Bobby Fischer in de Dick Cavett Show 1972

De beste schaker ooit op aarde, althans volgens zichzelf. Maar ook volgens vele andere grootmeesters. Te gast in een hilarische talkshow.

[@Chhipz]

The host was well mannered, cool temperament, and funny all at the same time. I miss this classic style of communication.

[@BassByTheBay]

chhipzahoy, Well-mannered, cool, and funny was Cavett's M.O.

[@RileyRampant]

also incisive. he asked the kind of questions an intelligent person might want to ask of extraordinary people. one problem with a lot of interviewers these days is they aren't that smart. think of charley rose, for example. dumb as a stone, interviewing nobel laureates on pbs for years.

[@jessiejames7492]

dick cavett is a legend. intelligent, funny , entertaining and does his homework very well. he knows how to steer the conversation and ask questions.

[@123456sickofcounting]

chhipzahoy I genuinely enjoyed this interview. Now I know why.

[@ranacaran]

Sexist maybe

[@Cloudancer2024]

Knew he was a genius, and expected him to be awkward and nerdy. Didn't realize he was so tall, good-looking and had so much swag. Really informative and enjoyable interview.

[@321AlterSchwede]

Hes an entertaining and charismatic person. Probably superfriendly as long he feels treated fair.

[@HayashiManabu]

3:09 the host uses CCCP instead of USSR and Bobby didn’t know it meant the Soviet Union, so he gracefully shows everyone that the CCCP is actually a foreign acronym and saves Bobby the embarrassment by tiding it over with a funny joke. Masterful host.

[@esportmonkey]

The thing is Fisher knew Russian so he was very likely to be familiar with initialism of "CCCP" but in Russian it would sound like "SSSR".

[@hugh1297]

The greater embarrassment would be Cavett's, which Fischer spared him, because Cavett didn't know how to pronounce the letters. Fischer knew.

[@joshhernandez5069]

@@matthewadcock6399 What??? That doesn't make sense.

[@joshhernandez5069]

@@matthewadcock6399 But you're wrong. It is an acronym. CCCP (SSSR in english alphabet) stands for Союз Советских Социалистических Республик, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

[@joshhernandez5069]

@@matthewadcock6399 You're saying that an Acronym is only an Acronym if it forms a phonetic "word" (like NASA.....Nah-suh) but thats wrong, the definition clearly states that it also covers ABBREVIATIONS, usually stemming from the first letters of each word in the acronym, such as F.B.I., C.I.A. and yes, C.C.C.P. Even if the letters don't form a phonetic "word" that you can pronounce, they are still acronyms nonetheless, per the definition.

[@amexjam55]

No computer chess engines. No internet existed so no 24 hour a day chess websites available in order to practice against opponents around the world. No government sponsored chess school training. Practically self-trained. Bobby Fischer truly the greatest chess player and greatest chess champion that walked the earth.

[@johnt7630]

Fischer was brilliant - but you can't be the "greatest champion" if you don't defend you title.

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

I'm so sick of hearing about he "ran from karpov." Bobby was more than willing to play a defense match, but declined of course after FIDE didn't accept all his terms. -No help of seconds, no support from USCF for his travels (acc. to Fischer they funneled all the $$ to Reshevsky, even the expensive Yugoslavian chess set that he carried around he purchased with his own money,) he did it all by himself, truly the greatest of them all. -p.s.: according to his close friend, GM Larry Evans (rest his soul,) who was witness of his playing strength in 1975, would've been an "easy task" for Fischer's dismantling of karpov's threat to title. A phenomenon like Fischer doesn't lose an ounce of skill in 3 years.

[@u.v.s.5583]

Leela will be the greatest, when she learns how to give charming interviews like this, and, of course, crush Stockfish.

[@linda1lee2]

AlphaZero is better.

[@marcolino269]

Curious way to spell "Garry Kasparov"

[@JC-qz8dn]

He’s got that American swagger. Never would a Russian or any other culture develop a personality like this. From the way he walks into the interview, the way he sits in his chair, his facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, his laugh, the way he handles the chess pieces while explaining movements... straight up world class ass kicker. Kind of feels like a caged tiger. Sandy Duncan seems like she feels it too. She looks in awe of him. That can’t be faked. I’m sure elite athletes can appreciate his swagger. I’m in awe of this guy!

[@AI-iv4ui]

Oi, Space Ghost I think Zorak put some gay juice in your coffee. Don't worry lad I'm on my way!

[@colemanadamson5943]

I think Fischer was the most comfortable with Dick Cavett....more than any other interviewer of any media. Cavett had a way about him that disarmed Bobby and relaxed him. This was Bobby's best interview.

[@WilliamViets]

Coleman Adamson He blew Mike Douglas. Maybe not mike Douglas, but some guy from Philadelphia.

[@koko40800]

Cavett was a great and gracious interviewer...he treated his guests with respect and always seemed to like and respect Bobby. He was interviewed in the Fischer biopic "Bobby Fischer vs Rest of World"

[@MARKCREEKWATER1]

Absolutely !! He looks very good here.

[@jadezee6316]

it is simple...fischer liked cavetts intelligence..and most important...he realized that cavett liked him

[@00bikeboy]

When asked who were his most memorable interviews, Fischer was among them.

[@stormbringer67]

I just can't get enough of Bobby Fischer. What an amazing brilliant guy. What a weird crazy life did he have. Inspite of his behaviour, i have the impression he was a nice guy basicly. Also misunderstood, socially awkward and i'm sure he had a traumatized character. To me the greatest chess player ever. RIP Bobby.

[@mjr4314]

Sandy Duncan, Ralph Nader, and Bobby Fischer all conversing intelligently with an intelligent host. This show might as well have been from another planet compared to today's celebrity buffoonery. Just a few decades ago. God help us.

[@rflan42250]

Sandy was pretty high tho LOL

[@bapples]

Ironic he cracks a joke about schizophrenia at 15:12

[@James-gk8ip]

Sandy asked him whether chess was just a hobby for him. 'Nuff said.

