AKentwood Commercial Kentwood, Louisiana Friday, December 04, 1964
Chess by Jude Acers (12/4/1964) 04 Dec 1964, Fri Kentwood Commercial (Kentwood, Louisiana) Newspapers.com
Chess
By Jude F. Acers (Professional Chessmaster)
On several occasions I recall reading the Hammond Sun's criticism of northern journalistic interpretation and indeed the bare facts of a given news item. Before stepping off into wild country with the danger of my being lynched I must confirm some Sun voices of the past by casting a wary eye on the North's press in one matter. The matter is the shocking coverage of my friend, Robert J. Fischer, the 5-time United States Chess champion from Brooklyn, New York. I am convinced, after study of countless games of the world's best international players, that Fischer is the strongest player now living any place, anywhere. I am now wondering if harsh treatment by the press of the nation's mass media magazines has not destroyed much of his sweet taste of success.
Just who is our incredible American chess killer Robert Fischer? Well, to begin with, he is the youngest United States Chess Champion of all time, the youngest International Grandmaster (2/3 score in two consecutive international tournaments in which at least half of the opponents are recognized as Grandmasters) who has ever trod upon this good earth, and in my opinion he is most artistically perfect master of all chess history to the very hour.
According to articles appearing in Life, Harper's, Newsweek, Time, Fischer is moody, a loner, unsociable, and likely to produce a sweeping condemnation of the world at any moment. Robert Fischer is 22 years old now. For the past two years he has refused to play outside the boundaries of the United States. Only recently he virtually crushed all hopes for our U.S. World Team Championship entry, for without him there is no chance for premier honors. The American team is now struggling for bare survival in Tel Aviv, Israel as these words are read. More than 90 nations are entered and the almighty team from the USSR must win by sheer tonnage.
Why does Fischer “let his country down?” Doesn't he realize that his help in making the United States the highest ranked chess team in the world would be the greatest single achievement in competition that this nation could record in foreign eyes? Yes, he does.
Robert Fischer learned to play chess by chance since his sister happened to find a chess set in a drug store and brought it home to then eight year old “Bobby.” From that moment on Fischer was in an ever growing position to “know” about the chess world. His father forgot where home was when Fischer was about three years old. His mother became prominent-as a “Ban the Bomber” extremist. She was forced to picket the White House to indirectly get funds to send her son overseas to the first of three qualifying events for the world title. Because of his inexperience the youngest U.S. champ had to fight to live in such a murderous company. But he survived until the last lap and finished in the world's top ten players at age 15. I read accounts of his achievements absolutely certain that his age was a misprint for 25.
Then for earnest, the press went to work on the hot news copy. Fischer quit school at grade 10 and traveled a near starvation road around the chess circuit, becoming deadlier and hungrier chessmaster with each passing day.
Quoted out of context, Fischer appeared the babbling “one track mastermind” that sold the pulp.
This year Don Wagner, a brilliant promoter of Baton Rouge chess, arranged for the greatest American chess player to visit here and there in Louisiana. In a daze I stumbled with Bobby Fischer everywhere, astounded to find that he is very agreeable, willing to acquiesce to the slightest whim of a cameraman and television crew, willing to smile and enjoy himself in a packed poolhall where I beat him 2-1. Because I am an absolute authority on skill's merit on the chessboard, because I am able to know Fischer in the flesh, and because I am willing to feel a genuine fairness of judgment on a wait-and-see basis, I demand acclamation for Robert Fischer. There are reasons for his abstention from international play. They are good and they are his.
Robert Fischer has a minute spark of genius. He is also the world's hardest working chess analyst. The purity of tongue and pride are deeply buried in him. He hates no one.
The northern press falls.
“Over the chessboard checkmate contradicts the hypocrite.”.
Time limit: 40/21/2 New York City.
“THE GAME OF THE CENTURY” UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP 1956-Brilliancy Prize.
Donald Byrne vs Robert James Fischer
Third Rosenwald Trophy (1956), New York, NY USA, rd 8, Oct-17
Gruenfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation. Hungarian Attack (D92) 0-1
