Because he was molto bonkers.
Why Didn't Bobby Fischer Defend HIs World Title?
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You would need to ask the man himself. No one else ever knew why he did things.
I think he probaly was afaid of the expectations etc. How would he have handled a loss??
It was not about the rules and conditions - it never was.
With a conspiracy in every closet, and once the WCC prize was his, why would he ever again risk its loss?
Translated into common sense--"Molto Bonkers," as per @Clifton above. +10
So he set the place on fire for his last 20-30 games. Then he quit.
He was a perfectionist who realised he had suffered burnout/illness.
mikenz7 wrote:
You would need to ask the man himself.
Only be sure to hide your yarmulke first.
Aug 12, 2012
0
#7
This may be blasphemy on a chess forum. I didn't know the man personally, but I've read about him and watches documentaries about his life. The man was a genius, but he was crazy a-hole lol.
netzach wrote:
He was a perfectionist who realised he had suffered burnout/illness.
I think Mr. Scotland may have something here.
WELL,theres two people who know Bobby and God! Bobby aint here no more and good luck with God on that qwestion
DavyWilliams wrote:
Do you think it was solely because he disagreed with FIDE's rules or conditions? or deeper, once he had accomplished his life's dream, was it that he just felt he had nowhere to go now and/or there was nothing else to prove? (I think I read somewhere that one of the past champions, Karpov maybe, said Bobby was afraid.)
What say ye?
Fischer was NOT afraid of anyone! for over 50 years the Reigning champion dictated the coditions of the World Title match ( by the way, they were ALL russians) as soon as Fischer wan, Fide under pressure from the Komis; proceeded to strip Fischer of these rigths the Champions had enjoyed for over 1/2 century; hence, the problem; In addition, I believe the State Department to "sweeten" the deal, threw in a blank check for him to fill out the amount so He would NOT give the Russians the opportunity to take back the crown. This is why they went after him with a venguance when he played Spasky in the 80's and forced him into exile!
Wow, he played Spassky in the 80s!
joeydvivre wrote:
He was a boxing fan...
So would he have been a chess/boxing fan?
I'm not so sure Fischer ever realized he was ill. If he did, he would have gotten help. I think he realized the standard of success he set in 1972 (not just the WCC but the tournaments and matches leading up to it) likely would be impossible to duplicate so, rather than risk failure, he opted not to play. The standard he set for himself was so high that he thought people would judge him by that standard and that even one loss as WCC would be headlines around the world, while victories would be expected and considered routine
He actually played Spassky in 1992
Yeah, I had a feeling...
it was solely because he disagreed with FIDE's rules or conditions.
mauriciolopezsr wrote:
DavyWilliams wrote:
Do you think it was solely because he disagreed with FIDE's rules or conditions? or deeper, once he had accomplished his life's dream, was it that he just felt he had nowhere to go now and/or there was nothing else to prove? (I think I read somewhere that one of the past champions, Karpov maybe, said Bobby was afraid.)
What say ye?
Fischer was NOT afraid of anyone! for over 50 years the Reigning champion dictated the coditions of the World Title match ( by the way, they were ALL russians) as soon as Fischer wan, Fide under pressure from the Komis; proceeded to strip Fischer of these rigths the Champions had enjoyed for over 1/2 century; hence, the problem; In addition, I believe the State Department to "sweeten" the deal, threw in a blank check for him to fill out the amount so He would NOT give the Russians the opportunity to take back the crown. This is why they went after him with a venguance when he played Spasky in the 80's and forced him into exile!
50 years before Fischer the world champions were people like Emanuel Lasker (German), Alexander Alekhine (Russian... one out of four to you), Capablanca (Cuban) and Euwe (Dutch). None of them, as far as I know, had the chutzpah to attempt to insert a clause like "My opponent has to win ten games to take the title, but if I win nine games I keep it." The conditions Alekhine set, for instance, were onerous in terms of money, not in winning conditions.
mauriciolopezsr wrote:
Fischer was NOT afraid of anyone! for over 50 years the Reigning champion dictated the coditions of the World Title match ( by the way, they were ALL russians) as soon as Fischer wan, Fide under pressure from the Komis; proceeded to strip Fischer of these rigths the Champions had enjoyed for over 1/2 century
The reigning Champions had to follow the rules set by FIDE since 1948, and were not allowed to change the rules to make it more difficult for the challenger than it had been for themselves when they were challengers (as Fischer demanded the right to do). The champions before 1948 were Capablanca, Euwe and (French citizen) Alekhine, who can't be accused of being supported by the Soviet Union, but in any case there weren't more than 50 years of Russian-only Champions before 1972.
The idea that FIDE changed some rules after Fischer won is only true insofar as they changed some rules Fischer demanded to have changed, and only refused the one where his challenger would have to win with a margin of two wins to get the title.
Is Karpov Jewish? That might explain it.
Do you think it was solely because he disagreed with FIDE's rules or conditions? or deeper, once he had accomplished his life's dream, was it that he just felt he had nowhere to go now and/or there was nothing else to prove? (I think I read somewhere that one of the past champions, Karpov maybe, said Bobby was afraid.)
What say ye?