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GM Arthur Bisguier by FM MikeKlein

GM Arthur Bisguier by FM MikeKlein

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GM Arthur Bisguier, 1929-2017

FM MikeKlein  , 3:57 PM   38  Chess Event Coverage

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.

Cover photo of GM Arthur Bisguier providing game analysis at the National Open, Las Vegas, March 2000. Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, gift of Raquel Browne.

Arthur Bernard Bisguier was born in the Bronx on October 8, 1929. He was awarded the IM title in 1950 and the GM title in 1957.

He was one of the dominant tournament players in America in the 1950s. After winning several U.S. junior titles in the late 1940s, Bisguier became U.S. champion in 1954 and U.S. Open champion in 1950, 1956 and 1959. He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship in 1948, 1949, 1957-58, 1958-59, 1967-68, and 1968-69.

He may have won even more, but served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953.

In 2005, he was awarded the honorific "Dean of American Chess" by US Chess, supplanting GM Arnold Denker, who had passed away that same year. Bisguier held the status until his death. He was the oldest of 20 living U.S. chess champions, but not the oldest living American grandmaster (GM Pal Benko was born one year earlier).

GM Arthur Bisguier at work in the offices of the USCF (now US Chess). Photo courtesy US Chess.

As the highest-rated player and defending champion, he also tied with a 14-year-old Bobby Fischer (rated 2298!) for the 1957 U.S. Open championship in Cleveland. They drew their personal game together, the only draw of their entire history. As chronicled by Dr. Frank Brady in "Endgame," Bisguier was initially declared the tournament winner before a tiebreaking error switched the official champion to Fischer. 

"Evidently, his mature judgement is not solely confined to the chessboard," Bisguier said of Fischer's decision to play for a last-round draw.

The switch of official winners to Fischer also portended their personal head-to-head series as never again would Bisguier even take a half-point from the future world champion.

GM Arthur Bisguier, far right, overlooking the position of IM Hans Berliner in New York at the 1960-1961 U.S. championship. Berliner also died this year. Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, gift of Carl Ebeling.

In a case of "if you can't beat them, join them," Bisguier would go on to "second" Fischer at the 1962 Curacao Candidates' Tournament. According to Brady, his duties also included breaking up a fight between fellow competitor Pal Benko and Fischer. Brady called it the "first fistfight ever recorded between two grandmasters, both prospective world champions."

The day of Fischer's death in 2008, this reporter spoke with Bisguier, who recalled that it was during that event where he first saw signs of Fischer's paranoia. Still, Bisguier remained grateful for the good that Fischer did for him personally and for American chess.

"He changed many of our lives," Bisguier said on that day. "I would have never become a chess professional without him." Bisguier ended his quest to become a computer programmer and went to work for the USCF as a promoter, all in the wake of Fischer’s success.

GM Arthur Bisguier c. 2000 playing Black at the U.S. Amateur Team East. Bisguier was active in tournament play into his 80s and for many was the first GM they had ever played. Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, gift of Raquel Browne.

Bisguier played in the interzonals of 1955 and 1962 and was on five U.S. Olympiad squads from 1952 to 1972. He only lost two games from 16 in helping his squad win team silver in Leipzig, 1960 (and one was to GM Vasily Smyslov on board four!).

In tournaments he finished equal second at San Juan 1969 and first at Lone Pine in 1973. Toward the end of his life, Bisguier was the world's oldest active GM, having most recently played in the MCC Memorial Swiss in Natick, Massachusetts in September 2014.

Two "Deans of American Chess" in 2003. Arthur Bisguier, left, and Arnold Denker, right, with Susan Polgar in the middle. According to U.S. championship statistician Ed Gonsalves, these two men had the longest lives of any U.S. champions. Photo courtesy Susan Polgar.

Bisguier was a member of the Manhattan Chess Club. He beat Fischer in their first encounter, at the Third Rosenwald Trophy in New York in 1956. Fischer was 13, Bisguier 26.

