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

Horace Ransom Bigelow, 1980

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April 20 1980

1980, Horace Ransom Bigelow, Chess Champion, Obituary

Newsday (Nassau Edition), Hempstead, New York, Sunday, April 20, 1980

Bigelow—Horace Ransom on April 18, 1980 of Port Washington, Long Island. Beloved husband of Cecile. Loving father of John, Peter and Paul. Dear brother of Henry U. Bigelow. Also survived by two grandchildren. Reposing at Austin F. Knowles Funeral Home, Inc., 128 Main St., Port Washington, L. I., Visiting hours Mon. 6-0 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial Tues. 11 AM at St. Peter of Alcantara R.C. Church. Interment Kensico Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions to St. Francis Hospital would be appreciated.

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Horace Ransom Bigelow, 1925

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March 05 1925

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, March 05, 1925

1925, Chess Game, Horace Ransom Bigelow vs. Le Count

Champions Well Matched.
A. Kevitz and E. Tholfsen, respectively the champions of the Brooklyn and Marshall Chess Clubs, quite in accordance with the fitness of things, were paired together in the league match between these clubs. A lively game ensued in which Kevitz set the pace, with Tholfsen finding an adequate defense for his every plan.
The only visitor to win a game was Horace Ransom Bigelow, who, relieved of the burdens of the captaincy which formerly was more or less of a dead weight upon his all too willing shoulders, gave vent to his love for gambit play. Le Count countered with the full weight of his big knowledge and long experience, but the all-devouring energy of the one-time Oxonian simply would not be denied. In short it was a capital effort and it deserved to win.

Horace Ransom Bigelow (white) vs. Francis J. Le Count (black)

Unresolved Chess Game
Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive
1. P-K4 P-K4
2. N-QB3 N-KB3
3. P-B4 B-N5
4. PxP BxN
5. PxN BxBP
6. N-B3 P-Q3
7. P-Q4 O-O
8. B-Q3 N-B3
9. P-B3 B-N5
10. O-O R-K
11. B-K3 N-K2
12. P-KR3 BxN
13. QxB N-N3
14. QR-K Q-Q2
15. Q-R5 Q-K3
16. P-QN3 P-B3
17. B-Q2 P-N4
18. R-Q QR-Q 
19. QR-KB P-QR3
20. P-KN4 N-B
21. KR-B3 P-N3
22. Q-R7 B-N2
23. Q-R4 R-Q2
24. B-R6 B-R
25. B-N5 P-QB4
26. R-B6 Q-K2
27. P-K5 PxKP
28. RxPch BPxR
29. BxQ KRxB
30. PxBP P-K5
31. P-B6 R-QB2
32. BxP RxB
33. RxNch KxR
34. Q-Q8ch R-K
35. QxR B-K4
36. QxP R-K2
37. QxP B-B2
38. Q-B5ch K-N2
39. K-N2 R-K7ch
40. K-B3 R-K2
41. Q-N5ch K-B
42. P-KR4 R-B2ch
43. K-K4 R-K2ch
44. K-Q5 R-N2
45. QxRch KxQ
46. K-K6 B-N6
47. K-Q7 1-0 
Algebraic
1. e4 e5
2. Nc3 Nf6
3. f4 Bb4
4. fxe5 Bxc3
5. exf6 Bxf6
6. Nf3 d6
7. d4 0-0
8. Bd3 Nc6
9. c3 Bg4
10. 0-0 Re8
11. Be3 Ne7
12. h3 Bxf3
13. Qxf3 Ng6
14. Re1 Qd7
15. Qh5 Qe6
16. b3 c6
17. Bd2 b5
18. Rd1 Rd8
19. Rf1 a6
20. g4 Nf8
21. Rf3 g6
22. Qxg6+ Bg7
at

Horace Ransom Bigelow, 1919

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August 04, 1919

Horace Ransom Bigelow, Chess Champion, Passport Photo
Horace Ransom Bigelow, Passport Application
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Horace Ransom Bigelow, 1923

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January 04 1923

1923, Horace Ransom Bigelow, former member of Oxford University Chess Club

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, January 04, 1923

Horace Ransom Bigelow, former member of the Oxford University Chess Club, enjoyed the distinction of being the only one to lower the colors of the champion. He adopted his favorite Caro-Kann defense and a lively game ensued. After Marshall spurred the draw, which was his for the asking, he followed out a winning continuation, but went astray and gave Bigelow the opportunity to turn the position into a win for Black. Alrick H. Man, president of the club, and J. W. Barnhart of Brooklyn were the players who drew their games.

Horace Ransom Bigelow, Chess Champion
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Horace Ransom Bigelow, 1932

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December 17 1932

1932, Ransom Bigelow, Secretary of Metropolitan Chess League

Mount Vernon Argus, White Plains, New York, Saturday, December 17, 1932

The first meeting of the Metropolitan Chess League will be held at the Marshall Chess Club on Tuesday December 20 according to an announcement by Horace Ransom Bigelow Secretary of the League. Plans for the coming season will be discussed and a date will be set for the commencement of the annual matches between the various chess clubs in the metropolitan area.
An invitation to join the Metropolitan League has been extended to the Mount Vernon Chess Club but it is doubtful whether it will be accepted this year. The prevailing opinion at the local club seems to indicate that more seasoning is in order before tackling the tough opposition that New York City affords.

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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, 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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