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November 06, 1960 Chess, Sunday Gazette-Mail by Edward M. Foy
October 23, 1960 The Daily Breeze, Chess by A. D. Carter, Torrance, California
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CHESS COLUMN NEWEST BREEZE READER BONUS
Another Daily Breeze feature makes its debut today. A The new column is: "Chess," written by A. D. Carter, South Bay Chess club. It will appear each Sunday in your Daily Breeze.
In light style—somewhat of novelty in chess columns—Carter will present problems, recount exciting games and news of the local and national chess world.
The feature is designed to attract the once-a-month chess fan, as well as the thousands who “live” chess every day of the year.
Look for it today on page—and each Sunday.
October 30, 1960 Boston Globe, Chess Notebook by Lyman Burgess
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Chess Notebook
By Lyman Burgess
The last-minute concerted effort of the chess fraternity succeeded in gathering, transporting, and financing a United States chess team in the current chess Olympics at Leipzig. Credit must go in large measure to Mrs. Regina Fischer, mother of Bobby Fischer and an organization called Peoples to Peoples Sports Committee. They prodded and pushed the somewhat somnolent American Chess Foundation and the strangely inert U.S.C.F. into a semblance of action, but in the last analysis it was the donations of rank and file chess players that made the trip possible.
Personnel comprising the team and expected members unaccounted for have created a state of nescience in your reporter. Bobby Fischer is playing top board and Arthur Bisguier, former national and open champion, is at fourth board; these two present no problems. But William Lombardy holds down second board—Lombardy “retired” less than a month ago to enter a seminary. Robert Byrne, incumbent open champion, is No. 8; but Byrne is an instructor at a university in Indiana and has thus always been advertised as unable to compete in international events during the academic year. Nicholas Rossolimo, who was reported as ready to defect to France, is the first reserve. Raymond Weinstein, 19-year-old Brooklyn College student and member of the successful United States students' team, is the other alternate.
Samuel Reshevsky, always a terror in team tournaments, is among the missing. Larry Evans, another former United States champion who recently came up with a fine performance in the Buenos Aires tournament, is unlisted. He was thought to be available. Charles Kalme, a student, to be sure, but no more of a student than Weinstein, turned in a stunning record at Leningrad yet graces not our roster. A puzzlement.
Before the team tournament began William Lombardy was elevated to the exalted rank of grand master, the than whomest possible. Certainly this is richly deserved, though belated, recognition for a great record.
Mikhail Tal, world chess champion, suffered a slight brain concussion in an automobile accident while en route to Leipzig. The accident, which happened in the Soviet Union will probably prevent Tal from playing in the tournament. Doctors said he was in good condition to travel to Leipzig but advised him against competing.
Here is David Ames' last round game from the 1960 United States junior championship. Ames scored 7-3 to tie for third (in a field of 63) and in the process he faced no fewer than six experts including this Ed Rosenthal, Rochester.
Ed Rosenthal (white) vs. David Ames (black)
Ruy Lopez: Open, Richter Variation
Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-N5 P-QR3 4. B-R4 N-B3 5. O-O NxP 6. P-Q4 P-QN4 7. P-Q5 PxB 8. PxN P-Q3 9. Q-K2 B-B4 10. R-Q Q-B 11. QN-Q2 NxN 12. BxN B-K2 13. P-B4 O-O 14. B-B3 B-N5 15. P-B5 P-B4 16. R-K Q-Q 17. P-KR3 BxN 18. QxB P-K5 19. Q-Q P-R6 20. BPxP QxQP 21. Q-N3ch K-R 22. Q-B4 PxP 23. QR-Q Q-N3 24. BxP B-Q3 25. R-K3 QR-K 26. R-K R-K3 27. P-KR4 B-B5 28. R-QB3 B-K4 29. P-R5 Q-K 30. P-R6 RxRP 31. Q-N8ch KxQ 32. Resigns |
Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. d5 bxa4 8. dxc6 d6 9. Qe2 Bf5 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Nd2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Be7 13. c4 0-0 14. Bc3 Bg4 15. c5 f5 16. Re1 Qd8 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 e4 19. Qd1 a3 20. cxd6 Qxd6 21. Qb3+ Kh8 22. Qc4 axb2 23. Rd1 Qg6 24. Bxb2 Bd6 25. Re3 Re8 26. Re1 Re6 27. h4 Bf4 28. Rc3 Be5 29. h5 Qe8 30. h6 Rxh6 31. Qg8+ Kxg8 0-1 |
Next M.S.C.A. meeting will be at Cambridge Y.M.C.A. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Don't forget the Greater Boston Open chess tournament at the Cambridge Y beginning Nov. 10.
