I would agree Bobby wasn't afraid of anyone. He was by far the best the world had ever seen in chess. So being a perfectionist, he DID indeed have the chutzpa, honor and character to tell the controlling org. to piss off when his reasonable demands weren't met. A "we don't need no stinking badges" sort of thing. And as someone mentioned, he still claimed he was the world champion, not needing some org. to verify it anymore.
Why Didn't Bobby Fischer Defend HIs World Title?
There's something to be said for Karpov being an unknown quantity to Fischer (never played him) and while Karpov got the title without earning it, he made up for it by his success in tournaments afterward and proved a worthy foe of Kasparov
I would agree Bobby wasn't afraid of anyone. He was by far the best the world had ever seen in chess. So being a perfectionist, he DID indeed have the chutzpa, honor and character to tell the controlling org. to piss off when his reasonable demands weren't met. A "we don't need no stinking badges" sort of thing. And as someone mentioned, he still claimed he was the world champion, not needing some org. to verify it anymore.
Fischer had so much chutzpah as to not even need to play chess to defend his title, compare that to someone like Kasparov who felt so insecure that he needed to verify his greatness by playing five title matches against Karpov (to begin with). Kasparov didn't even dare to demand that his challenger had to win with a margin of two wins, and on top of that abolished the rematch clause Karpov had, in this way making it easier for his challenger than it had been for himself (instead of making it more difficult for the challenger than it had been for himself as challenger).
I would agree Bobby wasn't afraid of anyone. He was by far the best the world had ever seen in chess. So being a perfectionist, he DID indeed have the chutzpa, honor and character to tell the controlling org. to piss off when his reasonable demands weren't met. A "we don't need no stinking badges" sort of thing. And as someone mentioned, he still claimed he was the world champion, not needing some org. to verify it anymore.
Fischer had so much chutzpah as to not even need to play chess to defend his title, compare that to someone like Kasparov who felt so insecure that he needed to verify his greatness by playing five title matches against Karpov (to begin with). Kasparov didn't even dare to demand that his challenger had to win with a margin of two wins, and on top of that abolished the rematch clause Karpov had, in this way making it easier for his challenger than it had been for himself (instead of making it more difficult for the challenger than it had been for himself as challenger).
well said sir! Fischer was hack at best and could never be named in the same company as a true champion like Kasparov
I admire Kasparov for all his championship years. He was a great champion who took on all comers, even computers. However there is one, nearby, that in 50 lifetimes couldn't gain the heights to even become a pimple on Bobby Fischer's a$$. Nuff said.
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
I believe he had schizerophrenzia (sry for the spelling)
Fischer stopped playing chess in August 1972, and this in itself had nothing to do with a possible title match in 1975. When Kasparov broke away from FIDE he played three "private" title matches in seven years, and continued to win top tournaments. But Fischer just didn't want to play chess in any form, whether it was match, tournament, FIDE, non-FIDE, anything, from August 1972. The only exception was the 1992 match against Spassky, but that was a one-off against an opponent that no longer was an elite player. In any case I think the reasons behind Fischer's quitting chess have to be found in himself rather than in FIDE's rules.
He played the '92 match because he needed the money.
The media did an excellent job of dubiously convincing most that he was crazy.
He played the '92 match because he needed the money.
The media did an excellent job of dubiously convincing most that he was crazy.
The media didn't need to. "First to win ten games takes the title, except if I'm first to nine games I keep it" isn't a condition a sane man would seek to impose and would convince all but the hopelessly partisan. Well, that and becoming a recluse with a beard down to your knees.
inb4: Fischer could hose my sorry ass any time he liked, but that's no more the issue than that Anna Kournikova could beat an overweight fifty-something who can't play tennis.
Actually, allegedly Lasker did do such a thing (against Schlechter).
And as someone mentioned, he still claimed he was the world champion, not needing some org. to verify it anymore.
lol...around these parts, we call that kind of behavior "delusional."
Evidently Mr. Fischer did not find or was not able to make
circumstances suitable for defending his title.
Wonderful comeback = "Hey, I never miss the point, Grasshopper!" (sarcasm dripping)
What started out a serious thread, ended up a comedy routine for one of Howard Stern's 'get him off the stage' X's. (rrrrrrggghhhh!)
Thread closed.
Is Karpov Jewish? That might explain it.
I believe you are onto something ...it was not Fischers low rating ,it was because Karpov was a Jew,possibly
There is a rumor about it, though Fischer also had a Jewish heritage.