Ever since the fraudulent book titled “My 61 Memorable Games” reared its ugly head in December of 2007, there has been much debate and speculation as to whether Bobby Fischer actually had anything to do with it.

Sales for the book have only been seen on the troubled classifieds website “Craig’s List” and it has no ISBN number or publisher affiliated with it.  Various entities have been desperately attempting to promote the book as authentic on multiple chess forums and sales for the minimal copies in circulation have ranged from approximately $100 to $2,000.

The debates over its authenticity have been fierce and proof of its validity has been endlessly sought.  Finally, Einar S. Einnarson (a friend and compatriot of Fischers during his final years in Iceland) has come forward in a series of e-mails to Edward Labate and GM Yasser Seirawan to put this debate to an end, once and for all.

With permission from one of the parties that was privy to these e-mails, they are reproduced for all of you below:

From: Einar S Einarsson
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 11:39 AM
To: ‘Edward Labate’
Cc: ‘Yasser Seirawan’
Subject: RE: Were you, or anyone that was in contact with Bobby his last two years aware of…

Good morning to you Mr. Labate

As you are probably already aware I sent my comments about the big fake scandal reg My 61 Memorable Games to Yasser earlier today and a copy to you for information.

But there were other questions or items in your message which you wanted some inside info about.

It is absolutly absurd theory or assertion that Bobby Fischer had been working on a classical chess project or writing or revising his book of My 60 Mem. Games, after he settle down in Iceland in the spring of 2005, after being given an Icelandic citizenship and released from his kidnap detention in Japan. Still he was eager to show us, his confidant friends, some alleged pre-arranged games from his collection of games between Russian grandmasters. He had fully given up on and was not interested in classical chess, the old chess, as he used to call it, which he deemed to be finished for professional chessmaster because e.g. of its computerization.

Only once he sat down with me opened his travel chess set and studied for a while a game which I had pointed out to him, from NIC 2005/4, between the US Champion Hikaru Nakamura and Krishnan Sasikiran, played in Copenhagen 2005, 1.e4 e5, 2 Qh5 !? a move which he found hilarious and a good example of how frustrated professional chessplayers of today had become, allowing themselves to break all traditonal theories and tactics in chess in their severe search for new moves, a clear witness of that the classical chess was emtied or finished.

Although I was not personally involved, but GM Fridrik Olafsson, former President of FIDE who acted as a mediator. I followed Ed Trice attempt to get in touch with Bobby Fischer and he sent me a copy of his proposed deal. Mr. Trice never saw or got in personal contact with Bobby, although he was willing to pay a fee of first 10.000 then 25000 dollars for a meeting with him. All these talks or attempts came to nothing, Bobby was not interested at all and had a feeling of mistrust in the gentelman.

I am truly amazed to see and read about all these speculations and gossip which has been written about Bobby lately, mostly in the States, some writers apparently trying to fool the chess world at the same time. It is about time to give him and this a break …

With best wishes

Einar S. Einarsson

former chairman of

The RJF Campaign and Support Group.

PS. I have written a long article: “Freeing Bobby Fischer”, about our campaign for his release and providing him an Icelandic Citizenship and his life in Iceland, which has already been published partly in Russian 64 Squire Magazine, but I am considering to print the English version as a small booklet with related many photos of mine. It has not been published on the Internet, so perhaps you would be interested to introduce it or sell it on your website, it could still be mailed from me in Iceland. What do you think about that? I attach photos of two commemorative cards we had made for Bobby´s memorial service last year . Enjoy.

From: Einar S Einarsson
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 8:44 AM
To: ‘Yasser Seirawan’
Cc: ‘Edward Labate’; ‘Gardar Sverrisson’
Subject: Comment on: My Sixty One Memorable Games

Dear Yasser,

What a nice surprise to get in personal contact with you again. I tried to track you down in Seattle some 4 years ago just to find out that you were not there anymore but in Holland.

I and some other chess fans (perhaps fanatics is the right word) were following closely with excitement the games in the match Anand vs Kramnik and your fine programme direct from Bonn last October We gathered for every game at “Gallery Skak”, a nice quarters of ours, as you can see from the attached photos. I even sent you a message which you commented on in the air to our enjoyment, but didn’t get my name in as the message space was too limited, so you were not aware who was on the line.

Now to the subject:

We at the former RJF Campaign and Support Group are surprised to find and hear about these absurd speculations that our protégée Bobby Fischer had been involved in writing this new and changed publication of his famous book, now called “My 61 Memorable Games”, as it ought to have been quite obvious and absolutely clear to everybody that it was a fake and a big scam from the very start. Already in December 2007 both Gardar Sverrisson, Fischer´s closest and most loyal friend, and I stated in a short news interview with Morgunbladid here in Reykjavik that Mr. Fischer “had nothing at all to do with it”.

