I-Reporters remember passionate, controversial Bobby Fischer
Story Highlights
* I-Reporter Susan Polgar played chess, became friends with Fischer in 1992
* Polgar, a world-class chess player, says the chess world hoped for Fischer’s return
* Vietnam vet says Fischer inspired his love of chess, helped him recover from war
(CNN) — On Friday, January 18, 2008, chess master Bobby Fischer died at age 64, the same number, CNN.com reader Susan Polgar points out, as the number of squares on a chessboard.
No cause of death was given for Fischer, the eccentric genius who was renowned for his Cold War defeat of Russian chess champ Boris Spassky in 1972; his two-decade retreat from chess; and his trip to Yugoslavia in 1992, in defiance of U.S. sanctions, for a rematch with Spassky. After Fischer beat Spassky again, winning $3.5 million, he vanished from the scene once more. He spent his later life denouncing the U.S. and moved to Iceland, where he died.
CNN.com asked readers to share their memories of Fischer and his sometimes triumphant, often turbulent life. Below are a collection of their responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.
Frank Taylor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Bobby Fischer was simply the best! His aura was the main reason I took up chess, and the more I understood about chess, the more I came to appreciate his sheer genius. Like many others, I did have a problem with his anti-America, anti-Semitic outbursts and views, but his chess playing was pure magic. I’d always hoped and dreamed he would make a final appearance and play Garry Kasparov. What a match that would have been. What a loss of talent.
Gregory Campbell of Lewisville, Texas When I returned home from Vietnam, the game between Bobby Fischer and Spassky had just started. I did not play the game that well, but watching Bobby play was a welcome home for me. He inspired me to learn more about the game, and in so doing, I was able to recover from the war. I will always remember that game and what Bobby has done for me through the game of chess.
Susan Polgar of Lubbock, Texas In spite of his obvious flaws, he will be remembered as “The King of Chess,” a genius on the board and the man who broke through the Iron Curtain. I mostly admired him as a chess player and what he did for chess. He put chess on the map in the U.S. and changed the economic opportunities for chess players. If it weren’t for him, demanding reparation and prizes in the ’60s and ’70s, players wouldn’t be making the money they are today.
He was fanatic about chess; he was working on chess most of his life, even years and years after he retired. His dedication, passion and love for the game, it was his life. It was his profession. It was how he expressed himself. It’s symbolic that he died at age 64, for the 64 squares of the chessboard.
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Very nice words about him. You’re a true ambassador of our game.
Died at 64 and 64 squares on the chessboard. Fischer reached h8 and was promoted to heaven.
Garry Kasparov also gave a particularly nice statement, here, in Mig’s blog.
I was invited to write a piece by the signature blog in my field within Computer Science, and was asked to give (just) personal reminiscences. It is here.
Fischer reached h8 and was promoted to heaven.
Let’s not get too deeply into where Fischer is now. We should try to think nice things about him today.
BOBBY FISCHER
He was a tower of strength that few could match.
He over leaped his bounds.
He was a harbinger of dreams for our future in chess.
He was a loose branch to which chess itself was the tree.
Leaves lay fallen all around.
It wasn’t the browning of the leaf that caused it to fall:
It was the tone of the season.
Such a season that life bestowed.
Such a life represented (preceding “75”) the best that chess had to offer.
Such an epitaph represents me and perhaps even you.
A great branch has fallen, but not the bulk of the tree.
I marveled at his strength; winched at his weaknesses,
as my mind took over where his left off.
Long Live Fischer
Rachel Pugh
I apologize that the world is not a simple place and that individuals are rarely simple heroes or simple villains. All I know is that while he lived, the world was a much more thrilling, exciting, inspiring place. A whole generation of kids were spellbound by his amazing achievements, and dedicated themselves to rising to his level. For all his missteps and mistakes, a million kids led richer lives, and learned about excellence and even perfection, by putting his poster on their bedroom wall and replaying his games. Wherever he is now, you’ll find Mozart nearby, and maybe Einstein and Bobby will play a game or two.
Fischer was to chess what Rod Laver was to tennis.The very best pre computer chess player on the planet as Rod was the very best pre ‘graphite and oversize’ era tennis player.Fischer introduced chess to the world,and people like myself who previously (before 1972)had no knowledge nor interest in the game,avidly took to it.His demolition of Larsen and Taimanov remains unparalleled and will forever be talked about. Capablanca,Alekhine and other greats will welcome him to their fold!