October 27, 1960 Deseret News Chess by Harold Lundstrom
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Let's Play Chess
U.S. Tied For First In Leipzig Games
By Harold Lundstrom
The United States chess team is in a first-place tie with Spain in the “Chess Olympics” preliminary now being played in Leipzig, East Germany.
Forty nations are competing in four groups in the tournament which is being conducted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The USA team is in Section 4. Included in this section are teams from Romania, West Germany, Chile, Spain, Ecuador, Cuba, Lebanon, Belgium and Ireland.
BOBBY FISCHER, the United States champion, is playing Board 1.
WILLIAM LOMBARDY, is at Board 2; ROBERT BYRNE, the 1960 USA “Open Tournament” champion is playing Board 3, and ARTHUR B. BISGUIER, a former “Open” champion, and NICHOLAS ROSSOLIMO are alternating at Board 4.
In Round 1 the USA team defeated Romania, 3-1. Lombardy lost his game.
In Round 2, the USA team defeated Ecuador, 2½-1½. Fischer was defeated, and Bisguier secured a draw.
In Round 3, the USA team defeated Cuba, 3-1. (We don't know who lost.)
In Round 4, the USA team defeated Ireland, 4-0.
The leading scores of the preliminary match teams in Section 4 are:
USA 12½-3½; Spain 12½-3½; West Germany 11½-4½; Chile 10½-5½; Belgium 10½-5½.
The leading scores in the other three sections are:
Section 1—Yugoslavia, 13-3; East Germany, 12½-3½; Norway, 12-4; Bulgaria, 10½-5½.
Section 2—Argentina, 14-2; Soviet Union, 14-2; Austria, 11-5; Poland, 8-8.
Section 3—Czechoslovakia, 12½-3½; Hungary, 11-5; England 11-5; Sweden, 9½-5½; Mongolia, 9½-6½.
An upset in Section 2 was recorded when Dr. MAX EUWE, of the Netherlands and a former world champion, to lost M. Aaron of New Delhi, the India champion.
The world champion MIKHAIL TAL, is reported on his way to Leipzig to take his place on the Soviet team. He was delayed by poor health.
October 23, 1960 Let's Play Chess by Frank Rose, Fort Lauderdale News, Florida

Let's Play Chess
By Frank Rose, News Chess Editor
A book which chess players have been eagerly awaiting is “4th Candidates' Tournament” by H. Golombek. It contains the 112 games from the recent Candidates Tournament which was won by M. Tal.
All of the games are masterly annotated by Golombek, a famous writer on chess and chief arbiter at the event. Players who competed were Tal, Fischer, Keres, Petrosian, Smyslov, Gligoric, Olafsson and Benko. Each player played each of the others four games for a total of 28 rounds.
Here you will find the inside dope on the latest variations. Here you will find all the magic, excitement and blood and thunder of a great grandmaster tournament.
The only drawback is the fact that the games are printed in algebraic notation. However, this is easy to learn; and the games would be well worth learning Chinese to play over.
“4th Candidates' Tournament” costs $3.00 and is published by The British Chess Magazine Ltd., 20 Chestnut Road, West Norwood, London, S. E. 27, Great Britain.
October 23, 1960 The King's Men by Merrill Dowden, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky
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Here's an unusual little game played recently in New York at Queen's Knight odds.
Remove White Queen's Knight
Walter Shipman (white) vs. C. Good (black)
Irregular Opening
French Defense
Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. P-KR4?! P-Q4 3. P-K5 B-B4 4. P-Q4 B-N3 5. Q-N4 K-B1 6. B-KN5 P-KB3 7. B-Q3 P-QB4 8. P-QB3 PxB 9. RPxP Q-K2 10. Q-B4ch Q-B2? 11. QxQch KxQ 12. RxP! RxR 13. P-N6ch Resigns |
Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. h4? d5 3. e5 Bc5 4. d4 Bb6 5. Qg4 Kf8 6. Bg5 f6 7. Bd3 c5 8. c3 fxg5 9. hxg5 Qe7 10. Qf4+ Qf7? 11. Qxf7+ Kxf7 12. Rxh7! Rxh7 13. g6+ 1-0 |
Solution to problem
White wins with 1. N-N6ch, K-N1; 2. B-Q5 mate.
