March - Chess Journalists of America

EB 05-31 Amended (Brady): Change the
severance pay for Kalev from two weeks
to one month. Passed 7- 0.
Petersen reportedly wishes to
keep the Publications department
in New Windsor until at least September,
or until the Crossville office
is fully operational. In view of
the problems of staffing, this seems
a reasonable proposal.
Pehme’s performance certainly
did not meet with universal approval,
and the Board’s decision can be
defended on the merits. It is, however,
unclear why such precipitate
action was taken. Questions also
arise as to how seriously their earlier
“editorial search” is to be taken.
No doubt more will be heard of this
after the EB election this August.
[[Late news: We regret to report
that Glenn Petersen suffered a heart
attack in late March. It is not yet
known whether this will impact his
performance as editor. We send our
best wishes for a speedy recovery.]]
Bisguier Named Dean
of American Chess
Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier
has been named, “Dean of American
Chess” by the United States Chess
Federation for his longtime dedication
to chess. GM Bisguier joins the
ranks of chess legends Hermann
Helms, George Koltanowski and
Arnold Denker with being awarded
this title.
Art was introduced to chess at
age 4 by his father who was a mathematician.
As a math exercise he
would give Art puzzles to do…not
long after that he found chess and
hasn’t stopped since. At age 15, he
placed third at the Bronx Empire
Chess Club and at age 17 tied for fifth
place in the prestigious U.S. Open
and then went on to win the title of
U.S. Junior Champion in 1948. In
1954 at the U.S. Championship he
beat Larry Evans (who held the title
for three years) by one point. Two
years later Bisguier added the title
of U.S Open Champion to his col-
lection. By 1978, Bisguier had won
three National Open titles (1970 w/
Evans, 1974 and 1978). Art continued
to achieve prestigious titles one
of which was winner of the first ever
Grand Prix in 1980. He won the US
Senior Open Championship in 1989,
1997 and again in 1998. Bisguier has
held every major American title!
Over the years Bisguier has been
competitive abroad and represented
the U.S. in international team
matches with Russia. Bisguier is one
of the most recognized chess players
in the world. His free “10 Tips to
Winning Chess” has been in circulation
for many years and is still a
highly requested brochure. Bisguier
will again offer free game analysis
at the 2005 National Open Chess
Championship being held in Las Vegas
June 9-13, 2005 at the Riviera
Hotel and Casino. He will then play
in the 2005 Senior Open, also in Las
Vegas. He recently published a book,
“The Art of Bisguier” containing a
collection of his games, (annotated
by him) and his life story.
Art is no doubt worthy of the title,
“Dean of American Chess”. It is
not often that someone comes along
and takes the chess world by storm
and at age 75 is still going strong.
Chess is a game suited for any age
player…Art has certainly proven
this throughout his career. Playing
chess is the “right move”.
Art is not only loved and supported
by those in the chess world but
also by wife Carol and daughters Erica
and Cele. – USCF news release
Fischer to Iceland
Former world chess champion
Bobby Fischer left Japan for Iceland
on March 23, following his release
from an eight-month detention.
The 62-year-old took emplaned
to Copenhagen, from which he
plans to fly to Iceland. The country
has granted him a passport and
citizenship.
The United States had previously
demanded that Japan hand
over Fischer despite Iceland’s move
to accept the chess legend.
“That’s what we’ve asked for,”
Adam Ereli, deputy spokesman for
the U.S. State Department, told reporters,
when asked if the United
States wants Japan to hand him
over to the United States.
Ereli expressed “disappointment”
about the Icelandic parliament’s decision
Monday to grant citizenship
to Fischer.
“It’s an arrangement that we’re
disappointed by. Mr Fischer is a fugitive
from justice. There is a federal
warrant for his arrest. He’s being
detained in Japan, awaiting deportation
and that’s the step that we’re
looking forward to,” he said.
Fischer was granted Icelandic
citizenship after a vote in the country’s
parliament on Monday. Following
Iceland’s decision, the Japanese
Justice Ministry began considering
whether to allow Fischer to leave
for Iceland, ministry officials said
Tuesday.
Fischer’s lawyer, Masako Suzuki,
said the chess icon had “smiled
from the bottom of his heart when
he boarded the plane.”
Under Japan’s immigration law,
the former world chess champion
had to be deported to his country of
national origin, which is the United
States, or a country where he has
citizenship.
“I won’t be free until I get out of
Japan,” Fischer told reporters as he
arrived at Tokyo’s Narita airport.
His supporters say he has been
under heavy stress in jail. He was
held for four days in solitary confinement
earlier this month after
scuffling with guards in an argument
over a boiled egg.
The American exile angered
many of his fellow countrymen
when he went on Philippine radio
on 11 September 2001, applauding
the attacks on the US on that day
and launching into an anti-Semitic
diatribe.
8 THE CHESS JOURNALIST MARCH 2005