Bobby Fischer
Most of us don't pick our time of death, and most of us would like to get their four score, but it doesn't always work out the way we would like. I don't have the details of Fischers last days, nor do I think there is any significance to the fact that he died at age 64 the number of squares on the chessboard he loved. But it is somehow fitting that 64 is how it turned out. He was always eccentric, but his games, oh those games. I'll be spending some time today playing through some of his best. and here are his games from the 1972 World Championship . We owe Bobby a great deal, he was, and still is an inspiration for many who play the game. He brought the World Championship title to the United States and spawned a whole new generation of chessplayers. He'll be missed.
World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer Dies at 64Bobby Fischer, the chess genius who careened during his life from Cold War hero to eccentric international exile, died yesterday in Iceland, where he had lived since 2005. He was 64. Fischer's spokesman, Gardar Sverrisson, told wire services that the former world chess champion died at a Reykjavik hospital. No cause of death was given. A solitary and combative figure, Fischer was born in Chicago, grew up in Brooklyn, and by age 15 had attained the rank of grandmaster. He thrilled Americans in 1972 when, at age 29, he dethroned Russian grandmaster and world champion Boris Spassky in a 24-game match in the Icelandic capital. He was the only American to ever hold the title.
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Comments
I'm completely with you here, Norm. Over at the blog, I also address the issue of his later problems, but try to keep the focus on what he contributed, which I think is very significant.
Posted by: Brian Donohue
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January 18, 2008 11:46 AM
Mr. Fischer, I tip my king to you.
Posted by: themba | January 18, 2008 1:57 PM
I got it early this morning (8am PST) from the CBC and they said "died of kidney failure following a long illness"
Posted by: Doug Alder
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January 18, 2008 2:55 PM
Comments will be limited to Fischer's Chess.
Posted by: Norm
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January 18, 2008 6:06 PM
My favorite Fischer game is the second in his 1972 match against Spassky, but the first game of that match was also quite remarkable.
Posted by: fred | January 18, 2008 9:55 PM
Very sad. He and Morphy are easily the two best American chess players ever. Fischer's immortal is one of the greatest games of all time. I get goosebumps playing through it. His play was beautiful and deadly.
Limiting the discussion of Fischer is kind of strange though. I mean...what made him great at chess also lead to everything else. He's a classic tragic hero. But in applauding his skills, you must be at least aware of that which must not be spoken.
But anyway, as Kasparov said on NPR today, we can take some solace in the fact that, from a purely chess perspective, Fischer found a home in Iceland and was regarded positively.
Posted by: Andy | January 18, 2008 10:38 PM
Norm, you're going to make a chess geek out of me yet. Thanks for the cool-as-hell site with Fisher's games. Fascinating stuff. I played through the 1960 Mar de Plata game with Spassky (Fisher lost). I'll get around to the rest but I notice they don't have anything from the 1972 series with Spassky. My Winboard program also has a bunch of Fisher games but nothing from this series.
I go through phases where I try to improve my (terrible) game. I think this will inspire me to read up a bit on chess and learn some new things. Any more web tools would be appreciated.
Posted by: leftbanker
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January 19, 2008 8:44 AM
I only included games from Fishcer's "My 60 Memorable Games" in that player. It's a pretty cool player you can put any game or collection of games in it. It wouldn't be too difficult to create one of the World Championship games.
Posted by: Norm
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January 19, 2008 10:52 AM
1972 World Championship
Posted by: Norm
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January 19, 2008 12:02 PM
Thanks for the great comment on Fischer, Norm. I came over here as soon as I heard that he had died. For Americans who love chess he was our Jesse Owens, our Michael Jordan--the American who stood astride the world.
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess is still probably the most useful chess book I've ever read. A great tactical intro for pahtzers like me.
Posted by: dende blogger | January 19, 2008 1:53 PM
did anyone see the ESPN bit about Bobby Fisher? It had some really interesting and sacry information about the end of his life.
Posted by: p.dids | January 19, 2008 6:33 PM
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