The Gift of Chess

Notice to commercial publishers seeking use of images from this collection of chess-related archive blogs. For use of the many large color restorations, two conditions must be met: 1) It is YOUR responsibility to obtain written permissions for use from the current holders of rights over the original b/w photo. Then, 2) make a tax-deductible donation to The Gift of Chess in honor of Robert J. Fischer-Newspaper Archives. A donation in the amount of $250 USD or greater is requested for images above 2000 pixels and other special request items. For small images, such as for fair use on personal blogs, all credits must remain intact and a donation is still requested but negotiable. Please direct any photographs for restoration and special request (for best results, scanned and submitted at their highest possible resolution), including any additional questions to S. Mooney, at bobbynewspaperblogs•gmail. As highlighted in the ABC News feature, chess has numerous benefits for individuals, including enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improving concentration and memory, and promoting social interaction and community building. Initiatives like The Gift of Chess have the potential to bring these benefits to a wider audience, particularly in areas where access to educational and recreational resources is limited.

Best of Chess Fischer Newspaper Archives
• Robert J. Fischer, 1955 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1956 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1957 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1958 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1959 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1960 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1961 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1962 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1963 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1964 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1965 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1966 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1967 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1968 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1969 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1970 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1971 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1972 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1973 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1974 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1975 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1976 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1977 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1978 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1979 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1980 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1981 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1982 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1983 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1984 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1985 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1986 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1987 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1988 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1989 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1990 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1991 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1992 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1993 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1994 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1995 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1996 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1997 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1998 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 1999 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2000 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2001 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2002 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2003 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2004 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2005 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2006 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2007 bio + additional games
• Robert J. Fischer, 2008 bio + additional games
Chess Columns Additional Archives/Social Media

Taimanov-Fischer Match Set for May 13 in Canada

Back to 1971 News Articles

The New York Times New York, New York Thursday, April 22, 1971 - Page 38

Taimanov-Fischer Match Set for May 13 in Canada by Al Horowitz
The elimination and qualification match between Mark Taimanov and Bobby Fischer on the road to a challenger for the world championship, has been set for Vancouver, British Columbia, for May 13, at the University of British Columbia. Play will be paced at the rate of 40 moves in two and a half hours and the game will be adjourned, if necessary, after five hours.
Playing sessions will be held on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and adjourned games will be played Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The best of 10 games will be the winner and 5½ points will decide. The local specifications call for the players and spectators to be in separate rooms. In event of a tie the match will continue on a pre-arranged basis.
The 45-year-old Taimanov of the Soviet Union, is an international grandmaster who played for the U.S.S.R. in the world Students' Team Championship of 1955, the Chess Olympiad of 1956, the European Team Championships and in matches against Argentina, the U.S., Britain, among others.
A leading theoretician, Taimanov has introduced a number of ideas in many opening patterns currently in vogue.
He is also a concert pianist and studied music at the Leningrad Conservatory. At the age of 9 he played a leading role in a children's film, “Beethoven Concerto.”
He recently said that anyone who would get through the title eliminations would have to go through Fischer. Hence, he is content to tangle with the American.
An example of his skill is the following English Opening where the former world champion, Vasily Smyslov, was White. As a rule Taimanov has a certain impetuosity, but in this game, in the 29th USSR championship in Baku, he remained calm, until there came a convenient moment to snatch the initiative. After a slow improvement during the course of the game, he executed a damaging foray with 33. … Q-Q8 and White no longer could squirm.
Bobby Fischer was born Robert James Fischer on March 9, 1943. He learned to play chess when he was six, and when he was 13 he was the youngest player to win the United States Junior Championship. Fischer has added victory to victory from then on, and it is safe to say he has instilled fear in all his opponents.
At the time he was a controversial figure, charging his Soviet opponents with pre-arranging drawn games and with consulting during play.
In the last Interzonal, the start of the present elimination series to which the current match is related, Fischer let it be known that he was not interested in drawing any game with the Russians. He refused all offers of a draw and finally would up with a score of 3½-½ against Yefim Geller, Taimanov, Lev Pologayevsky and Vasily Smyslov.
Below, in his game with the Yugoslav master Mario Bertok, Fischer as Black finds flaws in many sequences. When he drives the adverse knight with 21. P-N4, White determines on the futility of defense and parts with a piece, rather than commit a bungling mess. But with a piece minus, hope is gone.

Vasily Smyslov vs Mark Taimanov
USSR Championship 1961b (1961), Baku URS, rd 7, Nov-26
English Opening: Great Snake Variation (A10) 0-1
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1125916

Mario Bertok vs Robert James Fischer
Stockholm Interzonal (1962), Stockholm SWE, rd 22, Mar-04
Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense. Exchange Variation (D59) 0-1
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008412

Taimanov-Fischer Match Set for May 13 in Canada

'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, 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.

Special Thanks