FISCHER VS. FIDE

Bobby Fischer...an American hero of our time who is sure to be one of chess histories unforgettable characters. This is the first of a series of intriguing articles on Bobby Fischer.

Many readers still wonder why Bobby Fischer wouldn't defend his title against Anatoly Karpov in 1975 despite a $5 million purse offered in the Philippines. Some fans blame Fischer's refusal to compromise; others accuse a Soviet-dominated FIDE of coddling its Russian challenger at all costs. Whatever the truth, here is an excerpt from Fischer's letter to the world chess body in 1974 giving his side of the story.