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Lot #1053
Bobby Fischer Signature

Bobby Fischer becomes the youngest ever Grandmaster

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Estimate: $2500+
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Description

Bobby Fischer becomes the youngest ever Grandmaster

Vintage red ballpoint signature, "Bobby Fischer," on the reverse of a 5 x 3.25 postcard depicting the 21 competitors of the 1958 Portoroz Interzonal Chess Tournament, all of whom have joined Fischer in adding their autographs, including: Yuri Averbakh, Pal Benko, David Bronstein, Rodolfo Cardoso, Boris de Greiff, Miroslav Filip, Géza Füster, Svetozar Gligorić, Bent Larsen, Aleksandar Matanović, Oleg Neikirch, Friðrik Ólafsson, Ludek Pachman, Oscar Panno, Tigran Petrosian, Héctor Rossetto, Raúl Sanguineti, James Sherwin, László Szabó, and Mikhail Tal. The postcard is also signed by chess arbiters Harry Golombek and Vladimir Vuković. In fine condition. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder.

After becoming the youngest winner of the U.S. Championship, a victory that earned him the title of International Master, Fischer qualified to participate in the 1958 Portoroz Interzonal, the next step toward challenging the World Champion. This would be Fischer’s first international tournament ever, and although many believed the 15-year-old was too young and too inexperienced to successfully compete on the international stage, Fischer finished strong in Portoroz and managed a tie for 5th-6th, qualifying him for the Candidates Tournament and officially making him the sport's youngest ever Grandmaster. A remarkable postcard of considerable historical significance as it relates to the legend and ascendance of a young Bobby Fischer—this is only the second signed item we have seen from this historic event, and the only one containing all of the autographs on a highly desirable single page.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts
  • Dates: #633 - Ended April 13, 2022