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

Jose Joaquin Munoz Araiza, 1934

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August 19 1934

1934, Jose Araiza Crowned Chess Champion of Mexico

Evening star, Washington, District of Columbia, Sunday, August 19, 1934

Capt. Jose J. Araiza of the Mexican Army is chess champion of Mexico, succeeding Carlos Torres. He finished eighth in the recent championship tournament of the Western Chess Association. He soon will make an exhibition tour in the United States.


Jose Joaquin Munoz Araiza, 1933

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May 28 1933

1933, Mexico's Chess Master Jose Araiza Expected to Participate in Folkestone tournament.

The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Sunday, May 28, 1933

Mexico expects to be represented in the team tournament at Folkestone. Capt. Jose J. Araiza, Francisco J. Vazquez, Dr. Jose Asiain, Jocquin Medina and Miguel Cortes will probably represent this county.
Except for the fact that the work of raising the expense fund has not yet been completed everything in readiness for the dispatch of the five members of the United States team to Folkestone the first week in June. It is understood that F. J. Marshall, Reuben Fine, Isaac Kashdan, A. W. Dake and A. C. Simonson are prepared to make the trip.


Jose Joaquin Munoz Araiza, 1928

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August 05 1928

1928, Jose Araiza in Chess Olympics.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, August 05, 1928

At this writing Hungary is leading in the Olympic team tourney of the International Chess Federation at The Hague, with Czecho-Slovakia second and United States third. In the individual tourney the North American entrants, Norman T. Whitaker of Washington, D. C., and Jose J. Araiza of Guadalajara, Mex., got off to a poor start.


Jose Joaquin Munoz Araiza, 1945

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1945

Jose Joaquin Munoz Araiza

Major Jose J. Araiza (left) of the Mexican Army again established himself as Mexico's No. 1 chessplayer by winning the Federal District Championship. Here he is shown playing Abel Perez, third prize winner in the tournament. 1945. Gand Photos.


Jose Joaquin Munoz Araiza, 1932

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June 09 1932

1932, New Yorkers Entered in Chess Tourney; Mexicans to Play.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, June 09, 1932

New Yorkers Entered in Chess Tourney; Mexicans to Play
By Hermann Helms
With the opening of the California Chess Congress at Pasadena about nine weeks off, the time is fast approaching when the committee of management must make a definite decision as to the personnel of the entry list and the total number to be admitted to the international tournament. Isaac I. Kashdan, champion of the Manhattan Chess Club, now in Chicago, is well on his way across the continent and will arrive in Pasadena in good time.
It is hoped that Frank J. Marshall also may be able to arrange his affairs so as to make possible his participation. The United States champion has not yet reached a decision. Meanwhile California is hopeful.
In addition to William E. Napier of Brooklyn, who has declared his intention of playing, there is every likelihood that New York will likewise be represented by two of the cleverest of its college experts. In fact, acceptances of their entries have been received by Reuben Fine champion of the Marshall Chess Club, and Fred Reinfeld of the same club and winner of the State title at Utica last Summer. Having made that much headway, these youthful and ambitious New Yorkers, both city College men, have applied themselves to the task of financing the long journey.
According to Henry MacMahon, 9441 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Cal., secretary of the congress, the directors feel confident of the participation of Dr. Alexander Alekhine of Paris. The world champion has entered the international tournament to be held at Berne, Switzerland, in July. It is expected that he will then make a dash across the Atlantic to reach Pasadena in time for the opening of the California congress.
Mexican chess players will take an active part by entering representatives both in the masters tournament and the team contest. Jose J. Araiza has entered for the former and four others will be selected from the leaders in a test tourney held in Mexico City.


August 13 1932

1932, Mexico Chess Master, Jose Joaquin Araiza in Pasadena Chess Congress.

The Pasadena Post, Pasadena, California, Saturday, August 13, 1932

Mexico Chess Master Here
Captain Araiza Arrives For Congress Play

Senor Capt. Jose Joaquin Araiza, Mexico's chess champion, arrived in Pasadena last night for the Pasadena Chess Congress at the Maryland Hotel, August 15-29.
Scores 930 Per Cent
The Mexican champion will compete in the masters tourney of the congress. During a Northern Mexico tour in July. Captain Araiza played 135 games, winning 122, drawing 7 and losing 6 in a series of simultaneous exhibitions—a percentage of 930.
Champion Here Tomorrow
He will be one of ten master players to battle with the world's chess champion, Dr. Alexander Alekhine of Paris, who will arrive in Pasadena by transcontinental train tomorrow. He will have completed an 8500-mile journey from Berne, Switzerland, in sixteen days.


