ATucson Daily Citizen, Tucson, Arizona Wednesday, August 08, 1962 - Page 7
Travel-Loving Linguist Has Edge In Junior Class Race
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Ivan Romanenko, his coast and first violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, says Gilden is probably the best player in the country, next to Bobby Fischer, who at 19 is a grandmaster.
Of Fischer, Gilden says he is much “too money-conscious.”
Fischer is one of three U.S. players who are stalemating State Department efforts to send a team to the world championship by demanding payment. Fischer wants $5,000, Larry Evans wants $1,000 and Arthur Bisguier wants $750.
“Fischer should want to play for his country for “much less” said Gilden, adding, “I played for nothing and have even paid my own expenses to do it.” Last August, Gilden was playing in Finland in the world student championship when he was called to Holland to play in the world junior championship for the United States.
However, Gilden admits he's sympathetic with Fischer's feelings that chess players should be able to make money at the game, just as golfers and baseball players make money.
“The best should be able to earn about $10,000 a year,” he said. “But the trouble is we can't get a cigarette company to sponsor us.”
Like Capablanca, the Cuban chess player who became a world traveling diplomat, Gilden wants to be a chess playing ambassador for the United States. He's studying languages at the University of Maryland and besides England and Russian he speaks some French, German and Hebrew. He has hopes of going to the University of Copenhagen next year.
“If I can't join the Foreign Service and be a professional chess player at the same time, I'd like to be in the Peace Corps. Next to chess I like traveling best,” Gilden said.
