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

1897

< Prev Home Next >

January 13, 1897

  • Liverpool Mercury, etc. Liverpool, Merseyside, England Wednesday, January 13, 1897 - Page 5 — The Chess Championship. — Moscow, Tuesday. — The 17th game in the chess match between Mr. Lasker and Mr. Steinitz was played here yesterday, and not being concluded at the 45th move was postponed to the 14th inst. — Reuter.

February 24, 1897

  • The Salt Lake Herald Salt Lake City, Utah Wednesday, February 24, 1897 - Page 4 — Death of William Steinitz — “The death of William Steinitz, the great chess champion, in Moscow, is a sad event. He died in an asylum, a mental wreck. His death under these circumstances explains much of his apparently poor play in the past few years. Read More

February 26, 1897

  • The Sentinel Carlisle, Pennsylvania Friday, February 26, 1897 - Page 1 — Dr. Steinitz May Recover. — Moscow, Feb. 26. — The following particulars have been obtained regarding the illness of Dr. Steinitz, the famous chess player. Since he lost his match with Lasker here Dr. Steinitz has shown signs of insanity, and on Jan. 27, through the efforts Read More

  • The Times-Democrat New Orleans, Louisiana Friday, February 26, 1897 - Page 8 — Lasker Trying to Raise a Fund for Steinitz. — By Associated Press. London. Feb. 26 — Lasker, the chess player, has written a letter to the Standard asking that paper to start a fund in behalf of Dr. Steinitz and offering to contribute ten guineas to the fund.

Lasker Trying to Raise a Fund for SteinitzLasker Trying to Raise a Fund for Steinitz 26 Feb 1897, Fri The Times-Democrat (New Orleans, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

March 03, 1897

  • The Troy Messenger Troy, Alabama Wednesday, March 03, 1897 - Page 4 — Dr. Steinitz May Recover. — He is Receiving the Best of Care In Moscow and Has Lucid Intervals. — Moscow, March 1. — Additional particulars have been obtained regarding the illness of Dr. Steinitz, the famous chess player. Since he lost his match with Lasker Read More

March 24, 1897

  • The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, March 24, 1897 - Page 8 — His Month In An Asylum - Steinitz Tells of His Experience in Moscow. He Sang Out of an Open Window, They Thought he was Crazy and Incarcerated Him—Didn't Know he was the Great Chess Player and Wouldn't Believe Him. Vienna, March 24.— Read More

April 27, 1897

  • Altoona Tribune Altoona, Pennsylvania Tuesday, April 27, 1897 - Page 7 — Chess. — “Steinitz is resuming his chess practice. He has recently given several exhibitions of simultaneous play in Vienna, in each case winning a large majority of the games played. This would indicate that he has fully recovered his mental strength. “Lasker is said Read More

June 19, 1897

  • The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Saturday, June 19, 1897 - Page 15 — The Reported Death of Steinitz — The reported death of Steinitz, since contradicted, led the “Rochester Post Express” to revive the following anecdotes of the great master's little peculiarities:— … The happiness of “the Bohemian Caesar,” as Steinitz fondly Read More

Suspicion Still Surrounds SteinitzSuspicion Still Surrounds Steinitz 19 Jun 1897, Sat The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) Newspapers.com

August 04, 1897

  • The Solomon Sentinel Solomon, Kansas Wednesday, August 04, 1897 - Page 3 — An Unfair Advantage — Dr. Lasker, the great chess player, when in London is in the habit of occasionally visiting a certain restaurant in the city well known to many chess devotees. On one of these occasions, just prior to his departure for St. Petersburg to Read More

'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