Endgame
Page 41
I’ve never had an editor before as perceptive and as hardworking as Rick Horgan. He is not only responsible for this book coming into existence, but helped shape it in every way, shoving needles into the eyes of my discursive prose from time to time and serving as a sounding board throughout the compilation of the book.
My literary agent, Jeff Schmidt, deserves special commendation for recognizing the potential of Endgame, and for steering the book to one of the best publishing houses in the world.
Finally, there is my wife, Maxine, to whom this book is dedicated. Like me, she also knew Bobby, spent time with him, and observed and interacted with him in our home, at parties, and at many tournaments, so her intelligence and memory—in addition to her writing and editing skills—were essential signposts for me in virtually everything that appears here. Without her contribution there would be no Endgame. My sincere gratitude for her constant consultation is simply not enough.
NOTES
The sources for this book come from a variety of origins: interviews of and correspondence with chess players; friends and relatives of Bobby Fischer; chess periodicals and books; the general press; Bobby Fischer’s own writings; libraries and archives; and the author’s own memories, conversations, and observations of Bobby Fischer spread out over a lifetime.
Abbreviations
Bobby Fischer Autobiographical Essay—BFE
John W. Collins Archive—JWC
Marshall Chess Foundation Archive—MCF
New York Times—NYT
Chess Life—CL
Chess Review—CR
Chess Life & Review—CL&R
Frank Brady Archive—FB
New In Chess—NIC
Chess Base—CB
Profile of a Prodigy—PRO
KGB Reports—KGB
Author citations refer to books in the Bibliography.
Author’s Note
1 “A biography is considered complete” Clare Colquitt, Susan Goodman, Candace Waid. A Forward Glance: New Essays on Edith Wharton, Associated University Presses, Inc., 1999, p. 23.
2 “a whole world of feelings” Mack Frankfurter. Options: A Three Dimensional Chess, October 13, 2006. At safehaven.com. Accessed December 14, 2008.
Chapter 1: Loneliness to Passion
The sources for this chapter came, in some part, from a statement written in the third person by Bobby Fischer while he was incarcerated; examination of the FBI files on Regina Fischer; Bobby’s autobiographical essay written when he was a teenager; talks of the author with Bobby’s teachers, Carmine Nigro and Jack Collins, as well as Regina Fischer; observations of the author; and previously published accounts in books and periodicals.
1 “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” Legal statement of facts written by Bobby Fischer, 6 pages, July 2004, orwelltoday.com/fischerroom202.shtml.
2 “as soon as he lands at JFK, we’ll nail him.” Recollection of author, who talked with State Department official, circa late 1990s.
3 The group’s destination was the Silver Moon Chinese restaurant. This incident occurred circa 1956. Discussion with Jack Collins, circa 1956; and reported in Newsday, September 28, 1992.
4 he’d just returned from the U.S. Open Championship in Oklahoma City CR, August 1956, p. 227.
5 at the first Moscow Medical Institute Discussion of Regina and Gerhardt Fischer in Moscow. Johnson, p. 125.
6 Regina Fischer had no long-term residence PRO, pp. 1–4.
7 One of Bobby’s first memories BFE, p. 1.
8 flung his pencil down in frustration and grabbed a brown crayon, but this time he paused MCF
9 Later, he became enamored of Japanese interlocking puzzles NYT, February 23, 1958, SMD 38.
10 In early 1949 Regina Fischer took the least expensive housing she could find FBI report, 8-24-53 (SAC, New York, 100-102290).
11 on a rainy day when Bobby had just turned six Parade, October 27, 1957, p. 22.
12 Neither Joan nor Bobby had ever seen a chess set before BFE, p. 1.
13 “Nobody we knew ever played chess” BFE, p. 1.
14 “At first it was just another game” BFE, p. 1.
15 “She was too busy to take the game seriously.” BFE, p. 2
16 “My mother has an anti-talent for chess” Life, February 21, 1964.
17 Instead, he sought to discover any trap or pitfall lurking in his “opponent’s” position Life, February 21, 1964.
18 Bobby, then seven years old, hated his new environs BFE, p. 1.
19 The tenants downstairs complained of the banging noise Letter from landlord to Regina Fischer, no date, MCF.
20 “Bobby could discuss concepts like infinity” Parade, October 27, 1957, p. 21.
