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Nanaimo Daily News Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Monday, December 18, 1961
Chess Champ Won't Compete In U.S. Play
New York (AP)—Competition for the U.S. chess championship began Sunday with four-time champion, 18-year-old Bobby Fischer, not defending his title—and refusing to say why.
Fred Cramer, president of the U.S. Chess Federation, said Fischer “was invited and he didn't accept and he didn't say why.”
Frank Brady, the federation's business manager and editor of its magazine, Chess Life, said Fischer didn't appear because of a dispute concerning his forfeited series with Samuel Reshevsky.
“The reason he is not playing is that the organization which forfeited him is sponsoring this tournament.” Brady asserted.
“I'm not commenting on that,” said Fischer, a Brooklyn, N.Y., youth who has held the U.S. title since he was 14.
