Main
Date: 18 Jan 2008 04:48:45
From: RookHouse
Subject: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Iceland media is reporting that former world chess champion Bobby
Fischer has died at age 64.

Spokesman Gardar Sverrisson said that Fischer died Thursday in a
Reykjavik hospital. There was no immediate word on the cause of
death. Fischer had been living in Iceland since being granted
citizenship back in 2005.

Reykjavik oddly enough, was the site of his greatest trimuph in 1972,
when he defeated Boris Spassky (then of the Soviet Union) for the
World Chess Championship of the World. Spassky and Fischer would
later have a rematch in Yugoslavia in 1992, also won by Fischer.

Spassky, now a French citizen, was reportedly notified of Fischer's
passing by phone and stated that he was "very sorry" to hear of
Fischer's death.

Considered by many (including myself) to be the greatest player ever
to sit at a chess board, Fischer had been seriously ill for some
time. Again, the chess world has lost a legend today, as Robert James
Fischer has passed away.

I will continue to post to this article as more details are available.


Morphy,
http://www.rookhouse.com/blog/




 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 16:30:56
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
On Jan 18, 12:49=A0pm, RookHouse <[email protected] > wrote:
> > > A friend of mine (who also knows Bisguier) just received an e-mail
> > > from Bobby a few weeks ago.
>
> > =A0 Interesting. Is it anything that could be published here, or is it
> > private?
>
> I will see if I can get a copy. =A0It was not a pleasant e-mail, as it
> had something to do with an autographed copy of "My 60 Memorable
> Games" that my friend has for sale on e-Bay. =A0You probably know who
> I'm talking about.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > =A0 Bisguier is very approachable and pleasant. I first met him as a
> > teenager, around 1965, when he played a simul in San Diego. He had an
> > abcessed tooth or some such dental problem, and one side of his face
> > was badly swollen. He must have been in considerable pain, but he was
> > still willing to chat, and he whupped just about everyone (including
> > me) in the simul. Since then, I've met him off and on over the years.
> > The last time was at the 2004 USATE in New Jersey. I had featured him
> > in that year's International Chess Calendar, commemorating his US
> > Championship victory from 50 years earlier. I gave him a calendar, and
> > he autographed my copy of his bio/game-collection, "The Art of
> > Bisguier." Some friends of mine and their young chess-playing boys
> > were with me, and they got a big kick out of meeting a grandmaster.
> > Bisguier related to the kids very well.
> > =A0 So yes, I would say that meeting Arthur Bisguier has definitely been=

> > a pleasant experience for me.
>
> Sounds like a rekable guy and a good ambassador for the game of
> chess.

Bisguier has indeed been an excellent ambassador for the game. He
has worked at it tirelessly his whole life, as far as I know, never
losing his enthusiasm and always having the common touch. American
chess, and Fischer himself, would have benefited greatly if Bobby
could have retained a similar attitude, instead of retreating into
himself.


  
Date: 19 Jan 2008 13:27:50
From: Brad Filippone
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
I seem to recall that a few years back Nigel Short believed he had played
online against Fischer. Was it ever proven that it was really Fischer at
the other end?

Brad


   
Date: 19 Jan 2008 23:29:50
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Brad Filippone <[email protected] > wrote:
> I seem to recall that a few years back Nigel Short believed he had
> played online against Fischer. Was it ever proven that it was
> really Fischer at the other end?

It was almost certainly a hoax. I'm sure I once read an article on
the web in which the guy who did it 'fessed up but I've looked twice
now (today and a few months ago, when this was last mentioned here)
and I can't find it for the life of me. This article, by Frederic
Friedel (author of Fritz) does, at least, provide some evidence that
it was a computer and counters some of the arguments that it must have
been a human.

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=11


Dave.

--
David Richerby Technicolor Drink (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ refreshing juice beverage but it's in
realistic colour!


