As a chess player, needless to say, the man's a genious. There is so
much to learn from him.
As a person, from what I've heard and read, he seems to be racist,
anti-semetic, and anti-American. Does anyone have anything to say
about him as a person? And do your opinions affect the way you see
him as a chess genious?
So you can formulate your own opinion, below are some links to
articles about him and interviews with him.
His opinions after the World Trade Center attacks....
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2001/12/02/wfisc02.xml
A brief biography of him.....
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/matchless.txt
Ginzburg interview in 1962....
http://www.richmondchess.com/fischer62.html
Fischer's chess genius is undeniable. One thing I am particularly
impressed with is his extensive opening preparation. For example, in
his World Championship match with Boris Spassky, he played 1 d4 for
the first time in his life and won! He beat those wretched soviets and
he is my hero for it.
He actually never played 1.d4...he played 1.c4...entering into a
queen's gambit declined.
His other opening change for that match was him using the Alekhine
defense 1.e4 Nf6 He almost always played the sicillian Najdorf against
1.e4
Essaying different defenses is the key to winning a match.
Dave
Dave
Sorry but I feel I have to say something here. I know you love chess
and I have not being involve in chess as long as you (one month in
fact, and not very good at it at that). But there is a point where chess
has to take second stage. When a chess grandmaster uses his
statues to support the 11th of September attacks by publicly
stating "This is all wonderful news. It is time to finish off the US once
and for all.” I think whether he moved 1.d4 or 1.c4 or 5. h9 doesn’t
real matter. The fact that he doesn’t seem to care and in fact
encourages the terrorist act that killed 3000 to 4000 people dose.
Alexis
Alexis...I am total agreement with what you say. I have over 30 books
on Fischer alone and all I can say is that the only part of him that I
even care about is the person that used to sit at the chessboard and
produce beautiful games and who fought for more rights and money
for chessplayers.
The person he has become is quite sad. I feel ashamed to think of
him as the only American World Champion.
Rascism and hate are two things this world does not need and he is
full of both. So now I just study his games...and could care less about
whatever the hell he does anymore.
Dave
USA Captain
Thanks for all your responses (and I apologize for initially veering off
the Chess Theory subject). As with great literature, it is oftentimes
necessary to separate the work from the man (or woman). It seems
that you all appreciate his work "over the board" -- as for the other
things he does, it's best to ignore it.
Yes, Fischer is an anti-semite. And for that matter, not in his 'later'
years. I have no reason to disbelieve the late Dutch GM Jan Hein
Donner. In his formidable book 'The King - Chess Pieces', he
describes how he became befriended with Bobby during a tournament
in Yugoslavia, when the young man was only 15. Already then he
expressed his anti-semitic feelings to Donner.
Donner was not so much of a clair-voyant, but in this book he foretold,
immediately after Bobby's win in Reykjavik, that he wouldn't be world-
champion for a long period.
Really worth reading!
Jan