BOBBY FISCHER (born Mar-09-1943, died Jan-17-2008, 64 years old) United States of America (federation/nationality Iceland) [what is this?] Robert James ("Bobby") Fischer was a chess prodigy born on March 9, 1943 in Chicago. At 13, he won the stunning brilliancy D Byrne vs Fischer, 1956, which Hans Kmoch christened "The Game of the Century." At 14, he won the United States Championship (1957/58), making him the youngest U.S. Champion ever. Fischer's victory qualified him for the Portoroz Interzonal (1958). He tied for 5th-6th, which sufficed to advance him to the Candidates Tournament to decide the challenger to World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik. This made the 15-year-old Fischer the youngest candidate for the World Championship. It also made him the youngest grandmaster ever - a record that stood until Judit Polgar broke it in 1991. At the Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Fischer finished fifth out of eight, the top non-Soviet player. Fischer won the US Championship all eight times he played, in each case by at least a point. In the US Championship (1963/64) he achieved the only perfect score (11-0) in the history of the tournament. Fischer won the Stockholm Interzonal (1962) 2½ points ahead of Efim Geller and Tigran Petrosian. This made him a favorite to win the Curacao Candidates (1962), but he only finished fourth, behind Petrosian, Geller, and Paul Keres. In a famous article in Sports Illustrated magazine, The Russians Have Fixed World Chess, he accused the Soviets of cheating: Petrosian, Geller, and Keres had drawn all 12 of the games among themselves at Curacao, most of them quickly. Because of this, Fischer refused to play in the next Candidates cycle. He did play in the Sousse Interzonal (1967), but left it while leading, because of a scheduling dispute occasioned by Fischer's refusal to play on Saturday, his Sabbath. He won the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal (1970) by a record 3½ points. The following year, he shocked the chess world by sweeping the Fischer - Taimanov Candidates Quarterfinal (1971) and Fischer - Larsen Candidates Semifinal (1971) by identical 6-0 scores, the only perfect scores in the history of the Candidates Matches. Fischer also won the first game of the Fischer - Petrosian Candidates Final (1971) against former World Champion Tigran Petrosian, giving him a modern record of 20 consecutive wins at the highest level of competition. He won the match by 6½-2½ to advance to the World Championship match against reigning champion Boris Spassky. This also gave him a FIDE rating of 2785, making him at that time the highest-rated player in history. In Reykjavik, he won the Spassky - Fischer World Championship Match (1972) by 12½-8½ to become the 11th World Chess Champion. In 1975, Fischer forfeited his title after FIDE refused to meet his conditions for a World Championship match with Anatoly Karpov. He then virtually disappeared from the public eye for nearly 20 years. After ending his competitive career, he proposed a new variant of chess and a modified chess timing system. His idea of adding a time increment after each move is now standard, and his variant "Fischerandom" (or "Chess960") is gaining in popularity.(2) Fischer resurfaced in 1992 to play a match against his old rival Spassky in Yugoslavia. Fischer won Fischer - Spassky (1992) 10-5 with 15 draws. The United States considered that Fischer, in playing this match in Yugoslavia, violated U.S. Treasury Department regulations that forbade transacting business with Yugoslavia. Fischer evaded authorities for twelve years until July 13, 2004, when he was arrested in Japan. On March 22, 2005, he was granted Icelandic citizenship and finally freed from Japan. He died of renal failure in Iceland on January 17, 2008 at the age of 64. Gravestone photo: http://www.sjakkfantomet.no/wp-cont.... Fischer's anthology, My 60 Memorable Games, was published in 1969. It has been described as a "classic of objective and painstaking analysis,"1 and is regarded as one of the greats of chess literature. (1) Hooper & Whyld. The Oxford Companion to Chess. 1992 (2) Wikipedia article: Bobby Fischer (3) User: jessicafischerqueen 's YouTube documentary of Fischer http://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... Last updated: 2025-03-27 21:53:15

