Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Tuesday, April 10, 1962 - Page 39
Champ Asks Court Act in Chess Match
New York, April 9 (AP)—Bobby Fischer, 19 year old United States chess champion, moved in Supreme court today to bar Samuel Reshevsky from competing in any public chess exhibition until completion of a series of matches started between them last year.
Fischer contends that in violation of established chess custom, Reshevsky improperly claimed the 12th game of a 16 game series on the ground that the youthful chess expert failed to appear.
• • •
Fischer, of Brooklyn, also asked the court to direct Reshevsky to continue the series “from the end of the 11th game.”
Fischer said in a complaint that on March 15 he entered into a contract with his more mature opponent for a series of 16 matches, the winner to receive the major share of the purse.
He said that by last Aug. 12, 11 games had been complete, with the score 5½ games each.
Subsequently, Fischer complained, Reshevsky, who lives in Spring Valley, claimed the 12th game and the match on the ground that his opponent failed to appear. At the time, Fischer said he had never agreed to the time, allegedly scheduled for the 12th game.
• • •
Fischer said it was the general custom among professional chess players that “forfeited games are not declared or accepted because of a temporary failure between two players to agree upon a mutually satisfactory date and time.”
Fischer said he was ready to go ahead with the match but that Reshevsky has 30 days in which to answer the suit, which sought no money damages.
