Did Bobby Fischer have Aspergers Syndrome?

 Two points:

1. In Russia they dont have to order you to do something---they ask you politely to do something---and if you dont do it you lose your head. Ever since Russia became engaged in international chess the Russian chess authorities were calling the shots.

2. Spassky felt he owned Fischer---he had never lost to Fischer. He was up 2-zip and he knew he was going to beat Fischer and thats why he stayed---not because he was a gentleman but because if he did stay and win he would become an even bigger hero than Yuri Gagarin!!!

And thats the name of that tune.

Who doesn 't have Asperger's?

He probably did; I suppose it could help him play chess better. (Too bad that doesn't work for everybody, right?)

My wife helped remove his fillings as a dental assistant in the Lancaster-Palmdale area of California around 1971.  He scheduled his appointments so no one other than his entourage would be in waiting room with him.

raul72, being obvious to you does not make something true. I am sure you play many moves that are obviously right on the chess board? I repeat my request for the slightest evidence for your assertion.

Your claims about the consequences of losing are also distorted. The reality:

"Spassky continued to play some excellent chess after losing his crown, winning several championships. In 1973, he tied for first at Dortmund on 9½/15 with Hans-Joachim Hecht and Ulf Andersson. A very important victory for him was the 1973 Soviet Chess Championship at Moscow (URS-ch41). He scored 11½/17 in a field which included all the top Soviet grandmasters of the time."

So, unlike his opponent in 1972, his chess life was not over (by a very long way). It is possible he might have become world champion again in 1974 if his coach (Geller) had not defected to his opponent (Karpov). Karpov is reported to have acknowledged that Spassky was the stronger player at the time, but he had been fortunate to outplay him in the match. Perhaps the defection of Geller was part of his good fortune.

I have read on more than one occassion that Spassky was never the same after the 72' match. Didnt Kasparov say that in his great predecessors book ?  I mean, of course he won a tournament here and there, an occassional big game---but he was never the same.

As for Geller, he tried to talk Spassky into taking his title and returning home when Fischer was misbehaving.  He wasn't sucessful in this endeavor and he got his ass reamed when they got back home.  He was glad to get away from Spassky---Elrich, who like getting their ass reamed ?

The rest of your post is garbage and I wont waste my time.  Have a nice day

 Brady goes into this nonsense in his latest Fischer book. Fischer's gums were irritated by metal fillings. Fischer had the metal fillings replaced with non metal fillings. 

And there goes another crazy story down the toilet!

As someone with a mild form of this condition myself, I have often suspected Fischer to fit somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum.

However, it is unlikely we will ever know for sure.

What I don't understand is why all this gossip is even an issue.

Bobby Fischer changed the world!  I believe he inherited some family mental disorders, and had deep issues regarding his father (as you may or may not know, Mr. Fischer was not his real father - his real father was a Hungarian (I believe a physicist) to whom Bobby bore an amazing resemblance!  His real father would come and visit him on occasion under the guise of a friend of the family and take him on outings, he watched over and I believe made financial contributions toward Bobby's support.  One day, when Bobby was still quite young, he realized that this friend was not coming to visit anymore.  His mother told him that the man had died, and allegedly said something like, "You knew he was your father, didn't you?"  Can you imagine?  As far as him not being able to form friendships, I heard that some friends of his after his death say that his friendship was of immense value to them and he would be deeply missed.

In Kasparov's own words:  "Korchnoi recently said to me that the 1973 USSR Championship was Spassky's swansong, perhaps the best tournament in his career. Here were both all the old diehards, Keres, Smyslov, Geller, Taimanov, Petrosian, Korchnoi, Tal and Polugaevsky, as well as the new stars - Karpov, Belyavsky and so on. But Spassky played better than all of them, simply splendidly! It appeared that he was completely restored after the defeat in his match with Fischer."

Kasparov later goes on to analyse both of his losses to Spassky (in 1981 and 1983), praising his resilience in bad positions, and his resourcefulness.

The refutation of your earlier claim about Spassky's attitude is to be found in his own statements, such as:

"As  world  champion I  consider  myself obliged  to  play  constantly  against  the  grand­masters  who  are  closest  of  all  to  the  chess throne. Therefore I had not the slightest hesitation about the advisability of playing Fischer at the Olympiad. This player has good reason to  be challenging for  the title of world champion,  and  from the viewpoint of my personal prestige I was obliged to join battle.  I  myself don't know how I  succeeded,  but  before  the game  with  Fischer  I  experienced  that special fervour, without which high achievements  are unthinkable."

solid post.  Sometimes I feel there is a quick rush to dismiss his mother's actions or in the least, apologize for her. 

Neglect was acute.

  He was left alone, not just for survival reasons, but so that she could pursue things that should have waited until after he was older.  The above description sends shivers down my spine to think of what it would have done to a child.  But watching the HBO special and having dealt with kids with acute abandonment issues, his mother was cruel and contributed (or triggered hereditary issues?) greatly to what he became.  

When a genius can't tie his own shoes...

It is amazing that he could overhear a conversation in another language, repeat it back, almost word by word, but not handle a basic human social interaction.  

I appreciate the original poster's discussion idea.  It has led to some fascinating points.  

 I can guarantee I was treated a lot worse than Fischer ever was. I'm glad they're both dead. But I don't go around applauding 9/11, and wanting to commit genocide. If he wasn't a great chess player you wouldn't be making excuses for the jerk.

Well, Woodshover, you are entitled to your opinion - about us, about Fischer, about us trying to understand such a phenomenally gifted and historically significant individual.  I certainly do not delight in things Mr. Fischer has said, but I know he was a deeply, and I mean deeply, troubled person, whatever the causes.  Your comment directed toward myself and SeanusORiley is quite offensive, and I detest all the name calling and despicable language put on display here, for all the chess world to see, like dirty laundry.  Certain persons above have taken the time to write compassionate, intelligent statements that might have profited those here who are living in such darkness of bitterness.  Compassion, understanding and respect for others are always signs of a person of good character.  Foul language, cynicism, false accusations, delight in bad behavior are, and always will be, the traits of a bad character. 

 Whose falsly accusing, and delighting in bad behavior?

Seeing, they will not see, and hearing they will not hear.  Woodshover, you just accused myself and SeamusORiley of "making excuses for the jerk" "because he was a great chess player, I imagine in an attempt to make us feel like cheap immoral sell-outs.  It was easy for you to shoot that out there, wasn't it?  Accusing us, and calling a man a jerk.  Did you even give that statement a second thought?  Did you even consider how it might make us feel?  Did you even consider how it made you look?  Perhaps you are accustomed to that kind of behavior and don't think a thing about making such kinds of statements in a public post.  Perhaps you might apologize and change your ways.  I forgive easily and would prefer you as a friend!

 Of course he wouldn't be famous, but if his chess rating was the same as mine, would so very many people be making excuses for his behavior, if they knew about it somehow? Not just you two. I'm sure he would just be considered another bumb with a racist attitude.

I think he suffered from 'genius and greatest chess player who ever lived' syndrome. Bobby was unique - any attempt to put a label on him is doomed to failure.

@Woodshover:  Shall we make an excuse for your behavor?  I would like to, but what's missing?

I've got some theories....