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The Genius of Bobby Fischer
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The Genius of Bobby Fischer

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When talking about some of history's greatest geniuses, you may not think a guy playing a board game comes into mind. However, when Bobby Fischer played, it was like a grand orchestra of chess pieces, or perhaps an 8th wonder of the world at the time. For those who were alive at the time, they were seeing the brilliant analytical mind behind one of the world's most undefeated chess champions.

The above match was game #3 of Fischer vs. Spassky of the World Chess championship. It is what won the title of World Chess Champion for Bobby Fischer, given forfeiture by Fischer in the previous game due to privacy concerns. Spassky wanted to win nobly, making this the match of the century. It was almost like the "moon landing" of chess, in which you seen some kid against the whole empire of Russia. This wasn't any kid though, this was Bobby Fischer.

Fisher's story ended being told for the decades to follow. In the movie Pawn Sacrifice for example, it featured Tobey Maguire as a young Bobby Fischer ready to take on the Russians. Later in life, Bobby Fischer had some underlining mental health problems, and mostly secluded himself from society. It is with pity that one of history's greatest geniuses faded away towards seclusion from the rest of the modern world. Similar stories have happened in the past when looking at geniuses such as William James Sidis. He likely became a byproduct of the pressures of society.

Here, you have a honest guy who just wanted to play a simple board game. He wasn't after the celebrity status, and he didn't want his name to be up in lights. He just wanted to perfect and master his craft. You have the true passion of someone who loves what he does. Even when dragged down in society, the press and the mental pressure of all things, you have a compassionate soul who just sits down and wants to make a masterpiece off his work. This is perhaps why Bobby Fischer won't just go down as one of history's greats or a genius, but a misunderstood and caring gentle soul. Perhaps the world doesn't deserve another Bobby Fischer.