connoisseur series500

Here is an interesting story about an incident which isn't well known. It's from www.chesscafe.com The Fischer-Benko Slapping Incident Hanon W. Russell The 1962 Candidates Tournament that was held in the Dutch territory of Curacao was to have a profound effect on Bobby Fischer. He arrived full of optimism; he departed disappointed and cynical. Shortly thereafter, he wrote his famous article for the American magazine Sports Illustrated wherein he accused the Russians of cheating. During that tournament, there was a peculiar incident that has never received much publicity. Indeed, a look at contemporary sources (Chess Review, Chess Life and British Chess Magazine) reveals no direct reference to the incident. In fact, it is only in BCM (October 1962, p.301) that we even read about “Fischer and Benko [having] a slight altercation during one of the early rounds.” (Letter from R. Cantwell). The American contingent consisted of Fischer, Hungarian émigré Pal Benko, and Arthur Bisguier, who technically was designated as Fischer’s second, but was also providing similar help to Benko. After the fifth round of the first cycle, (it was a grueling quadruple round-robin) both Fischer and Benko had adjourned games. (This was the era when adjournments were the norm.) Fischer demanded that Bisguier assist him. Benko, who had started the tournament much better than Fischer, wanted help with his adjourned game against Petrosian. There was a shouting match, and Benko apparently lost his cool. The next day, Fischer wrote the following letter... To the tournament committee of the 1962 Curacao Candidates Tournament: This is an official protest of the behavior of the behavior [sic] of Pal Benko. On the night of May 9, a little before midnight, Benko entered by room without my permission; he had followed Bisguier in. I immediately asked him to leave and he refused. I repeatedly asked to leave and he refused each time. He became angry when I refused to allow my second, Arthur Bisguier, to help him (Benko) analyze his adjournment with Petrosian. He insulted me and when I answered him he struck me while I was seated in a chair. I did not strike him back. Then he finally left the room. I suggest that Benko be fined and/or expelled from the tournament. The above episode was witnessed by Arthur Bisguier. Respectfully, /s/ Robert Fischer Several years ago, we asked Arthur Bisguier if he could shed further light on the incident. Although it does not specifically state that Benko struck Fischer, when asked, Bisguier conceded that had indeed happened. His response reads in full... The following should help put Fischer’s protest in the proper perspective and context. I was Fischer’s official second at Curacao. Although I expressed my willingness to also serve in that capacity for Benko, Fischer insisted on a second all to himself. His justification was that the Candidates’ Tournament is an individual tournament, not a team event, and Benko was another prospective opponent. Curacao was expensive; there were insufficient funds to support two seconds and Fischer was a tournament favorite, while Benko was regarded as a dark horse. Still, I believe it was tacitly understood that, if there were any times when Fischer did not need my services, I would assist Benko in adjournments or analysis if it was not adverse to Fischer’s interest. The incident in question occurred after the fifth round of the first lap of the tournament. Fischer had had travel problems, arrived late and got off to a miserable start with a score of 1½ points out of his first five games. He had just lost a complicated game to Korchnoi and was feeling very despondent. He and I retired to his room where he ordered a substantial dinner from room service. Meanwhile, so far in the tournament, Benko had done surprisingly well. Using his secret weapon, l g3, he defeated Fischer in round one and Tal in round three. Although he had lost to Filip in round two, he held Korchnoi to a draw in round four and after adjourning round five found himself with an extremely favorable position against Petrosian (he was to miss a win and eventually draw in 67 moves). While Fischer was eating, I was trying to placate him when Benko knocked on the door. It was obvious that he was looking for help with his adjourned position. I tried to warn him and signalled that I would get to him after finishing with Bobby. Fischer then asked Benko what he wanted, and, upon being told, ordered Benko out of his room and forbade me to assist Benko. Words ensued, with Benko calling Bobby selfish and the two of them hurling epithets at each other. I did my best to act as peacemaker, and Benko, after making physical gestures toward Bobby, finally left the room. Fischer reiterated that I was to give no help to Pal and, moreover, wanted Benko thrown out of the tournament, threatening not to play himself unless he got his way. After that, there was much behind the scenes action. I persuaded Bobby that the better course of action would be to continue to play but to register a formal protest with the chief tournament arbiter. That is why the protest to the arbiter was written. This is my best recollection of those events. /s/ Arthur Bisguier Ironically, Fischer and Benko went on to become good friends. But, once upon a time... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the delay, but it was a busy week for me. Lots of differences in the picks last week, thereby creating some separation between the prognosticators. Aggie and Nojjy shared the honors for the week. Here are the results: Aggie87 NE HOU PHI WAS GB NYG BAL MIN NYJ NO CHI SD DEN PIT IND DAL 49 13 Noj NE HOU PHI DET GB NYG BAL MIN NYJ NO CHI SD OAK PIT IND DAL 42 13 Soulstation1 ATL HOU PHI DET GB NYG BAL MIN NYJ NO CHI MIA DEN PIT IND DAL 45 12 vajerzy NE HOU PHI DET GB NYG BAL MIN TEN NO CHI SD DEN PIT ARI DAL 40 12 Connoisseu NE HOU PHI WAS GB NYG BAL MIN TEN NO CHI SD OAK PIT IND DAL 51 11 Van Basten II NE HOU PHI WAS GB NYG BAL MIN NYJ NO CHI SD OAK PIT ARI DAL 26 11 Edward ATL HOU PHI DET GB NYG BAL MIN NYJ BUF SEA SD OAK PIT ARI DAL 39 9 Year to date, Noj holds a two game lead: Noj 14* 10 13* 37 vajerzy 12 11* 12 35 Aggie87 12 9 13 34 Connoisseur series 500 12 9 11 32 Soulstation1 11 9 12 32 Van Basten II 12 9 11 32 Edward 12 10 9 31

In a tough week of picks, Vajjy takes weekly honors. Nojjy still in first place. Noj 14* 10 24 vajerzy 12 11* 23 Edward 12 10 22 Aggie87 12 9 21 Connoisseur series 500 12 9 21 Van Basten II 12 9 21 Soulstation1 11 9 20

Nah, Giants have been dominating since the first play!