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 09:52:53
From: RookHouse
Subject: Re: Very Sad.
On Jan 18, 12:13=A0pm, Sanny <[email protected] > wrote:
>
> What is his real name
>
> 1. Robert James Fisher
> or
> Bobby Fisher.
>
> As the post reads "Robert James Fisher"
>
Robert James Fischer is his official birth name. "Bobby Fischer" was
how he was most often referred.

When he was in seclusion in California in the 70s and 80s, he often
used the name "Robert James".



 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 09:49:57
From: RookHouse
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64

> > A friend of mine (who also knows Bisguier) just received an e-mail
> > from Bobby a few weeks ago.
>
> =A0 Interesting. Is it anything that could be published here, or is it
> private?
>

I will see if I can get a copy. It was not a pleasant e-mail, as it
had something to do with an autographed copy of "My 60 Memorable
Games" that my friend has for sale on e-Bay. You probably know who
I'm talking about.

>
> =A0 Bisguier is very approachable and pleasant. I first met him as a
> teenager, around 1965, when he played a simul in San Diego. He had an
> abcessed tooth or some such dental problem, and one side of his face
> was badly swollen. He must have been in considerable pain, but he was
> still willing to chat, and he whupped just about everyone (including
> me) in the simul. Since then, I've met him off and on over the years.
> The last time was at the 2004 USATE in New Jersey. I had featured him
> in that year's International Chess Calendar, commemorating his US
> Championship victory from 50 years earlier. I gave him a calendar, and
> he autographed my copy of his bio/game-collection, "The Art of
> Bisguier." Some friends of mine and their young chess-playing boys
> were with me, and they got a big kick out of meeting a grandmaster.
> Bisguier related to the kids very well.
> =A0 So yes, I would say that meeting Arthur Bisguier has definitely been
> a pleasant experience for me.

Sounds like a rekable guy and a good ambassador for the game of
chess.


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 09:31:40
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
On Jan 18, 11:47=A0am, RookHouse <[email protected] > wrote:
> > =A0 No, I don't think I've ever even been in the same city as Fischer at=

> > the same time. I've known people who knew and played against him, such
> > as Benko and Bisguier, but never seen Fischer in person, let alone met
> > him.
>
> A friend of mine (who also knows Bisguier) just received an e-mail
> from Bobby a few weeks ago.

Interesting. Is it anything that could be published here, or is it
private?

> My friend is a big fan of Bisguier and says that he is one of the most
> pleasant people he has ever met. =A0Was this your experience as well?

Bisguier is very approachable and pleasant. I first met him as a
teenager, around 1965, when he played a simul in San Diego. He had an
abcessed tooth or some such dental problem, and one side of his face
was badly swollen. He must have been in considerable pain, but he was
still willing to chat, and he whupped just about everyone (including
me) in the simul. Since then, I've met him off and on over the years.
The last time was at the 2004 USATE in New Jersey. I had featured him
in that year's International Chess Calendar, commemorating his US
Championship victory from 50 years earlier. I gave him a calendar, and
he autographed my copy of his bio/game-collection, "The Art of
Bisguier." Some friends of mine and their young chess-playing boys
were with me, and they got a big kick out of meeting a grandmaster.
Bisguier related to the kids very well.
So yes, I would say that meeting Arthur Bisguier has definitely been
a pleasant experience for me.



 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 09:13:15
From: Sanny
Subject: Very Sad.
I feel very sad to hear this news. Fisher was a great Player.

One time Taylor Kingston Played at GetClub Chess with username: "Bobby
Pfusher". I and Help Bot guessed that it was real Bobby Fisher. But
later Taylor Kingston told me that it was him.

Fisher''s life was full of troubles but still he was such a great
player. He was Jailed for playing a tournament.

It is very sad to hear such a great player is not with us.

What is his real name

1. Robert James Fisher
or
Bobby Fisher.

As the post reads "Robert James Fisher"

Bye
Sanny

Play Chess at: http://www.GetClub.com/Chess.html




 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 08:47:22
From: RookHouse
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64

>
> =A0 No, I don't think I've ever even been in the same city as Fischer at
> the same time. I've known people who knew and played against him, such
> as Benko and Bisguier, but never seen Fischer in person, let alone met
> him.
>
A friend of mine (who also knows Bisguier) just received an e-mail
from Bobby a few weeks ago.

