Thank you Mr.Fischer for your chess.
Unexpected, and too soon…may he rest in peace.
The tragedy occurred at least 32 years ago, arguably more.
We do note and pay our respects to the passing of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) chess players ever.
I was just informed at work. This is so, so sad. His brilliant games live on forever.
Indeed, for me, his legacy will be embodied by moves like:
17…Be6 (vs Donald Byrne in the Rosenwald Memorial),
30 Rxf7 (vs James Sherwin in the 1957 U.S. Championship),
or 19 Rf6 (vs Pal Benko in the 1963 U.S. Championship).
Who can estimate how many future players (of all ages, including the as yet unborn) will experience awe and wonderment that such moves were played?
When I learned how to play chess (1962), the “Fischer boom” had already started. It wasn’t just chess players who were excited. Parents encouraged children to learn chess. Schools encouraged the formation of chess clubs. As a 10-year-old, I had more opportunities to play chess, to meet other chess players, to improve my skills, to visit chess clubs, to read chess books and magazines – all because of the buzz generated by Bobby Fischer. Don’t think that the boom started in 1972 – it started at least as far back as 1958. (The numbers tell the story: look at USCF membership numbers to confirm this.) My whole generation was part of it.
The funny thing is, I barely knew it. I took the chess milieu for granted. The biggest influence on my chess style was not Fischer but Reshevsky, because I owned a copy of his book of his best games. I didn’t read, let alone buy, “My 60 Memorable Games” until it was out of print. I didn’t read or buy Brady’s biography until a few years ago. Me, part of the Fischer boom? Whattaya mean? But nowadays, I understand how these things work. The rising tide lifts all the boats. I was blithely unaware of what the Fischer boom was doing for me, until long after it was over.
So now, he’s really gone. In his prime, he was a bright, well-dressed, articulate young man, a fine “ambassador” for chess. I saw him in person once, when he came to Toledo for a simul (1963 or 1964, I think). But I never saw him after that. I wonder what happened to that young man.
Two of my favorite Fischer stories:
1.
It was the last round of the 1970 Interzonal. Fischer had already won by 3 points or more, i forget exactly. His opponent, who was out of the running, figured, why show. The story i read was that Fischer went to the guy’s hotel room and dragged him to the tournament to play that last game. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but it would fit his love of the game (at that time).
2.
6th game of the match against Spassky. Fischer had vowed NEVER to open with “P-Q4” (the notation of that time, now d4). And he still didnt, but it was trickery. The game transposed to the QGD on the 3rd move. Fischer’s first ever as White in a serious game, I do believe! Nobody in the world thought he’d do it. Not only that, but he refuted Boris’ Tartakower setup with a relatively new move that Spassky’s seconds knew about. Bobby played such a beautiful game that when it was over, Spassky, gentleman that he is, joined the applause coming from audience. The story goes that Fischer ran off-stage because the sight of Spassky applauding was going to bring out a tear.
I hope we can remember the good Fischer, not the other nasty one. And there was a good Fischer in there, the stories are there. Stories of him visiting Tal in the hospital, his sportsmanship at the chessboard, etc. Hopefully we will now read some more of the good stories. RIP, RJF!
In my opinon the Greatest to have ever played the Game.
Though his life spiraled out of control like an Oklahoma Tornado, as you watched him play, or even studied his games, you watched in"AWE" as if seeing an Oklahoma Tornado, so wild, yet so nautral was his games.
Perhaps now that the mortal man has been laid to rest, the Immortal Chess Player may rise to his rightful place.
I fully concur that Fischer was the best that ever played. Twenty wins in a row! I know I’ll get the retort that “modern times are different”. Of course that couldnt be done these days. But the point is, IT COULDNT BE DONE IN THOSE DAYS EITHER! And he did it! Who in grandmaster history ever won 20 games in a row in top competition?
Despite what you read in the paper, lines like “Kasparov, who most agree is the best player in history”, i think that, with both at the peak, that Fischer edges him out in a 24 game match. Fischer’s play was a little more precise IMHO. Kasparov would have uncorked at least one brilliance in such a match however.
What a splendid tournament will be held in heaven some day. Imagine Morphy, Lasker, Capablanca, Alehhine, Fischer, and Kasparov playing a quadruple round robin for the best player in history. With God as TD making them play nice! Oops, I forgot Judith Polgar and Akiba Rubinstein! Tal, Botvinnik and Euwe would comment on the games!
Or wherever.
LOL! Well, maybe there’s a “hot” game going on right now!