21 He then named Siegbert Tarrasch, a German player Chessworld, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1964, p. 59.
22 “MOMMY I WANT TO COME HOME” Postcard, no date, MCF.
23 In the winter of 1950, when he was seven years old BFE, p. 1.
24 However, a distant relative of Bobby’s suggested Interview of Russell Targ by author, December 2008.
25 “my little chess miracle,” Letter from Regina Fischer to Herman Helms, Brooklyn, New York, Nov. 14, 1951.
26 “They did not interest me too much” BFE, p. 1.
27 One spectator at the exhibition that evening was Carmine Nigro BFE, p. 2.
Chapter 2: Childhood Obsession
Discussions with Carmine Nigro about Bobby Fischer supplied much of the material in this chapter, as well as correspondence with Dr. Harold Sussman and Dr. Ariel Mengarini. Several notes exchanged between Bobby Fischer and his mother were also helpful in outlining this period of his life; his autobiographical essay supplied information that filled in gaps of knowledge.
1 No one had the temerity to disagree Author’s conversation with Carmine Nigro, May 1955, Brooklyn, NY.
2 Even Emanuel Lasker Hannak, p. 17.
3 where Enrico Caruso and Geraldine Farrar had sung CR, December 1944.
4 After coaxing from Nigro Discussion with author, 1956.
5 “At first I used to lose all the time” BFE, p. 2.
6 Nigro would greatly increase his son’s allowance PRO, p. 7.
7 there are 72,084 positions after two moves each AnswerBag.com.
8 “Mr. Nigro was possibly not the best player in the world but he was a very good teacher.” BFE, p. 2.
9 “My mother was often on duty on weekends” BFE, p. 2.
10 Dr. Sussman was also an amateur photographer Letter from Dr. Sussman to author, circa 1972, FB.
11 one could tell by the inflection in his voice that he was affected by the experience Author’s conversation with Bobby Fischer, New York City, circa 1964.
12 Carmine Nigro was a professional musician, and taught music in a number of styles NYT, September 2, 2001, p. 27.
13 Soon Bobby was playing “Beer Barrel Polka” and other tunes Regina Fischer press release, circa 1956, MCF.
14 “I did fairly well on it for a while” BFE, p. 2.
15 He played at the Brooklyn Chess Club every Friday night BFE, p. 2.
16 Nigro would drive Bobby to Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village BFE, p. 2.
17 Nigro felt they wouldn’t tolerate Bobby’s sometimes languorous tempo Author’s conversation with Carmine Nigro, May 1955, Brooklyn, NY.
18 Bobby spent hours after school at the Grand Army Plaza library BFE, p. 3.
19 a photograph showing him studying appeared Brooklyn Public Library News Bulletin, July 1952.
20 Years later, when a chess collector finally took possession NIC, 2008, Issue 4, p. 6.
21 He even maintained his involvement with the game while bathing Conversation with Regina Fischer, circa 1958.
22 “Bobby virtually inhaled chess literature” Author’s interview of Allen Kaufman, New York, March 16, 2009.
23 he was taught songs by rote for Hanukkah and Purim, in both English and Yiddish, a language he didn’t know Undated papers from Brooklyn Jewish Children’s School, MCF.
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br /> 24 And in the restroom he may have seen that his penis was different from the rest: He wasn’t circumcised Fischer’s open letter to Judaica Encyclopedia, 1984.
25 and he later claimed that he’d received no training in Judaic customs or theology Fischer’s open letter to Judaica Encyclopedia, 1984.
26 Bobby could concentrate on puzzles or chess for hours Article in Parade, October 27, 1957, p. 21.
27 By the time he reached the fourth grade, he’d been in and out of six schools Ibid.
28 In frustration, Regina registered Bobby in a school for gifted children Ibid.
29 In the fall of 1952, when Bobby was nine, Regina secured scholarship enrollment for him in Brooklyn Community Woodward Architecture 101: 321, “Clinton Avenue, The Architecture of Brooklyn.”
30 The school’s philosophy of education was based on the principles of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi BFE, p. 9.
31 To learn early American history, for example Brooklyn Eagle, January 31, 1943.
32 “If he’d been born next to a swimming pool he would have been a swimming champion” Schonberg. NYT, February 23, 1958; P. SM 38.
33 “Dear Bobby—Finish off the soup and rice” Regina Fischer notebook, MCF.