My friend is a big fan of Bisguier and says that he is one of the most
pleasant people he has ever met. Was this your experience as well?




 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 08:10:47
From: Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Wikipedia is crass (but then, what's new?).

Wlodek


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 08:09:07
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
On Jan 18, 9:44=A0am, RookHouse <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Jan 18, 9:32=A0am, Taylor Kingston <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > =A0 A sad end to a life that reached brilliant heights and ugly depths.
> > Those of a mystical/numerological bent will perhaps find it
> > significant that Bobby died at age 64. One hopes this will put an end
> > to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still
> > popped up now and then.
>
> Taylor, did you ever get to meet him in person?

No, I don't think I've ever even been in the same city as Fischer at
the same time. I've known people who knew and played against him, such
as Benko and Bisguier, but never seen Fischer in person, let alone met
him.


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 07:31:00
From: Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Bobby will not play "russkies" anymore,
not anywhere around here.

He played Korchnoy but will never play
Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Kamsky...

He will not give a knight odds to Judy Polgar.

He is the only world champion who won
his every world championship match,
but he is also the only world champion
who played only one world championship
match (unless you count F-S II, but I wouldn't,
not as a world championship match--sorry Bobby).

RIP, Bobby,

Wlod


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 07:16:41
From: Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Crazy sob, but I am sad all the same.

Wlod


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 07:15:39
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
64 SQUARES, 64 YEARS

<A sad end to a life that reached brilliant heights and ugly depths.
Those of a mystical/numerological bent will perhaps find it
significant that Bobby died at age 64. One hopes this will put an end
to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still
popped up now and then. > -- Taylor Kingston

By DYLAN LOEB MCCLAIN

New York Times

Published: February 22, 2002

ED MEDNIS, 64, CHESS EXPERT FAMOUS FOR ONCE BEATING FISCHER

Ed Mednis, a chess grandmaster who was the first player to beat
Bobby Fischer in a United States Chess Championship tournament, died
on Feb. 13 in Queens. He was 64 and lived in Queens.

The cause was complications of pneumonia, said his wife, Baiba.

Despite having finished second in the 1955 World Junior Championship
behind Boris Spassky and having participated in previous
championships, Mr. Mednis was not seen as a threat to Mr. Fischer when
they met in the first round of the 1962-63 championship. Mr. Fischer
had won the championship four times and had not lost a game in an
American tournament since 1957. Mr. Mednis played black and the game
went to 73 moves before Mr. Fischer resigned.

Mr. Fischer recovered to win the championship, while Mr. Mednis
finished well back. His best result was in the 1961-62 championship,
when he finished in a tie for third.

Ed John Mednis was born in Riga, Latvia, on ch 22, 1937. His
parents fled the country in 1944, living in allied relocation camps in
Germany for several years before settling in New York in 1950.

Mr. Mednis earned a living as a chemical engineer until Mr. Fischer
won the world championship in 1972. Then, capitalizing on the sudden
popularity of chess and of Mr. Fischer, Mr. Mednis wrote a book called
''How to Beat Bobby Fischer'' (Dover Publications), in which he
dissected Mr. Fischer's losses.

The book was successful, and he wrote 21 more. He also became a
columnist for Chess Life, the monthly magazine of the United States
Chess Federation.

In 1980, Mr. Mednis became a grandmaster, and in 2000, he was inducted
into the United States Chess Hall of Fame.

In addition to his wife of 37 years, he is survived by a daughter,
Sari Eskildsen, a son, iss Mednis, and his twin sisters, Inita
Rusis and Aiga Pupons.

Although Mr. Mednis was perhaps best known for his defeat of Mr.
Fischer and his book about Mr. Fischer's losses, that 1962 game was
Mr. Mednis's only victory against Mr. Fischer. His career record
against Mr. Fischer in tournament chess was one win, one draw and five
losses.