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page 1 of 45; games 1-25 of 1,101  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. D Mayers vs Fischer 1-0 17 1953 Blitz game C33 King's Gambit Accepted 2. J Altusky vs Fischer 0-1 8 1954 Offhand game C71 Ruy Lopez 3. Fischer vs J Altusky 1-0 12 1954 Offhand game E90 King's Indian 4. A W Conger vs Fischer 1-0 12 1955 corr E70 King's Indian 5. Fischer vs S Greene ½-½ 11 1955 US Amateur Ch B77 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack 6. A Humphrey vs Fischer ½-½ 33 1955 US Amateur Ch E61 King's Indian 7. Fischer vs K Warner 0-1 28 1955 Lincoln ch-US jr B58 Sicilian 8. W Whisler vs Fischer ½-½ 25 1955 Lincoln ch-US jr E80 King's Indian, Samisch Variation 9. J Thomason vs Fischer 0-1 23 1955 Lincoln ch-US jr E90 King's Indian 10. Fischer vs D Ames ½-½ 28 1955 Lincoln ch-US jr C47 Four Knights 11. Fischer vs V Pupols 0-1 44 1955 Lincoln ch-US jr C40 King's Knight Opening 12. Fischer vs F Saksena 1-0 22 1955 Lincoln ch-US jr C53 Giuoco Piano 13. Fischer vs M Pavey 0-1 52 1956 Manhattan CC ch A07 King's Indian Attack 14. J Tamargo vs Fischer 0-1 40 1956 Manhattan CC ch B22 Sicilian, Alapin 15. A Turner vs Fischer 1-0 53 1956 Manhattan Chess Club Semifinal B E68 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4 16. Fischer vs K Vine ½-½ 36 1956 Manhattan Chess Club Semifinal B B32 Sicilian 17. Fischer vs S Baron 1-0 53 1956 Manhattan Chess Club Semifinal B C98 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin 18. Pat Smith vs Fischer 0-1 23 1956 Casual game C48 Four Knights 19. Fischer vs I Spector 1-0 35 1956 Casual game B95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6 20. J R Florido vs Fischer 0-1 26 1956 Capablanca CC - Log Cabin m C50 Giuoco Piano 21. Fischer vs J A Casado ½-½ 48 1956 Simul, 12b B32 Sicilian 22. A Jenkins vs Fischer 0-1 18 1956 North Carolina - Log Cabin CC m B20 Sicilian 23. Fischer vs J Fermoselle-Bacardi Sr 1-0 28 1956 US Amateur ch A04 Reti Opening 24. Fischer vs E Nash 0-1 51 1956 US Amateur ch A05 Reti Opening 25. R Riegler vs Fischer 0-1 34 1956 US Amateur ch B20 Sicilian  page 1 of 45; games 1-25 of 1,101

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< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 160 OF 160 ·  Later Kibitzing> Apr-13-25    MissScarlett: Sid Waddell: <When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer…Bristow’s only 27.> Apr-13-25    Sally Simpson: Sid Waddell: "It's like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline." "He's as happy as a penguin in a microwave." "His eyes are bulging like the belly of a hungry chaffinch." Apr-13-25    Joshka: <Petrosianic> IM Larry Day almost 2 decades ago, wrote a review of the book for a Canadian newspaper. Do not recall what newspaper it was, but I'm sure Larry would tell you. I've had several copies at one time or another. Also The Chess and Checker Collection of John G. White, at the Cleveland Public Library says they have it as well. The chess patron, Sinquefield from St. Louis who sponsors many chess tournaments I'm sure has copies. Also a book seller in Connecticut named Delucia I believe, has copies. Well that's a start good luck in your search! Apr-13-25    Sally Simpson: Edward Winter; "My 61 Memorable Games (Bobby Fischer)" https://www.chesshistory.com/winter... Apr-14-25    stone free or die: Any <Edward Winter> article is worth a look, but I've gotten interested in his <Latest update> tagging of late... <Sally>'s link has this notice: <Latest update: 31 March 2025.> So it looks as if some recent info might have been added. I used <Wayback> to compare this latest version to the last archived version of the page: https://web.archive.org/web/2024121... It has the notice: <Latest update: 3 January 2023.> Copying this archived version's text, and the current page's, and comparing I found this one difference (other than the <Latest update> notice, of course!): <Our article on My 60 Memorable Games is Fischer’s Fury.> https://www.chesshistory.com/winter... Really, if I was running the show, I might not even update the <Latest update> for that - the <Fischer's Fury> article being from 1999. It also has a recent update - but now I wonder - why two pages? Shouldn't the ~Evans "concluded it was a hoax." really go on the 61 page? The "Fischer's Fury" should strictly be about the algebraic version of the M60 version I think. . Apr-19-25    saffuna: In a 1973 episode of "Columbo," the following position (from what I can see) was reached in a casual game (the night before their match) was reached between the Russian former champion (white) and the reigning champion (clearly based on Fischer). click for larger view Is this from an actual game, or was it invented for the show? White's win isn't all that difficult: 1. Qxb4 pxb4 2. Rxa8+ Bd8 3. Bxd5 Qxd5 4. Rx d8++. It looks invented to me. How could that black rook have gotten to d2? Apr-19-25    Olavi: It's an actual game, well known - but of course it'll take a while for me to locate it... Apr-19-25    Olavi: https://www.chesshistory.com/winter... Apr-19-25    unferth: maybe I'm just being blind, but where is the win after 3 ... Qe8? 