Arthur bisguier biography

American chess grandmaster (–)

Arthur Bisguier
Bisguier at the National Open, Las Vegas, Nevada, in
Full&#;name	Arthur Bernard Bisguier
Country	United States
Born	()October 8, New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	April 5, () (aged&#;87) Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Title	Grandmaster ()
Peak&#;rating	(January )

Arthur Bernard Bisguier (October 8, &#;&#; April 5, ) was an American chess player, chess promoter, and journalist who held the FIDE title of Grandmaster (GM).

Bisguier won two U.S. Junior Championships (, ), three U.S. Open Chess Championship titles (, , ), and the United States Chess Championship title. He played for the United States in five chess Olympiads. He also played in two Interzonal tournaments (, ).

On March 18, , the United States Chess Federation (USCF) proclaimed him "Dean of American Chess."

Early years

Bisguier was born in a Jewish family in New York City and graduated from the Bronx Lofty School of Science.^[1] He was taught chess at the age of 4 by his father Jesse (born Jechiel Max Bisgeier), a mathematician.

In , aged 15, he was third at the Bronx Empire Chess Club. In , aged 17, he came fifth in the U.S. Open at Pittsburgh, followed by seventh place in Later that year, he took the U.S. Junior Championship and was invited to the New York Capital –49 International Tournament.

Throughout the s, he was considered one of the United States' top players, with Larry Evans, George Kramer, and Walter Shipman. As he gained in strength, Bisguier was coached by MasterAlexander Kevitz.

Arthur Bernard Bisguier October 8, —April 5, was an American chess grandmasterchess promoter, and scribe. Bisguier was born in Recent York City. He studied at Bronx High School of Science. Bisguier has won two U.

In he retained the U.S. Junior Championship title, and also won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship. In he won the first of his three U.S. Open titles, and also won at Southsea in England.^[2]

Army service interrupted his U.S.

chess career during to , but he managed to get leave to play in two European events. He played at the Helsinki Olympiad , and then won the third annual Christmas tournament at Vienna with a 9–2 score. He earned the International Master title in from his Southsea victory.

U.S.

GM Arthur Bisguier, one of America's greatest chess players of the 20th century, died on Wednesday at the age of 87 while in a care facility in Framingham, Massachusetts. The cause of death was respiratory failure.

Champion, Grandmaster

After a poor performance in the U.S. Open in , he entered the Philadelphia Candidates' Tournament for the U.S. Championship and came through with a first-place finish and another over performance.

His meteoric rise culminated in winning the United States Chess Championship at New York. He also won the 2nd Pan American Chess Championship at Los Angeles In at Oklahoma City, he added the U.S. Open Chess Championship title to his U.S. Championship. Bisguier achieved the International Grandmaster title in He tied with Bobby Fischer for first–second places at the U.S.

Open at Cleveland , where Fischer was awarded the title on tiebreak.^[3]

At the Olympiads

Bisguier represented the United States at five Chess Olympiads; his totals over 82 games are (+29−18=35), for per cent.

His detailed results, from :

• Helsinki , board 4, 7/15 (+3−4=8)
• Munich , board 3, 8½/17 (+6−6=5)
• Leipzig , board 4, 11½/16 (+9−2=5), team silver medal
• Tel Aviv , board 4, 11½/18 (+8−3=7)
• Skopje , board 4, 8/16 (+3−3=10)

Further achievements

Following his U.S.

title in , Bisguier regularly returned to compete for the national championship, but was never able to repeat his success.

GM Arthur Bisguierone of America's greatest chess players of the 20th century, died on Wednesday at the age of 87 while in a concern facility in Framingham, Massachusetts. The cause of death was respiratory failure. Arthur Bernard Bisguier was born in the Bronx on October 8, He was awarded the IM title in and the GM title in

The late s saw the sensational rise of Bobby Fischer, who swept the eight U.S. Championship tournaments that he contested. Bisguier and Fischer were tied for first place going into the last round of the – event, and they still had to face each other.

Bisguier had a promising position but made a mistake, which Fischer punished spectacularly, allowing Fischer to take the game and the title.^[4] Fischer scored 8/11, with Bisguier a point back in clear second place.^[5] Bisguier also served as a second to Fischer at several international events.

Most of Bisguier's play after the mids was limited to U.S. events. He won National Opens in (jointly), , and He won the Lone Pine tournament in , tied for second place behind reigning earth championBoris Spassky in the international tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico in , and took first place in the first-ever Grand Prix in He took first place in the U.S.

Senior Open in , thus winning a U.S. championship at every age level of chess. He won the Senior Unseal again in and

Bisguier continued to play regularly at the Metrowest Chess Club in Natick, MA until He qualified for and competed in the Metrowest Club Championship.^[6]

Chess promoter

For many years, Bisguier was hired to compete in towns throughout the U.S.

to give exhibitions, and to popularize chess and the USCF. For about 20 years, Bisguier was the representative the USCF chose to send to a state for one or two days to play at a hospital, college, or prison, so the public could get a chance to play the Grandmaster and former U.S.

Champion.

arthur bisguier biography4: Arthur Bernard Bisguier (October 8, – April 5, ) was an American chess player, chess promoter, and journalist who held the FIDE title of Grandmaster (GM). Bisguier won two U.S. Junior Championships (, ), three U.S. Open Chess Championship titles (, , ), and the United States Chess Championship title.

He commented: "I was delighted to do it. I was very lucky to get so much out of chess. I tried to offer something back."

Victor Niederhoffer, the hedge fund manager, took chess lessons from Bisguier as an adult.^[7]

Bisguier was a regular contributor to Chess Life magazine.

In he wrote a book on his best games from – titled The Art of Bisguier.^[8] A second volume, The Art of Bisguier: Selected Games , was released in

Notable games

The following game is Bisguier's sole win against Bobby Fischer, their first game played.

Bisguier won two U. Junior Championships, three U. He played for the United States in five chess Olympiads. He also played in two Interzonal tournaments ,

Their second game was a illustrate, after which Fischer won 13 straight — perhaps the longest unbroken winning streak between grandmasters in history. Fischer was aged 13 at the time of this game, but already a strong player and won his celebrated Game of the Century against Donald Byrne in this same tournament.

Bisguier vs. Fischer, Rosenwald Memorial, New York
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 3 c5 2 cxd4 4 Nc6 2 Bd7 Rc8 Be3 Na5 b3 a6 e5 dxe5 fxe5 Ne8 Nd5 Rc6 Nd4 Rc8 Nc2 Rc6 Ncb4 Re6 Bg4 Rxe5 Bb6 Qc8 Bxd7 Qxd7 Bxa5 e6 Nd3 Rh5 N3f4 Rf5 Bb4 exd5 Bxf8 Bxa1 Qxa1 Kxf8 Qh8+ Ke7 Re1+ Kd8 Nxd5 Qc6 Qf8 Qd7 Rd1 Rf6 Qxe8+
1–0^[9]

See also

References

External links