[@partynhouse]

@@James-gk8ip that is not stupid it is just ignorant and ignorance is a thing easily corrected. She learned that instant that chess is a job to him. Nuff said

[@robs5688]

@@rflan42250 I suppose that's possible, but she naturally has a bubbly personality. She's 74 now, according to Wikipedia, which makes her 26-27 at the time of this interview.

[@RobKandell]

"I am such a loser in the game of life." - Bobby Fischer, found written in a book shortly after his death in Iceland. He was truly a tragic figure.

[@Jason-ww3xi]

You know the source for this? Not challenging, just curious. (I know I could google, but I don't want to drive another nail into the coffin of human communication.) Thanks.

[@RobKandell]

"Endgame" by Frank Brady, though in finding it I had the context wrong. From the footnotes of the book: “I’m such a loser in the game of life.” Letter to Zita Rajscanyi from Bobby Fischer, May 20, 1994.

[@Jason-ww3xi]

@@RobKandell Cheers, dude. I've heard of Zita. Feel so bad for this man.

[@amigosXcorrespondenc]

@@RobKandell What's the relation he has with hungarian players? I've seen pictures of him with Leko, Polgar sisters, etc..

[@RobKandell]

NATURALTALENT - I’m going by memory here, as the two books I have (The other being “Bobby Fischer Goes to War” by David Edmonds and John Eidinow) do not really discuss the Polgar sisters. But his comeback match with Spassky happened when I was at university. The internet was not yet open to the public and did not have such news anyway, so my friend Tim and I were the only two members in Chess Club that were USCF members, with the attendant subscription to Chess Life. It was an exciting time, as it was the age of Kasparov following the fall of the Soviet Union, with Fischer simply adding to the mix. As best as I remember: The US Government took issue with the Spassky match being played in (then) Yugoslavia, and he ended up renouncing his citizenship over the issue. He was relying on hospitality at the time and the Polgar sisters were just up and coming. Their father reached out to him to help his daughters as he was available at the time. It’s interesting that Ralph Nader asked about chess being sexist. Fischer denies it here, but in the 90s actually claimed that women were “too stupid” to play the game and there was not a woman alive that he could not beat giving them piece odds. One former Soviet GM was quoted as saying, “Fischer is Fischer, but a piece is a piece.” (I can’t remember who, but I am thinking Tal or Botvinnik.) He ended up playing a match with Judit, although not with odds. I distinctly remember upon reading the announcement of the match everyone in Chess Club asking mockingly if he was giving piece odds. He didn’t, but did win the match and went back into obscurity. People think he was a complete and utter bastard, and if you read of his life, he was - in the truest sense of the word, with all the resulting personality flaws that come with that. As I said in the first post, he is truly a tragic figure.

[@manishsachdeva1536]

I love his style. I love his personality. I love his confidence. I love his laughter. This world seems so stupid who doesn't understand a genius like him. RIP Bobby...

[@charliemike13]

MANISH SACHDEVA it’s not easy to understand genius, let alone recognize it most of the time...

[@manishsachdeva1536]

@@charliemike13 I get you...

[@lw216316]

He didn't say you were paranoid .....you imagined that ! what a clever joke.

[@MARKCREEKWATER1]

hahaha: another version is that you're not paranoid if they really are trying to kill you.

[@MMABeijing]

it was easy and old,but sure

[@marcushendriksen8415]

@@suchapill3077 Actually, "para" means "beside". Like "parallel", "paranormal", "parallax", the list goes on. Depending on what it prefixes, it can also mean "amiss/irregular"

[@opensecret4451]

Bobby was well aware of the globalist conspiracy but Cavett as most liberals was a useful idiot nothing to see here dicky boy

[@juanpablopanebianco5311]

Cavett was a very classie man.

[@carlodave9]

Fischer is fascinating to watch - a real athlete. He's like a swaggering stud pitcher. Even the way he handles the pieces is intimidating.

[@koko40800]

His contemporaries said he was very intimidating to play against...not just his chess strength and will to win but he was physically intimidating...6'''2", broad shouldered, muscular

[@dionlindsay2]

Yes, I never understood that - it seems futile to be slamming down the pieces: a move isn't any more effective because it's loud. But it's a theme through chess players - Smyslov (WC in the 1950s) was a very gentle man, but tended to screw his pieces into the board. It doesn't look like a spontaneous release of nervous energy in Fischer's case, because there aren't any other signs - he talks gently while he does it. Garry Kasparov had the same physical intimidatory aura when he played. I saw Jonathan Speelman beat him in a rapid tournament in the 1980s and afterwards Kasparov, though not best pleased, was gently chatting to his minders, while Speelman was green in the face and mumbling to the English journalists about how it feels like you're dying just sitting opposite Kasparov, even when you're winning.

[@mobalozibollimas1140]

He's way cooler than I thought

[@koko40800]

He was painted as a weirdo and eccentric/crazy/nerd because that's how the MSM expects chessplayers to be. They perpetuate and feed the stereotype

[@maryb6872]

"i'd realize it was a fluke...." Great stuff.

[@wymankaluba3827]

Fischer was such a master. Born to play the game. You can actually see his brilliance here

[@jeffgreen3376]

Problem is, chess was all he could do.

[@toughmunths]

@@jeffgreen3376 Only because it's all he wanted to do

[@ODA-392]

An interviewer with grace and humbleness. Ye wont find that today in this hate ridden world.

[@TheresaPowers]

The hate ridden world...you mean like Democrats, CNN and all the other lying fake news sources? I concur.

[@rickrick5041]

Jeanne More It’s been finally proven 100% he was born in India

[@shilee771]

Asura Mabon r/lewwronggeneration

[@ianrust3785]

Great quote Chase

[@Biskawow]

lol just got here from clip where Dali was guest, this guy is a fucking idiot

[@FamousOriginalSlim]

Fischer has a refreshing lack of false humility

[@jessiejames7492]

Jim Williams yeah how endearing 👍

[@brandondaniels9471]

Interestingly, Magnus Carlsen (the current World Chess Champion) is the exact same way. He always calls a spade a spade. And, he always bluntly points out whether he or an opponent plays badly.

