AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, August 29, 1965 - Page 77
Fischer In Havana Tourney, By Phone
It is news when Bobby Fischer, 22-year-old brilliant and temperamental U.S. chess champion, announces, as he has on several occasions, that he will not play chess.
It is even better news when, after a layoff of nearly two years, he accepts an invitation to a strong international tournament. And, when the tournament is in Havana, and Fischer will play in New York, there must be a story.
For several years Cuba has sponsored a Capablanca Memorial Chess Tournament, which has attracted many of the leading world grandmasters. Fischer was invited as a matter of course.
Fischer accepted, but soon found that Americans are not traveling to Cuba these days, except in most unusual circumstances, and that the State Department frowns on the idea.
At the scheduled time Fischer sits at a hoard in the Marshall Chess Club, 23 W. 10th St., New York. He has been informed in advance who his opponent will be and who has the first move.
When Fischer moves this is immediately transmitted to his opponent in Havana. When the latter replies, the move is relayed and made on Fischer's board by a referee. The usual chess clock is used, but each player is timed at his own board.
Because of inevitable delays in communication, the telephone session will last considerably longer than in over the board play, allowing the contestants more time than usual. This is no advantage to Fischer, who generally plays much faster than his opponents.
The tournament is about to start as this is written. It will be the first real competition for Fischer since his amazing 11-0 victory in the U.S. Championship Tournament in December, 1963.
