The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, January 05, 1964 - Page 80
Fischer vs. Reshevsky
Bobby Fischer seems a shoo-in for his sixth national championship in as many attempts. Fischer first won the title in the 1957-'58 tournament. He sat out the 1961-'62 tournament but came back with a splash last year.
Now he started with a string of seven wins bowling over in the process such perennial rivals as Sam Reshevsky and Robert Byrne. At this stage Addison, last year's sensation, Bisguier, Don Byrne, Steinmeyer, and Mednis are out of it. Reshevsky, R. Byrne, and Weinstein are teetering on the brink. The only players with any chance at all seem to be Benko, Saidy, and Evans, and their prospects are not exactly bright.
Fischer's lawyer accompanied him to the Reshevsky game in the Henry Hudson Hotel. Reshevsky, a smoker and pacer of note, had been plying his hobbies in his usual manner. Fischer and his lawyer protested, claiming the caged lion bit past the thinking Fischer's chair constituted an annoyance and distraction.
According to the New York Times the protest Reshevsky smilingly stopped his walks just short of Fischer's chair.
Reshevsky was the dominant figure in American chess from 1936 to the advent of Fischer. For several years after Fischer first won the national championship, attempts were made to promote a match between the old champion and the new. Finally in 1960 the Piatigorsky foundation succeeded in bringing about a match. The match ended in a tie (5½-5½) and a dispute. Reshevsky was awarded the match, but nothing had been proven. However, there is little doubt as to which is the major figure now.
Fischer has feuded with many chess organizers and organizations and there was doubt whether he would compete this year. But Bobby is embarking on his first coast to coast tour early this year and so possibly concluded it is better to take the title with him — better gate appeal.
Fischer's career reminds me in many ways of the careers of Capablanca and Lasker. The two older masters set standards thought beyond the capacity of chess organizations of their day. They set their terms and their terms were met. In this way Lasker and Capablanca gradually lifted the chessmaster from the shadows of financial disaster. Fischer appears to be doing something similar today. He is necessary to the success of any tournament in this country, so he makes demands that appear excessive. This has all the earmarks of a temporary nuisance and a long term blessing.
In an interview with Assiac (Heinrich Fraenkel) in 1960 Bobby Fischer described the following game as his favorite. It was played during the 1959 Mar del Plata tournament and Fischer's opponent was Hector Rossetto, sometime Argentine champion.
Bobby's classical demonstration of centralization, doubled rooks on the 7th rank, and finally, zugzwang is heartwarming to Nimzovitch fans.
