A Tribute to Robert James Fischer
Bobby Fischer. This
enigmatic genius has 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 loves has
also had a pronounced effect on chess literature. Since December
1970 when he began his successful journey on the road to the
World Championship title, more chess magazines have been born,
more newspapers have published chess columns, and many more chess
books have 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.
I 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 is the most superlative chess player that has
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 is a more controversial figure than Alekhine or
Staunton. He is more dedicated to the game than were Capablanca
and Steinitz. He is also fast becoming the most prolifically
biographed player in the history of chess.
From his results we
can safely conclude that Robert James Fischer is the strongest
chess player the world has ever known. From the diversity of
openings that he has 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 plays 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.
-- Anonymous
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