[@jessiejames7492]

@@brandondaniels9471 people like this arent popular , But you dance to the beat of your own drum. and youre being honest ...if others dont like it, tough! at least theyre being honest.. i hate fakes

[@brandondaniels9471]

@@jessiejames7492 Yeah, I totally agree. And, I think society is experiencing/suffering the results of political correctness taken to the extremes. Honesty is being ignored as a virtue.

[@NxDoyle]

It's a fine line between a lack of false humility and being an arrogant asshole. Fischer could be the latter.

[@epictetusofhierapolis4461]

Bobby handles the pieces like a Boss!!

[@josephbarclayross6216]

He sure throws them down hard. It's like every move is a sword slash to his opponent.

[@BadHabitMarco]

I think it's actually a rather ridiculous and exaggerated way to set up a position; you won't see today's players do it like that.

[@derventio2860]

That's because todays players are not Robert James Fischer lol

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

He preferred a green board. normally today's pros play on classic wooden brown.

[@linda1lee2]

This wasn't a proper table where you had room to put extra pieces. A comment in another thread explained his movements which is true if you see speed chess. " sammydogg123 8 months ago He has played a lot of speed chess. You have to be able to move the pieces as fast as you can when time is limited. It just rubs off on you even in a regular game."

[@EGarrett01]

4:33 "After the sixth game I felt him crumbling." Petrosian acknowledged this too.

[@Cantor214]

Got to love Fischer's New York swagger. I think growing up in Brooklyn helped him as a chess player.

[@badcornflakes6374]

Captain America of chess

[@MARKCREEKWATER1]

Yes !!! I never thought about that !!

[@mitchelvalentino1569]

Absolutely

[@koko40800]

Growing up in New York (especially back in the day), you learn at an early age to 'Show Power'

[@groovybuddha667]

Born in chitown

[@JohnSmith-en8vx]

Bobby was a mad genius....clearly the best player that ever lived. Had he done this today, he would have been a multimillionaire.

[@jadezee6316]

there was nothing mad about fischer.....everything he has ever said has proven to be true

[@fundhund62]

How was he "clearly" the best player that ever lived? Others defended their title numerous times, and dominated world chess for many years. Both of which he failed to do.

[@JohnSmith-en8vx]

@@fundhund62 Really? You want to go there? He was the Goat. google it

[@fundhund62]

@@JohnSmith-en8vx What's there to google? 😆 He rode a wave in 70-72, which was great. But streaks like that don't last forever. It's just not the same as dominating a sport for 10+ years.

[@teputube]

He was not mad, you are uninformed and disrespectful.

[@sonicpowerr4068]

i have always had the utmost respect for Bobby than any other chess player so far. Love and respect, the greatest chess player of all time.

[@fundhund62]

Hardly. Others have dominated for extended periods of time. He did not. And Morphy was farther ahead of his contemporaries than Fischer. And he had hardly any previous material to base his play on. Pure natural talent.

[@mituldaniadventureJunkie]

The confidence of Fischer is just unreal. He KNOWS he is not going to let him keep the championship.

[@denniseudela411]

Dick Cavett may be light years away from chess I.Q. of the gr8est chess grandmaster who ever lived, but his wit, spontaneity, & intact composure without retaliatory intentions makes him one of the topnotch host of all time. He understands, which most people don't, that Bobby's genius mindset is much different than the rest of us. What we may perceive as 'egotistical' or arrogance, does NOT apply to him. These very few gifted people who are in the highest level & incredibly excels in certain sports/specialty like Michael Jordan, Albert Einstein, Da Vinci, etc... thinks way differently than us, which we regular people take as 'weird' or offensive, but we really should not. They may be human beings like us, but they are "different", that's why they accomplished those things and we did not.

[@willieduggan3201]

Thanks for loading this interview between Bobby Fischer and Dick Cavett. It is really great to see and hear the young Bobby Fischer chatting amicably with Cavett, Duncan and Nader. Bobby is articulate and he's pretty relaxed (although his body language suggests that he's not fully at ease). Bobby is able to present and articulate himself really well. Cavett is an excellent interviewer. The warmth between both men is evident. Delighted to see this, and to recall a time when, despite the Cold War, life was pretty good for most people.

[@MarkRoberts-bj2me]

The Fischer/Spassky World Championship Match took place in 1972 with the U.S. bogged down in the Vietnam War. It is a fact that Henry Kissinger called Bobby when he was threatening not to attend the match. It is difficult today for people to understand the magnitude of importance this chess match received worldwide more so for the political aspects of the match although the masses certainly paid attention to the individual games and the brilliance displayed by the two contestants. Also keep in mind that even with all of the political assassinations, America still maintained a certain kind of mystique in the world. The 70's were simpler times. The Empire had as yet to become recognized as the terrorist rogue nation that it was then and continues to be today.

[@pears0094]

I would agree! BTW, I'm familiar with Dick Caveat, and Bobby Fischer... (Obviously... Ha!) But would you mind telling me who the other two people/guest that were on the show with them? I would really appreciate it! (I wasn't born until years after this show aired...) Thanks! Cheers! :D

[@MarkRoberts-bj2me]

I believe the woman is Sandy Duncan who is a singer and actress and the man is a young Ralph Nader, the premier consumer advocate in the U.S. who also ran for President in 2000. Nader has stayed active in politics and is one of the very few that are admired by the people, obviously not by the corporations that actually control the U.S.A.

