Chess by Larry Evans
April 6, 2008
In 1964, a few months before turning 15, Bobby Fischer won the U.S. Championship with a perfect 11-0, a feat unrivaled in history. I was his runner-up at 7½-3½, which usually might qualify for first prize.
A noted critic quipped that Fischer won the exhibition but Evans won the tournament. The field included America’s top stars: Benko 7; Reshevsky, Saidy 6.5; R. Byrne 5.5; Weinstein 5; Bisguier 4.5; Mednis 3.5; Addison 3.5; Steinmeyer 3; D. Byrne 2.5.
Fischer was awarded the brilliancy prize against Robert Byrne. K.F. Kirby, editor of the South African Chess Quarterly, summed up the astonishment and admiration of the chess world when he wrote: “This game was quite fabulous, and I cannot call to mind anything to parallel it. After Byrne’s 11th move, I should adjudicate his position as slightly superior, and at worst completely safe. To turn this into a mating position in 11 more moves is more witchcraft than chess!”
And Byrne himself stated: “The culminating combination is of such depth that, even at the very moment at which I resigned, both grandmasters who commented on the play for spectators in a separate room believed that I had a won game!”
Here is the full story.
Fischer was a genius.
‘In 1964, a few months before turning 15’
Seeing that Bobby was born in 1943, I guess that really must be witchcraft!
Mr. Evans is again spouting nonsense; even guessing (let alone knowing, or finding out) the age of the most important US player of the 20th century is beyond his ability.
I continue to be amazed that his drivel is printed.
Evans really phoned this column in. All he did was copy one of his own introductions from a 40 year old book. You expect a newspaper column to be a bit more topical.