Jeremy Schaap vs Bobby Fischer

KidParty · #1 03-27-2005, 08:44 AM

For anyone who saw the clip of the Bobby Fischer press conferance the other day on SportsCenter, I have to say that Jeremy Schaap has all of my respect on how he handled the situation...Bobby Fischer on the other hand has zero respect from me. All he did cement the fact with the entire world that he is an arrogant INSANE man.

partygirluk · #2 03-27-2005, 08:50 AM

Why were Iceland so keen to take him?

sumdumguy · #3 03-27-2005, 09:02 AM

I think Iceland's chess masters per capita is very high. Chess is big in Iceland. And Fischer played a big role in chess popularity in Iceland.

Voltron87 · #4 03-27-2005, 02:28 PM

I think he beat some Russian guy in a face off that was held in Iceland. And I don't think there are many Jews in Iceland.

ClaytonN · #5 03-27-2005, 02:34 PM

You guys are both right.

Chess in Iceland is HUGE

Fischer beat Karpov in a "Cold war battle" in Iceland that made Fischer the first and only world chess champion from America.

Somekid · #6 03-27-2005, 02:52 PM

Fischer beat Boris Spassky.

Andy B · #7 03-27-2005, 02:54 PM

The famous match in 1972 was against Boris Spassky, not Karpov.

ClaytonN · #8 03-27-2005, 03:29 PM

Whooooops

My bad. Brain fart.

jason_t · #9 04-03-2005, 01:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]

I think he beat some Russian guy in a face off that was held in Iceland.

[/ QUOTE ]

It wasn't just "some Russian guy." It was former world champion Boris Spassky. There is now a book about that match titled "Bobby Fischer Goes to War : How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time." Absolutely fascinating read.

checkmate36 · #10 04-03-2005, 01:50 AM

Capablanca was the best natural chess player to have ever lived. He never took a lesson and never read a book on the game. At a young age he would observe his fathers play and even comment when wrong moves were made. At age 12 he won the Cuban championship (Capablanca-Corzo 1901 11th game) by sacrificing his Queen in order to set up a favourable endgame. This concept was never seen before and easily surpasses any accomplishment by other prodigies such as Morphy, Reshevsky and yes Fischer.

Todays players are much better than Fischer at his peak due to a laboratory approach to learning complete with multiple coaches for each phase of the game. Computers and databases make theory easier to stay on top of. One new move in a variation could lead to disaster for an unprepared GM in todays game.