Arthur Bisguier vs. Robert James Fischer
Third Rosenwald Trophy | New York, NY USA | Round 1 | 7 Oct 1956 | ECO: E78 | 1-0
8
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4
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1
a
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c
d
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. Be2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc69. Nc2 Bd7 10. O-O Rc8 11. Be3 Na5 12. b3a6 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Ne8 15. Nd5 Rc616. Nd4 Rc8 17. Nc2 Rc6 18. Ncb4 Re619. Bg4 Rxe5 20. Bb6 Qc8 21. Bxd7 Qxd722. Bxa5 e6 23. Nd3 Rh5 24. N3f4 Rf525. Bb4 exd5 26. Bxf8 Bxa1 27. Qxa1 Kxf828. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Re1+ Kd8 30. Nxd5 Qc631. Qf8 Qd7 32. Rd1 Rf6 33. Qxe8+

 

While Bisguier surely missed out on more U.S. championships and tournament titles due to Fischer, he also enjoyed the residual rewards of the growth of chess in the U.S.

"Even Bisguier, not prolonging any resentment, proclaimed Bobby Fischer as the strongest fourteen-year-old chess player who had ever lived," Brady wrote in "Endgame."

For about two decades he worked for US Chess. One of his public roles was to go around the country giving simuls and promoting the game.

"I was delighted to do it," he said. "I was very lucky to get so much out of chess. I tried to give something back."

Here's that lone drawn game that came before Fischer's blanking of Bisguier:

Arthur Bisguier vs. Robert James Fischer
58th US Open | Cleveland, OH USA | Round 5 | 9 Aug 1957 | ECO: B92 | 1/2-1/2
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1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf65. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. a4 h6 11. Bh4 b6 12. Bc4Bb7 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Rfd1 Rfc8 15. Nd2 g516. Bg3 Nf8 17. h4 Ng6 18. hxg5 hxg519. Bb3 Kg7 20. Nc4 Nf4 21. Bxf4 gxf4 22. a5bxa5 23. Nxa5 Rh8 24. Nxb7 Qxb7 25. Nd5Rh6 26. Rd3 Rah8 27. Rh3 Rxh3 28. gxh3 Qd729. Nxf6 Kxf6 30. Qg4 Qxg4+ 31. hxg4 f332. Ba4 Ke6 33. Bb3+ Kf6

After that, Fischer and Bisguier played 13 more games, all won by Fischer.

At the 1964 U.S. Open in Boston, alongside Robert Byrne. Photo: Beth Cassidy.

Here's some other notable victories by Bisguier, several against world champions.

Svetozar Gligoric, Buenos Aires 1955:

Gligoric, Svetozar vs. Bisguier, Arthur Bernard
Buenos Aires CA | Buenos Aires | Round 8 | 1955 | ECO: E52 | 0-1
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1
a
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 d5 5. Nf3O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Bd2 Be7 9. Qe2Ne4 10. Rfd1 a6 11. Be1 Nd7 12. Ne5 f513. cxd5 exd5 14. f3 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Qe816. b4 Bd6 17. f4 c5 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Rab1Ra7 20. Qf3 Qe6 21. Qh3 c4 22. Bc2 g623. Qh4 Bc8 24. Qe1 Rb7 25. Rxb7 Bxb726. Rb1 Rb8 27. h3 Bc8 28. Rxb8 Bxb829. Ba5 Ba7 30. Qb4 Nxe5 31. fxe5 f4 32. Qe1Qe7 33. exf4 Bxd4+ 34. Kh1 Bc5 35. Qg3 d436. Be4 Qf7 37. Qf3 d3 38. Bc3 Be6 39. g4Qd7 40. f5 d2 41. Qd1 gxf5 42. Bc2 Qd5+43. Kh2 Bd4 44. Bxd4 Qxd4

Boris Spassky, Gothenburg 1955:

Spassky, Boris V vs. Bisguier, Arthur Bernard
Gothenburg Interzonal | Gothenburg | Round 12 | 1955 | ECO: C63 | 0-1
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1
a
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 Nf65. Qe2 Nd4 6. Nxd4 exd4 7. e5 Ng4 8. h3Nh6 9. Nd1 Qe7 10. c3 c6 11. Bd3 dxc312. dxc3 Nf7 13. Bxf5 Qxe5 14. Ne3 Bc515. O-O d5 16. Qd3 Bxf5 17. Nxf5 O-O18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Rae8 20. Rae1 Ng521. Nc2 Qf4 22. Qd4 Re4 23. Rxe4 Qxe424. Qxe4 Nxe4 25. f3 Nc5 26. Nd4 Re827. Rb1 Na4 28. Kf2 Kf7 29. f4 Re4 30. Kf3g6 31. g3 Ke7 32. Nc2 b5 33. Nb4 Kd634. Nd3 a5 35. h4 c5 36. a3 Re7 37. Ne5Rb7 38. Ke3 c4 39. Kd4 Nc5 40. h5 gxh541. Rh1 Ne6+ 42. Ke3 Ng7 43. g4 b444. axb4 axb4 45. gxh5 bxc3 46. bxc3Nf5+ 47. Kf3 Rb3 48. Rc1 Nd4+ 49. Kg4Ne2 50. Ra1 Rxc3 51. Ra6+ Kc5 52. Ra5+Kd6 53. Ra6+ Kc7 54. Ra5 Rg3+ 55. Kf5 c356. Rxd5 c2 57. Rc5+ Kd6 58. Rxc2 Nd4+59. Kf6 Nxc2 60. Nf7+ Kd5 61. Ng5 Rg462. Nxh7 Rxf4+ 63. Kg5 Ke5 64. h6 Nd465. Kg6 Ne6 66. Ng5 Rg4 67. h7 Rxg5+68. Kh6 Kf5

Paul Keres, Bled 1961:

Bisguier, Arthur Bernard vs. Keres, Paul
Bled | Bled | Round 3 | 1961 | ECO: D40 | 1-0
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 d5 5. Nc3 a66. cxd5 exd5 7. b3 Bg4 8. Be2 Nc6 9. O-O Rc810. Bb2 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 cxd4 12. exd4 Be713. Re1 O-O 14. Rc1 b5 15. Qd3 Bb4 16. a3Ba5 17. b4 Bc7 18. g3 Qd6 19. Rc2 Bb820. Bc1 Rfe8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Bf4 Qd723. Bg5 Qh3 24. Ne2 Nxd4 25. Qxd4 Qf526. Bxf6 Qxc2 27. Qg4 g6 28. Nd4 Qd329. Kg2 Be5 30. Qd7 Bxf6 31. Qxe8+ Kg732. Nc6 Qf5 33. Ne7 Bxe7 34. Qxe7 d435. Be4

About this game he wrote, in "The Art of Bisguier:"

"After the game I was strangely depressed at having wasted an opportunity. I wanted to beat him brilliantly. After all, if one has the chance to play Keres only a few times in his life, is it not better to go down in defeat in a fine game against an immortal than to win by doing nothing?"

Bisguier's game collection from 2008.

Miguel Najdorf, Bled 1961:

Najdorf, Miguel vs. Bisguier, Arthur Bernard
Bled | Bled | Round 13 | 1961 | ECO: E14 | 0-1
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a
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1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. e3O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bb2Ne4 10. Qc2 f5 11. Rac1 c6 12. Ne2 Bd613. Ne5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Ndc5 15. Bxe4 fxe416. Nf4 Rxf4 17. exf4 Nd3 18. Rcd1 Nxf419. Bc1 Nd3 20. f3 c5 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Be3Qh4 23. Qe2 Rd8 24. a3 h6 25. b4 Kh726. bxc5 bxc5 27. Rf7 Bc6 28. Rxa7 Rb829. Bf2 Qg5 30. Qe3 Qg4 31. Rf1 Rb2 32. h3Qg6 33. Rc7 Nxe5 34. Qg3 e3 35. Rxc6 exf2+36. Kh2

Mark Taimanov, Budapest 1961:

Bisguier, Arthur Bernard vs. Taimanov, Mark E
Maroczy mem | Budapest | 1961 | ECO: E61 | 1-0
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O5. Bf4 d6 6. h3 Nfd7 7. Qd2 Re8 8. Bh6 Bh89. e4 c5 10. d5 Na6 11. Bd3 Nc7 12. O-O a613. a4 e5 14. Nh2 Bg7 15. Ng4 Bxh616. Nxh6+ Kg7 17. f4 Kxh6 18. fxe5+ Qg519. Rf4 Rxe5 20. h4 Qd8 21. Rxf7+ g522. Raf1 Ne8 23. Ne2 Kg6 24. R7f5 h625. hxg5 hxg5 26. Nf4+ gxf4 27. Qxf4 Nef628. Be2 Qe7 29. Qg5+ Kh7 30. Qh4+ Kg831. Rxf6 Nxf6 32. Rxf6 Qg7 33. Rxd6 Bf534. exf5 Rxe2 35. Rg6 Rae8 36. Qg5 Qxg637. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. f6 Rxg2+ 39. Kxg2 Rg840. d6

Bent Larsen, Zagreb 1965:

Bisguier, Arthur Bernard vs. Larsen, Bent
Zagreb | Zagreb | Round 9 | 1965 | ECO: B07 | 1-0
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1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. e5 Ne8 8. Qe1 c5 9. f5dxe5 10. fxg6 hxg6 11. Qh4 exd4 12. Bh6Nef6 13. Ng5 Ne5 14. Rxf6 Bh8 15. Rf1 Re816. Bf8 Bf6 17. Rxf6 exf6 18. Qh6 Rxf819. Qh7#

Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Malaga 1971:

Bisguier, Arthur Bernard vs. Ljubojevic, Ljubomir
Malaga | Malaga | 1971 | ECO: A51 | 1-0
8
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1
a
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Nf3 Nc65. a3 d6 6. Qc2 d5 7. e3 Bg4 8. cxd5 Qxd59. Bc4 Qa5+ 10. b4 Bxb4+ 11. axb4 Qxa112. Qxe4 Bh5 13. e6 Bg6 14. exf7+ Kf815. Qf4 Qxb1 16. O-O Qe4 17. b5 Qxf418. exf4 Bxf7 19. Bxf7 Kxf7 20. bxc6 bxc621. Ng5+ Kg6 22. g4 h5 23. h3 a5 24. Ba3 a425. Rc1 Ra6 26. Re1 c5 27. Re7 Rb8 28. Rxc7Rb3 29. Bxc5 Rc3 30. f5+ Kh6 31. Nf7+ Kh732. Rc8 Rc1+ 33. Kg2 g6 34. Ng5+ Kh635. Ne6

Jan Timman, Malaga 1971:

Timman, Jan H vs. Bisguier, Arthur Bernard
Malaga | Malaga | Round 4 | 1971 | ECO: A29 | 0-1
8
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1
a
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c
d
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1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb45. Nd5 e4 6. Nh4 Bc5 7. Bg2 d6 8. d3 exd39. Qxd3 Ne5 10. Qc2 c6 11. Nxf6+ Qxf612. O-O Be6 13. b3 Nxc4 14. Bf4 Ne5 15. b4Bb6 16. a4 Nc4 17. a5 Bxf2+ 18. Kh1 g519. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. Rxf2 Qe5 21. Rc1 Ne322. Qc3 Qxc3

Later in life, Bisguier won the U.S. Senior Open in 1989, and then again twice more in the late 1990s. He became one of the few men to win the U.S. Junior, U.S. Open, U.S. Closed, and U.S. Senior Championship.

Bisguier's last FIDE Elo rating was 2170. In 1994, he was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

GM Arthur Bisguier's plaque in the U.S. Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1994.

"While Bisguier's taste for the byways of theory and disdain for well-trodden lines in the first half of his career probably was responsible for his coming in for the occasional defeat at the hands of a much weaker player, he could also take off a stronger opponent with such an unorthodox approach.

"He was always nice to me when I was a kid," GM John Fedorowicz said. "He taught me a lot about endings. I don't drink scotch, but when I hung out with Arthur I did."

Bisguier in the late 1980s at the "Chess Life" Christmas gift exchange, getting his "favorite present," a bottle of Johnnie Walker. Photo and recollection courtesy Al Lawrence.

"By the time I came to know Art, his tastes had shifted to fairly rock-solid stuff, he being the only GM to regularly employ the Berlin Wall for a good many years, long before Kramnik's advocacy spurred it to tremendous popularity at the very highest levels." - anonymous comment on Chessgames.com.

This report was co-written by Peter Doggers.

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