In an ironic twist, Fischer was 64 when he died. There are, of course, 64 squares on a chessboard.
Last Friday I watched as part of a church film group the Bergman film, The Seventh Seal, in which a Christian knight plays chess with death. Death won, but the knight managed to save a few lives in the course of his struggle with the Grim Reaper. Millions of people were influenced by Fischer - including me when I took up competitive chess back in 1992 as others did - to play the great game of chess.
There will be Fischer Memorial tournaments around the world. And, paradoxically perhaps, I expect the Russian chess public to honour Fischer as much or more than his own country will. The Cold War battle that the 1972 Championship became did not stop them from having an attitude of admiration towards Fischer. And I expect that no U.S. government will be able to forgive Fischer for his remark that a real cause of 9-11 was the U.S. foreign policy that preceded the horrific events in New York City. Blowback is now an acknowledged fact to many observers but it was not so in 2001. It would probably be useful to recall an Icelandic response to the choleric attack on that country by the U.S. newspaper The Washington Post following Bobby Fischer's arrival in Iceland. In an Editorial dated 29 March 2005 the Morgunbladid in Reykjavik, Iceland noted:
Bobby Fischer has not come to Iceland because of his opinions. They are his, and he is responsible for his words just as any other Icelander is.Fischer was a warrior on and off the chessboard. It is a pity that his great fighting spirit was not put to better use after his retirement from serious play. What he lacked for that was a knight's humility; however, it is also true that Fischer was once quoted as saying that humility would be hypocritical of him since he viewed himself as the greatest chess player ever.
When Mr. Fischer became World Champion, Americans were eager to cloak themselves in this eccentric chess genius’ victory over the Soviet chess dynasty, but since 1992 their intransigence toward him has been unalloyed.
Early this winter, Mr. Fischer wrote to the authorities in this country and requested asylum in Iceland. Minister of Foreign Affairs Davíd Oddsson demonstrated both valor and philanthropy when he decided to honor that request. Icelanders have formed a group of Bobby Fischer supporters who have worked tirelessly to get him released, and it is thanks to this group and the Minister for Foreign Affairs that Mr. Fischer is here. The original intent was not to grant Mr. Fischer Icelandic citizenship, but when it became clear that the Japanese would not release him, the decision was made to take this step. Althingi (the Icelandic Parliament) did not bring Iceland to shame with this decision; instead, it saved the United States the shame of having imprisoned Robert James Fischer for the sole crime of not having behaved in harmony with American foreign policy.
One minute of silence was observed prior to the start of Round 6 at the Corus Tournament in Wijk aan Zee to remember Bobby Fischer.
I cannot say enough good things about the new chess video site, ChessVibes. Their speedy coverage is simply amazing and a real treat. Have a look at ChessVibes There is the actual recording of the moment of silence in honour of Fischer at Wijk aan Zee. Reactions are available, so far, from GM Ljubomir Ljubojevic, GM Nigel Short, GM Michael Adams, GM Teimur Rajabov, GM Jan Timman, and GM Veselin Topalov. I particulary like what Topalov said: "He really loved chess and his ideas ... still live."
He never fixed a game, never played for a draw, and gave us a legacy of total devotion to an art. He was, simply, for his brief shining moment, the best that ever was.
from Brenan Nierman over at Mig Greengard's, The Daily Dirt
Here is that minute of silence. What else need be said?
Hmm. Apparently, Kasparov found something to say. One great champion gives his best to another.
Fischer's beautiful chess and his immortal games will stand forever as a central pillar in the history of our game.... It is with justice that he spent his final days in Iceland, the site of his greatest triumph. There he has always been loved and seen in the best possible way: as a chessplayer.
6 comments:
Fantastic post guys.
Bobby Fischer rest in peace.
I've added the YouTube video of the moment of silence in Wijk aan Zee prior to the 6th round of the Corus Chess tournament in honour of Bobby Fisher. What else need be said?
Here is a comment from Brad Majors over at Mig Greengard's The Daily Dirt Chess Blog:
Magnús Skúlason a good friend of Bobby who was with him the end says Bobby's last words were "nothing eases suffering like a human touch".
Well put, Robert James Fischer. Rest in peace.
Whether or not you agree with his political or other views, one thing you must agree to, is that Bobby Fischer was a man of incredible courage, integrity, and honesty. He has demonstrated this truth many times over the course of his life, from his unwillingness, early in his career, to accept sponsorship from a company because he claimed he didn't use their product, to his highly controversial radio interviews where he candidly voiced his opinions, even though it was clear he would encounter great consequences as a result. Bobby Fischer was afraid of nothing. His way of life, as well as his chess, has made that clear.
Garry Kasparov recently wrote:
"After conquering the chess Olympus he was unable to find a new target for his power and passion."
Boris Spassky said in an interview:
"I knew that a time would come when I would have to pay for it all. I would be called to account. And that's what happened. And ultimately, I had to leave my country.
I am Russian. It's my land. And, nevertheless, I had to abandon my own land. Incidentally, Bobby Fischer, an American, also had to abandon his country. And now we are both living as emigrés. So you see what strange things can sometimes happen in life. As the French say, 'C'est la vie.'" (That's life.)
Could things have been different for Fischer? I dunno. In any case, Fischer's death, like his return to chess in 1992, has got me looking at chess in general and his chess in particular a lot more these days. I might even finally finish reading his book, My 60 Memorable Games. It's long overdue.
Nigel
The following was posted on Dick Cavett's blog at the NY Times:
Among the many comments here, not all of which I’ve managed to read, are some that consider Fischer as a worthy subject of drama. Robert Bestani wrote, “Fisher was Shakespearian!” and Dick Cavett wrote in his article:
“He looks ancient, is balding and that great face that shone with intelligence is all but hidden by a massive growth of white beard. It could be an actor playing King Lear.”
The play’s the thing and it ought to be written. However, I’m not too hopeful regarding an upcoming film, already planned, as the book upon which it is based covers too narrow a period in Fischer’s life. Fischer deserves a larger canvas.
For me, it’s rather odd. I disliked Fischer so much that I even disliked those who liked him. However, the ugly stampede of those who wished to leave their boot marks on his grave aroused my sympathy and, happily, I have now “discovered” Fischer for the first time. Better late than never.
Serbian GM Ljubomir Ljubojević had some insightful and rather kindly remarks about Fischer immediately upon hearing of the latter’s death. Ljubojević remarked that every chess player should be grateful that Fischer was alive to illuminate the chess world, he spoke of Fischer’s unselfish activities for chess much more than for himself, and he said that Fischer was a man without frontiers, who “didn’t divide the East and West” but rather “brought them together in their admiration for him”.
It’s also true that Fischer grew up in a repressive era of McCarthyism, his family was subject to police surveillance, his early education was poor, and so on. All of this affected him. It would take a Shakespeare to cover all of these contradictory elements in an artistically truthful manner. But Fischer is certainly a worthy subject.
Nigel
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