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 Dropped From Title Chess in Pairings Dispute: Officials Reject Youth's Demands

New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, December 16, 1959 - Page 61

Fischer Dropped From Title Chess in Pairings Dispute
Officials Reject Youth's Demands
Fischer, ’59 Winner, Out of U.S. Event After Insisting on Redraw of Pairings

Bobby Fischer, the 16-year-old chess champion of the United States, will be just another kibitzer for this year's national tournament. It became official yesterday that he would not compete in the event which starts here Friday.
Fischer described his differences with the United States Chess Federation and the American Chess Foundation as “a matter of principle.” It began when he was notified by mail of the pairings for the tournament.
The Brooklyn high school student insisted that the pairings be redrawn in public. This, he said, was the custom in European competition and was required under international rules.
A five-man committee of the federation and foundation, the co-sponsors of the event, refused last Friday to change the rule, which had been in effect in all five previous tournaments. The committee gave Fischer until last Sunday to change his stand.
Negotiations a Stalemate
The deadline was later extended but, according to Maurice J. Kasper, treasurer of the foundation, negotiations yesterday with Bobby and his mother, Mrs. Regina Fischer, a nurse, produced no results.
The sponsors pointed out that they had no objections to a public drawing and that they would in fact be happy to have one for next year's tournament. However, they declined to set up a new drawing this year.
“It is a completely minor point,” said Hans Kmoch, the director of the tournament. “It has never come up in previous tournaments, and Bobby played in three of them.”
Fischer had won two straight national championships. In the previous tournament, which ended early last January, he posted a score of 8½—2½.
Meanwhile, Fischer's replacement in the field of twelve was announced. He is Anthony F. Saidy of Douglastown, Queens, a 22-year-old student at the Cornell Medical School. Saidy, rated as a national master, played on United States college teams in Sweden, Iceland and Bulgaria.
His opponent in the opening round will be Arthur S. Bisguier, a former national titleholder.
The tournament will start at the West Side Y.M.C.A. and matches will take place later at the Manhattan and Marshall Chess Clubs. Play in the round-robin ends Jan. 3.
A Frequent Dissenter
Fischer, who first achieved chess prominence at 13, has frequently been at odds with chess authorities. He and his mother have often criticized the financial arrangements made for leading players by the chess foundation.
The youth noted that he had refused to agree to the details of a fund-raising campaign to finance his trip to the world challengers' tournament in Yugoslavia earlier this year.
The cost of the trip, put at $3,500, was paid by Mrs. Fischer, a nurse who is divorced from Bobby's father, and in part by previous tournament winnings.
Mrs. Fischer asserted that the foundation, a money-raising group, was primarily interested in obtaining backing for Samuel Reshevsky, who is, like Fischer, an international grandmaster. She states that Bobby never accepted funds from the foundation.
However, Kasper stated last night that Bobby had received a check for $250 from the foundation in 1958 “as a gift for playing chess.”
Money frequently has been a cause of chess disputes here. In Europe the game is popular enough to permit the leading experts to count on at least a modest living from purses.
This is not the case in this country. Some leading players are not competing in this year's national tournament because they are unable to leave their work for two weeks in the hopes of winning a major prize and their requests for guarantees were turned down.
A total purse of $3,000 is offered for the tournament, with first and second prizes of $1,000 and $500. The Lessing J. Rosenwald and Frank Marshall trophies are also at stake.

Fischer Dropped From Title Chess in Pairings Dispute: Officials Reject Youth's Demands

'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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