Bobby Fischer: The American Chess Legend
A Prodigy of the Board
Robert James Fischer (March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008) was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion. At the age of 14, Fischer became the youngest player to win the US Chess Championship, a record he held for over 50 years. He later became the first and only American to win the World Chess Championship in 1972, defeating the reigning Soviet champion Boris Spassky in a match that was dubbed the "Match of the Century." Fischer's unconventional and brilliant style of play earned him a reputation as one of the greatest chess players of all time.
A Complex Personality
Fischer's personal life was as tumultuous as his chess career. He was known for his eccentric behavior, including his refusal to play in tournaments unless he was paid exorbitant fees. After winning the World Championship, Fischer withdrew from competitive chess for nearly two decades. He eventually returned to the game in 1992 but was banned from playing in the United States because he violated US sanctions against Yugoslavia. Fischer spent his final years in Iceland, where he died in 2008.
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