4 Bxd5+ Kf8 5 Rxe8+ Kxe8 and the b2 bishop is going to fall to a rook fork. looks to me like white is pretty well lost, if fact. what am I missing? Apr-19-25    unferth: never mind, I found it. 4 Rxe8+ Bxe8 5 Bxd5+ Kf8 6 Nc4 keeps the bishop. white's still got a little work to do, though. Apr-19-25    saffuna: <olavi> Outstanding! Here is a clip (sort of): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzw... At 11:15. Apr-19-25    saffuna: Here is the game: W Wolthuis vs C H Alexander, 1946 Black resigned after Qxb4. I had the positiion wrong in my diagram. A black knight on d2 rather than a rook. Makes sense. Apr-19-25    unferth: ah ... that makes things easier! Apr-19-25    saffuna: The board is shadowy in the video. Lots of comments about "Columbo" at the original game. Apr-19-25    unferth: was that the game they were supposedly playing on a restaurant tablecloth with salt shakers? don't think I've seen that since it first aired, but I remember thinking it strained credulity at the time. Apr-19-25    stone free or die: <Although Clayton is one of the best chess players in the world, during his simultaneous exhibition, one of the people he is playing beats him after playing only two moves, a losing combination known as the "Fool's Mate" and notorious for being the fastest possible way for a player to be checkmated. This, presumably, is meant to demonstrate how much Columbo is unnerving him.> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt006990... Apr-20-25    saffuna: <unferth: was that the game they were supposedly playing on a restaurant tablecloth with salt shakers? don't think I've seen that since it first aired, but I remember thinking it strained credulity at the time.> No, it was totally realistic. Clayton had sought out Dudek the night before the match, which apparently was a one-game world championship match. Clayton then collapsed after losing, and this being Columbo, decided he had to kill Dudek. May-01-25    Sally Simpson: Yesterday I was reading Ree's book, 'My Chess' and he mentions the long walks and talks he had with Fischer during the Netanya (1968) tournament. He did ask Fischer about some of the antisemitic statements that he had apparently made a few uears ago. Fischer replied he had been stupid and in fact he was half Jewish. Then today I saw the link to the 35 minute Amos Burke interview had surfaced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzl... I had seen it in full a number of years ago. Without the doubt the best interview by Fischer. "I thought of giving it up [Chess] but what else can I do...nothing. Right?" Lucid, entertaining, honest, especially about raising the profile of the game and bringing more money into the game. Larsen and Gligoric make some revealing comments as well. May-02-25    stone free or die: (<Sally> you said Amos, elsewhere I mistakenly said Ed, but it's <James Burke> according to the youtube header) May-02-25    Sally Simpson: Yes James Burke. No idea where Amos came from. A mosquito? Yet another sign of how my brain is deteriorating? It's seen Burke, turned it into Burn because it's over loaded and leaking chess stuff and added Amos. May-02-25    stone free or die: As a funny aside - there is an <Amos Burke> out there on the web: https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/wp... . May-14-25    Petrosianic: <Joshka>: <IM Larry Day almost 2 decades ago, wrote a review of the book for a Canadian newspaper.> Garðar Sverrisson's book, <Yfir farinn veg með Bobby Fischer>, says this about it: SVERISSON: <‘Some time after he came home [from hospital] we became aware of a new book in circulation, My 61 Memorable Games, which was claimed to be by Bobby. The book supposedly contained the 60 games that he had selected and annotated in his book My 60 Memorable Games with the addition of one game from his match against Spassky in 1992. Every time he had discussed the possibility of re-issuing this book [My 60 Memorable Games] he had been opposed to my idea of publishing it with revised annotations by himself and others, which I was convinced would make the book even more valuable. To Bobby, it was more important that the original sources should be preserved in their original form. To meddle with the text of an already published book was so ridiculous to him that I doubt whether he would have agreed to correct even obvious spelling mistakes, if found. My 60 Memorable Games was no less dear to him than many of his victories in chess. He was therefore very sad when I brought him the news of that counterfeit publication, which, we discovered later, had been illustrated with the Icelandic flag and photographs taken for private use by Icelanders with whom he was no longer associated.’> May-31-25    perfidious: Masses of footage on Fischer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fer... Jun-20-25    perfidious: Jack Spence wrote a report on the 1955 US Junior championship, beginning on page 22 of the link below, with much coverage devoted to Fischer: http://nebraskachess.com/wp-content... Jun-25-25    gezafan: Here's an interesting documentary about Fischer. At 1:17 it shows a spokesman saying that Fischer could be subjected to a 10 year prison sentence and the theft of the money he made in the 1992 match against Spassky because he played in Yugoslavia. This is absurd. https://youtu.be/pavYCzvg2fM Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 160) search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 160 OF 160 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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