[@pears0094]

Wow! Thank you for the quick reply and clarification! I really appreciate it! I definitely familiar with Ralph Nader, but did not recognize him... (Looks quite young here... Obviously it being 1972...) But, thank you again! I hope you are having a great day/week! All the best! :D

[@MarkRoberts-bj2me]

Well thank you for quoting from your own work to us mere mortals Mr. Thomas. The irony of your contribution is obviously lost on you however. As it was with the Romans, we Americans have conquered our way to our own Empire as well. This citizen can assure you the Empire was running on all cylinders back in '72. With just as much assuredness it can be stated that the Empire has been decaying for years and is crumbling all around us today. Seen with the proper perspective, the early 70's was a time that rightfully "became bathed in the golden light of simple nobility and selfless virtue", and yes, an Empire near the height of its greatness is certainly superior to one in decline. There is "truth" in that statement.

[@870Rem12gauge]

Sandy Duncan was totally into him. Flirting all the way.

[@j.lucasuniversity8694]

Yes! ;-)

[@KARTIKEYA007]

nah, that's just her "role"

[@rft1509]

You must be seeing this interview through your nose holes

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Wow, I saw it totally differently

[@lisa-el3db]

Bobby very relaxed and charming in this interview. Cavette's magic at bringing that charm out for all to see, and never putting him on the defensive. Having him show a bit about the game of chess, then how his win over his last match was played, the end move, etc. I always felt Cavette could see more in a person than what they show or feel comfortable showing to the world. Bobby was just not just a 24/7 seriously intense chess player, he has a sense of humour along with charm and respect for others as well. I am charmed as well.

[@horstreuter6304]

It makes me glad to see Bobby Fischer so relaxed and happy in this show. Dick Cavett made a great job in creating a friendly atmosphere.

[@syourke3]

I recall watching this interview fifty years ago. Fischer was the most famous chess player who ever lived, an international superstar celebrity.

[@ChosenWon]

A gem of our country. What a shame the USA treated him the way they did. Raw IQ and determined. He steam rolled over the Russians on a box lunch platform with little to no support. How embarrassing for me as an American citizen.

[@fizzy4149]

Chosen Won -- How was he mistreated??

[@MightySheep]

fizz I look on his wiki page it says he rematched spassky in yugoslavia and the US issued warrant for his arrest because yugoslavia was "under an embargo" so he has to flee the country

[@planetjanet3845]

under an embargo because they were busy destroying the country. he was caught up in the criminal insanity the US runs on, a shame indeed

[@fizzy4149]

BlitzTankTV -- I'm a very patriotic American but forbidding someone from earning a paycheck (which he desperately needed at that time) is plainly ridiculous. That is true. But it seemed that Chosen Won was saying that he (or she) is embarrassed to be American because the government didn't support him during his climb for the title.

[@robreke]

bobby Fischer had major mental issues. he was his own worst enemy.

[@cristofervidre8378]

such a shame when he says on 12:30 that he expect to play for 30 more years :(

[@TayDays1128]

20 was good enough

[@chocolatte6157]

Yes! If only he had a crystal ball. How improbable is it that his life turned the way it did? It’s a shame the world did not have decades more of his chess.

[@MourningCoffeeMusic]

That would've been such a treat. Imagine the legendary match-ups we would've gotten!

[@alprimordial7053]

Probably we would never have seen No Karpov and No Kasparov.

[@user-ym6lc7pk1e]

Both Karpov and Kasparov would have crushed Fisher. Karpov's positional play and expert endings would present a particular challenge to Fisher. They were monsters of their time, just like Fisher was monster in the decade from 65 to 75. Chess players don't stay on the top for too long.

[@ukaszkasza5011]

Imagine he was born e.g. 1990, he would be now top Twitch streamer with that smooth, easy-going style :D

[@Fluxion11]

Oh man, that would be hilarious.

[@richaragonzales1355]

If you can't see the neurotic on display then you got problems of your own

[@robertmacdonald6527]

If he were alive today, he would have been run out of polite society for his opinions

[@fundhund62]

He wouldn't take part in any tournaments. He didn't even agree to a normal 24 game match, so how would he adapt to today's super short matches, without draw odds (and featuring rapid and blitz)? Not a chance.

[@SMinthangGangte2022]

Fischer is the reason why chess is beautiful.

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

WC Fischer-Spassky '92, the reason I learned chess

[@randyking9489]

Agree

[@ivanrado3430]

You misspelled Tal

[@ivanrado3430]

@Johnny Reb that's why its not. Today chess is logical because its computer moves and every game is similar. Tal made beauty in the chaos.... that's why he made it beautiful.

[@jjsmither5256]

In that interview, you might be seeing the smartest guy who's walked the planet in 300 years, at his peak. Not that what he did was the greatest thing for humanity, but it was possibly the greatest single, intellectual achievement of any one man; defeating an entire empire, alone.

[@charlie6411]

You have definately bought into the american properganda. Clearly the Russian players had more resources and his achievements speak for themselves, but as he alluded to he also had help preparing. So a small team vs a larger team, not one vs a nation. As single intellectual achievements go Einsteins ability to make intuitive leap after intuitive leap, and its impact on modern technology and how we live far exceeds this.

[@richaragonzales1355]

@@charlie6411 yes but Einstein is a jew and you won't find many Fischer fans praising them

[@hugh1297]

@@charlie6411 According to Kasparov, Fischer was seen in the Soviet Union as a "great man fighting the mighty machine," and idealogically, it was seen as "the individual against the totalitarian system". And Fischer's "team" was barely a team, it was literally nothing compared to what the Soviet regime provided Spassky.

[@Cnut_the_grape]

The soviets MIGHT have damaged their reputation in Chess, but Fischer didn't do jackshit to "defeat an entire empire alone"

[@MatoJelic]

Awesome

[@adilghaznavi3948]

My favourite KZbinr!

[@mateo6833]

@@adilghaznavi3948 Mine too

[@TheBaltLT]

Truly, that is a quality interview. Not like current circus shows.

[@johnzeljko4252]

Putting all the chess expertise aside, this man Bobby Fischer was a man with a huge amount of morality and dignity. He didn't back down even under huge pressure when he believed in a strong cause. Truly an was an amazing human being.

