ADetroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Monday, August 09, 1965 - Page 8
Chess Champ Checkmates U.S.
Bobby Fischer put the U.S. Government in check Sunday by agreeing to participate in a Cuban chess tournament by telephone.
This ploy was necessitated when the State Department denied the 22-year-old grand master a passport to visit Cuba. State ruled that Fischer did not qualify as a working journalist, even though he had been assigned to cover the tournament by two magazines.
Fischer turned to the phone idea after it was suggested by a New York chess enthusiast.
“Sure, I would be willing,” he said. “It's an interesting idea. Let's see if we can do it.”
Tournament sponsors are also agreeable. But Fischer's attorney was afraid the phone competition might put Fischer off his game.
The State Department indicated they would not stop telephone calls to Cuba. But they were also insistent that their previous ruling on travel would not be reviewed.
