Book recommendation: "Russians versus Fischer" by Dmitry Plisetsky
and Sergey Voronkov(Everyman Chess-Hardback). I own a copy(different publisher), an excellent book. Secret Soviet documents
uncovered by authors on 'Fischer problem'. Leading Soviet GM analyses of Fischer's style, personality, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
All 158 games tween Fischer and Soviets. Photos and drawings.
Synopsis
This magnificent volume contains the extraordinary story of the prolonged battle between Bobby Fischer, the lone American genius who is perhaps the most famous chess player of all time, and the long-standing and all-dominating Soviet chess machine. For the first time readers will be able to view virtually all the secret documents on 'the Fischer problem', many of which have never previously been published. These include papers from the archives of the KGB, the Communist Party Central Committee, the USSR Sports Committee and the Chess Federation. Together with this, there are reports and analysis of Fischer's personality and play, written at the demand of the Soviet authorities by the country's leading Grandmasters, legends such as Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Victor Korchnoi and Efim Geller. Also contained in "Russians Versus Fischer" are annotations and the stories on all of the 158 chess encounters between Fischer and his Soviet adversaries, and a large number of rare photographs and drawings. This book is a significantly enlarged and updated version of the one first published in Russia in 1994.
Originally posted by DMD Book recommendation: "Russians versus Fischer" by Dmitry Plisetsky
and Sergey Voronkov(Everyman Chess-Hardback). I own a copy(different publisher), an excellent book. Secret Soviet documents
uncovered by authors on 'Fischer problem'. Leading Soviet GM analyses of Fischer's style, personality, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
All 158 games tween Fischer and Soviets. Photos and drawings.
I totally agree with you.
Other (similar) great reads are:
"The reliable past "
"Russian silhouettes"
Both are written by Gennna Sosonko.
I think you will enjoy those heavily if you likes " Russians vs Fischer.
Originally posted by DMD Book recommendation: "Russians versus Fischer" by Dmitry Plisetsky
and Sergey Voronkov(Everyman Chess-Hardback). I own a copy(different publisher), an excellent book. Secret Soviet documents
uncovered by authors on 'Fischer problem'. Leading Soviet GM analyses of Fischer's style, personality, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
All 158 games tween Fischer and Soviets. Photos and drawings.
Looks quite impressive. Here is a link to a long excerpt as well as other information:
If he was considered such a threat by the Soviet government, why didn't they "take him out" instead of analyzing him ad infinitum? Or they thought they could benefit by him taking chess one step further thus benefiting themselves in the long run when a newer breed of Soviet grandmasters come along; by the time Fischer's phases out nobody from the West could stand up to them?
Originally posted by searchingforkolisch If he was considered such a threat by the Soviet government, why didn't they "take him out" instead of analyzing him ad infinitum? Or they thought they could benefit by him taking chess one step further thus benefiting themselves in the long run when a newer breed of Soviet grandmasters come along; by the time Fischer's phases out nobody from the West could stand up to them?
Presumably for the same reason(s) they didn't "kneecap" top Western athletes contending for olympic medals.
Originally posted by searchingforkolisch If he was considered such a threat by the Soviet government, why didn't they "take him out" instead of analyzing him ad infinitum? Or they thought they could benefit by him taking chess one step further thus benefiting themselves in the long run when a newer breed of Soviet grandmasters come along; by the time Fischer's phases out nobody from the West could stand up to them?
Maybe they were going to slip something in his drink to make him do doolally then realised there was no need.
"Russians versus Fischer"
30 Dec '07 17:32
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