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, Sherwin Draw in 35 Moves: Defending Champion Keeps Lead in National Chess

New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, December 27, 1959 - Page 142

Fischer, Sherwin Draw in 35 Moves
Defending Champion Keeps Lead in National Chess —Benko is Victor

Bobby Fischer, the United States chess champion, still was undefeated after six rounds in the national title tournament for the Lessing J. Rosenwald trophy at the Manhattan Chess Club.
However, while retaining the lead with a score of 4½-1½, he was held to a draw yesterday by the stout play of James T. Sherwin, a New York attorney. The game lasted thirty-five moves.
Sherwin also remained undefeated and the extra half-point enabled him to tie for second, at 3½-1½, with Samuel Reshevsky, whose game with Robert Byrne was postponed.
Fischer, playing black, resorted to the Sicilian defense when Sherwin opened with P-K4. Castling on the queen's side, Sherwin adopted the customary advance of pawns against the black king. This maneuver was adequately met by the champion, who also castled on the queen's side at his seventeenth turn.
Queens Are Exchanged
Queens were exchanged on the nineteenth move, after which the game drifted into a rook-and-pawn ending, with three pawns each. A draw then was inevitable.
The second game to be finished was won by Pal Benko, a Hungarian refugee, from Raymond Weinstein of Brooklyn, last year's national junior champion. The victory enabled Benko to displace his opponent in the first division of the standing.
The victor, with the black pieces, set up a King's Indian defense. He attacked vigorously by advancing the queen's rook's pawn to the sixth rank, permitting it to be captured. In return Benko hemmed in Weinstein's queen's bishop. With 20 . . . QxQP, Benko took complete command and sacrificed the exchange three moves later.
A combination with queen and knight against the white king brought about the Brooklyn player's resignation after twenty-four moves.
The most exciting game of the round was between Herbert Seidman and Arthur B. Bisguier, former United States champion.
Seidman Gives Up Knight
Bisguier used the Sicilian defense. Seidman, seizing the attack, sacrificed a knight on the ninth move. He gave up another piece at the thirteenth and the net result of a thrilling combination was that Seidman emerged with a queen and bishop opposed to two rooks and a bishop. Each had six pawns and the prospects for an eventual draw were excellent.
Edmar Mednis, a former New York University star, gave a good account of himself and defeated Arnold S. Denker, the 1944 national champion, in 29 moves. Both castled on the king's side of the board and after the KR file had been opened, Mednis sacrificed a knight to bring the white king out into the open.
With three passed pawns advancing together, Mednis recovered the piece at his twenty-eight turn, leaving his opponent's king without protection.
Sidney Bernstein of Brooklyn was a piece ahead in a Caro-Kann defense with Robin Ault of Cranford when they adjourned after forty-one moves.

The seventh round is scheduled for two o'clock this afternoon at the Marshall Chess Club, 23 West 10th Street.
The score of the Fischer-Sherwin game follows:

Fischer, Sherwin Draw in 35 Moves: Defending Champion Keeps Lead in National Chess —Benko is Victor

'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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