Today in Chess | Historic Championships: Spassky-Fischer 1972

Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Maurice Ashley discuss the World Chess Championship 1972 between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, perhaps the most famous world championship ever.
USChessChamps.com

[@hubertsang7418]

The soviet chess federation criticized Fischer calling him greedy. Spassky defended Fischer calling him the best union boss, because he raised the wages for every one.

[@gillrowley7264]

Fischer didn't hate the Soviet players, he hated the Soviet system. He was great friends with Spassky and Tal. In fact, he was the only one to visit Mikhail Tal in the hospital during the 1962 Candidates tournament in Curacao.

[@Raghuveer2798]

Bobby Fischer is a chess phenomenon that's not gonna happen again.

[@MrSupernova111]

My goodness!! This interview belongs in the national archives! Thank you!

[@thorfox3562]

There are so many layers to Fischer...American Champion, & hero of fame and some fortune ...once on top of the world .... to reclusive genius, to cautionary tale of the poison of bitterness and self seclusion.... an almost mythical figure , of seemingly biblical proportions... well thanks again for all these great discussions, that really get underneath the game ...and reveal, the humanity and art of chess ..in all its magnificence and frailty ... I Appreciative this channel, and just subscribed.

[@mr.alboss2856]

Bobby Fischer was king of chess

[@CBC68]

My only complaint - way too short!

[@seangao7803]

Fischer is the supreme psychologist, and says he doesn't believe in chess psychology

[@WeCube1898]

Fischer somehow greatly affected the elevation of Chess as a professional and prize-fund sport.

[@kaydim5921]

1.e4

[@manisdogfish]

I've recently thought that would be a cool tattoo

[@Micha-cj7zq]

Bobby Fisher also played English Opening with Boris Spassky, which suprised everyone

[@MrSupernova111]

"Best by test!" That's all the prep I need for my tournaments! But then, I'm only a patzer. lol

[@juddsadac7204]

the only player who could have beaten fischer was karpov..maybe not in 1975 but it would happen....

[@vibovitold]

The interesting thing to me is that if Fischer didn't retire, their rivalry with Karpov would make them both even stronger - just like Kasparov and Karpov made eachother stronger in our timeline. But having that improved, "beefed up" Karpov would leave less space for Kasparov. In this scenario, Kasparov might have to wait longer for his crown, possibly he wouldn't be as dominant and his reign would be shorter. My point is that if Fischer had kept on playing, it would create a powerful domino effect of sorts, kinda rearanging the "hall of fame" of the players considered GOATs.

[@gillrowley7264]

Wouldn't have happened in 1975. Maybe 1978. Sadly, we'll never know. I do know that they actually met and played some blitz games together.

[@marksdeagle2943]

Fischer would have killed Karpov in 1975 and would have beaten Kasparov when he first came up. Fischer was the King that simple

[@gillrowley7264]

@@marksdeagle2943 2789 in 1972. That would be well over 2900 today. I do think you're right.

[@DamaniDanDadar]

Fischer had seen Karpov's games and knew he would lose to Karpov. That is why he sabotaged any chance of a meeting by making ridiculous demands that couldn't be met. He was willing to sacrifice the title he won and create this eternal guessing game about who would have won rather than hurt his pride by losing. He was good at chess but better at mind games.

[@p3tr0114]

Funny how Seirawan has the same odd eye movements as Nakamura. Too much internet blitz maybe? I don't know why Seirawan would comment on Fischer, considering that he slandered Fischer by calling him mad. It just doesn't seem to be appropriate.

[@MagnusAnand]

We all call Fischer mad an psychology unstable and we comment, so...

[@vibovitold]

Fischer's mental issues don't take away the fact he was a brilliant player in his heyday, arguably the greatest ever (he certainly holds a strong claim). People are complex creatures and they can achieve greatness in one field without necessarily being great human beings. Chess players are still sportsmen, and idolizing them is rather childish.

[@Raghuveer2798]

His psychological issues don't take away the fact that he was a once in a generation chess player.

[@dash_r_media]

Seirawan has praised Fischer far more than he has criticized him. Calm down.

[@IosifStalin2]

Irony, if you can call it that, is that many of the Soviet players , esp Spassky, were very likeable as people. Fischer was an asshole, that you would not have gotten along with.

[@MrSupernova111]

That's not what most people who knew him personally say about Fischer. But keep making up your own facts as you stroll along.

[@IosifStalin2]

@Supernova Fischer was a spoiled twat....only the cold War mentality caused people to overlook his faults. Later in life it became ....awful

[@MrSupernova111]

@@IosifStalin2 . Fischer was certainly not spoiled in the slightest and no one denies that his mental state wasn't right towards the end of his life. I suggest you get a good book on Fischer and see for yourself that most of what Fischer said about the Soviets and organizers was true. Even Seirawan admits that organizers often changed the rules mid-event and players had to suck it up. When Fischer arrived he refused to be pushed around.

[@IosifStalin2]

@@MrSupernova111 he was spoilt and entitled