October 22, 1960 Let's Play Chess by William Oaker, The Montreal Star, Quebec, Canada
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Let's Play Chess
U.S. Enters 'Olympics' Takes Early Round Lead
By Bill Oaker
The United States has finally decided to compete in the Chess Olympics in Leipzig and has actually taken the lead in its preliminary section after completion of three rounds.
No explanation has been forthcoming for the sudden change of heart. All that is known is that the American team showed up, thus bringing the total number of countries competing to 41.
Something must have been known before hand, since, for the first time in many years the United States has actually fielded a team worthy of the name. Too often, in the past, they have sent second raters.
The team consists entirely of International Grandmasters. Bobby Fischer is on first board. William Lombardy holds down second board. Robert Byrne is third. Arthur Bisguier is fourth and Nick Rossolimo, many times champion of France, and now living in New York, is a spare.
In round one the Americans defeated Romania by a score of 3-1, Lombardy suffering a loss by attempting to get too much out of a drawn position. Fischer, however, won his game by checkmating his opponent in only 14 moves.
Ecuador Defeated
In round two, they defeated Ecuador by 2½-1½. This time it was Fischer's turn to drop a point. He also lost by an attempt to win in a position in which it was not quite justified. Bisguier allowed a draw.
Round three sees the Americans leading 2-1 with one game adjourned against Cuba. Details on the games are not yet available.
It must be admitted that the team could be strengthened by Grandmasters Sammy Reshevsky, Pal Benko or Larry Evans. However, since chess players in the United States are not subsidized, as the Soviet players are, they must make a living.
The Soviet Union, which is playing in a different preliminary section, has beaten Monaco by 4-0, India 3-0 with one game adjourned, and is tied with The Netherlands 1-1 with two games adjourned.
They are playing without the services of World Champion Mikhail Tal, who is reported to have suffered a brain concussion due to a car accident, while en route to the tournament. His condition is reported as “good”, and it is possible that he may join the team in time for the finals.
How Good Are You?
FEN 1k6/1p3r2/pPp1Nr2/Q7/4n1pq/4P1p1/1PR2PK1/7R w - - 0 1
In this problem, it is the third move which is the toughy. The solution is as follows:
1. … RxPch
2. RxR RxRch
3. K-N1 Q-R7ch!
4. RxQ PxRch
5. K-R1 N-N6 mate!
October 09, 1960 Boston Globe, Chess Notebook by Lyman Burgess
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Chess Notebook
By LYMAN BURGESS
The 11th hour pressures of the People-to-People Sports Committee have resulted in a hurried drive by U.S.C.F. and American Chess Foundation to raise funds for United States participation in the chess Olympics at Leipzig. Since these international team tournaments are as close to simon-pure as any chess events can be, the sponsors need raise only travel expenses about $7500. At this writing the fund is about half way home.
However, another major hurdle facing the federation is the problem of fielding a representative team. Many of America's top masters are unavail able. As reported here last week, Lombardy has retired. The Brothers Byrne are teachers. Charles Kalme is a student, and others are wrapped up in the business world. Reshevsky, Fischer, Evans, Benko, and Rossolimo may be on hand and, if so, with the addition of Bisguier, would make a formidable entry. But, the New York Times made mention of Isaac Kashdan as a putative member, which would seem to indicate that the committee has had to go far down the list.
Back in the thirties the United States dominated these biennial tournaments but since World War II, the Soviet Union has had things all its own way. Jerry Spann, former president of U.S.C.F., accompanied the United States students' team to Leningrad last Summer. During that, tournament Spann met with the head of the Soviet chess section. Spann was asked whether Americans would compete at Leipzig and who would be on the team. Spann replied we probably would be there but he couldn't say whether our best players would be available. The Russian grinned and said, “We'll have our best.”
There is an Oct. 10 deadline for contributions. Send to United States Chess Federation, 80 East 11th St., New York 3, N.Y.
The new Northeast Chess League (Lowell, Wakefield, Salem, Haverhill, Merrimack Valley, and Danvers) has opened its 1960-61 competition: Lowell 3½, Wakefield 2½, Haverhill 3, Salem 3, Merrimack 3½, Danvers 2½.
There will be a meeting of the representatives of the member schools of the inter-scholastic chess league of Boston at the Boylston Y.M.C.U. Chess Club; Monday. Oct. 10. Any school chess team that would like to join the league is invited to send a representative. For further information before or after the meeting call the league Gerard O'Malley. CO 5-5616.
