Controversial 1972 world chess champ Fischer dies at 64

[Chacor]

The controversial former world chess champion, Bobby Fischer, has died in Iceland at the age of 64.

The US-born player, who became famous for beating Cold War Soviet rival Boris Spassky in 1972, died of an unspecified illness, his spokesman said.

He was granted Icelandic citizenship in 2005 as a way to avoid being deported to the US.

Mr Fischer was wanted for breaking international sanctions by playing a match in the former Yugoslavia in 1992.

He also had alienated many in his homeland by broadcasting anti-Semitic diatribes and expressing support for the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York.

The reclusive player - who had renounced his US citizenship - had lived undetected in Japan for a number of years before moving to Iceland.

Chess legend Fischer dies at 64 (full story)
Fischer's life in pictures
Obituary: Bobby Fischer

[Chacor]

Controversial figure, but a one-time anti-Communist/anti-Soviet hero.

Regardless of his very, very skewed views on 9/11, he was a talent in his time. RIP.

[Nimbus]

Maybe he faked his own death and is moving to the north pole.
I doubt anyone living in the USA south of Fairbanks would appreciate any further Fischer remarks like the ones he made in support of the 911 event.

[Ed Mahmoud]

He was probably mentally ill. Easiest way to explain a man who is halachically Jewish being an antisemite.


Smart and crazy can go together.

[Cyclenall]

Wow, he's now dead. Well, the chess legend is now gone.

[x-y-no]

I have it direct from someone who knew Fischer that he was suffering from kidney disease but refused medical treatment because he didn't trust doctors.

Likely that (or some complication) was the cause of death.

[tropicana]

i never ever even heard of this man

[Cryomaniac]

He was probably mentally ill. Easiest way to explain a man who is halachically Jewish being an antisemite.

There aren't many other explanations...

[Nimbus]

I'm sure I could not assimilate Bobby Fischer. It always seemed to me that his antisemitic remarks were part of some elaberate divide and conquer political scheme. He may go down in history as Americas or the worlds best chess player. In his later years he developed his own version of chess which was more challanging. Fischer chess randomizes the positions of the major pieces in the home rho adding some extra depth to the game.