The 1963 Western Open (No.3)
On the weekend of July 5-6, 2003 the Western Open will meet for the 47th time. The tournament will be played, as usual, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It will be a simple 5 Round Swiss System affair with very few big names from the American chess scene in attendance. If you're looking for the biggest names in American Chess you should get on I-94 heading toward Chicago, then when you get past Chicago take I-80 East past Cleveland, then take I-76 all the way into Philadelphia. Once in Philly look for the Adams Mark Hotel and there you will find IM Ben Finegold, co-winner of last year's 30th Annual World Open here to defend his crown vs. the top American chessplayers. This year's World Open features $180,000 in guaranteed prizes!! That's why the top American chessplayers are in Philadelphia!
However, back in 1963, Dr. Henry Hoffman, owner of the Wenonah Hotel, in Bay City, Michigan, had a dream. He wanted to bring the Western Open, which wouldn't have to compete with the World Open for another ten years, to his hotel in Bay City. He also wanted to get Bobby Fischer to play in that tournament. Bobby Fischer -- at the Western Open -- in Michigan?? The same Bobby Fischer who had been playing on the international circuit since 1958? Yes, that Bobby Fischer. You mean -- the same Bobby Fischer who had just won the Interzonal Tournament in Stockholm and finished fourth in the Candidates tournament in Curacao? Yes! Was there a different Bobby Fischer? OK, Dr. Hoffman wanted Fischer to play in the Western Open in Bay City, Michigan, and he was going to offer him what? Well, first place was $750. Well, that's better than the first place winner of the Western Open will receive in 2003 ($450). But it's a far cry from what the 2003 World Open winner will get ($14,000). What else could this tournament offer to pry Fischer away from the international tour? Well, some of the biggest names in American chess would be there -- including the Byrne brothers, Hans Berliner and Arthur Bisguier. But why would Fischer leave the international circuit for this little backwater venue? Well, the answer to that question could only come from the psyche of Bobby Fischer, himself.
What was Bobby Thinking?
In 1962 Sports Illustrated published an interview with nineteen year old Bobby Fischer. It was quite controversial and the timing with which it was released made it even more so. That interview went to press just after Fischer finished a disappointing 4th place (3 full points out of 3rd place) in the Candidates Tournament in Curacao. Fischer complained heavily in the interview that the Russians were 'cheating' by ordering certain players to lose or draw games against the players that the Russians wanted to compete for the World Championship. At the time this was met with ridicule and scorn. The Russians claimed that it was simply a case of 'sour grapes', but with the break-up of the Soviet Union many Russian chessplayers have told of how they were coerced by the Soviets into doing just what Fischer had claimed. Of course, it was pretty well known, at the time, that if you adjourned a game vs. a Soviet player you would have a whole army of Soviet Grandmasters analyzing the position against you while the player you faced would be relaxing.
Perhaps it was this 'stacked deck' in international competition that caused young Bobby to drop out of the circuit. Maybe it was the reaction he got for 'blowing the whistle' on the mighty Soviet chess cartel. I, for one, believe there was at least one more factor to throw into the mix. 1962 was a fateful year for young Bobby. Not only was the aforementioned disappointing Candidates Tournament played then, but he also had a big break-up and an ill-fated attraction to the Worldwide Church of God which was led by Herbert W. Armstrong.
The break-up was with his family. He had been distancing himself from his mother and in 1962 he began to live alone. His mother and sister moved out of the family apartment. No problem, Bobby filled the void with chess. It is said that he had chess sets by every bed with a different game going at each one. The apartment was filled with some 200 chess books and several foreign chess journals. At this point in his life Bobby often searched the radio dial for something to listen to.
About this period of his life, Fischer has said, "I had some personal problems, and I started listening to a lot of radio ministers. I listened every Sunday all day, flipping the dial up and back. So, I heard just about every guy on Sunday. And then I heard Mr. Armstrong, and I said, "Ah, God has finally shown me the one, I guess. This guy really has power. authority. He doesn't talk like the other guys. He really knows his stuff!"
When I started listening, it was to Herbert Armstrong mostly. Then Herbert and his son were alternating every day for awhile. One day it was Herbert, and one day it was Ted. Then it was Herbert just on Sundays. And eventually, Herbert was just phased out.
Well, I kind of split my life into two pieces. One was where my chess career lies. There, I kept my sanity, so to speak, and my logic. And the other was my religious life. I tried to apply what I learned in the church to my chess career too. But I still was studying chess. I wasn't just "trusting in God" to give me the moves."
