1943-2008
Legendary chess champion Robert Fischer passed away on Iceland, BBC reported. Bobby had health problems for awhile already and the fatal cause was kidney failure.
Fischer held a record of being the youngest Grandmaster for a long time, having achieved the title aged 15, in Portoroz 1958. For the next 14 years, he was preparing for the ultimate clash against Boris Spassky and Soviet chess machine. Bobby Fischer won the dramatic match against Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland. This event was regarded as big win for the US in the ongoing Cold War and also brought Iceland in the international spotlight.
Fischer didn’t defend his title against Anatoly Karpov in 1975 after a misunderstanding with FIDE. He still insisted to be regarded to as World Chess Champion. In 1992 he played against Boris Spassky in a rematch that took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, for the highest prize fund ever – 5 million dollars.
Fischer also gave a number of controversial interviews and political opinions over the decade.
Twelve years later, on 2004, Japan authorities arrested him on the base of US warrant for breaking sanctions against Yugoslavia. Iceland parliament granted him citizenship on 2005, and Bobby lived there since.
Rest in peace, great champion…
