The Life Of Miyoko Watai Bobby Fischer's Wife

Introduction 

While researching Bobby Fischer for another blog post I planned on writing about him I came across asking a post on a Q and A site asking if Bobby Fisher was married this question intrigued me even though I was pretty sure the answer would be no. Surprisingly After some digging I came across a person, Miyoko Watai a Japanese international master who in 2011 was deemed Fischer's Widow and was given all of his estate.

After finding this document I was able to put the pieces together of Miyoko's life and present this article. The incredible life of Miyoko Watai. 

Early Life

After much searching I struggled to find details of Miyoko's childhood so are story begins soon after Miyoko graduated University in 1969. This is when Miyoko first learned to play chess to beat her boyfriend at the time. It didn't take long after that for her to get hooked. She started attending the chess Olympiad in 1972 during this time period she was obsessed with Bobby Fischer in an interview with chess base Miyoko said

"After he won the world chess match with (Boris) Spassky, he was like the god of chess.

I cut out every articles about him from magazines and English newspapers, and

I studied records of his games."

It didn't take long for her to meet this "god of chess" in fact it would happen just next year in 1973.

Meeting Fischer

They first met when Fischer was traveling to Japan looking for investers for a rematch with Borris Spasky. When he got there Miyoko was chosen as his travel guide to show him around Japan before his pitch meeting. After the tour which lasted several days the two broke apart not to see each other for many days. After Fischer left Japan they stayed in and out of contact threw letter until 1974.

Miyoko was traveling to the states for a chess tournament so Fischer asked her to stop bye. She stayed with him for a while during this time Bobby Fischer was involved heavily in the church of god after leaving fisher to play in the chess tournament she claims she became a much better player just by listening to him talk about chess It might be true to because she got 1st place in that tournament she went to. After the tournament she met up with Fischer again and 

Miyoko and Bobby eventually started traveling the world together.

Parting Ways and reuniting

Eventually when Fischer had to flee the country in the 1990s they stayed out of contact for a while until Miyoko started visiting him and they become much closer. In 2000 Fischer moved in with Miyoko in Japan and there relationship grew from there. 

Issues Getting Married and Conclusion

It took a long time for them to finally get legally married but when they did it wasn't even globally recognized. Because of this when Fisher sadly passed away in 2008 it was a struggle for Miyoko to get control of his estate.

Eventually she finale gained access to his estate. Now she lives in Iceland living a life a isolation but also living the life of a legend. 

-By Tanner Lux