The world-famous American Grandmaster, and one of the best all-time Chess players, Bobby Fischer has died at the age of 64 from a serious but unspecified illness in Reykjavik. While in recent years Fischer was known for his shocking activities away from the Chess board, including racist radio ramblings and wild conspiracy theories targeted against the United States, the games he played will stand the test of time as some of the most purely-brilliant displays of Chess understanding and talent to have ever been played.
The clarity and power of Fischer’s moves swept away even the most decorated Chess competitors of his time (including Petrosian and Spassky) and remain beautiful time-capsules of great Chess play today. I’d prefer to focus on the Chess of Bobby Fischer and let that be his legacy. A troubled but ultimately legendary Chess star, Bobby Fischer’s contribution to Chess will surely be his most remembered fingerprint on the game he once so truly loved.
I’m surprised there are no comments here about Bobby’s death! Many know h was the World Chess Champion — the only American in our lifetime to accomplish this, but most don’t realize his amazing matches on his way to the Championship — he defeated some of the very best Grandmasters of his time 6-0, 6-0 for the firt 2 matches, only Petrosian drew against Fisher and lasted a little longer! Yes, Fisher was troubled, but he was treated by the current Presidency and the administration as a traitor rather than a troubled man - a brilliant one. Fisher’s life was a triumph and a tragedy. It’s a shame. Those that loved his games and are still in awe of his great accomplishments will always remember him as one of the greatest, in the same field with Alekhine, Capablanca, Bottvinik, Tal, and other artists of chess. It was truly a great era of chess!!