my money, into essential preparations for this tournament.” The American chess champion is $2,000 short of being able to meet expenses. Mrs. Fischer declares: “The indifference to his plight and the constant suspense, not knowing whether he will or won't have the funds to be able to compete are having a terrible effect on him… The continual uncertainty and trying to raise funds somewhere, somehow from one tournament to the next is killing.”
American chess players, unlike their European competitors, have no organizations to provide backing or access to government help. Fischer was able to compete in Europe last year only because he won travel tickets on a television show.
The Russians go to great lengths in supporting chess. The game is taught in school, and leading players are given soft jobs and preferential treatment. The four Russians who will compete in the final eliminations will have seconds, physical trainers and full financial support.
Americans should not become chess conscious in order to “match the Russians”. But Americans should be proud of a youngster good enough to match wits with the world's best chess brains, and with a chance to compete for the world's highest chess honor.
If the United States can regularly send track stars and wrestlers abroad to compete with foreign athletes, surely $2,000 isn't too much for Americans to raise for our chess champion to enter international matches.
