What are the top 10 biggest accomplishments of Bobby Fischer? Here are 10 that came to my mind by no particular order. Can you add more?
– Youngest ever Grandmaster
– Youngest US Champion. He won every US Championship he played in, 8 total
– Defeated Spassky in 1972 to become the 11th World Champion
– Youngest ever master in the United States and youngest ever US Junior Champion
– Youngest ever to qualify and participate in the Interzonal
– Won the 1962 Stockholm Interzonal by 2.5 points
– Scored 11-0 in the 1963-1964 US Championship
– Scored 6-0 against Larsen and 6-0 against Taimanov
– Fischer Random and Fischer clock
– 20 consecutive wins against GMs and 2785 http://fide.com/ratings/card.phtml?event=2000016
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Aside from FIDE 2780, first ever to cross the 2700 mark.
I would have to his utter demolition of Larsen, Taimanov, Petrosian, and Spassky in succession.
his marvellous games are his greates achievements, they will be remembered as long as people play chess! And his dominance in 60s-70s culminated with the capture of the title of course.
rating is not an achivement. only fetishists care for rotten ratings. we’ll soon have people with 2900 ratings of top players. so what?
BTW delay clock is Bronsteins’ idea, not Fischers’ (as well as different initial position)
For those, who could read in Russian: http://newsru.co.il/world/18jan2008/fi_120.html
Chess’s first ever religious figure. That’s quite an accomplishment.
** How do all the current Jewish (Israeli) and other Jewish chess players around the world feel about his remarks **
forget about them. it’s a shame that the first thing remembered about such a person is his political viewpoints and his remarks towards jews etc. narrowminded sectarian mentality.
Rest In Peace Bobby.
64 years and 64 squares
Rgds
Pony
None of those are his greatest triumph. I am amazed that SP didn’t list his 19/22 in the unofficial world blitz championship with players like TAL, Kortchnoi, Petrsian, Smyslow, Bronstein competing. No blunders, no hesitation, complete sight of the board, no flagging, against all the best players in the world.
He scored 86%. This was 5 minute chess, and he didn’t blunder.
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forget about them. it’s a shame that the first thing remembered about such a person is his political viewpoints and his remarks towards jews etc. narrowminded sectarian mentality.
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LOL. “It’s a shame people care more about what kind of human being he was than how well he played a board game.” If you could only hear yourself.
And the important thing about Cap Anson is his batting average, not how big a racist he was.
It’s a good thing for all of us that Hitler wasn’t a very good painter.
I think Fischer’s all-time greatest accomplishment was his 20 consecutive wins at the top Grandmaster level, in 1971-72.
Ask a survivor of Auschwitz what is more important….chess or what a so-called “genius” can do…a person with such influence.
It’s really sad that this subject is being discussed. Like it don’t like it…it’s part of Fischer’s legacy. You can argue the sky is the color green…but it doesn’t make it true.
You might believe it…but it doesn’t make it true.
I don’t take anything away from Fischers great chess genius. He was and will always be a remarkable historical chess figure.
I just say…that outside the arena of chess, which is but one small, small (though we love chess here) aspect in the panorama of human affairs.
His legacy will forever be tied to his remarks. And, by saying this I’m NOT saying that he is not a chess genius. In fact, Fischer (other than Morphy) may be have had the greatest natural born chess talent of any chess player in history.
This is a great, great accomplishment.
Racism, anti-semitisme ARE NOT “political views” only. How can anyone dare say that racism of the kind reflected in Fischer’s remarks over the past 25 years can be merely “Political????”
NO, racism and hate are not “political.” And, anyone that says so in this context is just doing so because we are talking about Bobby Fischer.
Hate and racism are not “political.” What events occur from a racist in power can become political….but on the everyday level for those (like Fischer) who are NOT in political power…
Yes, hate is hate, racism is just the same any other example.
Hitler was in political power. Hence, the analogy is flawed.
Again, I take nothing away from Fischer’s chess accomplshments…but, he will, to many (especially those that are Jewish or had loved ones die in the World Trade Center) always be remembered for his racist, hate-filled mind.
And, that’s all there is to say about that. At least, for me.
Fischer reached 2785 elo, he actually lost 5 rating points after his World Championship match with Spassky (12.5/8.5)
I would just like to say that if we look to reality, Fischer seems to have suffer badly in his life at the hands of the american autorities, that instead of treating him like a hero just seemed to choose every oportunity to harass him.
If in his disturbed mind he atributed that harassment to Jewish influence in America (i really dont understand why) it was natural that he wouldn´t have nice things to say about Jews. Its not like he persecuted or was violent or put to practice anything against any race.
Truly he was the persecuted…and i really cant understand why neither.