[@buddy3635]

He was until he went crazy after his Spassky rematch

[@funkyfeedbackband3035]

All geniuses are somewhat eccentric. Crazy is someone that doesn’t identify genius.

[@bigdogpete43]

It is not bragging if you can prove it. He was the greatest ever. And he proved it over and over again.

[@Gregoryt700]

Fischer was actually quite engaging & even entertaining here. Much pity that such a great mind became so reclusive

[@johnapperson7495]

YUP IT IS WHAT THE WHINY A** NEWS MEDIA DID TO HIM

[@pipsantos6278]

Maybe he discovered our politicians are insane like Lennon did.

[@DiamorphineDeath]

Imagine how alienating and isolating having a 180 iq would be. Your ability to find closeness or any sort of challenge, even in casual conversation would be terrible. Generally it's one standard deviation in iq apart from one another leads to an issue in regards to the ability to relate and understand one another, and that is only 15 iq points apart. Now imagine Bobby amongst your average individual day in and day out. It's not the media, as others put here, and it's a sham to compare Fischer to Elvis or Lennon. The guy was extremely gifted, which unfortunately has a heavy price to pay as a result societally.

[@DukeJon1969]

he was hilarious with Bob Hope

[@Tunz909]

Takes two to tango...Bobby was just fine when the person asking the questions was not RUDE nor ignorant;-)....

[@brianbozo2447]

Dick Cavett is so much more sophisticated than many other interviewers now.

[@leonmaliniak]

Very rare to see such an extended interview with this unique character who was such a later reclusive individual He is very well spoken and not only some sort of weird nerd He also seems so very normal and level headed and not some sort of weirdo

[@dinahleeloo]

I read Bobby’s book, “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.” It helped my game a great deal. Bobby, you were beautiful.

[@MustRiseAgain]

allow me to remind you he learnt to read Russian just to read the Russian chess books.

[@ivanjosipovic7206]

the games are annotated algebraically or a few more so he didn't need to know a word of Russian to analyse their games

[@derventio2860]

Yet he still learnt Russian. And Serbo Croat too.... to read Russian and Serbo Croat chess mags.

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

Once he learned russky, he understood Russian porn mags too.

[@jk28416]

he didn't seem to know any Russian during this interview.

[@jangtheconqueror]

And some other languages

[@Defox721]

You have to give him respect for answering every question with an effort to make non chess players understand what he is talking about. That's something not all people do these days, especially celebrities

[@MrQmason]

Fischer - " Cool anger, determination , I dont lose my temper ".

[@amexjam55]

The greatest chess player of all time.

[@kasparov937]

Yeah almost...then he just ran away....

[@davidcopson5800]

Kasparov and Carlsen might dispute that.

[@peterpap9604]

@@davidcopson5800 even Karpov in his heydays..at least Bobby was never brave enough to play with him

[@davidcopson5800]

@@peterpap9604 It's a shame we never got a Fischer V Karpov match. I think it would have been a real challenge for Bobby who had not played since Spassky. Fair play to Karpov who then went on to win many tournaments to dispel the stigma of being handed the title by default.

[@user-ql6cy3cg8r]

@@peterpap9604 he just got bored of chess really.

[@vereinigungderpatrioten3881]

The one and only "Bobby Fischer". The greatest chess genius in history.

[@robertdelisle3502]

Kasparov states that Fischer, based on the second Spassky match, had not developed since the 1970's, and thus would not be a serious threat to him in the present. But I will always wonder about the possibility that in a long match, Fischer would assimilate enough about Kasparov to be a far more formidable opponent that Kasparov would admit. Would Fischer simply be out-classed by Kasparov's more recent theory, or would it develop into a real fight between two great chess minds? No way to know.

[@gdounito]

If Fischer had any balls he would challenge karpov or kasparov. Bobby was a genious but not the greatest

[@jules1927]

Bobby had this cuteness about him that I can't quite explain. He seemed like a combination of confident by also extremely insecure. Shame he never married. He was adorable. He seemed to have become more and more outgoing the more he distanced himself from chess. His personality during his chess years was more quiet and reserved. I think he was so contained in chess he didn't care much for social things. The interviews he did on radio close to his death show a much more outgoing and talkative Bobby Fischer.

[@jessiejames7492]

cant help but admire these two..both sharp as a tack

[@jtetrfs5367]

WHAT! No commercials every 45 seconds?

[@Godfather19704]

The good ol' days.

[@LunnarisLP]

what do you mean, there were 3 adds in there weren't there?

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

good ol' fashioned telli. Give me Cal Worthington and sunny delight commercials.

[@Godfather19704]

@@conjured_up_skeletons6178 Haha, Here's Cal Worthington and his dog spot. I'll stand on head til my ears turn red, go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal. How about the Pete Ellis Dodge jingle? lol

[@billharris1847]

Lol

[@jessiejames7492]

fischer is so deliciously cocky and self assured. wish there were more interviews..

[@freshprince69]

I can feel the stirrings of a female towards a Man's moxie.

[@koko40800]

@@freshprince69 Fischer was an Alpha Male and women can smell that....it's that 'B.D. Energy'

[@freshprince69]

@@koko40800 If only genuises like Fischer will use their solid determination to intercourse women and prevent the process of Idiocracy.

[@migonzz]

Confidence breeds excellence

[@user-xs3og8us3d]

Thanx luv

[@Baz87100]

"I'm cool angry, you know... I don't lose my temper" Love it

[@Jalapablo]

Bobby's idol was Paul Morphy. When asked back in the early 60's who he thought was the greatest chess player who ever lived, he named Morphy. Lot's of similarities between the two: both were born in the USA, were BY FAR the greatest players of their age, stopped playing chess at their zenith, both lost their minds, and both suffered from paranoia and became reclusive. Very sad. Pillsbury was another great American chess genius, in 1895 after winning Hastings he was basically the strongest player in the world. Dude was pretty much in the process of steamrolling everybody - including Lasker - when he contracted syphilis and lost his mind in the prime of his youth. Crash and burn.

