Interesting question. I would submit that any bad aspect of Fischer's play, with regard to mistakes or losses or other failings in his game could also be said about any other chess player of any era. In other words, everybody has lost to somebody. It's a childish and pointless argument. Bobby basically taught himself to play by reading chess magazines. As a youth he had no access to any type of computer training, internet materials, internet play, professional coaching, etc. Pretty much everything came from within himself. Ask any GM who the top 10 players of all time have been and Fischer will be on that list. Look at his playing record. He did things no one else has ever done. At the '63 US Championships he won all 11 games. In 1971 he beat Taimanov 6-0 and Larsen 6-0 at the Candidates. During this time he had his famous 20 game winning streak against the top players in the world which came to an end during an illness. And of course, don't forget Magnus Carlsen holds Fischer as his dream opponent. Out of all other players in history. Why would that be? Because he wasn't "that good"? Now, if you just don't like the man because of his mental problems or because he was American or because he beat your idol or countryman or whatever, then okay. But to say he wasn't that good is about the same argument as that the earth is flat.
Do players outside the United States think Bobby Fischer wasn't actually that good?
Fischer never cheated like Kasparov did so its an insult to Bobby to compare him to Kasparov . As for their chess abilities , maybe you dont know that both Karpov and Kasparov have only a 50% scores against T . Petrosian , the same player that Fischer humiliated in their 1971 match .
Fischer never cheated like Kasparov did so its an insult to Bobby to compare him to Kasparov . As for their chess abilities , maybe you dont know that both Karpov and Kasparov have only a 50% scores against T . Petrosian , the same player that Fischer humiliated in their 1971 match .
Please eliminate my ignorance. When did Kasparov cheat?
Fischer never cheated like Kasparov did so its an insult to Bobby to compare him to Kasparov . As for their chess abilities , maybe you dont know that both Karpov and Kasparov have only a 50% scores against T . Petrosian , the same player that Fischer humiliated in their 1971 match .
Fischer comitted a bigger sin. He cheated the public by avoiding Karpov. Your chess ability argument can be easily countered by these. Korchnoi has equal score against Fischer,the same player that Kasparov dominated. A young Kasparov, not in his prime, also beat Korchnoi.
Classical games: Robert James Fischer tied Viktor Korchnoi 2 to 2, with 4 draws
Classical games: Garry Kasparov beat Viktor Korchnoi 15 to 1, with 18 draws.
Classical games: Efim Geller beat Robert James Fischer 5 to 3, with 2 draws
Classical games: Garry Kasparov beat Efim Geller 1 to 0, with 3 draws.
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 Geller, Keres, Petrosian, Spassky, and Taimanov; and even records against Bronstein and Korchnoi.
An amazing record when you consider Fischer was a lone wolf taking on the entire Soviet Chess Machine (wolfpack)!
Fischer does not have winning score against Geller and Korchnoi.
Classical games: Robert James Fischer tied Viktor Korchnoi 2 to 2, with 4 draws
Classical games: Garry Kasparov beat Viktor Korchnoi 15 to 1, with 18 draws.
Classical games: Efim Geller beat Robert James Fischer 5 to 3, with 2 draws
Classical games: Garry Kasparov beat Efim Geller 1 to 0, with 3 draws.
Anyway, in spite of Kasparov's greatness, Fischer may be the greatest ever. He dominated his contemporaries like no other... the whole armada of Soviets at the time. He was Luke to their Imperial Forces. He was Komodo to their Crafty. Destroyed them like school children. Like school children. He quit a little early, yes, but who had that kind of dominance? Morphy, Capablanca, and Karpov maybe? But 3 real losses in the candidates, all to the most recent former champs? Unbelievable.
Anyway, in spite of Kasparov's greatness, Fischer may be the greatest ever. He dominated his contemporaries like no other... the whole armada of Soviets at the time. He was Luke to their Imperial Forces. He was Komodo to their Crafty. Destroyed them like school children. Like school children. He quit a little early, yes, but who had that kind of dominance? Morphy, Capablanca, and Karpov maybe? But 3 real losses in the candidates, all to the most recent former champs? Unbelievable.
I disagree. Kasparov is the greatest. Kasparov dominated more his contemporaries and defended his title many times.
Sample of Kasparov's domination.
Classical games: Garry Kasparov beat Alexey Shirov 15 to 0, with 14 draws.
Classical games: Garry Kasparov beat Boris Gelfand 11 to 0, with 8 draws
against Judit Polgar, touch move stuff.
I think I read about that now that you mention it. Was it really intentional though?
yeah, he dropped the piece on a square, realized it was a blunder and played another move. she confronted him afterwards, pity she wasnt as tough as Kosteniuk when Carlsen tried it against her.
+1=1=1 [Correction +1-1=1 (1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw)]
+3-1=5 (3 wins, 1 loss, 5 draws)
+2-4=5 (2 wins, 4 losses, 5 draws)
And so on. I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out but it's still a mystery to me.
against Judit Polgar, touch move stuff.
Also recently against Naka... Same trick
oh yeah :) thanks Jenium, i think Gary is a big believer in Nixons slogan "it's not illegal if the president does it".
"Fischer's beautiful chess and his immortal games will stand forever as a central pillar in the history of our game." - Garry Kasparov
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 Geller, Keres, Petrosian, Spassky, and Taimanov; and even records against Bronstein and Korchnoi.
An amazing record when you consider Fischer was a lone wolf taking on the entire Soviet Chess Machine (wolfpack)!
You sound like the right guy to ask a question I've had for a little while now. How do these scores work:
+1=1=1
+3-1=5
+2-4=5
And so on. I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out but it's still a mystery to me.