The Eccentric No More

Bobby Fischer played chess. Despite the controversy that overshadowed this his later life, that’s what Bobby Fischer did; perhaps better than anyone ever has.

In 1972, he, and the game, were turned into objects of Cold War confrontation when he played Russian Boris Spassky, defeating him to become the only World Chess Champion the United States has ever produced. Unfortunately, the contest was publicized not as a chess match, but rather a confrontation between East and West, diluting the point of the match and leaving Fischer disenfranchised.

Bobby Fisher’s accolades include becoming the youngest US junior chess champion, a record that still stands, and a Grand Master at the age of 12. At the age of 14 he became the youngest US national chess champion, a record that also has yet to be matched.

In my opinion, there is no question that Fischer’s genius was touched with madness. Following his reappearance after simply vanishing in the mid 70’s, he began making wildly controversial anti-Semitic remarks despite the fact that he came from a Jewish background, as well as a laundry list of other actions and statements that displayed the probability of mental distress.

I am not going to say that these things should be overlooked when remembering Fischer, and am well aware that to many they will overshadow his accomplishments with regards to the game. I suppose it ultimately depends on how you view chess – as simply a game or as something that, at its highest levels, requires a brilliance that is singularly unique.

Bobby Fischer died today at the age of 64 from an undisclosed illness in Iceland, which granted him citizenship in 2005 to avoid deportation back to the United States for breaking international sanctions by playing Spassky in Yugoslavia in 1992.

Fischer won the rematch, though many of the world’s chess elite, including then World Champion Garry Kasparov, claimed that he was past his prime after observing it.