 Robert J. Fischer, 1943-2008
 It's the end of an era for the chess world, as the controversial former
world champion, Robert J. “Bobby” Fischer died last Thursday in his adoptive homeland of Iceland at the natural chess age of 64 - a year for every square on the board.
Chess legend Fischer, who was born in Chicago in 1943 and raised in Brooklyn, became famous for beating Soviet rival Boris Spassky in a Cold War world championship match in
1972, died of an unspecified illness, his spokesman said, though it was common knowledge he was admitted to hospital several months back to be treated for kidney failure and severe mental health issues.
From child prodigy he went on to become the unlikely all-American hero who shattered the belief of the leaders of Soviet chess that a world champion had to be cultured, well-rounded personality, made in the USSR. But
it all turned sour when he became persona non grata in the U.S. following the breaking of UN sanctions in playing a 1992 ‘return match’ with Spassky in civil war-torn Yugoslavia, a move that ultimately led to him being imprisoned
for almost a year in Japan on extradition charges back to the U.S.
 It
was Fischer who put Iceland on the map for the first time since the Vikings with his 1972 showdown with Spassky. Fittingly, it was Iceland who returned the favor by making him an Icelandic citizen that avoided him being dragged back to
America and what would have been an embarrassing court case.
Despite all his imperfections, paranoia, anti-Semitic diatribes and expressing support for the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York, Fischer should be best remembered for his glittering career en route to his historic
1972 victory in Reykjavik over Spassky, rather than the sad and prolonged end-game of his personal life.
Many obituaries have been written by major news outlets on Fischer's death, a selection of which you'll find below. ICC will be airing a special Chess Talk with IM John Watson, who will
be reflecting on Fischer's controversial career and brilliant moments over the board with his special guest, GM Andy Soltis, author of the hit book Bobby Fischer Rediscovered.
Obituaries
Corus 2008
 News of Fischer's death overshadowed events at Corus Wijk aan Zee, where
there was a minute's silence by all the players before the start of round six. Some, like Teimour Radjabov, opted to play their own little tribute to Fischer by playing the Exchange Lopez in honor of the fallen star.
It was left though to
Norwegian teen ace Magnus Carlsen, hailed by many as the best player from the west since Fischer, to strike out and take the sole lead after beating Judit Polgar. Other big winners of what for many was a sombre day included Vladimir
Kramnik,
who beat Levon Aronian, and Veselin Topalov, who beat Peter Leko.
ICC's Macauley Peterson interviewed several players at Corus on their reactions to Fischer's death that will feature in his latest onsite video from Wijk aan Zee. See below
collection of other Macauley videos from Wijk.
Also each round, one of our top grandmaster commentary team will be giving their spin on the best game of the round with Game of the Day. See below for full selection.
ICC Chess.FM coverage
| ROUND & DATE |
HOST |
GUEST |
| R1 Mamedyarov-Carlsen |
FREE "GOTD" - GM Christiansen |
| R2 Gelfand-Aronian |
FREE "GOTD" - GM Benjamin |
| R3 Nepomniachtchi-Sargissian |
FREE "GOTD" - GM Christiansen |
| R4 Gelfand-Polgar |
FREE "GOTD" - GM Fedorowicz |
| R5 Topalov-Gelfand |
FREE "GOTD" - GM Ronen Har-Zvi |
R6 Kramnik-Aronian  |
FREE "GOTD" - GM Jon Speelman |
| R-7 Sat., Jan 19 |
Mig Greengard |
GM Jon Speelman |
| R-8 Sun., Jan 20 |
Mig Greengard |
GM Gregory Kaidanov |
| REST DAY |
| R-9 Tue., Jan 22 |
Mig Greengard |
GM John Fedorowicz |
| R-10 Wed., Jan 23 |
Mig Greengard |
GM Gregory Kaidanov |
| REST DAY |
| R-11 Fri., Jan 25 |
Mig Greengard |
GM Nick De Firmian |
| R-12 Sat., Jan 26 |
Mig Greengard |
GM Ronen Har-Zvi |
| R-13 Sun., Jan 27 |
Mig Greengard |
GM Joel Benjamin |
|
Macauley's FREE Videos from Corus
CORUS 2008 Group-A | Round-7 | Saturday, January 19 | 07:30 EST
| NAT |
FED |
ELO |
WHITE |
RES |
BLACK |
ELO |
FED |
NAT |
 |
RUS |
2799 |
Vladimir Kramnik |
- |
Loek van Wely |
2681 |
NED |
|
 |
AZE |
2735 |
Teymour Radjabov |
- |
Viswanathan Anand |
2799 |
IND |
 |
|
AZE |
2760 |
Shakhryar Mamedyarov |
- |
Magnus Carlsen |
2733 |
NOR |
 |
 |
UKR |
2692 |
Pavel Eljanov |
- |
Peter Leko |
2753 |
HUN |
 |
 |
ENG |
2726 |
Michael Adams |
- |
Boris Gelfand |
2737 |
ISR |
 |
 |
ARM |
2739 |
Levon Aronian |
- |
Veselin Topalov |
2780 |
BUL |
 |
|
UKR |
2751 |