[@manigopal92]

Paul West Agreed about Paul Morphy & RJF. The resemblance is uncanny. But have to disagree with Pillsbury beating Emanuel Lasker ! We all have our opinions & not all of them match i guess 😉

[@jamesh1369]

Fischer never lost his mind.

[@whiteargentinian2662]

oy vey what do you mean, only the insane can hate the jews! The world is just all insane, it's never the jews fault!

[@Brainbuster]

Morphy played chess like nobody else. He was the Kafka of chess (I just coined that). I would rather play like Morphy and lose than play like anyone else and win.

[@jmadratz]

But Pillsbury sure made some damn good cakes. And I heard that he always despised his nickname, 'the Doughboy'.

[@rogermichou8654]

Bobby at his peak : 2785 in 1971 = 2940 in 2019 !! He was more than a super genius, he was a chess God

[@EGarrett01]

9:58, It's fascinating to see how they handle the pieces versus how Bobby handles them, and also how different he is when the chess board is in front of him. 11:40, As Nader starts talking, Bobby immediately starts staring at the board unprompted and mentally leaving the conversation. There were a lot of anecdotes about his tendency to do this in school which made his teachers yell at him and caused him to eventually drop out. 17:50, his answer about women competing in chess. Perfectly handled. This is the ambassador of the game that he could've been in the 70's.

[@Weedmate420]

People playing blitzes against Fischer used to say that it feels like he is just randomly throwing the pieces on good squares.

[@manigopal92]

Heavenly Bear That along with the thunder/power of the move made by Fischer is very unnerving with a normal move. Can only imagine his opponent melting down when he made the Killer move !😖 Crushed psychologically & resignation follows !

[@Pritam_K_Chakraborty]

at 12:13 when he says "I intend to keep playing for a long time", you feel sad now,when you know what happened to him. loss of such wonderful brilliance.

[@ivanjoldic826]

Raw manners, clumsy walk but obviously very intelligent. This man made the greatest contribution to the development and popularity of chess in history. Had to beat the whole USSR Chess Federation on his own to become world champion. Unbelievable accomplishment at the time. Too bad computers destroyed the game. It`s not human anymore and not nearly as popular.

[@lbvprasad5495]

Bobby fischer ignoring defending his title against Anatoly Karpov of USSR still aches the hearts of his fans even today. Had it been some peripheral grand master who forfeited his title, the world would have cared too hoots. Bobby Fischer was too precious to do such a thing.

[@malcolmabram2957]

Due to lack of match play he probably would have lost. The 'excuse' is that he wanted better conditions for chess players. Perhaps the sheer strain of singlehandedly and with so little support after winning the WC he just couldnt summon the emotional strength to go through it again.

[@fundhund62]

He is the only one to blame, though. He left on his own accord, noone beat him to it.

[@lightsamael7242]

6:15 when Bobby was quoting the previous legends to the game who were dead then, you can hear the audience laugh, Bobby looked at the audience but did not laugh with them Legend Respects Legends

[@cozm0859]

“I’m different I intend to keep playing for a long time” that’s what he said at age 28. At age 29 he quit the game.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Yes, that is fact. What are the facts that lead up to that fact. We are talking about playing the russians, and they had no problem cheating to keep their "intellectual" status in the world. As a individual who could beat the best of them and had,----well, he earned the right to tel them to---"screw off".

[@cozm0859]

EarthSurferUSA Also he went a bit nutty.. Facts are facts.

[@tylerjocson7086]

No he did not quit at 29, he still played right up until 1999 in the Spassky v Fischer rematch, then he quit when he went insane.

[@manigopal92]

Tyler Jocson that was in 92 fool & he's very much sane until he died. What a bunch of idiots here who can't even get their facts right, didn't even achieve 0.1% of what the man achieved & calling him insane. Smfh !🙄

[@1man1bike1road]

@@manigopal92 he was his own worst enemy and he was in love with himself to the end. Mentally he was a mess and partly because his parents were split up and he never knew his dad was visiting the house on a regular basis and he was never told it was his father. basically both parents fucked up his head, you can be brilliant and nutty no one is 100 percent sane

[@Punkledunk]

There’s a fine line between being too cocky and knowing how good you are. Bobby knew how good he was.

[@dawnbroker5156]

I love Bobby Fischer.

[@winstonthebelligerent7288]

I do also.

[@jfq722]

Ant Man me too!

[@TB-ih7bg]

I don't think the Jews are too happy about him.

[@LeoSRL300]

T42B19 Fuck them.

[@WilliamViets]

He developed schizophrenia and was convinced Jews (he was one) were working to kill him.

[@zyxwut321]

Ralph Nader, Sandy Duncan and Bobby Fischer. What a random and eclectic collection of humans if there ever was one. Gotta love Dick Cavett.

[@MalcolmClarke25]

The way Bobby moved the pieces was artistry. Could watch it for hours.

[@kevinmurphy4595]

Portrait of an artist in the zone

[@user-uh6lm5wv6n]

Watching this quality interview, with intelligent, honest and most importantly no stupid ass kissing, its absolutely mind boggling to me how we have arrived to the garbage we have today. Wtf has gone wrong...

[@zoopyjoobles]

The Western world has been culturally subverted and destroyed from within.

[@aventura8491]

@@zoopyjoobles Absolutely. And Fischer told the truth and for that he is called "crazy" and "hateful". Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes a lot of love to sacrifice yourself in an attempt to wake up some people the only way he knew how.

[@sfgox10]

FEMINSM

[@devorahepstein2589]

You can see that Sandy Duncan is enthralled by him. At point 05:37, 07:08 she gives him the eye and is coming on to him. 07:10 Cavett understands what she has in mind and plays matchmaker, and let's Fischer know she's highly intereseted. 07:16 Sandy Duncan looks at him as he asks it and says "Right". 07:18 Duncan then laughs, but then looks at Fischer very seriously. 07:32 Fischer realized it all along, is probaply use to it, but does not react to it. He's preping his full concentration for the tournament. At 12:09 she feels rebuffed and her body language shows it, her arms are crossed. At 12:25 she tries again, laughs real cute and raises her leg. 12:39 she shows fascination again. 12:49 more fascination. 17:28 She realizes it's hopeless and resides herself. 20:51 Last chance she moves her leg up and down.