The way the American government treated him is not the way to treat a great genious and once an instrument in the cold war who has gonne mentally ill in the last part of his life, of that im sure.
jfi, may I respond for America?
Bobby was LOVED in America in the early 1970s, and became a huge hero beyond just chessplayers.
Then it became evident that he was not really a hero, by his actions. His self-absorption, his greed, his refusal to play. Had he just played he would have been forgiven the rest. His later racist rants would have made him unpopular though, we have little tolerance for such bigotry and many other sports figures have been laid low for pulling this stuff.
Then with the Spassky rematch he was warned by the government this was illegal, it would generate a large profit for a dictator who would use the funds to further perpetuate war crimes. He did it anyway because Bobby never cared for anyone but himself and his money.
He undid all the good he had ever done. His games belong in books, his character should just be forgotten.
Has anyone seen photos or other proof? Could this be a scam by Fischer to get out of his troubles with US law enforcement? Or to see what “his friends” say about him. There is no cause of death – very suspicious. He has tried to disappear before and not be found. 64 sounds too young to die. I am skeptical on this whole story.
dear susan –
given your family history – your opinion on the anti-semitic views fischer often expressed in his final years would be greatly appreciated.
can a man’s deeds on the board override this?
jfi:
yep, it’s a shame that the federal authorities persecuted Fischer. what they achieved and they wanted to achieve by this is a complete mistery to me. or just stupidity of the feds. russia should have offered him sitizenship. would have bee a very sad joke 🙁
**Its not like he … put to practice anything against any race. **
“practice” is the only thing that really counts.
yeah…. aren’t we all better than him? not racists, sexists etc etc… politically correct! and look what an ugly guy Fischer was. LOL
btw is it true that he was mentally challenged (had schizophrenia). GK mentions some opinions in his book but is it substantiated?
Expert pinball player
>>I would just like to say that if we look to reality, Fischer seems to have suffer badly in his life at the hands of the american autorities, that instead of treating him like a hero just seemed to choose every oportunity to harass him.>>
I guess the moral is “Crime doesn’t pay.”
And if they did for anybody else what you wish they’d done for him, you’d be complaining about power and privilige.
R.I.P Bobby
Great talent, obviously. But his example was that of a selfish twit. And in his last years he looked like a raving street person.
Did he die because in his paranoia he refused timely treatment? Could he have lived had he been given anti-psychotic drugs and early treatment?
I have never…ever, seen such appeal from such a wide range of society (i.e. chess fans, players) to defend Fischer for being a racist and his vitriolic statements and hatred toward Jews and America.
America did nothing to him. It was all in in his mind. To dare defend his remarks when even GM Susan Polgar’s grandmother is a holocaust survivor is disgusting…and “distgusting” is just a polite word.
Once again..and don’t deny that I say this in any “anon’s” next post:
BOBBY FISCHER WAS A CHESS GENIUS…HE WAS A GENIUS. i do not and will NEVER question or say anything negative about his chess…
the man was a chess genius. And, that is a fact. I, along players in 200 years will be studying his games just as todays GM’s study Morphy, Paulsen, and the great chess minds of the 19th century.
I never, and will never detract from the FACT that Bobby Fischer was a chess genius that deserves tob e recognized for his contriburtions to chess theory and just plain fun games!
But, we as a group must never defend nor rationalize the negative , racist, and hateful remarks he made to so many.
OK..why does this mean anything to me. Well, a relative of mine, died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. I don’t care if you believe this…but I live it every day.
And to have this man, this disgusting traitor insult the memory of those who died on that terrible day…well, those who defend his racist comments ( and I will be rational and separate his chess from his comments…I’m not talking about his chess..that speaks for itself..he was a chess genius…look at it from my point of view), his stating that the 9/11 victims “deserved” death…
Let me ask before you post a silly post: Did your daughter DIE IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001?????
If not…if you had no loved one’s lost, then you have no, and I mean absolutely no clue the pain and suffering that caused.
and the comments from the disgusting “thing” called Bobby Fischer cannot and SHOULD NOT be ignored.
So, he was a chess GM… a world chess champion. So what?
I ask everyone…everybody this and I ask you to be objective:
IF you take away chess from Bobby Fischer, what did he contribute to humanity?
He was a great chess genius, but if you lost a daughter in the world trade center on 9/11…I am certain you would think differntly of this man!
There is more to life than chess. Fischer was a rascist nut and his remarks towards Jews and the innocent children that, as he said, ” deserved to die,” on 9/11, didn’t live it…didn’t feel the pain and suffering…
Bobby Fischer was a vile man…and the world now has one less racist and hatefilled person.