Vassily Ivanchuk |
- |
Judit Polgar |
2707 |
HUN |
|
|
Group A - Crosstable after round 6 | cat. XX (2742)
| N |
NAME |
FED |
ELO |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
PTS |
| 1 |
Carlsen |
NOR |
2733 |
|
. |
. |
½ |
½ |
. |
1 |
½ |
1 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
1 |
4½ |
| 2 |
Kramnik |
RUS |
2799 |
. |
|
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
1 |
4 |
| 3 |
Radjabov |
AZE |
2735 |
. |
½ |
|
. |
½ |
½ |
½ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
1 |
. |
1 |
4 |
| 4 |
Aronian |
ARM |
2739 |
½ |
0 |
. |
|
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
1 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
. |
3½ |
| 5 |
Adams |
ENG |
2726 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
. |
|
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
½ |
½ |
½ |
. |
3 |
| 6 |
Van Wely |
NED |
2681 |
. |
½ |
½ |
. |
. |
|
0 |
. |
½ |
1 |
. |
. |
½ |
. |
3 |
| 7 |
Mamedyarov |
AZE |
2760 |
0 |
½ |
½ |
. |
. |
1 |
|
. |
. |
. |
. |
½ |
. |
½ |
3 |
| 8 |
Ivanchuk |
UKR |
2751 |
½ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
. |
3 |
| 9 |
Polgar |
HUN |
2707 |
0 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
½ |
. |
½ |
|
½ |
½ |
. |
1 |
. |
3 |
| 10 |
Topalov |
BUL |
2780 |
. |
. |
. |
0 |
. |
0 |
. |
½ |
½ |
|
1 |
. |
1 |
. |
3 |
| 11 |
Leko |
HUN |
2753 |
. |
. |
. |
½ |
½ |
. |
. |
½ |
½ |
0 |
|
. |
. |
½ |
2½ |
| 12 |
Anand |
IND |
2799 |
. |
. |
0 |
½ |
½ |
. |
½ |
½ |
. |
. |
. |
|
. |
½ |
2½ |
| 13 |
Gelfand |
ISR |
2737 |
. |
. |
. |
0 |
½ |
½ |
. |
½ |
0 |
0 |
. |
. |
|
. |
1½ |
| 14 |
Eljanov |
UKR |
2692 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
. |
. |
. |
½ |
. |
. |
. |
½ |
½ |
. |
|
1½ |
|
More information
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GM Ronen Har-Zvi: "New Ideas in the Slav and Semi-Slav Defences" part VI
 |
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In a series of new opening videos for ICC Chess.FM, GM Ronen Har-Zvi investigates the latest developments and trends that will keep you up-to-date in the rock-solid Slav and Semi-Slav Defences.
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of both of Ronen's latest videos. To listen to the full videos, sign
up for membership!
Sneak preview of part 6. |
"Chess Talk" with IM John Watson
 Tune-in
for Chess Talk with IM John Watson on ICC Chess.FM. John's weekly 60+ minute show (members only) will feature an interview with leading chess personalities.
John's special guest this week (Tue., 15 Jan.) was Jeroen van den Berg, Tournament Director of
the Corus Tournament taking place just now in the little Dutch village of Wijk aan Zee.
Jereon, who is a journalist by profession, started his apprenticeship at Wijk as a 'board boy' in his youth before progressing through the ranks to be the press officer
and then, in 1999, Tournament Director. Jereon talks to John on Chess Talk about the history and tradition of a tournament that many regard to be the biggest and best on the international chess calendar.
As a special treat this week, as part of ICC's
extended coverage of Corus Wijk aan Zee, this show can be accessed for free for non-members by clicking here.
Next week (Tue., 22 Jan.) John will have a special tribute show on the life
and times of Bobby Fischer, where his guest will be New York Post journalist and grandmaster Andy Soltis, author of Bobby
Fischer Rediscovered.
Find below a selection of free 5 minute preview of John's latest shows. To listen to the full shows, sign
up for membership!
Attack with LarryC!
 New
at ICC Chess.FM - Attack With LarryC! A weekly 30 min+ show on Wednesdays at 15:00 EST (and available on-demand thereafter for members), featuring three-time U.S. Champion Larry Christiansen, one of the most dangerous
and respected attacking players of his generation.
Larry is a feared competitor and attacker who authored two popular books that showcase his aggressive style: Storming the Barricades and Rocking the Ramparts. And each week on his show, Larry will feature various
attacking motifs and themes and showing you how best to play for mate.
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Larry's latest video. This video is just one of the many benefits of being a
full member of ICC - so, sign up for membership!
Ask the Renaissance Man
 |
|
Tune-in for "Ask the Renaissance Man" with National Master Dan Heisman every Thursday at 21:00 EST. You send in the questions and Dan provides the answers every week on his Q&A
show. Questions on tournament rules, opening play, chess books, chess politics, current events, and more!