[@catcook3324]

Devorah Epstein: Sandy Duncan is playing her own little bubble brain game of chess. Unfortunately for her Bobby isn't interested. I remember at the time there was an incredible buzz about him and women threw themselves at him. He was a very snappy dresser. Chess became a phenomenon in America at this time as never before. He was great!

[@devorahepstein2589]

I never said he was'nt. Immediately after he won the world championship he took in for a while some of the glamour and later bit later he got involved with a religious sekt and his behavior was no longer that of a rational man. At that time was offered in today's money about 30 million dollars in contracts. All he had to do was sign his name. He did not. He gave away all of the money he made from the championship to the sekt and later became secular. He lived in California in a basement apartment and was supported with a monthly check from his mother. His sister who was married and raising her children with her husband in orthodox judaism let him stay with her. It became untolerable because he would make anti semantic tirades and they eventually asked him to leave. He managed to do the rematch with Spassky and was warned not to do it in Yugoslavia from the US government. He did it anyway. That was bad enough but he had to go on these rants against the US government, against the president of the US and so on. When a famous person does this he goes on the hit list of the country he's doing this against. So he eventually found himself in prison in Japan of which destroyed him. They let him go when he became an icelandic citizen, went to Iceland became a total recluse and died a couple of years later. However, top class chess players hold him in reference, because had he not come along, the game itself would not be as popular as it is today and in particular, because of him making demands on chess organizers that the money for the winner had to be right or else. The "or else" was he would be a no-show and the people that would come to see him play would not come and it would be a serious loss of money for the organizer. Before him chess organizers would organize a tournament, give the winner a trophy and pocket all of the money.

[@catcook3324]

Devorah, Thanks, I didn't know that about him living in his sister's basement. The US is always playing games with putting sanctions on other countries, trying to break that country's economy and funding covert operations at the same time. Everybody plays along with the nonsense and people suffer while behind the scenes the big people get rich. Fischer was great because he didn't play that game, he did what he wanted.

[@devorahepstein2589]

No, his sister did not put him in her basement. He lived with her and and her husband in their house and they him a room. His sister did it out of compassion, but it became impossible for her to keep him around. In California he was living in a basement because he was broke. Fischer could have had a great life. When he played against Spassky the second time, although much older when he won in 1992, even at that time he was rated as one of the top ten players in the world. He refused to defend his title against Karpov in 1975. The experts say he would have won.

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

@@devorahepstein2589 teach me everything you know about women!

[@bobibest89]

Once upon a time when people had class.

[@suchapill3077]

@VincentTG Right around the edge of Now.

[@francoisdecharette9844]

Ok boomer

[@MaghoxFr]

@@francoisdecharette9844 all we got are memes while boomers had the best era. Sucks tbh

[@joehall2706]

yes but it wasn't very classy of fisher to be anti-Semitic against jews

[@lisa-el3db]

When he is playing that chessboard he is confidence on steroids. Alpha male. So great to watch. Young women today would want to brow beat him. He even admits he'd like to see women play, praises 2 of them for being in the profession. He is not threatened or intimidated by Cavette. This is by far one of the most enjoyable interviews.

[@tomripsin730]

"I like to play chess with old men in the park, but it's hard to find 32 of them that will stand still for that long." - Emo Phillips

[@raygoshay4096]

It's too bad I'm reading all the negative comments on Sandy Duncan. It was around this time that she lost the sight in her left eye when a brain tumor was removed. She was silly, but always a good-natured cutie. On the left is Ralph Nader. Some people tried to convince him to run for president that year... How could I have guessed that I'd cast votes for him in two elections in the 21st Century. Bobby Fischer was a hero for a lot of Americans, and his success influenced my desire to play chess. Dick Cavett certainly could bring in great guests.

[@ianmcleod44]

Interesting, I have never seen any interviews of Bobby Fischer before. He is not what I expected. At age 28 he seems like a much fun loving person than I imagined.

[@axiomist1076]

Wonderful to watch this. I was just a very young guy back then (21) and didn't really relate to all this. Now I play chess and have read a great deal and really enjoyed this intelligent interview. Cavett was always a fine iterviewer. A smart man, and so was Bobby. I didn't realize, also, how adorable Sandy Duncan was. Good ol' Peter Pan! Very sexy. Nothing like this show anymore. The general IQ of the people has definitely dropped. It's a shame.

[@martm216]

Seeing Bobby here you could weep for the state he fell into in later life.

[@donaldyoung9901]

For real everyone..to the depths of my soul..I miss intelligent shows..great video..and see how easy they tell the truth.

[@pikiwiki]

Man, Cavett is a good interviewer. You just don't see bold, humanistic questioning like this today. Their relationship is not confused by politics or cultural references. It's human.

[@eakherenow]

He and Christopher Walken have similar speech patterns.

[@BitcoinMotorist]

Both New Yorkers

[@nca1668]

Excellent observation

[@BennyH11]

Hes got a cool voice

[@helmutalexanderrubiowilson6835]

you can see the strength in him... even how he moved the pieces with full energy hitting the board. he was not an ordinary man for sure.

[@bandito4492]

The way how they talk and tell jokes is just amazing to see

[@lbryanyangl]

I love the way how they talk. It’s so much classic, pure, accents.

[@MARKCREEKWATER1]

A great vintage recording of Bobbie Fischer before he played Spassky in the 1972 world championship. Classic, and classy.

[@There-Is-No-Virus]

This guy is pretty cool! The first time I have seen him live, he is very down to earth, very honest, good on him.