It’s so ironic that you take chess out of the picture and no one in their right mind would defend this vile creature called “Fischer.”
Let him RIP with those that hijacked the planes on 9/11 and killed so many innocent people…let this vile disgusting thing called “Fischer” RIP with the 6 million jews that were murdered during the second World War…
and people dare defend the memory of this disgusting man.
How dare you embarass and insult the memory of all those who died…Jews in WWII and the babies, wives, sisters, and loved ones on September 11, 2001.
You live it…you suffer the pain and grief…
and you’ll take the many remarks Mr. Fischer said differently.
I ask this: How many of you who defend Mr. Fischer’s blatent racism lost a loved one at Aushwtitz…or on 9/11????
If you did, then you have a right to speak. If not, then you’re doing nothing but defending an embarrassment to the human race…”chess genius” he might have been…but you lost no loved ones.
Fischer is gone. But, you know what…the great country he so hated…the USA will live on and he will never be a Jefferson, a Madison or a Lincoln.
Giving tributes to an anti-semitic, hate-filled man that had now positive nor capbabilities outside off a chess board.
And you say I’m wrong.
You need not answer this post but I hope it makes some reflect upon history and why one man is suddenly deified like a demi-god….
He was a vile, nasty, brutish, insane man…
The only people that will so openly defend a blatent anti-semite…
Chess players.
I am one…but, Fischer…oh, he turns my stomach.
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just narrow sectarian minds can only think just one thought 🙂
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Exactly my point. You know that Fischer had good points, and so can’t conceive of him having bad ones also. It’s all black and white to you. “Narrow sectarian mind”? That’s a good way to put it. I wouldn’t have used that term, but I think it describes you perfectly.
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Racism, anti-semitisme ARE NOT “political views” only. How can anyone dare say that racism of the kind reflected in Fischer’s remarks over the past 25 years can be merely “Political????”
>>
You can’t. But you can argue that he wasn’t in his right mind when he said it.
That might excuse Fischer personally. It’s the masses of presumably sane chess players who hear this stuff and have no problem with it that are truly blameworthy here. “Bobby said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” Or at least “Bobby said it, and if it’s wrong, I don’t care.”
You don’t hear football fans excusing everything OJ ever did, or boxers defending Mike Tyson, by pretending that every criticism against him is a criticism of their playing ability. (You can’t deny he was a great player!)
Bobby Fischer. Great Player. Bad Human Being. But possibly Not Guilty by reason of insanity.
His chess life in whole was his biggest achievement. Everything really was just a step on the ladder, be it being the youngest GM, the youngest WC candidate, etc.
Noone will ever understand what kind of sacrifice, work, will and genius it took, to achieve what he did: by far the best player of his generation and winning the chess crown.
The more he gained in his chess life, the more he seemed to lose in his life. That is the big tragedy that in all his chess achievements, he lost the victory over his life. But then again, ask any philosopher: that is the fate of the genius.
His political remarks are not his legacy. Noone remembers anything he said, just that he was anti-semit and full of hatred.
His legacy is his chess. That, people do remember, and that, people do research.
A great player, a genius, who never arrived in the real world.
To anon 5:40:00 PM CST Judge and Jury who has played God and sent Fischer to hell. Do you know what it is like to suffer severe mental illness to the point where your mind is ravished with angst and pain night and day like a dying cancer patients body?! To the cancer patient you would have empathy and sorrow but for the mentally disturbed you have hatred and racism! These are both terrible diseases but the one disease effects the brain and causes mentally unstable people to ramble on and on about illogical, paranoid, and dillusional diatribe, that a normal rational person would dismiss as National Enquirer tabloid fodder. Not to analyze, obsess, and cause extreme hatred toward these sick people as you do. You blame Fischer for 911, The Holocuast, why not blame Fischer for Stalins slaughter of over 20 million people or the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. Also you could blame Fischer on the bombings of Iraq for “weapons of mass destruction” that werent there, that caused thousands of people to die. Im sure if you asked him about these atrocities he would have responded with more illogical ramblings. Whats your point? You go on to mention Thomas Jefferson as a great man. Well he was a slave owner who as a married man had a sexual relation with one of his slaves that produced a child! I think you are blinded with your singular hate of one man so that you see only singular deeds and not a full picture of history. There’s a line in a Clint Eastwood movie called ‘The Unforgiven’ … a distraught hired gun who shot and killed a man for the first time, who with tremendous guilt rationalized “he had it coming”. Clint Eastwoods character said, “We all have it coming kid”. In Gods eye we are all worthless sinners, Mr saint.
The quality of analysis in his book (60MGs) he seemed to regard as one of his achievements.
Please cut the vitriol – now is not the time.
