Library celebration honors city’s history with game of chess
By Melody Hanatani
Daily Press
Staff Writer
CITYWIDE Long before the famous 1972 match-up between chess legends Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, the two squared off in a relatively unknown first meeting in Santa Monica.
It was the summer of 1966 and Fischer and Spassky came face-to-face for the first time in what was known as the Second Piatigorsky Cup, a chess tournament — named after top female chess player Jacqueline Piatigorsky — held in the Fairmont Miramar Hotel.
Then 23 years old, Fischer came in second place in the tournament after losing one game to Spassky and tying the second. It would be six years before the two would do battle in what is known as the most famous chess matches in history, Fischer defeating Spassky in the world championships in Iceland and becoming the first American to win the title, ending more than three decades of Soviet dominance.
Their meeting in Santa Monica is indicative of the strong chess culture in the seaside city.
“Santa Monica is (known) as a chess aficionado worldwide,” said Pete Savino, the president of the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club.
A strong chess culture is said to exist in the city, from clubs dedicated to the problem-solving game to chess programs at the library to the popular Chess Park situated near Santa Monica Beach. In a city known for surfing and shopping, chess has similarly made a case for favorite pastime.
Here is the full story.
First time Fischer met Spassky was Mar Del Plata 1960.
Small wonder a ‘first meeting’ at Santa Monica 1966 is ‘relatively unknown’!
But thank you anyway for posting such articles. Of some interest.
where is Santa Móica exactly??
jb.
Santa Monica is on the California coast just west of Los Angeles.
And the Santa Monica Bay CC is my local chess club, literally: they meet just a few blocks from my apartment.
Too bad it’s on a work night. :/
I saw Fischer walking down Santa Monica Blvd. with a blonde during the first half of the tournament. I didn’t see her during the second half.
Fischer was tied for last place at the halfway mark. After a furious rush in which he bowled over GM after GM, he was penultimately held to a draw (and ultimately to second place) by Spassky.
(Of course, correlation does not necessarily mean causation)
My favorite beach place to play. I’ve played Woody Harrelson (won) and Larry Evans (lost) there.
Santa Monica’s chess park
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