Bobby Fischer Dead at 64

Bobby Fischer, considered the greatest chess player in the world, dies at the age of 64. Fischer led a very inspiring life. He was the the only United States world champion. In 1972 he beat Boris Spassky to take the world title away from the Soviet Union. It was described as "The Match of the Century."

Bobby Fischer. This enigmatic genius elevated the game to hitherto unimaginable heights, reaching the front pages of the world's newspapers and more than doubling the number of registered players in the Western World. Fischer's popularization of the game he loved had a pronounced effect on chess literature. Since December 1970his successful journey on the road to the World Championship title, more chess magazines were born, more newspapers published chess columns, and many more chess books appeared on the market than ever before over the same time span. It surprises me that only a small handful of these books have been about Fischer.

We must thank Bobby Fischer for being Bobby Fischer. The beauty of his games, the clarity of his play, and the brilliance of his ideas have made him an artist of the same stature as Brahms, Rembrandt, and Shakespeare.

There can be no doubt that Bobby Fischer was the most superlative chess player that ever lived. His results up to the time that he defeated Spassky in Reykjavik indicate that his playing strength had already surpassed zeniths reached by Alekhine, Botvinnik, Capablanca and Lasker who had all occupied the World Champion's throne before him. Fischer was a more controversial figure than Alekhine or Staunton. He was more dedicated to the game than were Capablanca and Steinitz. He was the most prolifically biographed player in the history of chess.

From his results we can safely conclude that Robert James Fischer was the strongest chess player the world had ever known. From the diversity of openings that he played with a profound understanding, it is clear that in that area of the game his knowledge has never before been equaled. The precision with which he played the endgame is almost frightening. Even strong Grandmasters cannot treat a "book draw" too lightly. His impeccable and often original handling of all types of middle game positions leaves nothing lacking.

The chess world mourns Bobby Fischer (March 9, 1943 – January 17, 2008)


Read more about Fischer.