Was Fischer afraid of Karpov

He could have more than the world #1 like the world's greatest #1 (in temrs of years).

The problem with this comparison is that we can never be sure that Spassky wasnt ordered to lose to Karpov in their match . Karpov , the good commie , was the new darling of soviet chess and they certainly didnt want to see Spassky play Fischer again so Spassky may very well have been pressured into not playing his best against Karpov . 

After they stole title from Fischer,that little motherfuckers used the same rules in Karpov-Kasparov matches.

Karpov is bastard.He tricked Fischer in 1972,Anand in 1996 and wanted to trick Kasparov.

Now we have Spassky ordered to lose to Karpov because of course it's only Fischer that can beat him.

This is too much.

Nobody talking about Karpov being afraid of Anand in 1996.

Also...Why Karpov agreed playing Kasparov under the FISCHER RULES

You are being dishonest . I didnt say he was ordered to lose , only that there is always the possibility ,  given the track record of the soviets . Please work on your reading comprehension . 

• NMReb wrote:

  Karpov has an even record against Petrosian and we all know what Fischer did to Petrosian . Those who think Fischer feared Karpov know little of chess .

•  

   Master Reb, deserve credit for what is obvious to a strong players but oblivious to weaker class: if you can beat Petrosian you are top caliber grandmaster. Kasparov had a hard time beating Petrosian and Karpov had the same problem. Fischer crush Petrosian. Here is their record.

Fischer wins 8-4 with 15 draws

Rapid: Fischer wins 10-4 with 15 draws; that is crushing.

Karpov tied against Petrosian 1-1 with 12 draws

Rapid: Petrosian win 2 -1 against Karpov with draws; remember Karpov was a young man against  Petrosian who was much older.

Kasparov tied against Petrosian 2-2 with one draw.

 Master Reb comparison is excellent, it show he really he understand chess. Only someone who lack chess knowledge would argue.

 Fischer will crush Kaprov in world champion match.

 Fischer beat Petrosian in his prime: and Karpov and Kasparov couldn't beat the older Petrosian.

No, but I can see how someone might think so if they have an unhealthy obsession with that area ;)...

No. Fischer was not afraid of Karpov.  I believe that two other factors came into play.

One: Fischer was a paranoid, who felt (with some justification), that the Soviets would have done anything to get the title back and discredit him. Fischer was in his prime and would have dealt with the young Karpov, if all he had to do was play chess.

Two: Fischer had a great sense of chess history and viewed the World Chess title as his personal accomplishment. It was not a title bestowed on him by FIDE. He saw himself as being in line with the champions pre Botvinnik who set their own conditions for matches and were champions by acclamation, not by designation. Historically, what Fischer asked for was not way out of line, and the Soviets did not mind allowing Karpov to play Kasparov in a match where draws did not count. Fischer merely saw match conditions as a champions perogative.

He was not afraid.

"Master Reb comparison is excellent, it show he really he understand chess"

And it shows he really understands how to pick the right player to compare results against instead of Spassky, Korchnoi, Geller... :-)

• fabelhaft wrote:

  "Master Reb comparison is excellent, it show he really he understand chess"

   

  And it shows he really understands how to pick the right player to compare results against instead of Spassky, Korchnoi, Geller... :-)

Is your otb rating FIDE or USCF? I noticed all you do is post your opinions all on different threads but you have not play one game!

 Maybe you lack understanding in chess because Petrosian is hard player to beat, even Kasparov had a difficult time with Petrosian and can tied with him. Fischer crush Petrosian in his prime and would Karpov easily.  Plus Fischer never beat Spassky before world champion match and he crush Boris; so Korchnoi and Geller, Fischer definitely would of beat these players in a match and that would include Karpov.

White goes first

well considering he was getting meglomaniac , i say he part forfieted for  principal issue and part cause lak of goal as every one who knew him stated, karpov was no threat as his style of play shows , i only doubt that fischer got bored from playing chess in general as he felt accomplishment 

In the USSR Championship 1973 Boris Spassky won this event and score was 11.5, Karpov was also participate and score 10.5 and also lost to Petrosian in this tournament but Spassky drew Petrosian.

USSR Championship 1973

 1st. Boris Spassky 11.5              

 2nd. Lev Polugaevsky 10.5

         Gennadi Kumin 10.5

         Anatoly Karpov 10.5

        Tigram Petrosian 10.5

           Viktor Korchnoi  10.5

 Petrosian played in this tournament without a lost but Karpov lost to Petrosian. ;)

intelligent, strong answer. 

Lol, that may be right but i guess we won't really know ,now that Fischer is long gone.

Fischer had 7 wins in 21 games against Spassky...more draws than wins.

160 tournament wins. Karpov was just a beast.

Fischer was right to walk away.

fischer was scared of karpov because fischer was not playing chess for 2 years

he was schmoozing with the female celebrities for 2 years and forgot about chess.

fischer was probably dating the leading hollywood actresses at the time in the 1970s like angelina jolie or jennifer aniston

No.  Karpov also said no to this.  He said something like "Fischer was afraid of HIMSELF" at that point in time (1975).

Apart from any questions about fear, my opinion is that Fischer would have won in 1975, but would have lost a rematch in 1978.