[email protected] wrote:
> EVANS ON FISCHER IN CH CHESS LIFE
>
> I was told that GM Larry Evans has cracked the case in the mystery of
> who wrote Fischer's MY 61 MEMORABLE GAMES.
>
>
> Taylor Kingston wrote:
> > On Jan 18, 7:48?am, RookHouse <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Iceland media is reporting that former world chess champion Bobby
> > > Fischer has died at age 64.
> > >
> > > Spokesman Gardar Sverrisson said that Fischer died Thursday in a
> > > Reykjavik hospital. ?There was no immediate word on the cause of
> > > death. ?Fischer had been living in Iceland since being granted
> > > citizenship back in 2005.
> > >
> > > Reykjavik oddly enough, was the site of his greatest trimuph in 1972,
> > > when he defeated Boris Spassky (then of the Soviet Union) for the
> > > World Chess Championship of the World. ?Spassky and Fischer would
> > > later have a rematch in Yugoslavia in 1992, also won by Fischer.
> > >
> > > Spassky, now a French citizen, was reportedly notified of Fischer's
> > > passing by phone and stated that he was "very sorry" to hear of
> > > Fischer's death.
> > >
> > > Considered by many (including myself) to be the greatest player ever
> > > to sit at a chess board, Fischer had been seriously ill for some
> > > time. ?Again, the chess world has lost a legend today, as Robert James
> > > Fischer has passed away.
> > >
> > > I will continue to post to this article as more details are available.
> > >
> > > Morphy,http://www.rookhouse.com/blog/
> >
> > A sad end to a life that reached brilliant heights and ugly depths.
> > Those of a mystical/numerological bent will perhaps find it
> > significant that Bobby died at age 64. One hopes this will put an end
> > to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still
> > popped up now and then.


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 07:14:06
From: RookHouse
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Feel free to visit these links and play through some of Bobby's more
memorable games.

Bled 1961 (won by Tal)
http://www.rookhouse.com/events/bled1961.html

2nd Piatigorsky Cup (won by Spassky)
http://www.rookhouse.com/events/piat1966.html

Rovinj-Zagreb 1970 (won by Fischer)
http://www.rookhouse.com/events/rz1970.html





 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 06:52:05
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
EVANS ON FISCHER IN CH CHESS LIFE

I was told that GM Larry Evans has cracked the case in the mystery of
who wrote Fischer's MY 61 MEMORABLE GAMES.


Taylor Kingston wrote:
> On Jan 18, 7:48?am, RookHouse <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Iceland media is reporting that former world chess champion Bobby
> > Fischer has died at age 64.
> >
> > Spokesman Gardar Sverrisson said that Fischer died Thursday in a
> > Reykjavik hospital. ?There was no immediate word on the cause of
> > death. ?Fischer had been living in Iceland since being granted
> > citizenship back in 2005.
> >
> > Reykjavik oddly enough, was the site of his greatest trimuph in 1972,
> > when he defeated Boris Spassky (then of the Soviet Union) for the
> > World Chess Championship of the World. ?Spassky and Fischer would
> > later have a rematch in Yugoslavia in 1992, also won by Fischer.
> >
> > Spassky, now a French citizen, was reportedly notified of Fischer's
> > passing by phone and stated that he was "very sorry" to hear of
> > Fischer's death.
> >
> > Considered by many (including myself) to be the greatest player ever
> > to sit at a chess board, Fischer had been seriously ill for some
> > time. ?Again, the chess world has lost a legend today, as Robert James
> > Fischer has passed away.
> >
> > I will continue to post to this article as more details are available.
> >
> > Morphy,http://www.rookhouse.com/blog/
>
> A sad end to a life that reached brilliant heights and ugly depths.
> Those of a mystical/numerological bent will perhaps find it
> significant that Bobby died at age 64. One hopes this will put an end
> to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still
> popped up now and then.


