Bobby Fischer won the 1972 Iceland world championship, defeating Boris Spassky. This iconic match cemented his status as a chess legend.
What happened?
Fischer's life was marked by genius and madness. He believed in a global conspiracy against him, including claims that Bill Clinton stole his memorabilia.
Why it matters for Bobby Fischer
The movie 'Pawn Sacrifice' portrays Fischer's story, with Tobey Maguire playing the lead role. Director Edward Zwick puts Fischer's story in the context of the Cold War.
Fischer was hailed as a genius at 14 and was emancipated from his mother at 16. He was recruited to represent America by Paul Marshall, the Rolling Stones' attorney.
What comes next?
Fischer's victory was unprecedented in the history of chess. The movie doesn't fully explain his thought process, but it brings the audience into the heart of his family and friends.
The World Chess Federation president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, explained that chess was invented by aliens. Fischer's rival, Boris Spassky, had officials X-ray his chair to prove Fischer wasn't using it to beam radiation into his brain.
Fischer's sister, Joan, tried to get him out of the global media spotlight and onto a shrink's couch. But Fischer wouldn't trust anyone, including a dentist.
The movie 'Pawn Sacrifice' is intelligent and absorbing, but it's not one of director Edward Zwick's best works. The drama is opaque and internal, making it hard to understand what went on in Fischer's mind.
Fischer's story is a complex one, marked by both genius and madness. His legacy continues to fascinate people to this day.
The movie 'Pawn Sacrifice' stars Tobey Maguire as Bobby Fischer and Liev Schreiber as Boris Spassky. It's a story about a chess legend who became a deranged recluse.
Fischer's life was a tumultuous one, marked by claims of conspiracy and madness. But his legacy as a chess legend remains unchanged.