I just noticed that Tony Pabon received two write-in votes from
California in the USCF Executive Board Election.

http://www.uschess.org/2004resultseb-del.php

I knew Tony Pabon in either 1956 or 1957. I only met him one time but
the meeting was memorable. He came to the Lynchburg Chess Club with
his friend, Peter Kerr. I was almost the only person at the club,
which was held in the Virginian Hotel. I had never heard his name
since.

The reason I remember the year is because Bobby Fischer has just won
his famous "Game of the Century" against Donald Byrne, which took
place in late 1956. Tony Pabon said that he had heard that Fischer won
the game on a blunder. Fischer had left a piece on pris by mistake.
Byrne took it but by luck Fisher had a brilliant win.

We now know that this was not true. Fischer's sacrifice was a real
sacrifice, not a blunder. However, at that time, Fischer was still a
promising junior, aged 13, and not many realized the shape of things
to come.

Assuming that this is the same Tony Pabon, he must be around 70 years
old by now. I remember that he complained that he and Peter Kerr
travelled to the US Junior Championship together, and then they were
paired against each other in the first round.

I think that after that they made a rule that two players from the
same city could not be paired against each other. I doubt that that
rule still exists.

It is remarkable that I can remember a person I only met once 47 years
ago. I doubt that he can remember me at all.

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/10495849

Sam Sloan


[Event "Rosenwald"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "08"]
[White "Byrne, Donald"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 O-O 5.Bf4 d5 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4
c6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Qc5 Bg4 11.Bg5 Na4 12.Qa3 Nxc3 13.bxc3
Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.Bc5 Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Bxb6
Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1
axb6 24.Qb4 Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1
29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7
35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+
40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# 0-1

In article ,
(Sam Sloan) wrote:

Assuming that this is the same Tony Pabon, he must be around 70 years
old by now.

Yes. He attends the Campbell Chess Club, and regales us with stories about
hanging with Fischer.

It is remarkable that I can remember a person I only met once 47 years
ago. I doubt that he can remember me at all.

You make an indelible impression, Sam.