34 that potential friend would have had to not only know how to play chess but Associated Press wire story, October 12, 1958.
35 He was happy when the glare of the winter light ceased Letter from Regina Fischer to Bobby Fischer, circa September 1958, MCF.
36 A young math student replied—he even knew how to play chess Postcard, September 24, 1951, MCF.
37 And off he’d go to his chessboard, without his mother’s permission Author’s conversation with Regina Fischer, December 1960, New York.
38 One of Bobby’s few non-chess interests emerged unexpectedly during his eighth year in the summer of 1951 BFE, p. 1.
39 Bobby would train to take various Red Cross swimming tests American Red Cross Swimming Cards, various dates, MCF.
40 Regina insisted that he have a psychological evaluation Author’s conversation with Regina Fischer, December 1960, New York.
41 “I just go for it.” Author’s conversation with Bobby Fischer, January 1964, New York.
42 “I told her that I could think of a lot worse things than chess that a person could devote himself to” Letter from Dr. Ariel Mengarini to author, March 31, 1963, New York.
43 “I’d already gone through most of the books in the public library” BFE, p. 3.
44 the money was spent on chocolate milk for lunch and a candy bar after school Regina Fischer notebook, MCF.
45 he expected to be called in front of Senator McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee hearings Author’s conversation with Harold M. Phillips, New York City, June 1960.
46 When Mikhail Botvinnik, who became World Chess Champion, arrived at the Bolshoi Opera House Alexander Kotov, “Why the Russians?” Chessworld, 1964, No. 2.
47 One Soviet tournament registered more than seven hundred thousand players Ibid.
48 “They are out to win for the greater glory of the Soviet Union” NYT, June 13, 1954, p. SM19.
49 He dutifully took his seat in the auditorium, as though he were at the Academy Awards of chess PRO, p. 9.
50 David Bronstein asked for a glass of lemon juice NYT, June 25, 1954, p. 23.
51 there was the Soviets’ recent routing of the Argentine team in Buenos Aires and the French team in Paris NYT, June 13, 1954, p. S4.
52 Nigro noted with proud amusement that his protégé was watching carefully Author’s conversation with Carmine Nigro, May 1955, Brooklyn, NY.
53 Dr. Fine wasn’t playing for the United States CR, July 1954, p. 199.
54 the man Bobby had played in a simultaneous exhibition three years previously Ibid.
55 “He seemed to be a nice kid, somewhat shy” Interview of Allen Kaufman by author, March 16, 2009.
56 “Chess spectators are like Dodger fans with laryngitis” NYT, June 23, 1954, p. 27.
57 “No matter how talented by natural heritage, the amateur lacks that sometimes brutal precision” CL, July 5, 1954, p. 4.
58 The following year, in July 1955 NYT, July 7, 1955, p. 33.
59 There Khrushchev issued a policy statement NYT, July 5, 1955, p. 1.
60 “Mr. Nigro introduced me around and when I got better it was easier to get a game.” BFE, p. 2.
61 Kibitzers, always free with mostly unwanted advice BFE, p. 5.
62 “Mr. Nigro, when is the food coming?” Author’s conversation with Carmine Nigro, May 1956, New York.
63 So involved was Bobby in his games NYT, June 20, 1955, p. 42.
64 Bobby was highly indignant PRO, p. 10.
65 “We were glad when it was over” BFE, p. 5.
66 He finished fifteenth, and was awarded a ballpoint pen NYT, October 3, 1955, p. 27.
67 A few weeks later, however, while walking with his mother BFE, p. 5.
68 The New York Times ran a small story about the results NYT, October 3, 1955, p. 27.
69 “My grandfather had shown little interest in [me] and knew nothing about chess.” BFE, p. 5.
Chapter 3: Out of the Head of Zeus
Regina Fischer’s diary entries about Bobby’s trip to Cuba offered illuminating anecdotes about his interactions with his teammates. Interviews of players such as James T. Sherwin, Allen Kaufman, and Anthony Saidy, and extracts from Bobby’s autobiographical essay, also elucidate aspects of his life at this time.
1 “We were looking for [a way] to get out of the heat …” BFE, p. 4.
2 “I was so impressed by his play that I introduced the 12-year old to Maurice Kasper, the president of the club” Letter from Walter Shipman, March 31, 2009, FB.
3 “perhaps half of all of the greatest players of the past hundred years have been Jews” Saidy and Lessing, p. 179.
4 “I adored playing with Bobby” Interview of Dr. Stuart Margulies by the author, February 19, 2009.
5 Nevertheless, the boy was impressed at being in the presence of a champion Note by Bobby Fischer, undated, circa September 1955, FB.
6 Eighty-year-old Harold M. Phillips, a master and member of the board, wistfully likened Bobby’s style of play Author’s conversation with Harold M. Phillips, circa 1964, New York.
7 “You can’t win every game. Just do your best every time.” BFE, p. 5.
8 “He would just get real quiet, twist that dog tag even more and immediately set up the pieces to play again.” Mike Franett, “The Man Who Knew Bobby Fischer,” Chess, September 2001, pp. 8–10.
9 Regina called Bobby every day at an arranged time to see if he was all right Press release, undated, circa March 1956, MCF.
10 “It gave me a big thrill” BFE, p. 4.
11 One player, William Schneider, said he was embarrassed when he and Laucks—sporting his swastika Interview of William Schneider by the author, circa 2005, New York.
12 Bobby gave a twelve-board simultaneous exhibition against members of the club and won ten and drew two BFE, p. 8.
13 “The Cubans seem to take chess more seriously” BFE, p. 5.
14 The New York Times took notice of the Log Cabin tour NYT, March 5, 1956. p. 36.
15 the unstructured routine enabled him BFE, p. 5.
16 he disliked “any kind of formality and ceremony.” BFE, p. 5.
17 “Bobby Fischer rang my doorbell one afternoon” Collins, pp. 34–35.
18 The short, stunted man confined to a wheelchair and the growing boy went to movies Peter Marks, “The Man Who Was Fischer’s Chess Mentor,” Newsday, September 28, 1992, p. 39.
19 Bobby said that he always felt Nigro was more of a friend than a teacher BFE, p. 2.
20 With pupils, he’d often just set up a position and say, “Let’s look at this” Interview of Allen Kaufman by author, March 16, 2009.
21 “I think Jack helped Bobby psychologically, with chess fightingness” Interview of James T. Sherwin by author, February 29, 2009.
22 “geniuses like Beethoven, Leonardo da Vinci” Collins, pp. 48–49.
23 She persuaded Maurice Kasper of the Manhattan Chess Club to give her $125 toward Bobby’s expenses Letter from Regina Fischer to Maurice Kasper, June 24, 1956, MCF.
24 Bobby played a twenty-one-game simultaneous exhibition International Photo, undated, FB.
25 Some of America’s youngest but strongest stars had ventured north of the border Interview of James Sherwin by author, February 27, 2009, by telephone.
26 “I knew I should have won!” From “Let’s Play Chess,” by William Oaker; clipping from unidentified newspaper, January 18, 1958. FB.
27 Freud held that dream content Freud, pp. 350–51.
28 “I had no idea that I was talking to a future world’s champion” Interview of Larry Evans by author, January 2010, by telephone.
29 “I’ll stop coming” Author’s conversation with Regina Fischer, circa 1958, New York.
30 “Industry!” Regina yelled at Bobby Conversation between author and Regina Fischer, circa 1956, New York.
31 Bobby’s remembrance of Streisand? “There was this mousey little girl” Andersen, p. 41.
32 Indeed, he’d already begun making frequent visits to the Marshall Recollection of author.
33 It was at this club that Cuba’s brilliant José Raúl Capablanca gave his last exhibition Archives of the Marshall Chess Club, MCF.
34 Bobby’s habitual mufti of T-shirt, wrinkled pants, and sneakers was considered an outrage by Caroline Marshall Author’s conversation with Caroline Marshall, May 1964.
35 Dark-haired, elegant in speech and dress, the twenty-five-year-old Byrne invariably held a cigarette between two fingers Observation of author, and Golombek, Golombek’s Encyclopedia, p. 52.
36 “The onlookers were invited to sit right next to you” BFE, p. 3.
37 Then, suddenly, he moved his knight to a square where it could be snapped off CL, December 1956, p. 374.
28 “It was extraordinary: The game and Bobby’s youth were an unbeatable combination.” Interview of Allen Kaufman by author, March 16, 2009.
39 As the game progressed, Bobby had only twenty minutes remaining on his clock to make the required forty moves CR, December 1956, p. 374.