Reykjavik court: widow should inherit Fischer's estate

Miyoko Watai, the widow of 11th World Champion Robert James Fischer, should inherit his estimated $2 million estate. This was the result of a Reykjavik municipal court decision on Wednesday, in which the marriage between Fischer and Watai was ruled legal.

Fischer passed away on January 17, 2008 from degenerative renal failure. Ever since, his estimated $2 million estate has been under dispute. The money was claimed by several parties: Marilyn Young (who claimed that Fischer was the father of her daughter Jinky), Miyoko Watai (who claimed to have been married to Fischer) and Alexander and Nicholas Targ (two of Fischer’s nephews). Besides, the U.S. government has been trying to collect unpaid taxes.

In August last year it became clear that Fischer was not the biological father of Jinky Young. This was the result of DNA tests after tissue samples were taken from the 11th World Champion’s remains in July. This excluded the Youngs from the legal fight.

However, the struggle for the Fischer legacy continued. Gudjon Olafur Jonsson, who legally represents Fischer’s two American nephews, said in August that the result ‘simplified’ the case between Fischer’s nephews and the woman who was his long-term partner.

That woman is Miyoko Watai of Japan. She claimed to have been married to Fischer; something that was challenged by Fischer's nephews. They claimed to be his closest relatives. However, yesterday the marriage was finally ruled legal by the municipal court in Reykjavik, according to Reuters. Besides, judge Ingridur Eiriksdottir declared that Fischer's nephews must pay Watai over 6 million Iceland crowns (USD 57,000, EUR 41,000) in costs, as reported by different media.

According to IcelandReview, the Reykjavik District Court concluded that the document submitted by Watai confirmed that she and Fischer were legally married from September 6, 2004. Besides, she had also delivered sufficient proof that the marriage wasn't terminated at the time of Fischer's death.

Miyoko Watai is the President of the Japan Chess Association. She is a Woman International Master (WIM) and former chess champion of Japan. She says to have met Fischer in 1973, and visited him several times for the next three decades.

The ruling probably won't finish the fight for Fischer's estate. The nephews' lawyer reportedly told Icelandic state radio they would appeal the court ruling.