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

Ossip Samoilovich Bernstein, 1946

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January 23 1946

The Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York, Wednesday, January 23, 1946

1946, Arturo Pomar plays black pieces against his opponent, Dr. Ossip Bernstein.

'Action Shot' in a Battle of Wits
Arturo Pomar of Madrid is only 14 but he can hold his own at chess with the best of them. His opponent in London is Dr. Ossip Bernstein of Russia, winner of chess prizes since 1914, who is making a move after long deliberation, so this is an action picture. Arturito battled to a draw.


August 24 1946

1946, Mikhail Botvinnik Defeats Ossip Bernstein in Chess

The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday, August 24, 1946

Russian Takes Chess Lead.
Groningen, The Netherlands, Aug. 31(AP)—Mikhail Botvinnik of Russia took a one and one-half point lead in the International Chess Tournament today by defeating Dr. Ossip Bernstein of France in 43 moves.
Dr. Max Euwe of The Netherlands, former world champion, took undisputed possession of second place in today's ninth round play by a 28-move victory over Herman Steiner of Los Angeles.

Ossip Bernstein vs Mikhail Botvinnik
Groningen (1946), Groningen NED, rd 9, Aug-23
Sicilian Defense: Dragon. Classical Variation Battery Variation (B73) 0-1


August 29 1946

1949, World Chess Tournament in Groningen Causes Mixed Memories

The Plain Speaker, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Thursday, August 29, 1946

World Chess Tournament Causes Mixed Memories
Groningen, Holland, Aug. 29.(AP)—Playing of national anthems in honor of the 20 chess masters from 13 countries competing in a four-weeks tournament here is causing some confusion and bring not a few mixed memories to the contenders.
Most of the participants in the tournament, which ends Sept. 7, can claim at least two nationalities, and a jig-saw puzzle could not be more fascinating than trying to sort out the international hodgepodge.
At one of the official dinners, the Belgian anthem was played for Irish-born Alberic O'Kelly De Galway, and the Polish anthem for Miguel Najdorf, a resident of Argentina for eight years, who stood in rapt attention when the Argentine national song was sung for Carlos Guimard of Buenos Aires.
But the Polish tune undoubtedly sounded familiar to Russian-born Dr. Xavielly Tartakower, a former Polish citizen, who now is French. The orchestra played the Marseilles for him and for Russian-born Dr. Ossip Bernstein, but both were more than casually acquainted with the Russian anthem played for the five Soviet representatives.
The Hungarian national song was for Laszlo Szabo, but indirectly, too, for the American Herman Steiner of Los Angeles. But Steiner, if his memories went back far enough, also probably was moved by the Czech anthem played for Cenek Kottnauer, for he came originally from a region alternately belonging to Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The Russian Salo Flohr also was once a Czech.
The American champion Arnold S. Denker, although born of German parents, could listen to the Star Spangled Banner with undivided allegiance, as could 21-year-old Abe Yanofsky to the Canadian anthem since he was only four months old when his parents left their home in Polish territory which now is Russian.
The situation was simple for Dr. Max Euwe of the Netherlands, Erik Lundin and Gosta Stoltz of Sweden and Martin Christoffel of Switzerland, but less so for Tournament Director Hans Kmoch, an Austrian who is applying for Dutch citizenship.
The climax of confusion came when the orchestra began to play the Yugoslavian anthem. Everyone stood up, but after the first few notes, Yugoslav Professor Milan Vidmar of Ljubljana, whose brother is president of the Slovenian republic, sat down again, because, he said:
“There is too much difference between the old and the new time and between the old and the new anthem that I should remain upright.”


'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.

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