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Lot #717
Bobby Fischer Signed 1959 Zurich Chess Tournament Program

Scarce program for a 1959 Zurich chess tournament, signed by the 16-year-old Bobby Fischer as the world's youngest grandmaster

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Estimate: $3000+
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Description

Scarce program for a 1959 Zurich chess tournament, signed by the 16-year-old Bobby Fischer as the world's youngest grandmaster

Rare program from the 150th Anniversary International Chess Tournament in Zurich, Switzerland, held from May 19-June 8, 1959, 6 x 9, 16 pages, signed inside in blue ballpoint by the 16 participants, including: Bobby Fischer, Gedeon Barcza, Hein Donner, Andreas Duckstein, Svetozar Gligoric, Paul Keres, Brent Larsen, Fridrik Ollafsson, Mikhail Tal, Wolfgang, Unzicker, Edwin Bhend, Max Blau, Dieter Keller, Josef Kupper, Erwin Nievergelt, and Edgar Walther. In fine condition.

For this tournament, ten foreign players—including eight grandmasters—were invited to Zurich to compete against six top Swiss players. Bobby Fischer, then just 16 years old and the youngest-ever grandmaster, came close to tying Mikhail Tal in the final. However, a loss to Swiss champion Dieter Keller in the penultimate round cost Fischer a spot at the top—he had to settle for a third-place tie with Paul Keres, behind Svetozar Gligoric and tournament champion Mikhail Tal.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring John F. Kennedy
  • Dates: #647 - Ended November 09, 2022