What did Beethoven and Wagner contribute to the World besides music?
Chess like Music can soothe the Savage Beast.
Fischer’s favorite song was Charle Wilson’s : No Pity
Rest in Peace.
I’ll not comment on this any longer….Racism is not a “mental illness.” It is taught. The psychiatric community agrees that racism is not a mental illness.
Read up on your science.
Needless to say, I will point out that I never said that Mr. Fischer was not a genius. He most certainly was!
But, he cannot and should not be forgotten, nor forgiven so easily for his remarks. Anyone outside of the chess community would look upon Mr. Fischer’s remarks as that of a hateful racist man.
Mental illness is a terrible thing. Yet, if he was so mentally ill, then he would have been forcibly institutionalized. He knew what he was saying.
So, that’s it. He was a racist, hate-filled, man that just happened to have one…just a single redeeming characteristic and that is that he was a chess genius.
It is absolutely unbelievable how people here will bend what he said and just excuse it as “oh, it’s OK…he was insane.”
He was sane enough to run from justice. That, in a court of law, shows he knew right from wrong. This is one of the fundamental things that must be proven if an insanity defense is used. Fischer was sane enough to run from justice, to live apparently well in Iceland. If he was so insane, he would not be able to function on an everyday basis.
His level of “insanity” has been overblown by the chess community to merely excuse and overlook his racism.
Period.
And it is so sad.
Unbelievable.
Humans aren’t born racists. There is not “racism” gene. It is socially taught and that is the facts. You can choose to ignore this aspect of Fischer’s life. But, it shouldnt’ be.
As I said, let him RIP with the millions that died in WWII that, for some reason, he hated so much. Let him RIP with the thousands of innoncents that died on 9/11.
This is a sickening defense of him. I’ll play no further part in it. Why not just build a statue of him and claim it performs miracles? You seem to think Fischer was a god.
He was a man, filled with hate and sane enough to function within society.
But, in having natural talent for chess…only Morphy could compare with him.
And I’ll never question his contributions to the chess world.
>>Please cut the vitriol – now is not the time.>>
And stop jerking the old knee. There’s no vitriol here. The only reason we’re having this discussion is because certain foolish friends of his have chosen to spend today celebrating all his bad points as though they were virtues. His real friends, if he has any, should be talking about his good points, his actual chess games, rather than trying to defend the indefensible.
>I’ll not comment on this any longer….Racism is not a “mental illness.” It is taught. The psychiatric community agrees that racism is not a mental illness.
>
Hating Jews is not a mental illness, necessarily. Hating them when you are one yourself is a bit closer, though. And believing in imaginary conspiracies against yourself is even more so. Not all anti-Semites believe that every living Jew is focused on their own personal destruction. The chances are very high indeed that Fischer was insane. The real crime here is supposedly sane people who hear what he had to say and have no particular problem with it.
Look at the world from young RJF’s point of view. A madman launched the greatest war of the 20th century with the extermination of his people as a primary goal. The U.S. government imprisoned his mother’s fellow travelers and even executed a couple of them. And the Soviets really were out to get him (see _Russians vs. Fischer_).
We can emphatically reject RJF’s hateful words & acknowledge that RJF didn’t choose to be a paranoid schizophrenic. His words on 9/11 were sick not least because of the self-hatred they contained. Hatred of himself as an ethnic Jew; hatred of himself as an American citizen.
My favorite RJF game: Fischer-Unzicker, Siegen 1970. RJF’s performance in the second half of the 2nd Piatogorsky Cup deserves mention, and his games from 1970 deserve a book of their own.
The 1970 game vs. Unziger at Siegen is indeed wonderful.
Am I the only one who finds Sokolov’s notes to this game in Informant 11 entirely fatuous? In a note to Black’s 29th he gives:
29…Qxh4? 30.Nxd7
… when you and I and the smartest of my three cats would play 30.Ng6. He also overlooks that after 30.Nxd7 Black has 30…Rxd7 (not 30…Rxe2, as Sokolov writes).
Extract from Anon @Friday, January 18, 2008 5:40:00 PM CST
“Let him RIP with those that hijacked the planes on 9/11 and killed so many innocent people…let this vile disgusting thing called “Fischer” RIP with the 6 million jews that were murdered during the second World War…”
Am I the only one who sees a lot of hatred in the above?
Since when is somebody’s character defined by his words?
Please, don’t use 7 pages to explain to me how wrong I am.
I’m Jewish and I still like Bobby Fischer. Sure, I’m disappointed in him, but I think people need to take the bad with the good, and not say that any person with antisemitic thoughts should burn in hell. I find his views to be vile, but to give no recognition to such a brilliant chess player would also be rotten too.