Chess 11 Jun 1960, Sat The Chronicle (Nantwich, Cheshire, England) Newspapers.com
Chess For All
By G. Chesters
Bobby Fischer, with 13½ points from fifteen games, has shared first place with B. Spassky in the Mar del Plata tournament, above Bronstein, Olafsson and other strong players. This 16-year-old genius has had a phenomenal rise to fame.
In the 1956 U.S. “Open” he came third, a point behind the winner. From “Chess,” January, 1958: Bobby Fischer has accomplished another wonderful feat in winning the U.S. championship without the loss of a game.”
A report of an interview appeared in the next edition; when questioned, he shrugs his shoulders, mumbles an answer in words of one syllable, and moves away. He enjoys skating and ski-ing, but not school (“it keeps me away from chess”). He is only an average scholar. One of his teachers said He never seems to be properly attending. His thoughts are always far away, on chess.”
In the Inter-zonal Tournament at Portoroz of 1958, he came fifth, above such formidable players as Averbakh, Bronstein, Matanovic, Pachman, Szabo, Filip and Panno.
The paper, “Politiken” describes Fischert: “The tuft of brown cropped hair make him look more childish and neglected than he really is. Long fingers on his disproportionately long arms are his only prominent features. His shoulders have already become slightly drooped, his face is yellowish pale in colour and he has a high forehead. Bobby Fischer was six when his sister taught him chess.
Dr. Karl Burger says that Bobby Fischer is studying chess for sixteen hours a day and intends to become a professional.
Undoubtedly his finishing fifth in the Candidates' Tournament is his greatest achievement up to now, but in the future a lot more will be heard of this prodighy. He has already published two books of his games.
Robert James Fischer vs Ruben Shocron
Mar del Plata (1959), Mar del Plata ARG, rd 7, Mar-30
Spanish Game: Closed Variations. Chigorin Defense (C97) 1-0
How does White (to play) keep his extra piece?
In the diagram, he has won a piece, but how can he keep it, for his Rook is pinned? (White Pawn on KN5.)
Answer 1. B-Q7 for if 1. QxB; 2. RxNPch wins the Queen. If 1. Q-Q1 then 2. R-QB6.
