AThe Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, August 20, 1961 - Page 36
Fischer Fails To Show, Forfeits To Reshevsky
One of the most bizarre endings to a chess match in the memory of man occurred Thursday when Bobby Fischer, 19-year-old champion of the United States, forfeited the thirteenth game and his 16-game match series against Samuel Reshevsky, 49, of New York. Fischer and Reshevsky are America's only grandmasters.
Fischer had been scheduled to resume the series with Reshevsky in New York but failed to appear.
Al Horowitz, publisher of Chess Review and the referee, declared the game a forfeit in abeyance, pending a review by the arbitrator.
The arbitrator, Walter J. Fried, said:
“We are going to review the forfeiture by abeyance right now and declare Reshevsky the winner of the series.”
The series between the two grandmasters for a purse of about $8,000 began in New York July 16, then shifted to Los Angeles after four games. The winner was to receive 65 per cent, the loser 35.
After 11 games, the players were tied with 5½ points each. Fischer then was adjudged to have forfeited the 12th game in Los Angeles when he refused to play.
He contended the game had been rescheduled without his consent, that the forfeiture was illegal, and refused to go ahead with the series.