August 16 1932

Alexander Alekhine, Isaac Kashdan, Jose Joaquin Araiza Munoz, Samuel Reshevsky, Harry Borochow, Arthur W. Dake gather for World Chess Congress, Pasadena 1932.

Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946), Isaac Kashdan (1905-1985), J. J. Araiza (1900-1971), Samuel Reshevsky (1911-1992), Harry Borochow (June 15, 1898-October 20, 1993), and Arthur W. Dake (1910-2000) gather for World Chess Congress, Pasadena, 1932. Photo by Los Angeles Times.
Similar photograph appears with the article, “Chess Wizards Open Congress,” Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug 1932. The chess masters of the world are attending a two-week battle royal at the Hotel Maryland in Pasadena, competing in the World's Chess Congress. Isaac's hand is poised over the table, he and Dr. Alekhine looking into the camera from where they are seated across from each other. The rest of the men stand around their table, Captain Araiza looking at the chessboard while the other men look into the camera.
Source: UCLA/Los Angeles Times.


Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen, 1913

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October 19 1913

Game of Chess Commercialized

The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, Sunday, October 19, 1913

Game of Chess Commercialized.
Chess editors in Germany declare that the game of chess has been commercialized under American influences and they claim a striking illustration of this in the match for the championship of the world that has just been arranged between Dr. Emanuel Lasker, who lived for some years in New York, and Akiba Rubinstein, the foremost player of Russia.
According to the financial plans for the match it is expected that the two players will divide nearly $10,000 (adjusted for a century, and one decade of inflation, comes to $307,198.99 in 2023) between them. Dr. Lasker is now corresponding with some of the principal German chess clubs, soliciting their co-operation. He offers to have three games played in the rooms of any club that will contribute about $1,500 in return for this honor.
German writers contrast the Lasker-Rubenstein match with the one played at Paris in 1858 between Paul Morphy and Adolf Anderssen, the German champion of that day. Anderssen, who was professor in a prepatory school at Breslau, was willing to rush to Paris during his brief Christmas holidays to play eleven games with Morphy, although there was no money staked on either side. On the other hand, Lasker and Rubinstein will have nearly a year to prepare for their great struggle, and will last for three months.


Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen, 1972

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July 05 1972

The First Major International Chess Tournament. Adolf Anderssen declared World Champion.

The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Florida, Wednesday, July 05, 1972

THE FIRST major international tournament was staged in London in 1851. A 30-year-old German professor, Adolf Anderssen, won the tournament and was given the title “World Champion.”
In the meantime the game had also caught on in the Western Hemisphere.
The leading American player was Paul Morphy, who won major tournaments at the age of 12. In 1858 he became the world champion America's first and only so far.


Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen, 1988

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February 21 1988

Chess History: Adolf Anderssen

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday, February 21, 1988

CHESS HISTORY: Adolf Anderssen
The Romantic Age of chess reached its brilliant crescendo with the play of Adolf Anderssen (1818-1879). Regarded as one of the most brilliant combinational players in chess history, his virtuosic sacrificial attacks embodied the spirit of the times. Harold Schonberg in his book “Grandmasters of Chess” writes: “Even his opponents could be as much delighted as overwhelmed when they were the object of one of Anderssen's murderous attacks. Anderssen's play was so ingenious, his combinations so magical, that the players on the receiving end ended up gasping with amazement and pleasure.”
Born in Breslau, Germany, he learned the game at age 9 and was immediately addicted. He studied the writings of the early masters, including Philidor, and sharpened his game with trips to the German chess capitals of Berlin and Leipzig during the school holidays. While pursuing his mathematical studies and preparing for a teaching certificate, Anderssen composed numerous chess problems, publishing a collection in 1842.
Inspired by the games of the La Bourdonnais-McDonnell matches, he turned his attention to improving his over-the-board play, drawing a match with Harrwitz in 1848. Invited to the first international tournament in London in 1851, he surprised everyone by decisively beating all his opponents to take first place.
Inactive for seven years, he played a match with Paul Morphy in Paris in 1858, losing by a margin of five games. After this defeat, he took chess more seriously, improved his game, and became a successful tournament player with major wins at London 1862 and Baden- Baden 1870.


Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen, 2010

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July 08 2010

Birth of Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen, Chess Champion

The Independent, London, Greater London, England, Thursday, July 08, 2010

It's never a good sign when a city has more than one name, since this can only suggest that it has been the subject of conflict. Wroclaw—in German Breslau—on the Oder River; the main city in what is now south-west Poland, is certainly no exception; and over the years it has at different times been part of Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia and Germany.
In 1818, at a time when it was German, the city was the birthplace of one of the greatest players of the 19th century, Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen. Since 1992 an annual tournament has been held in Wroclaw in memory of this attacking genius—and more recently, there has also been an International Chess Festival alongside.


William Grady Addison, 1963

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December 1963

William Addison, Edmund Edmondson, Isaac Kashdan, Allan S. Troy Vol. 13, No. 4, California Chess Reporter, December 1963, North-South Match; William Addison, Edmund Edmondson, Isaac Kashdan, Allan S. Troy.

William Grady Addison, 1960

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November 1960

Tibor Weinberger, Zoltan Kovacs, Sven Almgren, Herbert Dasteel Jr., Frank Hufnagel, Carl Diesen, William G. Addison, Irving Rivise, Julius Loftsson, Jack Blackstone Vol. 10, No. 4-5, California Chess Reporter, November-December 1960, (Seated) Tibor Weinberger, Zoltan Kovacs, Sven Almgren, Herbert Dasteel Jr., Frank Hufnagel (Standing) Carl Diesen, William G. Addison, Irving Rivise, Julius Loftsson, Jack Blackstone.

William Grady Addison, 1956

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April 1956

Jim Schmitt-Vladimir Pafnutieff, Charles Bagby-Henry Gross, William Addison-Carroll Capps, Charles Svalberg-Gilbert Ramirez, Horst Bullwinkel-Robert Currie, Alan Bourke-William Bills, Kurt Bendit-Ed Logwood Vol. 5, No. 8, California Chess Reporter, April 1956. Mechanics' Institute vs. Golden Gate. The photo is the last-round decisive match in the San Francisco Bay Area Chess League 1956 season. Mechanics' Institute, on the left, beat Golden Gate 4½-2½. The pairings, beginning with Board One nearest the camera: Jim Schmitt-Vladimir Pafnutieff, Charles Bagby-Henry Gross, William Addison-Carroll Capps, Charles Svalberg-Gilbert Ramirez, Horst Bullwinkel-Robert Currie, Alan Bourke-William Bills, Kurt Bendit-Ed Logwood.

September 1956

William G. Addison Vol. 6, No. 2, California Chess Reporter, September 1956, William G. Addison

September 09 1956

1956 California Open Chess Tournament.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, September 09, 1956

Ramirez Wins Open at Santa Barbara
Gilbert Ramirez, 18-year-old San Francisco star, outscored a record-breaking contingent of 96 players from all parts of the State to take the California Open Chess Championship, in the tournament completed last week end in Santa Barbara.
Ramirez tired in game points at 6-1 with Kurt Bendit of San Francisco and Robert Cross of Santa Monica. The tie-breaking Sonneborn–Berger system was used, and here Ramirez scored 28¼ points to 27½ for Bendit and 26¼ for Cross.
The crucial game found Ramirez and Cross matched together in the last round. A win for either player would have meant the title. Cross, apparently in the belief that a draw was sufficient for him, steered the game into safe channels, and the draw soon became inevitable.
In the meantime, Bendit, whom neither of the leaders had reckoned with, won his last game from George Hunnex of Elsinore, to wind up with six points and second prize. Just behind the leaders was William G. Addison of San Francisco, alone at 5½-1½.
No less than 14 players were tied at 5-2. Phil D. Smith of Fresno led this group after the tie-breaking formula was applied. Just below him were Charles Bagby of San Francisco. Robert Brieger of San Diego and Donald J. Foley of San Jose.


November 1956

William Addison and Larry Remlinger Vol. 6, No. 4, California Chess Reporter, November 1956, William Addison in a post-mortem with Larry Remlinger

William Grady Addison, 1955

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July 1955

William Addison and Walter Pafnutieff. Vol. 5, No. 1, California Chess Reporter, July 1955. William Addison shows Walter Pafnutieff a missed move.

August 1955

Mechanics' Institute Clubroom Scene. U.S. Open Chess Championship, California Chess Reporter, August 1955. Mechanics' Institute Clubroom Scene.

Charles Svalberg, A. B. Stamer, Charles Bagby, Earl Pruner, Karl Bopp, William G. Addison, Dmitri Poliakoff U.S. Open Chess Championship, California Chess Reporter, August 1955. Mechanics Institute Chess Club (Seated) Charles Svalberg, A. B. Stamer, Charles Bagby, Earl Pruner (Standing) Karl Bopp, William G. Addison, Dmitri Poliakoff.

