I recently had a rather controversial article published on a topic that hits home for many of us here at Chessforums.org, and in the chess community in general. I did not write the article to create enemies or upset anyone, but rather to offer another view on what is surely one of the most famous chess topics of all time: Bobby Fischer.

Here is the article, take a few minutes to read it and tell me what you think! Thanks!


Bobby Fischer - the Chess Player, Not the Man - Associated Content

<grabs popcorn and pulls up chair>

LOL now that's funny! I've always loved Fischer debates, because good points are usually brought up by all participants .

There are several books on Fischer, and not his games. One book was a Dutch publication which actually came from a television series on Fischer.
Chess Life over the years did articles on Fischer including an article after his death.
There are also DVDs on Fischer. One was an abridged version with comments from Karpov and others on his games.
One interesting commentary was that some U.S. players even then knew that Fischer as a youth had problems.
A New York Times article which is online from the end of the 19th Century
was about mental problems and Chess. Steinitz, Pillsbury, some of the English players and others. Fine wrote a book about the great Chess players and mental illness. (Fine was a Freudian). Freud was popular at the time the book came out.

Fischer was just beginning to make his mark on the chess world when I started playing so I got to witness his entire career. From the beginning he had a one-track mind for chess which made for some odd behavior. But he was an entirely different person in those days; he was friendly, loyal to his friends and generous. He seems to have started deteriorating after his aborted match with Reshevsky and his experience with Herbert W. Armstrong’s World Wide Church of God experience.

Here is a photo taken from Chess review of Fischer playing in the 1958-59 US Championship. His opponent appears to be Robert Byrne while the back of Reshevsky’s head is on the left and William Lombardy is on the right. It’s hard to imagine him playing under those conditions later in his career.

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/v...ow/Fischer.jpg

Besides Fischer in the photo.
Father William Lombardy.

Met Lombardy a couple of times. He was very friendly towards us ordinary players. Same for Andy Soltis, Edmar Mednis and Art Bisguier. Byrne and Reshevsky were somewhat standoffish, but not unfriendly. "Met" Fischer once in Dr. Albert Buschke's used chess book store in New York City. All I did was gawk at him...was too shocked to be standing there when he walked in to say anything!

Only Smyslov at a simul. I didn't play but was there to watch a friend. My friend won. Met Max Euwe once. Played an offhand game against Rossolimo once at his chess studio in New York City; I lost.

I don't know if you would count Shamkovich and Lein because they were US citizens by then.

I also met Tony Miles. He was playing in a US Champ. I think he was at odds with the BCF at the time so was playing here. I’d heard he could be quite grumpy, but found him friendly enough. Walter Browne was a character. I always thought he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he was so jittery and seemed a little clumsy.

I also met the infamous US master Norman T. Whitaker at a tournament in North Carolina back in the early '60's.

name dropper!