Here is one of Shelby Lyman's wins from the 1960 U.S. Open.
#306 Bird's Opening.
Howard Ohman vs Shelby Lyman
61st US Open (1960), St. Louis, MO USA, rd 5, Aug-12
Bird Opening: General (A02) 0-1
Descriptive 1. P-KB4 N-KB3 2. N-KB3 P-KN3 3. P-QN3 B-N2 4. B-N2 P-B4 5. P-B4 O-O 6. P-K3 P-Q4 7. PxP NxP 8. BxB KxB 9. Q-B2 QN-B3 10. P-QR3 B-B4 11. P-K4 P-K4 12. PxB P-K5 13. N-K5 N-Q5 14. Q-N2 NxBP4 15. P-N3 Q-B3 16. PxN Q-R5ch 17. K-Q QxBP 18. N-QB3 QxN 19. N-K2 QR-Q 20. R-B QxP 21. Q-B3 K-N 22. NxN RxN 23. B-Q2 KR-Q 24. R-B2 R-Q6 25. QxP RxPch 26. Resigns |
Algebraic 1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 c5 5. c4 0-0 6. e3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxg7 Kxg7 9. Qc2 Nc6 10. a3 Bf5 11. e4 e5 12. exf5 e4 13. Ne5 Nd4 14. Qb2 Nxf4 15. g3 Qf6 16. gxf4 Qh4+ 17. Kd1 Qxf4 18. Nc3 Qxe5 19. Ne2 Rd8 20. Rc1 Qxh2 21. Qc3 Kg8 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23. Be2 Rfd8 24. Rc2 Rd3 25. Qxc5 Rxd2+ 0-1 |
Shelby scored 8 to 4 in this strong national event to take 16th prize in a field of 175.
Metropolitan Chess League had its stormiest, longest meeting within memory of the oldest woodpusher last Monday. One of the interesting developments was the acceptance of the team representing the state prison at Walpole. It was a great week for leagues. More on the Met later.
October 08, 1960 Let's Play Chess by William Oaker, The Montreal Star, Quebec, Canada

Let's Play Chess
Soviet Union Team Favored To Win World Chess Event
By Bill Oaker
More than 200 of the world's leading chess players, representing 36 countries will gather next week in Leipzig, East Germany.
The World Chess Olympics will begin on October 14 and will continue to November 9.
There is unanimous agreement that the Soviet Union is favored to win this monster chess event, especially since the only nation which might conceivably field a team capable of challenging the Russians, the United States—is not taking part.
The Soviet team consists of Mikhail Tal, Mikhail Botvinnik, Victor Korchnoi, Tigran Petrosian and Ewfim Geller. Either one of these players, if the other five did not exist, would be the leading contender for the world title. As it is, Tal is the holder of that coveted title.
The only other country considered capable of giving the Russians a run for their money is Yugoslavia.
The countries taking part as follows: Albania, Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Monaco, Mongolia, Norway, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rumania, the Soviet Union, Sweden, Spain, Tunisia, West Germany and Yugoslavia.
Non-entry is Mystery
For the first time in many years the United States has a crop of outstanding players to call upon which might be considered a worthy chess team. Such a team might be Bobby Fischer, Sammy Reshevsky, William Lombardy, Larry Evans, Arthur Bisguier and Robert Byrne. They would be a shoo in for second place, and might easily be a serious threat to Soviet super masters.
Exactly why they are not taking part is difficult to understand. The entire subject is surrounded in a mysterious cloud of confusion. The first indication that this writer could glean on the subject was a news item that Mrs. Regina Fischer, the mother of 17-year-old Bobby Fischer, was picketing the office of the American Chess Foundation in protest over the fact that the United States would not be sending a team.
As to just who or what the American Chess Foundation is, the blunt answer is that is where the money is. This organization, however, has passed the buck to the United States Chess Federation, with the statement that there is where the green light must come from.
The United States Chess Federation is representative of the many thousands of chess players in that country. In other words, they run chess in the U.S. Their excuse is an interesting one. They say that the State Department does not like the idea of sending the American team.
And who, precisely, is “the State Department?” Nobody seems to know, and that is the end of that.
World Title
It has been announced that the return match between Mikhail Tal and Mikhail Botvinnik, for the world title will take place in the spring in Moscow.
White to Play and Win
Those who have read Poe's the Pendulum and the Pit, will see the resemblance between that suspenseful yarn and the solution to this position.
1. R-QR4
The first swing of the pendulum. Black has only one way to avoid being mated.
