He also beat the four Russian single handedly.
The only reason Fischer became world champ
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At least Spassky was Russian.
I probably mispoke but unless Benko hadn't done that there would have been no Fischer/Spassky match. Fischer is the only western player who even stood a chance in stopping the Soviet machine. I believe Fischer had a peak performance rating of 2895 during the time he was marching to the title. He dominated his peers like no one else.
Wasn't Benko well compensated for giving Fischer his spot ? Benko has also said that he knew he had no realistic chances of becoming WC and that Fischer had much better chances than he did . He was right .
Reb wrote:
Wasn't Benko well compensated for giving Fischer his spot ? Benko has also said that he knew he had no realistic chances of becoming WC and that Fischer had much better chances than he did . He was right .
No matter how well Benko was compensated how many people would give up the chance to become world champion in any sport? Money just can't buy some things unless of course it is soccer.
Benko knew he had no chance , thats why he gave his spot to Fischer . I think if he thought he had a chance he would never give up his spot .
Benko had a terrible record against Spassky, Larsen and Petrosian and an even record against Taimanov , he wouldnt have made it to Spassky if he faced the same opponents Fischer faced .
Young people who never lived through the cold war will never understand the significance of what Bobby Fischer accomplished. As a 9 year old boy in 1962 during the Cuban Missle Crisis I remember my parents talking about the possibility of nuclear war and going to bed scared out of my mind. I remember the drills of hiding under my desk at school should the Soviets attack with nuclear warheads.
There is a reason president Nixon personally got involved in trying to persuade Fischer to just show up for the match. Bobby really did become an American hero.
Duck and cover drills ! As if hiding under a school desk will allow you to survive a nuclear attack ! 
May 30, 2015
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#12
(#317) Young people who never lived through the cold war will never understand the significance of what Bobby Fischer accomplished.
OH PAH LEEEZ !.....Stop overinflating it Preemy. You're gonna sit there and imply to me that BF helped change the course of history ?....that's a howler....and you're totally full of it !! (note: double exam)
The_Ghostess_Lola wrote:
(#317) Young people who never lived through the cold war will never understand the significance of what Bobby Fischer accomplished.
OH PAH LEEEZ !.....Stop overinflating it Preemy. You're gonna sit there and imply to me that BF helped change the course of history ?....that's a howler....and you're totally full of it !! (note: double exam)
At the time he did change history where it concerned the chess world. You would have had to have lived through it to understand it. Of course, with all your trolling I wouldn't expect you to understand.
I don't believe any other chess player past or present could have taken on the entire Soviet machine by himself like Fischer did. Only trolls try to smear what Fischer accomplished.
May 30, 2015
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#15
One thing I'm beginning to realize is that most of you men bowing to BF are 55+ & he ushered you n2 chess. It's like me listening to Monica (I will cross the ocean for you) and gripping to the past of a one-hit wonder 'cuz it opened my feelings up. That was then....this is now. Join us in 2015. We invite you....
....
May 30, 2015
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#16
I have never smeared BF ! You interpret that 'cuz you're emotional about him. Admit it.
All I said was that he lacked creativity....and I have shown that with quasiproof. That's not a shot against him....that's my understanding. He obviously possessed the other (5) needed qualities.
And he was a great player....a bit unproven....but he showed greatness....and creative weakness, IMO.
May 30, 2015
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#17
....and BTW, he was a being a big baby when he demanded he and Spassky play in a closed, unhampered, no press backroom for game #3. And FIDE and Spassky approved ! Boy, how unbelievably stoopit. The conditions had been set and BF was down 2-0. But, oooh wow....if they didn't comply ?....he was gonna quit.
The_Ghostess_Lola wrote:
....and BTW, he was a being a big baby when he demanded he and Spassky play in a closed, unhampered, no press backroom for game #3. And FIDE and Spassky approved ! Boy, how unbelievably stoopit. The conditions had been set and BF was down 2-0. But, oooh wow....if they didn't comply ?....he was gonna quit.
Many people don't like Fischer as a person including myself.
Many people don't realize that if Pal Benko had not graciously given his spot to Fischer for the interzonal in 1969 Fischer would have never played for the title.
I believe Fischer was already showing signs of being off mentally and there is a question as to whether he would have kept his sanity long enough for the next cycle three years later. Spassky would have probably still been champion in 1975.