Daily News New York, New York Sunday, August 12, 1956
Boy of 13 Is Real King In the Realm of Chess
Photo Caption: Bobbie Fischer plays a game at Manhattan Chess Club.
A handsome, blond-haired boy who takes his hobby seriously, 13-year-old Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn, has won a championship crown.
A chess enthusiast since he was six, Bobby won the National Junior Chess Championship in Philadelphia last month. The youngest contestant in the tournament, his opponents were all about five years older.
The son of Mrs. Regina Fischer, a nurse, of 560 Lincoln Place, the young champ was taught the game by his 19-year-old sister, Joan, a student at Brooklyn College.
First Set at Seven
“She started to read me the rules from a book and we played together.” said Bobby, who bought his first chess set when he was seven. “I really liked the game so I kept it up and joined the Brooklyn Chess club when I was older. That gave me a chance to play once or twice a week with good players.”
Recognized as coming champ by his older opponents, other chess enthusiasts have high hopes that the youngster will reach the rank of master shortly. At the moment, he is rated a “Class A” player.
A freshman at Erasmus High School, Bobby doesn't like to talk about his hobby. He prefers to spend his time matching wits with his opponents at the Manhattan Chess Club which he joined last year and where he can be found almost every night in the week during the summer. During the school term, weekdays are devoted to homework, but Saturdays are open for chess.
He just returned to Brooklyn following a two-week trip to Oklahoma City where he participated in the U.S. Open Championship.
‘Just a Game’
One of the youngest members at the Manhattan Chess Club, the new junior champ plays in the rapid tournaments held there Friday nights. Pitted against much older players, he has won one speed tournament and placed second in others.
Asked if his mother and sister was proud of his progress, Bobby said they were. “But gee,” he added, “it's just a game. I don't see what everybody is making such a fuss about.”
