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Originally posted by cswI think BF was not only the strongest player in the world at that time, he was also the one who got US to be interested in chess (again).
He apparently was stark raving mad, but it was his participation in the 1972 world championship that caused me to learn the game.
--csw
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Originally posted by LeaadasJust been reported on Channel 4 midday news. Apparently he had been ill for some time; he certainly seemed to have neglected himself. My feeling is one of great sadness, more I suppose for the fact that arguably the greatest ever chess genius lost his mind to become a demented anti-semite than his passing, since I doubt if he had anything more worthwhile to contribute to the world of chess. Fischer was by far the greatest influence on my chess when I was learning the game as a kid and young man, to the extent I was almost a Fischer clone for a while, playing all of his openings (Najdorf, King's Indian, Grünfeld etc). Just imagine what he might have achieved (and contributed to chess) if he hadn't lost his mind.
Where are you guys reading he died?
I missed the boom in interest in chess that occurred after Fischer won the World Championship in 1972 as I didn't start playing until 1980. However I experienced the aftermath, with chess ability being well respected at school, book shops having a section dedicated to chess, chess clubs attracting more than half a dozen members.
Perhaps he wouldn't have remained such a legend if he had actually stuck around and defended his title against Karpov in 1975. If Fischer had lost that match it would have definitely taken something away from his godlike status amongst us players.