When this news broke in the middle of December 2007, that a book with that naming had been listed on eBay, it made Bobby more sad than angry to hear about it. At that time his health was deteriorating, he had just recently returned home after spending some 7 weeks in hospital due to his fatal illness. Learning about that there were still some conmen out there prepared to violate his personal rights so brutally once again with this elaborate hoax made him really sad but he was not surprised. Still he didn’t want to dignify that rumour with a public comment. That he had supposedly written 12 pages foreword and preface dated Nov 9. 2007, while suffering in hospital is preposterous. It is therefore completely clear, beyond any doubt, the full truth and nothing but the truth, that Bobby Fischer had nothing at all to do with this outrageous publication. It is obscene hoax.

Furthermore I can personally verify who is behind and at least involved with this scam, although it is already clear to most people, as a gentleman named Ed Trice approached me Nov 8 2007 and asked “for some recent photos of Fischer with some other things that nobody else is aware of since he has been in Iceland” As Mr. Trice had been in touch with me earlier on reg. the possibility of a Gothic Chess Match between Karpov and Fischer and his visit to Iceland and possible second visit with Pal Benko and Susan Polgar, although I have never met with the guy, I was foolish enough to trust him and sent him as a friendly favour “confidentially and for his eyes only” a recent photo of mine of Bobby Fischer, which I took with his consent at a famous fish restaurant, 3 Frakkar, downtown Reykjavik and later proved to be the last portrait of the deceased. (Attached) Just a month later this very photo appeared on the cover of this obscenity scam publication.

The last couple of days I have been speaking at length with my pal Gardar Sverrisson about this and Fischers last months and days, as Gardar and his family was taking care of him a lot. Gardar is willing to take a phone call from you if needed for further prove that this book is a scandalous fake. He would very much like to know if somebody has ever seen a copy of it in print. Gardar´s phone number is : +354 ### #### or ### #### (mobile)

I hope this explains and casts some light on this delicate matter.

With best wishes

Einar

+354 ### #### or ### #### mobile

During my extensive research on Jackson Showalter, I recently came across this article from 1916 that details an inexplicable eleven move checkmate suffered by then American chess champion Frank Marshall at a Brooklyn, New York simul.  The article is shown below and the moves of the game are also given:

 SOURCE: Washington Post - April 23rd, 1916

The third Moscow international chess tournament in 1936 had an impressive field of participants, including two former world champions (Jose Raul Capablanca, Emanuel Lasker) and one future world champion (Mikhail Botvinnik).  The tournament took place at the Hall of Columns in Moscow, Russia from May 14th to June 8th, 1936.

The solid mix of Western and Soviet competitors were to play a double round-robin, consisting of eighteen total games.  Capablanca, nine years removed from being the world champion, was alone in first place at the halfway mark.  A point and a half behind him were Botvinnik, Lasker, and Viacheslav Ragozin. The only player to keep within reasonable distance of the leader was Botvinnik, but he eventually finished a full point behind the tournament champion, Capablanca.

The tournament book was written by one of the participants, Gregory Levenfish and later translated to English by Jimmy Adams.  Copies of the book are available HERE at Labate Chess, and feel free to mention the “Rook House” name to get an additional 10-15% off.

Lastly, the seventh round game between Capablanca and Botvinnik was an instant classic and is shown below. Enjoy.

One year ago today, the greatest chess player of all time passed away in Iceland of kidney failure.  Bobby Fischer was 64 years old when he died and despite the fact that he had not played competitive chess since 1992, he was still the most talked about player in the annals of chess history.

There have  since been discussions of possible movies about Fischer, an algebraic release of his legendary “My 60 Memorable Games”, and increased conversations about his brilliant chess play and controversial personality.  The topic of Fischer never gets old, no matter what spin is put on it.  A timeless character, whose name is the very first that comes to mind when the game of chess is mentioned anywhere in the world.

His classic battle with Boris Spassky in 1972 reamains to be the greatest chess match of all time, just as his toppling of the Russian chess machine reamains the most amazing feat of all time.

First he was taken from the chess world too soon, and then ultimately taken from the entire world too soon.  His chess theories and novelties continue to amaze, and his contributions of the Fischer clock and Fischer Random Chess are still celebrated today.

Thank you for the memories Bobby, you will definitely be remembered and revered forever.  Presented in your honor is game # 14 from your very own classic book, as well as a photo from that same brilliant game.

Can anyone name the individuals in the background?

Stefano Roselli del Turco was a strong international chess player in the 1920’s and 1930’s.  He won the Italian Chess Championship in 1920, 1923, and 1931.  Even this strong chess master was not immune to bad games or blunders.

At the famous 1925 Baden-Baden tournament, he played a game against the legendary Efim Bogoljubow in which he was playing the black side of a Queen’s Gambit Declined.  On the 17th move he inexplicably played 17… Rf4??? and quickly resigned one move later.

Samuel Reshevsky, the legendary chess prodigy who was born in Poland and later immigrated to the United States, made his tournament debut at the age of 10 years old.  The site was the Chess Club International in New York City and the date was October 8th, 1922.

The youngster’s opponent was Charles Jaffe, a very accomplished and seasoned American chess player.  Reshevsky (then spelled “Rzeschewski”) played the black side of a Ruy Lopez.  The game was initially adjourned with little Reshevsky enjoying an advantageous position and an additional pawn.  Jaffe would eventally equalize the position after play resumed and the result was a hard fought 59-move draw.