Saw the game. Brady looked like crap. Many of the incompletions was his fault. Looks like he hasn't gotten back to football form yet. I'm confident that he will by the second half of the season. Defence looked good.

Might try ebay, Russ. We're all broke around here!

You aren't kidding. I was waffling like crazy and then just said screw it and picked my first instinct. I think the Oakland-KC game is tough to pick.

NFL official explains the call in the Oakland-San Diego game. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-tota...l-Review-Week-1

Yes, but it's a pass-happy league, and that's how they want it. Everything is geared towards protecting the quarterback. My team has a star quarterback, so you think that I'd be happy with the situation; but I'm not. I just don't think the border between penalty and nonpenalty is clearly delineated. I can also understand Noj's frustration. It's hard to understand what constitutes ball possession.

What bothers me is the judgment calls. Half the time, a defensive player doesn't know what constitutes roughing the passer and what doesn't. The call on Vince Wilfork last night was b.s. He hit Edwards above the knees, and it should have been a safety. I wasn't happy with the similar call against Adalius Thomas, but I admit that you can't tell from the tv whether the referee had blown the whistle. Adalius was just concerned because Edwards was still struggling to get away. He had to tackle him. If referees are going to call these things tight like that, then they should be quicker to call it when qbs are in the grasp of the tacklers.

You may not like the rules, but they are rules. He never had control of the ball, imo. He held it and dropped it when it hit the ground. We know a player has caught the ball if he still has control of it and takes two steps. In Murphy's case, he grabbed the ball and fell to the ground. The ball came loose so he never really established control of the ball. Anyway, I'm not a referee, and this is just my silly opinion. Raiders looked pretty decent. Nice running game. Pretty good defence. They will win a few games this year.

Yes it does. All the pain and horrible treatments.

Settle down, Nojjy. It wasn't a catch. This from PFT: Earlier today, we contacted NFL V.P. of officiating Mike Pereira for an explanation of the rule. We were informed that the applicable standard comes from Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1: "Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete." So, basically, if the player goes to the ground while catching a pass and maintains possession of the ball at all times, the ball may touch the ground. But if the ball moves while touching the ground, the player necessarily has lost control of it. That was pretty clearly a Raiders touchdown. They got robbed. Just like Buffalo did, huh?

Week 1 results. Nojjy starts out fast, perhaps taking out frustrations about being a longstanding fan of the Oakland Raiders. Standings Player Week 1 Total Noj 14* 14 Aggie87 12 12 Connoisseur series 500 12 12 Edward 12 12 vajerzy 12 12 Van Basten II 12 12 Soulstation1 11 11

Great news, Bruce! Nice words.

No beer but definitely technologically challenged. (As if I needed to give Free and Agg an excuse to fire away!) Here's the link:

edited to add link.

One of Free's favs for sure. This dude was good; and his brother wasn't bad either.

Look here, Mr. Schizoid-For-All! And the Bills wouldn't have had a touchdown if not for the debatable roughing the passing call on Adalius Thomas when he was being sacked. They would have punted after that and would have been ahead only by four points. Note also that that was McKelvin's second kickoff fumble, but the Bills were able to recover the first. Law of averages suggests that the Pats would get the second one. You can't discount turnovers. Brady gave Schobel a gift int in the first half. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I know that stats don't tell everything but here are some key ones: First downs: Bills-17 Pats 28 Total yards: Bills 276 Pats-441 Time of possession: Bills-22:52 Pats-37:08. Take that trombone boy!

I second that.

Have to disagree, Agg. Pats offense was dominating the game throughout, but just couldn't score in the early going. Gostkowski misses a field goal, and questionable roughing the passing call on Adalius Thomas keeps Buffalo alive when it was 2nd and 20. Buffalo's offense looked terrible. NE's offense looked like they were ready to bust out at any moment. Some of the timing routes looked off and Brady was rusty on a couple of the early series, but they still put up 400+ total yards. Check the stats. New England dominated the game statistically. I was very upset at that dubious roughing the passer call on Adalius, because that allowed Buffalo to get an automatic first down on the 20 yard line. They scored a touchdown out of that when they likely would have been forced to punt if that bogus call hadn't been made. Dumb ass play by Leodis McKelvin to run out of the endzone AND fight for extra yards. I expect the Pats offense will get their timing down a bit better next game, the WATCH OUT! This offense can put 40-50 points on the board very easily. And the young defence will improve over the course of the year. I hope Jerod Mayo is okay. He is arguably the team's best defensive player.

Hehe! Watching Free go schizoid over the Pats. Never count this dynamic offense out of any game!

Happy Birthday, Dan!

Thanks for your gracious donation towards the winner, Vajjy. Come on everybody! Sign up! I'll get my picks in tonight.

Just came upon this thread. Glad to hear you are recovering.