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Dan's latest show. To listen to the full show, sign
up for membership! |
GM Joel Benjamin "Game of the Week"
 Three-time
U.S. Champion GM Joel Benjamin starts his weekly show every Friday at 15:00 Server Time. Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview
of Joel's latest show. To listen to the full show, sign up for membership!
Joel is regarded by many as one of the best commentators and analysts' we have in the game today, and each Friday he will be giving us his insight and spin with his selection of Game of the Week.
This is a not-to-be-missed 30-minute video is exclusively for ICC members only -- so if you want to get ahead of the game, get ready to tune-in! By popular demand and requests from members, ALL
of Joel Benjamin's GOTW videos are available. Enjoy! |
Fischer Quiz #1
Black wins
To watch the game on the ICC type:
"examine Soltis100 %27"
Fischer Quiz #3
White wins
To watch the game on the ICC type:
"examine MyGreatPred-4a %80" |
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Fischer Quiz #2
Black wins
To watch the game on the ICC type:
"examine Soltis100 %25"
Fischer Quiz #4
White wins
To watch the game on the ICC type:
"examine MyGreatPred-4a %72"
|
Bobby Fischer Rediscovered - Andy Soltis
Although 30 years have passed since Bobby Fischer single-handedly wrested the world chess title from the former Soviet Union, admiration for his beautiful play remains as strong as ever. As copies of My 60
Memorable Games by Fischer are elusive and the book only covers material up to 1967 in any case, the author has provided a timely volume that retraces Bobby’s chess career from his teenage years in New York right up to his final matches with Boris
Spassky, taking a fresh
look at the chessboard masterpieces that have made him a living chess legend. Read
more
List $24.95
Our Price $23.95 -  Buy
now!
Bobby Fischer Goes To War - David Edmonds and John Eidnow
 Since
1948, the USSR had dominated the World Chess Championships - evidence, Moscow claimed, of the superiority of the Soviet system. But then came Bobby Fischer.
A dysfunctional genius, Fischer was uniquely equipped to take on the Soviets. His every waking hour
was dedicated to the game. He had steamrollered all opposition to reach the championship.When he became increasingly volatile, Henry Kissinger phoned him, urging Fischer to fight for his country. Read
more
Price $17.95 - Buy
now!
Bobby Fischer: From Genius to Chess Legend - Eduard Gufeld
To many Bobby Fischer is the name of chess. Remembered for his epic match in 1972 with Soviet World Champion Boris Spassky at a time where the Cold War was at it's height, the American has always been for many chess' great enigma.
In this book from Gufeld, who was assisted by the likes of GM Wolfgang Unzicker, the games, traits, and personality of Fischer are examined, with some interesting conclusions. It's lucid reading style makes this an enjoyable way to acquaint yourself
with one of the all time greats. Read more
Price $18.95 - Buy
now! |
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Bobby Fischer I Knew and other Stories, The - Denker, Arnold and Parr, Larry
This Damon Runyon-like work will be around well into the Twenty-first Century to inform future chess generations about such greats as Bobby Fischer and world champion Gary Kasparov as well as the "guys
and dolls" of the New York
chess scene during the fabled Golden Era of the 1930s and 1940s. In the Introduction, five-time U.S.
Champion Larry Evans writes that the authors capture "some of the most raucous and colorful figures in 20th Century chess" with
a "Dickensian
precision". Yet
there is plenty of hard chess in this big book - over 300 games and positions, many never before published, and which contain interesting opening ideas that have either been forgotten or neglected in the manuals. Read
more
Price $39.95 - Buy
now!
Bobby Fischer: The Wandering King - Hans Bohm & Kees Jongkind
Despite his idiosyncrasies, Fischer has become an intriguing living legend. This book traces his story through interviews with former friends and rivals of Fischer, including Seirawan and Karpov,
and his former bodyguard and fitness trainer.
The authors have dug through the archives, including recently opened FBI files, in order to place the more negative aspects of the man into context – his tough upbringing, his exceptional talent,
his anti-social behaviour, his fight against the chess authorities and his growing eccentricity. This book is a must for anyone interested in this remarkable man and his fascinating life. Read
more
Price $10.00 - Buy
now!
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess - Fischer
Learn to think the same way Bobby does. This is the secret. You will be put in increasingly complex situations where you will be required to think and move the way Bobby Fischer does.
You'll be a better player after
you take Bobby
Fischer's Chess Course. It works. Read
more
Price $7.95 - Buy
now!
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Solution to Fischer Quiz #1
17...Be6!!
Byrne,D vs Fischer D92 1956 0-1
Solution to Fischer Quiz #3
18.Be4!!
Fischer vs Panno,O B40 1970 1-0 |
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Solution to Fischer Quiz #2
21...Qd7!!
Byrne,R vs Fischer E60 1963 0-1
Solution to Fischer Quiz #4
19.Rf6!!
Fischer vs Benko,P B06 1963 1-0 |
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