The Edward Labate vs Ed Trice saga has come to a climactic end.  It has been reported that Mr. Labate won his court battle over Trice and was awarded 21.2 million dollars in a civil action suit on October 16th, 2008.

To view the actual document, click here: http://www.labatechess.com/ed_trice.html 

Some of you will recall that Trice was attempting to collect money from unsuspecting chess fans for a bogus edition of a famous Bobby Fischer publication, calling it “My 61 Memorable Games”.  After approaching Labate with this proposition and promptly being turned down, an angry Trice attempted to lay blame on Labate as being the party behind this disrespectful and unlawful hoax.

Mr. Labate (labatechess.com) has been a chess book seller and contributor to the great game of chess for over 30 years.  His excellent reputation in the chess world was wrongfully attacked in cowardly fashion by the proprietor of Gothic Chess, Ed Trice.

Many accusations and battles ensued between these two on several chess sites all over the internet, with Trice constantly being proven wrong and continuing to spin an elaborate web of lies and false statements. 

It got to the point where legal action was the final recourse to prove once and for all who was telling the truth in this very public war of words.  The court system awarded a lawsuit in favor of Labate and ordered Trice to cease his libelous and slanderous attacks in all forms of media.

It is good to see this all come to an end and even better to see that the court system works.  Trice thought that he was above the law and completely untouchable.  He believed that his lies and unlawful actions would never come back on him …… but he was definitely wrong.

To further show what kind of person he is, Trice hunted down my home phone number and threatened to sue me over this posting and coupled that with some juvenile obscenities in a cowardly voice mail (from a private number).

Lastly, there have been 4 comments all sent from the same IP address that track back to Philadelphia, PA.  All comments were posed as 4 different people, 2 of which I know personally.  I contacted both of them and they confirmed that it was someone else posing as them.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who it was.  They are posted below, so you can judge for yourself:

• Claude | IP: 96.245.251.172 | There is something wrong with Labate’s lawsuit though. You can’t sue someone in your own area. You have to sue them where they live. That lawsuit thing looks fishy.

         Nov 2, 11:32 AM

• Rob M | IP: 96.245.251.172 | As much as I hate Trice, I have to say this is an obviously faked posting. Legal documents have a thin font such as Courier or Times. There is no way this thick, bold text appears on any court papers.

          Nov 2, 5:20 PM

• dale trent | IP: 96.245.251.172 | Trice lives in Pennsylvania and yet the court ruling was from Alabama? This ain’t how the legal system works. If Labate sued Trice, a PA court needs to make the ruling. I agree the whole thing looks contrived.

          Nov 3, 3:32 PM

• Titus K | IP: 96.245.251.172 | Mr. Rob Mitchell, When may I expect my $50,000 payment for video services rendered for your Street Chess project?   Titus K.

          Nov 3, 4:08 PM

Congratulations to Viswanathan Anand on winning the World Chess Championship by a score of 6.5-4.5 over Vladimir Kramnik.  I admit that I was pulling for Kramnik, but I also recognize the incredible performance and wonderful achievement by the better player, Anand.

Up to this point, I had still considered Kramnik the true champion (dating all the way back to 2000) from the standpoint that he had not been defeated in a match since his victory over Garry Kasparov.

It is an opinion that has been argued over and over again, but my firm belief is that the true world champion should have to be defeated in match play to truly lose his or her crown.  The tournament format is simply unacceptable and disrespectful to the great history of the game.

That being said, I am truly happy for Anand.  He has been a great player and a class act for many years.  I can’t think of a player more deserving of this great honor.  He is a wonderful ambassador to the game of chess and I am confident that he will be a formidable champion.

In honor of his victory, I present one of Anand’s impressive victories over Kasparov in the ninth game of the 1995 world championship match:

Well, I’m back after a hiatus of over a month!!  I recently went through a career change and have been very busy adapting to my new job.  Unfortunately, my chess blog and website had to suffer for a short while.

According to my web statistics, I am still getting over 500 visitors a day, so I am very happy that people are still coming back despite my brief absence.  I hope to start posting again with some regularity, but it all depends on how much time the new job leaves me.

I have been following the WCC match between Vladimir Kramnik and Viswanathan Anand to a small degree and was somewhat disappointed in Kramnik’s lackluster play through the first eight games of the match.  He seems to be turning it around, as he outplayed Anand in game nine (only managing a draw) and in today’s game ten (winning in convincing fashion).  But, with only two games remaining and a 6.0-4.0 deficit, I fear that it’s too little and much too late.

A twelve game championship match seems incredibly short by historical standards.  Reminds me of the ten game matches that Emanuel Lasker played in the early 1900’s against Carl Schlechter and David Janowski. 

Seeing as today’s game was the only real spark we’ve seen out of Kramnik to this point, it is presented below for your enjoyment. 

Which Chess Match That Never Took Place Would You Most Like To Have Seen?

Our recent poll poses an interesting question, one of which makes you go back in time and really think about the matchups that never took place.  This is one of the most compelling polls that we’ve come up with and one of the most difficult to limit the choices offered.

Please vote for one of the nine choices or pick “other” and comment here.  This should hopefully stir up some enjoyable conversation.