Fischer's involvement with the Worldwide Church of God deepened. They treated him like a King in the heady times surrounding the championship match in 1972. Things get sketchy again at that point, but Fischer had a big break with Herbert Armstrong and the WCG over Herbert's continuous failed predictions of the return of Christ and the end of the world as we know it. Somewhere between 1972 and 1975 Bobby broke clean from the group and moved on to darker pastimes. But, back in 1962 he was just beginning to fall under the spell of old Herbert. Perhaps an additional factor that kept Bobby from competing internationally was that he wanted to be in the USA where he'd be sure to hear the WCG's "World Tomorrow" broadcasts every Sunday.
It was a tumultuous time for a twenty year old Bobby Fischer. He didn't want to play the Russians on their tilted field and he didn't like the reception he got from the international chess crowd when he spoke out about what the Soviets were doing. He was now living alone, fending for himself for the first time in his life. He was beginning to turn over a part of his life to a radio preacher who taught "The end is near!" At this point in his life he decided he would rather play chess on the piece of ground that's bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Dr. Henry Hoffman of Bay City, Michigan would get his wish. Between the dates of July 3rd & July 7th, 1963 Bobby Fischer would be playing in the Western Open, an 8 round Swiss Tournament, at his hotel!
Paul Poschel's Reminiscences of the 1963 Western Open
And of Bobby Fischer
The tournament was run from July 3 through July 7, 1963 in Bay City, Michigan. So it was summer. But the temperature was never really very hot. It was pleasant weather and it never rained during the tournament.The hotel housing the tournament was quite old, as were the sleeping rooms. Yet the hotel was air-conditioned and the sleeping rooms were quiet and comfortable. Most players seemed to choose single accommodations.
The restaurant in the hotel was a pleasant place to dine. The food was good and most players seemed to eat their meals there. One evening during the tournament featured live entertainment during the dinner hour. Country-western songs and music were provided, all of which were very well performed and which were most enjoyable.
The first four top boards were played on a stage, and those games were also displayed on large demonstration boards. Fischer's game, in the center of the stage, always received the most attention, of course. Fischer always showed up for his games wearing a coat and a tie. He impressed me as a serious person, slightly reserved and with a touch of shyness. He made a good impression on me, and I liked him.
When I found out that I was paired against Bobby Fischer in the fourth round of the tournament, I felt very happy to have the opportunity to play him. But I felt nervous about it, to a degree that surprised me. After all, I was an experienced player and a master who had already won many tournaments including state championships! I decided to handle my nervousness by never looking at Bobby Fischer again after the initial handshake. In sum, I would look only at the chessboard and the pieces thereon. The position was all that mattered to me. This worked! After the game started my nervousness disappeared.
The game ended by Fischer offering me a draw, which I accepted. We then subjected the game to considerable analysis, which I enjoyed. Thereafter, Fischer and I went down from the stage and joined some of the other players whose games were also over. The reception from the New York players surprised me. To a man they were overjoyed by the outcome of our game. Fischer was now trailing the leaders of the tournament by half a point. Of course, in subsequent rounds he regained the lead by defeating Ron Finegold, Arthur Bisguier, Donald Byrne, and Hans Berliner, in that order. He won first place outright.
The behavior of one of the New York players was really a shock to me. He would often address the future world champion as "Fish" rather than Bobby or Mr. Fischer. From the tone of his voice it was clear that the name was not meant in any positive sense. It was intended to annoy, even hurt. Fischer's reaction was just an embarrassed smile and to act as if nothing unusual had happened. But I am sure that whenever he played that particular person, he tried especially hard to defeat him. And their lifetime score showed it.
Fischer's approach to chess was always very serious. For example, during his games in this tournament he never left the board. Except perhaps for an occasional visit to the rest room, he gave every game his full effort. No looking at other games or useless chatter with other players while his game was still in progress. We also know that he almost never played speed chess despite being (in his prime) the world's best speed player. He felt it could make his play superficial.
Why did Bobby Fischer give up serious chess and quit the tournament circuit? Robert Byrne once told me, in so many words, that he knew the reason. The reason was Anatoly Karpov! Karpov was the new young wonder and Fischer was not sure he could defeat him. In short he feared him. So he quit at the peak of his career so as to remain forever unbeaten.
One must admit that this explanation has a ring of truth to it. But personally I have always felt there was a second factor. He wished to emulate, I believe, the career of Paul Morphy, his idol. Morphy, we know, quit the game at the peak of his powers and thus remained forever undefeated. Fischer, I feel, wanted a similar outcome to his career, and with the coming of Anatoly Karpov the time to end his career had come. It was a tragic loss to chess. But fortunately we still have his great recorded games to enjoy.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Paul Poschel for his account of the meeting with Fischer and his memories of the tournament. There's not much I can add to that. The following link will take you to all eight games Fischer played in that tournament.