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Chess Champion Throws Tantrum

Back to 1961 Index

1961, Bobby Fischer-Samuel Reshevsky Chess Tournament, Forfeiture

The Miami News Miami, Florida Monday, August 14, 1961

Chess Champion Throws Tantrum
Los Angeles (AP) — U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer thinks he's been rooked.
The 16-year-old refused to show up yesterday at 11 a.m. for a match against challenger Samuel Reshevsky. He said he wasn't used to play in the morning.
The referee called it a forfeit. But Fischer says forfeits aren't allowed.
No one is sure whose move is next.
The problem began 10 days ago when local officials rescheduled the 12th game of a 16-game series from Saturday to Sunday. Reshevsky will not play on the Jewish sabbath.
Says Fischer: “I'm not used to playing at 11 — it's ridiculous. Why should I accommodate him? Maybe he hoped I'd be tired and he'd get a draw.”
Despite repeated calls and warnings, Fischer refused to leave his Hollywood hotel.
“So when he didn't come by noon,” said referee Irving Rivise, “I called it a forfeit.”.
“I never expected this one,” said Reshevsky. He promptly checked out of his hotel and took his one point lead to New York, where the series continues this week.
But Fischer said he won't accept the forfeit.
“We agreed before the match there could be no forfeits. It's just a little joke they're trying to play on me.” he declared. “We just have to play this off in New York.”
If the forfeit is upheld by New York officials, Fischer said he won't finish the match.
The teenager said those in charge during the eight games here are “pro-Reshevsky,” and:
“They've been making the adjourned games at screwy hours so I'll be tired.”

1961, Robert J. Fischer vs. Samuel Reshevsky Chess Tournament; Reason for Forfeit
CORRECTION: The schedule was changed twice.
  1. Changed from Saturday night to Sunday at 1:30 P.M. to which Bobby Fischer consented.
  2. Changed from 1:30 P.M. Sunday to 11 A.M. Sunday, by Referee Irving Rivise, to accommodate his own trip to San Francisco for the U.S. Open which opened the following day, Monday.

Young Fischer protested that the schedule should be returned to the originally scheduled time of 1:30 P.M. This clarification is documented in the August 14, 1961 Los Angeles Times “Chess Champ Forfeits By Failing to Appear”

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Recommended Books

Understanding Chess by William Lombardy Chess Duels, My Games with the World Champions, by Yasser Seirawan No Regrets: Fischer-Spassky 1992, by Yasser Seirawan Chess Fundamentals, by Jose Capablanca Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, by Bobby Fischer My 60 Memorable Games, by Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer Games of Chess, by Bobby Fischer The Modern Chess Self Tutor, by David Bronstein Russians versus Fischer, by Mikhail Tal, Plisetsky, Taimanov, et al

'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:
Bobby Fischer's True History
Bobby Fischer, First Amendment, Freedom of Speech
“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.

Robert J. Fischer, Kid Chess Wizard 1956March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008

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.

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