[@GuanTones]

i wish he would have played for another 30 years

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

When he stopped playing & competing at chess it was the end for him that's like mozart not writing & playing music anymore... he should have continued as GOAT for 10 more years & then retired to tutor young people & have a family... it is really sad how his life spiraled into chaos & darkness

[@alaamaoula2404]

@@MrAdamNTProtester "tutor young people and have a family" that really touched my heart man. I really want him to have a nice family and a peaceful life :(

[@polmarkova]

His life turned out the way it did.

[@allanknight843]

One thing that he does that is intimidating is the way he picks up the pieces and smacks them back down

[@makacoder]

The Philippines loves Bobby Fischer.

[@conjured_up_skeletons6178]

I love Philippine noodles

[@wespaul9345]

One of my favourite TV interviews ever.

[@brucetowell5208]

Amazing that Bobby held back to NOT correct Dick. Alekhine and Casablanca never contested the Sicilian Defence. Bobby respected Dick, and was very relaxed and showed a gracious persona. Goes to show how the press just attacked Bobby all thru the years trying to make him out as a nasty vile human. If you treated him with respect it seemed like Bobby could be at ease and quite easy to have a conversation with. Hope Cavett would release other interviews he held with Bobby.

[@brucetowell5208]

Well I play chess, and I enjoy that moment as well! As do ALL chess players, so what's your point? You play to win, and when you KNOW your opponent is in trouble, you get a good feeling. Oh well

[@brucetowell5208]

You might also look at a video from I believe "Me And Bobby Fischer"...where during one scene, Bobby admits he wished he could have been a tunesmith!!...He loved being around musicians, and really got to hate chess players in general.......being Jewish by both his parents, he seemed to really have a self hate complex.

[@brucetowell5208]

Don't know what the significance of your post means? I could consider myself not caucasian, but if you saw me, or saw results of a DNA test, you'd see that I have Slavic blood on the majority of my pie chart. What I consider means nothing, and the same for Bobby.

[@NotSoLiberal]

I won't hold back from correcting you. It's Capablanca not Casablanca

[@1man1bike1road]

its a tv show not really going to show any negative sides to his personality would you?

[@jackt5617]

If you play chess, then you have to admire the brilliance of Fischer. May never be another like him.

[@danielhowe7362]

Fascinating! What a genius! With problems later obviously but what a genius and how charming he came across as!

[@orionp.9476]

Fischer had lots of problems. He was mentally ill, and refused to be treated in 2008 in Iceland because he feared the communists were plotting to poison his medicine. He was really crazy when he got older. He was SORT of okay in the 60's 70's he was manegable like you see in the interview, but the fischer in the 80's and forth is nuts.

[@orionp.9476]

I don't doubt American government's fucked up. But Fischer had mental problems, this is undeniable.

[@WilliamViets]

Bobby Fisher ended up marrying Charro and moved to Iceland to get away from the hair gel. True story.

[@annbell3864]

Being treated badly when you deserve respect can and will twist your personality just like torture.

[@carlodave9]

Nixon and the FBI had mental problems too, harassing and keeping files on anyone who had negative things to say about US policies and a soapbox on which to say it. Ali, Lennon, Fischer's mother, etc., etc..

[@Jesusandbible]

Bobby still has such charisma and enigma to people all these years later.

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

This is wonderful to see! It really brightened my mood!

[@winstonthebelligerent7288]

Me too!

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

Great to see four people on TV simply sitting and having a rational, good natured discussion.

[@danielrust9072]

Great Interview. I loved the questions, they were original and funny!

[@Kunsoo1024]

I was in the second grade when he played Spaasky, and that's what encouraged me to learn the game and play. I remember the games being covered on the news. He inspired a generation of player and it's so unfortunate that he wigged out after winning the championship and never really recovered. He could have inspired so many more kids.

[@poisonmyrrh6497]

Bobby's spatial reasoning skills were absolutely off the charts. Geez...

[@fried2styles]

This is fucking amazing!!! He asks Fischer to show him the ending of an actual game!!! This would NEVER happen today...

[@ElSmusso]

DICK CAVETT “the best talk show host ever”

[@erikhalvorseth3950]

What a beautiful interview with Bobby. Here he is just another athlete with tremendeous belief in his own abilities. Nice to see him like this

[@turnerthemanc]

Sad that his chess genius is so linked to his later mental illness. You can see in this interview that he still was a "recluse", or "a bit odd" or a tad "tunnel visioned" but he was still listening and engaging without trying to turn every question back to an agenda, as he did in later life. Basically, that means....just because he thought it, didn't mean he said it, which is called "Empathy". He (at the time of this interview) still had empathy and demonstrated restraint to keep a neutral image (as most normal/polite people do). That is exactly what he lost as he aged. Everyone with an onset of mental illness was something far better before the onset. This beautiful era in chess, right up to this interview should be seen for what it was. His later mental illness is another thing. And here lies the big quirk of all I just said. Usually, the things you do early on taint the later things you do in life, especially to those who witnessed all of them. I speak of stigma, and how your past haunts you, but in poor Bobby's case, its unusually quite the opposite. The things he did in later life seem to taint what he did early on. Totally unacceptable!

[@kevinworrell889]

What so many people fail to understand is that if Bobby Fischer's brain in 1953, 54, 55... .. .(10 , 11, 12 years old) had access to programs like Stockfish, Komodo, Houdini, Shredder et cetera, he easily, easily, Easily would've achieved a 2900 elo rating. At least a 2900. He had a 2785 elo 48 years ago!!!!!! Even now , in 2019-20 he would be ranked on December 2019 FIDE list at #4. He earned his rating studying chess in other languages, on his own, in his room, in various motels. You, the audience, are looking at the Greatest Chess Mind to ever be born here on Earth. And that goofy lady ,giggling, like She is making fun of Him. Jesus Christ Himself would've been embarrassed seeing that. Fischer's sweat was superior to that woman. He was the greatest ever. Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen both know that as well.

[@chakreshsingh]

I love his humility

[@sholonator92]

This shows why Dick cavett is the greatest host of all time