1. … K-K1
So as to be able to interpose the rook.
2. R-KR4
The pendulum swings once more.
2. … R-K4ch
3. K-Q2 K-Q1
4. R-QR4
It swings again, only this time the blade is a little closer.
4. … R-Q4ch.
5. K-K3
And the blade comes yet closer.
… K-K1
6. R-KP4 R-K4ch.
7. K-Q4
And the blade strikes home. Black can no longer escape.
How Good Are You?
FEN 3k4/2p2p2/2P2P2/3r4/4R3/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1
1. Ra4 Ke8 2. Rh4 Re5+ 3. Kd2 Kd8 4. Ra4 Rd5+ 5. Ke3 Ke8 6. Rh4 Re5+ 7. Kf4 Rf5+ 8. Kxf5 Kd8 9. Rh8#
October 02, 1960 Let's Play Chess by Frank Rose, Fort Lauderdale News, Florida
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Tourney News
The United States is entering a team in the World Chess Olympics to be held in Leipzig Oct. 14-Nov. 9. Tentative lineup is Fischer, Reshevsky, R. Byrne, Bisguier, Evans and Kashdan.
October 01, 1960 Let's Play Chess by William Oaker, The Montreal Star, Quebec, Canada

Let's Play Chess
Winnipeg's Yanofsky Rated Top Canadian Chess Player
By Bill Oaker
Winnipeg lawyer Dan Yanofsky and Brooklyn teenager Bobby Fischer are the top rated players in Canada and United States, respectively, according to the latest rating lists released by the Canadian Federation of Chess and the United States Chess Federation.
Yanofsky, one time conqueror of former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik, of Russia, and seven times winner of the Canadian title, scored 2,499 points, according to the official CFC ratings.
He is followed by Paul Vaitonis, of Hamilton, a former champion of Lithuania, who tallied 2,406 rating points.
Bobby Fischer, the boy grandmaster, is the leading U.S. chess player, with 2,640 points. In second place, according to the official USCF rating list, is Sammy Reshevsky.
The two rating lists are entirely separate, and do not reflect the results of tournaments held outside of Canada or the U.S.
The Canadian list shows six Masters, in the following order, including Yanofsky and Vaitonis: Frank Anderson, Toronto, 2,387; Elod Macskasey, Vancouver, 2,377; Z. Vranesic, Toronto, 2,373 and Laszlo Witt, Montreal, 2,326.
A score of 2,300 or more constitutes the title of Canadian Master.
Lionel Joyner, of Montreal, is seventh, with 2,299, one point below the Master category. He is followed by Geza Fuster, of Toronto, with 2,232; Noel Williams, of Montreal, with 2,224; Leon Moser, of Edmonton, with 2,215, and Nick Engalicev, of Montreal, with 2,198.
Other Montreal standings in the expert class are Heinz Matthai, 2,177; Al Reiter, 2,160; Alex Sikins, 2, 157; Tony Cayford, 2,105; and Ignas Zalys, 2,104.
The rating list does not include the results of the recent Canadian Open Championship, held in Kitchener. In this respect, we would suspect that the rating of Vaitonis and Vranesic will tumble somewhat, and those of Joyner and Williams will rise. Since Joyner is only one point away from the Master class, this ensures his becoming a master, unless he has a bad tourney during the next nine months.
The American ratings show Pal Benko in third pace, followed by Robert Byrne, Arthur Bisguier, Raymond Weinstein, Herbert Seidman, James Cross, James Sherwin, Arthur Feuerstein and Hans Berliner.
The American list suffers from the curious absence of three names, Larry Evans, William Lombardy and Anthony Saidy, all three of whom have been making chess headlines during the past year.
How Good Are You?
White to Play and Win
FEN 3k4/2p2p2/2P2P2/3r4/4R3/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1
1. Ra4 Ke8 2. Rh4 Re5+ 3. Kd2 Kd8 4. Ra4 Rd5+ 5. Ke3 Ke8 6. Rh4 Re5+ 7. Kf4 Rf5+ 8. Kxf5 Kd8 9. Rh8#
If you have ever read Edgar Allen Poe's short story “The Pit and the Pendulum,” you will have some sympathy for black in this position, and also a clue to its solution.
July 21, 1960 The Guardian Chess, London, Manchester


Buenos Aires tournament
The distinguished array of grandmasters at Buenos Aires have produced a number of fine games; here is a selection.
World team championship: The English team for the world championship at Leipzig, which begins on October 15, will be, in board order, Penrose, Golombek (captain), Clarke, Haygarth, Barden and Wade.
British championship: 34 players have qualified or been selected for the tournament beginning at Leicester on August 15. They are Abrahams, Dr. Aitken, Alexander, Barden, Beach, Beaty, Bennett, Bruce, Cafferty, Clarke, Edwards, Fallone, Dr. Fazekas, Fuller (R.A.), Golombek, Hall, Hawson, Haygarth, Hollis, Levens, Lloyd, (D.E.), Lloyd (K.W.), Malcolm, Naylor, Newman Parr, Payne, Penrose, Pritchard, Sergeant, Thomas, Thompson, Wheeler, and Wood. The first prize will be over £200, and the remaining prizes have been increased to £40, £20, and £10.
Buenos Aires tournament: After 13 rounds the leaders are Reshevsky 9,
Unzicker (the only unbeaten player) 8½,
Evans and Szabo 8.
Korchnoi 7½, (one adjourned).
Olafsson, Rossetto, and Uhlmann 7½.
Bobby Fischer and Gligoric are continuing to do badly, and Fischer's 22-move defeat by Unzicker was the quickest defeat of his career. Rossetto's score is remarkable; he lost his first four games but has since defeated four grandmasters. Wade's win over Korchnoi remains his only success, and with 2½ points he appears doomed to finish bottom.
April 30, 1960 Let's Play Chess by William Oaker, The Montreal Star, Quebec, Canada

Let's Play Chess
Tal Leads by Three Points After 17 Games of Tourney
By William Oaker
Latvian Grandmaster Mikhail Tal has extended his lead to three points over world champion Mikhail Botvinnik after 17 games of their 24 game title match.
Tal has now won five games lost two and allowed 10 draws, to give him a score of 10 to 7, with seven games remaining to be played. He needs a total of 12½ points to gain the title. Botvinnik needs 12 points in order to retain his championship.
Game 15 saw Tal with the better position right from the opening. He retained his positional advantage through the middle game and at adjournment still had slightly the better game. With an eye to the score, he offered Botvinnik a draw, which was readily accepted.
Game 16 was a dull game with neither player taking any risks. It, too, was a draw.
In game 17, Botvinnik achieved the better position early and built up a commanding initiative. Somehow, however, he could not make it pay off, and in a moment of indecision opened the position incorrectly. The game became complicated and two edged. When the smoke had cleared, Tal was the victor.
Botvinnik's task becomes increasingly difficult as each round passes. Now, in order to retain his title, he must score at least five points in the remaining seven games. Tal needs only two-and-a-half points.
Small-fry chess giant Bobby Fischer, the Brooklyn prodigy, is making the news in other ways besides winning chess tournaments. According to the British magazine Chess, Bobby's high school has resolved its worry over the interference of chess with his normal scholastic career by deciding that his achievements in international chess shall qualify him for honorary graduation.
The 17-year-old Grandmaster and United States champion has gone into the business of making predictions. Prior to the start of the Botvinnik-Tal match, Bobby predicted that Botvinnik would win easily. He made this statement shortly after undergoing a bit of a thrashing at the hands of Tal during the Challengers Tourney, which suggests a touch of sour grapes.
Undaunted, however, the youngster has made another prediction. According to Bobby Fischer, a Brooklyn boy named Bobby Fischer will be world champion in about six years.
Those who are inclined to scoff at this on the grounds that it has about as much validity as Bobby's comments on the Tal-Botvinnik match, should remember that this is one prediction that the boy himself can do something about. And he is doing just that. At present he is studying chess an average of 16 hours per day.
This writer also fondly remembers those who laughed at the idea that he could become U.S. open champ. They also laughed when it was suggested that he might become U.S. closed champ. They laughed themselves silly at the thought of his qualifying for the World Challengers Tourney.
In fact, Bobby Fischer's entire life story seems to be one of people splitting their sides with chuckles every time it is suggested that he is going to do something. Yet, every time he has ended up doing just when he set out to do.
I am afraid this writer can only muster enough courage to say, “We shall see what we shall see.”
How Good Are You?
Try this one. It is a little tougher than the last one. In fact, if you solve it, you're getting to be a pretty good chess player.
FEN 6k1/p4pb1/1p5p/3bPN1p/3P4/2r5/P2RQBPK/2q5 w - - 0 1
Black to Play and Mate
'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: Tweets by swilkinsonbc |
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![]() “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.
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.