Do players outside the United States think Bobby Fischer wasn't actually that good?

"if Alekhine is champion till his death because he was undefeated, shouldn't the same be true for Fischer"

Obviously not, do you think Fischer could stay World Champion for 36 years simply by not playing and make it impossible for players like Karpov and Kasparov to ever play for the World Championship during their careers?

Yes, that was system which was followed until Alekhine died with Championship. Then the new system was developed and Fischer became the champion. He didn't play Karpov because his rules were not agreed to. So, Fischer was the undefeated champion even if Karpov was promoted by FIDE.

So what you appear to be saying is no subsequent World Champion (or anyone else) could be as good as Morphy because they didn't beat Morphy? So you have by default shut out the possibility that anyone else ever could be as good as Morphy, because Morphy is not around to play them. It's an argument ex silentio because we will never know.

I find demonstrable facts and track records more convincing than your approach, and the fact is Lasker, Capablanca, Kasparov, and a number of others were demonstrably the best in the world for a longer period than Morphy was.

I don't know who was the greatest player of all time. I have my favorites, as do most of you, but it's hard to negate the fact that Fischer belongs in the pantheon of greatest players.

Below is list of players with the highest winning percentage, discounting draws. In other words, what percentage of non-drawn games did a player win. Using this statistic it's interesting to note that nine of the eleven players on this list were world champions.

Using this metric it's apparent that the cream rises to the top, and Bobby is right up there with the best.

Wut?

i think you are supposed to intensely dislike him so the need for referring to him via the surname.

Bobby was crazy as hell but for whatever reason I can't bring myself to dislike the guy.

me neither man.

It's comforting to note that anyone who refers to themselves "richie_and_oprah" is probably not a mental health professional. . . a patient perhaps. . .

 Where is Greco? I thought his overall record was +79 -0 =0

Also can you post another list with win rate including draws? I cant find one anywhere.

Morphy never defeated (or even played) Ook the Cave-man. So you cannot claim that Morphy was better than Ook.

Top 19 GM's. Those names in red were world champions, or in Morphy's case, acclaimed as the best in the world, since he had proven his superiority over the strongest players of his day.

A better question would be "Do people in USA overrate Fischer?"

There are two reasons why Fischer could be overrated in United States. 

1. He's american. (easier to admire someone that speak your own language and has a similar background)

2. He's dead. (as soon as someone dies his cult-status increases, same happens with popstars)

No doubt at all that he's one of the greatest. But to single him out and say that "no one comes close" isn't accurate. Chess is a pretty limited game. Too many great players to mention. 

Look if you can't define greatness and yet believe that Carlsen is not yet be greatest but might become greatest in future, then you are just exposing your confusion. Don't shoot me to hide your own confusion. I am not confused on this point. I think greatness in chess means the best. To determine the best, the championship tournaments are held. This determines the current best. All time best is determined by the overall reign period. Its quite simple and straightforwad. Anyway, no point in continuing the debate when people start attacking the posters rather than the message.

Ummm, Kasparov does not consider himself part of the great Russian chess machine , he considers himself outside of it and fighting it ala Fischer.  He's always disliked Karpov and the Russian chess "establishment".

Yes, Fischer is the greatest in history of this game.

(And Kasparov never seemed to like that ...)

So lets just say the engines are best.

According to the Chessgames.com database, in classical games Fischer holds an even record against Euwe (+1-1=1). These three games took place between 1957-60. If Euwe was indeed over the hill, then Fischer as a teenager was "under the hill," not yet at the height of his powers. Fischer had a winning record against Smyslov (+3-1=5), and an even record against Botvinnik (+0-0+1). Fischer did have a losing record against Tal (+2-4=5), but all four of those loses came at the 1959 Candidates tournament in Yugoslavia, when Fischer was still a teen. Fischer's two victories came in 1961 and 1962, when Tal was at the height of his powers. For what it's worth, Fischer later beat Tal twice at the Hercig Novi blitz tourament in 1970.

Fischer also has winning scores against Keres, Petrosian, Spassky, and Taimanov; even records against Bronstein and Korchnoi, and [Correction] a losing record against Geller.

An amazing record when you consider Fischer was a lone wolf taking on the entire Soviet Chess Machine (wolfpack)!

Especially in that game vs. Botvinnik.