The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, January 06, 1968 - Page 11
Ejected, Rejected And Resurrected
There is a report that Bobby Fischer made an application to play in the Moscow International, 1967, but was turned down. As was that of Pal Benko, the Hungarian resistance fighter now resident in the USA. No reason was given, but authorities might have feared that a victory for him on their ground might have had an unsatisfactory effect in a situation where they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution! However, all outsiders were not barred as veteran Miguel Najdorf, Argentina placed 7th. Fischer waived any consideration of an appearance fee.
In the tourney at Skopje, Yugoslavia, Fischer lost early to Ewfim Geller, his Russian bête noire, and to Dragan Janosevic, Yugoslavia, but came back to win with 13½-3½ pts. Close behind were Geller and M. Matulovic, Yugo., 13-4 each; R. Kholmov, USSR, 11½ E. Bukic, Yugo., 9½; M. Damjanovic, D. Minic, Knezevic, Yugo., and L. Popov, Bulgaria, 8½ each; P. Dely, Hungary, and J. Sofrevski, Yugo., 8 each; Janosevic, and B. Soos, Rumania, 7½ each; Ilijevsky and Nicevsky, 6 each; Panov, 4; Danov, 2½.
At one stage Fischer strongly objected to the noise of spectators and asked to play in a private room but was refused. He withdrew and defaulted a game but came back the next round and the forfeited game was played off by general agreement.
Prior to Skopje, Fischer engaged in an exhibition tour in the Philippines.
From the international at Skopje, Yugoslavia, 1967:
