Dimitrije Bjelica

[John Townsend]

On 18 June the death of Dimitrije Bjelica was announced:

https://www.blic.rs/sudbine/umro-otac-i ... ke/hrxzpnj.

[Matt Mackenzie]

He was a Ray Keene type figure before the man himself started.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

I think Edward Winter's article tells us all we need to know about him:
https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/bjelica.html

[Joey Stewart]

Damn, winter absolutely savages him in that review.

[Jon Mahony]

Lol well he wasn't a popular figure! Agreed, The Penguin's brother from another mother

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Damn, winter absolutely savages him in that review."

He is certainly entertaining when he doesn't like something. I have one book by Bjelica and did notice some problems with it...

[John Clarke]

I remember Bjelica was Fischer's chief apologist for a time in the late 60s, before the rest of the world began to realise that RJF might just have a point about one or two things regarding playing conditions, etc. They later had a serious falling-out after DB began taking too much advantage of his access to the great man. A lawsuit followed. I don't recall the details, or the outcome (if any). DB at one point is said to have shouted to RJF "I offer you a draw!" - which Fischer characteristically declined.

IIRC DB also wrote a long preview of the 1966 WCM for Chess, featuring several quotes from Petrosian. (Or was it actually just a profile of ol' Tigran? Memory fades .... )

[Nick Burrows]

Fischer sued the magazine for $360, naming Bjelica as the author of false stories, and the court sided with Fischer in March 1973.

[John Townsend]

In Nick's post, there is a start of quote mark with no corresponding end of quote. Is it a quote from somewhere and, if so, is the quote complete?

Clarification would be welcome also of "the magazine" and "the court".

[John Townsend]

Edward Winter has just posted an interesting new item (C.N. 12178) on the subject of Bjelica and Fischer:

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/ind ... nd_Fischer