AThe Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, February 23, 1964 - Page 37
Bobby Fischer will not be at the Wachusett Chess Club, Fitchburg, on Mar 2. This marks the first appearance of the young American chess champion in Massachusetts. Attempts were made to bring him here when he was still the boy wonder (he's now all of 20), but negotiations always floundered on financial rocks.
Fischer is scheduled to be in Westerly, R.I., Mar. 1 and in Harford Mar. 3 as part of the New England leg of his transcontinental tour.
Six times U.S. chess champion, youngest player ever awarded the title on international grandmaster, only player in sight with the potential to break the Russian grip on world championship, since Reshevsky's heyday, Fischer despite the accolades and brickbats goes his own way and strives to be the metas rof his fate in a fateful world.
Undeniably a genius but unfortunately in a largely unremunerative field (in this country), Fischer strives to amend the inequity between what he feels is his worth and the going rate. Shades of Lasker and Capablanca!
Fischer will play against 50 opponents simultaneously at Fitchburg and intends to preface the play with a lecture. To quote the release: “Be one of the fifty! Engage the future world champion in combat! Make checks payable to: Wachusett Chess Club and mail to Ed Wheeler, 133 Blossom St., Fitchburg Mass.
General admission is $2, general admission and play is simul: $5 If fewer than 50 wish to play in the exhibition the Wachusett Club will refund $3 to each of those making a $5 donation and Fischer will play simultaneously against two strong players (preferably of master strength) while lecturing.
This sounds like Weaver Adams old play. The master plays and tells the audience what he intends to do and how he intends to gain his ends as his opponents wriggle on the pins. It's a little like playing poker with your cards exposed and still winning. Smacks of legerdermain and black magic.
Frank Ferdinand, Swampscott, intends to bring Fischer here later in the year for an exhibition at the Harvard Club. But that's still up in the air. The Fitchburg date may be your only chance to see this remarkably young man.
Fischer will be at the First Parish Church Hall, Fitchburg, described as being on the Upper Common opposite Rollstone Boulder and the Firefighters Monument.
Logician David Ames, Quincy, notes that Fischer “busted” the King's Gambit in print a couple of years ago, yet used that opening with telling effect to defeat Larry Evans in the recent national championship tournament. This may prove among other things, that Fischer is not bugged by the bugaboo of small minds. Inconsistency is not unknown among chessmasters, we remember Bogolyubov's famous: “When I play White I win because I am White; when I play black I win because I am Bogolyubov.”
