Bobby Fischer
Frühstück nachmittags um halb drei: Die Bezold-Brüder Michael und Thomas über Bobby Fischer in der Pulvermühle.
"Damengambit und Herrenwahn" - die taz über den WM-Kampf Fischer-Spassky 1972:
https://taz.de/Mythisches-Schachduell/!5873044/
"Ausgerechnet ein Klassenfeind beendet 1972 in Reykjavik die sowjetische Schach-Hegemonie. Der Amerikaner Fischer bringt die Isländer und seinen Gegner zur Verzweiflung. Danach tritt er zu keinem offiziellen Duell mehr an und lebt in Anonymität, Angst und Armut." - Richard Forster in der NZZ über Fischer versus Spassky 1972:
https://www.nzz.ch/sport/vor-50-jahren-bobby-fischer-wird-schachweltmeister-ld.1700259
50 Jahre Fischer gegen Spasski: Schach im Kalten Krieg
Reykjavík 1972: Schach-WM in der isländischen Hauptstadt. Der US-Amerikaner Bobby Fischer fordert im "Match des Jahrhunderts" die Schach-Großmacht Sowjetunion heraus - und gewinnt.
https://www.dw.com/de/schach-bobby-fischer-weltmeister-1972/a-62271164
Die Sportschau über Fischer-Spassky:
Can you imagine a 15 year old boy playing the Candidates Tournament with the 8 best players in the World? Don't imagine, Bobby Fischer did it in 1959.
However, the star of the tournament was Mikhail Tal (looking at the game in the picture!). His meteoric rise was unstoppable. He… pic.twitter.com/YpfdRvUhTB— Ruhi Chess (@Ruhichess) May 14, 2023
Bobby Fischer's formula for improving your skill
This is the story of how Bobby Fischer improved his chess skill beyond what was considered humanly possible. The way he attained it will surprise you.
The first crucial factor is to get as much deliberate practice as possible. Bobby would carry a pocket chess set with him, and any spare time he would use analyzing chess positions. Otherwise, he would just move the pieces in his head.
Bobby Fischer did not have personal trainers. He was a loner and did not receive much help from other players. Of course, he did not have a computer, they weren't around at the time. Contrary to urban legends, he did not have a big library. Living from one shabby apartment to the next, he could not carry too many books around. His favorite was 'The Red Book of Spassky' about the games of his great rival, which he had memorized by heart, every game from the first move to the last.
Bobby exercised physically in order to stay in shape, which provided him with the cognitive benefits that exercising brings about. When he couldn't hit the gym, he would exercise in his room. However, he is not known to have had a chess training routine of any kind. He didn't need it, it was all about his inner drive.
And it is this drive what distinguishes the champions: the motivation of a pursuit; the dopamine rushing through his brain every time he thought about chess, enhancing neuroplasticity, allowing him to push the boundaries of his developmental progress.
At an age where most chess players plateau, Bobby was just getting started. This is how he got his game to the next level. The degree of perfection Bobby acquired in his craft was unimaginable. Had he played today, he would surely have been disqualified for cheating by being fed computer moves. Nobody can suddenly turn so superior to his peers, it is impossible.
This is the kind of story that you only hear in the movies: someone training with rudimentary means, becoming superhuman and challenging the methodical soviet sports machinery, all by himself... But Bobby wasn't a Hollywood production like Rocky Balboa; he was real. And this is why the takeaways from his experience are precious.
Fischer vs Fidel Castro and the $10,000 Dilemma!
In 1965, the chess world was captivated by the clash between a young prodigy, Bobby Fischer, and an unexpected opponent, Fidel Castro. Fischer, already a sensation at 22, was invited to Cuba for a prestigious tournament honoring chess legend Capablanca.
However, due to the Cuban blockade, Fischer couldn't travel to the island. Determined to participate, Fischer and the organizers devised a groundbreaking plan. He would play remotely from New York, communicating his moves via teletype.
But just when things seemed settled, Fischer sent a bold letter to Castro, accusing him of political maneuvering and threatening to withdraw. Castro, an passionate chess fan, fired back with surprising candor, denying any involvement and urging Fischer to be honest if he had changed his mind.
The dispute was resolved, and Fischer took on 21 opponents through marathon matches lasting up to 7 hours each. Despite exhaustion, Fischer secured an impressive second place with the Soviet player Smyslov emerging as the champion. The tournament, dubbed the first-ever telegraphed event, attracted global attention.
However, when the bill arrived ~ a staggering $10,000 ~ the organizers faced a dilemma: who would foot the hefty expense?
https://twitter.com/Ruhichess/status/1666157222571954176
Als Bobby Fischer seinen Titel verlor und der WM-Kampf gegen Karpov nicht zustandekam, war das der "Bild" eine Mitteilung auf der Titelseite wert.
Zeitungsausschnitt via Michael Wiemer:
Der nicht ganz unumstrittene Publizist Henryk M. Broder hat das "Bobby Fischer Center" auf Island besucht, ist auf Fischers Spuren gewandelt und hat darüber eine wunderbare Reportage geschrieben.