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 09:50:14
From: Chess One
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Confirmation by BBC and Icelandic Press - this message via Adorjan in
Hungary:

Subject: Fischer +

Bless you, Bobby and thanks be with us - Mr. 6 - 0 !! (AA)


> Bobby Fischer 1943-2008
>
> Bobby Fischer died from kidney failure 17th January 2008. He'd been in
> hospital for two months but was released to go home after the doctors said
> his case was hopeless, he may have also been in hospital his final days.
> Born ch 9th 1943 he became world champion in 1972.
>
> Icelandic confirmation: http://mbl.is/mm/frettir/ and BBC
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7195840.stm




 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 06:44:17
From: RookHouse
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
On Jan 18, 9:32=A0am, Taylor Kingston <[email protected] > wrote:
> On Jan 18, 7:48=A0am, RookHouse <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Iceland media is reporting that former world chess champion Bobby
> > Fischer has died at age 64.
>
> > Spokesman Gardar Sverrisson said that Fischer died Thursday in a
> > Reykjavik hospital. =A0There was no immediate word on the cause of
> > death. =A0Fischer had been living in Iceland since being granted
> > citizenship back in 2005.
>
> > Reykjavik oddly enough, was the site of his greatest trimuph in 1972,
> > when he defeated Boris Spassky (then of the Soviet Union) for the
> > World Chess Championship of the World. =A0Spassky and Fischer would
> > later have a rematch in Yugoslavia in 1992, also won by Fischer.
>
> > Spassky, now a French citizen, was reportedly notified of Fischer's
> > passing by phone and stated that he was "very sorry" to hear of
> > Fischer's death.
>
> > Considered by many (including myself) to be the greatest player ever
> > to sit at a chess board, Fischer had been seriously ill for some
> > time. =A0Again, the chess world has lost a legend today, as Robert James=

> > Fischer has passed away.
>
> > I will continue to post to this article as more details are available.
>
> > Morphy,http://www.rookhouse.com/blog/
>
> =A0 A sad end to a life that reached brilliant heights and ugly depths.
> Those of a mystical/numerological bent will perhaps find it
> significant that Bobby died at age 64. One hopes this will put an end
> to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still
> popped up now and then.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Taylor, did you ever get to meet him in person?


 
Date: 18 Jan 2008 06:32:30
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
On Jan 18, 7:48=A0am, RookHouse <[email protected] > wrote:
> Iceland media is reporting that former world chess champion Bobby
> Fischer has died at age 64.
>
> Spokesman Gardar Sverrisson said that Fischer died Thursday in a
> Reykjavik hospital. =A0There was no immediate word on the cause of
> death. =A0Fischer had been living in Iceland since being granted
> citizenship back in 2005.
>
> Reykjavik oddly enough, was the site of his greatest trimuph in 1972,
> when he defeated Boris Spassky (then of the Soviet Union) for the
> World Chess Championship of the World. =A0Spassky and Fischer would
> later have a rematch in Yugoslavia in 1992, also won by Fischer.
>
> Spassky, now a French citizen, was reportedly notified of Fischer's
> passing by phone and stated that he was "very sorry" to hear of
> Fischer's death.
>
> Considered by many (including myself) to be the greatest player ever
> to sit at a chess board, Fischer had been seriously ill for some
> time. =A0Again, the chess world has lost a legend today, as Robert James
> Fischer has passed away.
>
> I will continue to post to this article as more details are available.
>
> Morphy,http://www.rookhouse.com/blog/

A sad end to a life that reached brilliant heights and ugly depths.
Those of a mystical/numerological bent will perhaps find it
significant that Bobby died at age 64. One hopes this will put an end
to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me if they still
popped up now and then.


  
Date: 18 Jan 2008 15:51:34
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Robert James Fischer Dead at 64
Taylor Kingston <[email protected] > wrote:
> One hopes this will put an end to Fischer-comeback rumors, but it
> wouldn't surprise me if they still popped up now and then.

Perhaps he'll play a match against Korchnoi? ;-)


Dave.

(Yes, I know.)

--
David Richerby Cyber-Tool (TM): it's like a hammer
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ that exists only in your computer!