Imre Koenig, James Cook, Herbert Dasteel, Jr., Jerry Ets-Hoken, David Peizer, Edward Logwood, Norman Neilsen, Carroll Capps, Gilbert Ramirez, Ben Zeiler, Herbert Holden, Ted Eisenstadt, Robert Konkel, Henry Gross, Herbert Rosenbaum, Godfrey Lutz, Curtis Wilson, Eugene Lien, Willard Sprague, Edvins Simanis, Carl Huneke, Les Talcott, Henry King, William Addison, Russell Freeman, Dr. Kenneth M. Colby, Walter Pafnutieff U.S. Open Chess Championship, California Chess Reporter, August 1955. Golden Gate Chess Club. (Left to right) Imre Koenig, James Cook, Herbert Dasteel, Jr., Jerry Ets-Hoken, David Peizer, Edward Logwood, Norman Neilsen, Carroll Capps, Gilbert Ramirez, Ben Zeiler, Herbert Holden, Ted Eisenstadt, Robert Konkel, Henry Gross, Herbert Rosenbaum, Godfrey Lutz, Curtis Wilson, Eugene Lien, Willard Sprague, Edvins Simanis, Carl Huneke, Les Talcott, Henry King, William Addison, Russell Freeman, Dr. Kenneth M. Colby, Walter Pafnutieff.

William Grady Addison, 1954

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December 1954

Vol. 4, No. 4, California Chess Reporter, December 1954. Seated, left to right: William Addison, Sven Elias Almgren, James Cross, Eugene Levin, Ray Martin. Standing: Dmitri Poliakoff, Milton O. Meyer, Irving Rivise, Herman Steiner, Jim Schmitt.

William Grady Addison, 1957

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August 18 1957

1957, Cleveland Open Chess Championship Tournament

The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, August 18, 1957

Byrne And Fischer Tied In Semifinal
With one round remaining to be played in the Open Championship of the U.S. Chess Federation at the Manger Hotel in Cleveland, Donald Byrne of Ann Arbor, Mich., is tied for first place with Junior Champion Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn, according to a report from the New York Times.
Each player won his 11th-round game and has a 9½-1½ score. Donald Byrne defeated his older brother Robert of Indianapolis. They have been rivals since they played chess together at Yale. Fischer, a 14-year-old student of Erasmus Hall High School, outmaneuvered William G. Addison of San Francisco.
Donald Byrne had led the tournament for eight rounds but met his first setback in the ninth round at the hands of Fischer, who then took the lead by half a point. In the following game Fischer drew with Robert Byrne to drop back level with Donald.
U.S. Champion Arthur B. Bisguier of New York is in third place with 9-2, one-half point behind the leaders. Bisguier lost to Addison in the sixth round in a noteworthy game.
Walter J. Shipman of New York is fourth with a score of 8½-2½. Robert Byrne, at 8-3, is bracketed with Edmar Mednis, Anthony E. Santasiere and Morton Siegel of New York; Hans Berliner of Washington, D. C. and Orest Popovych of Lakewood, N. J.
Following this group, with totals of 7½-3½, are Paul Brandts, Jack W. Collins, Victor Guala and Anthony F. Saidy of New York, William G. Addison of San Francisco, Dr. E. W. Marchand of Rochester, N. Y., and J. Theodorovitch of Toronto, Canada.


December 12 1957

The Hammond Vindicator, Hammond, Louisiana, Thursday, December 12, 1957

1957, Grady E. Addison, Father of William Grady Addison, Dies from Heart Attack

Grady E. Addison Dies in Baton Rouge From Heart Attack on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The many Hammond friends of Grady E. Addison, 45, were shocked to learn of his sudden death on Wednesday of last week at Baton Rouge General hospital. He died at 8:10 a. m., as the result of a heart attack.
Born and reared in Hammond he had been associated with Esso standard Oil in Baton Rouge for the past 16 years. He resided at 250 Beverly Drive, Baton Rouge.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 3:30 p. m. at St. James Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, with the Rev. Philip Werlein officiating.
Mr. Addison was a member of St. James Church; Istrouma Lodge No. 414, F. & A. M.; a Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner; and a member of the Elks Club.
He is survived by his widow the former Dorothy Trudell; one son, William G. Addison, San Francisco, Calif; one daughter, Miss Isabell Addison, Baton Rouge; his mother, Mrs. Jewel Addison, of Hammond; two sisters, Mrs. James McKnight, Hammond and Mrs. T. O. Woods, Baton Rouge; and one brother, Harry Addison, of Tickfaw.


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, 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