Bobby Fischer (1943–2008) was an American chess prodigy, grandmaster, and the eleventh World Chess Champion. Born on March 9, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, Fischer demonstrated exceptional talent in chess from a young age. He became a grandmaster in 1958 at the age of 15, making him the youngest grandmaster at that time.
Fischer's most notable achievement came in 1972 when he defeated Soviet player Boris Spassky to become the World Chess Champion. The match, known as the "Match of the Century," took place in Reykjavik, Iceland, and had significant political and Cold War implications.
After winning the world title, Fischer's life took a tumultuous turn. He became increasingly eccentric and withdrew from competitive chess for nearly 20 years. In 1992, he returned to play a highly publicized rematch against Spassky, held in Yugoslavia. This move violated international sanctions in place due to the Yugoslav Wars, leading to legal troubles for Fischer.
Fischer's later years were marked by controversies, legal issues, and his outspoken views. He lived in various countries, including Hungary and Iceland, before his death on January 17, 2008, in Reykjavik.
Despite the controversies surrounding his personal life, Fischer is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history. His contributions to chess, particularly his victory over Spassky in 1972, left an enduring impact on the game.
1. "Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind."
2. "I give 98 percent of my mental energy to chess. Others give only 2 percent."
3. "I like the moment when I break a man’s ego."
4. "Chess is life."
5. "I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves."
6. "I love to play the game. I’m not in it for the money."
7. "You have to have the fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances."
8. "Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck."
9. "Chess is a good game. I like it."
10. "You cannot play chess if you are kind-hearted."
11. "I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do believe in the bite of the bedbug."
12. "Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush your opponent’s mind."
13. "I play honestly and I play to win. If I lose, I take my medicine."
14. "Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles."
15. "You have to have the king’s mentality. It’s too hard."
16. "I want to beat the hell out of him. I love the moment when I destroy somebody."
17. "I have to play well. Otherwise, I lose."
18. "The essence of chess is thinking about what chess is."
19. "Chess is an art."
20. "I like to see them squirm."
21. "You know, I don’t mind competition."
22. "You have to have the fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances."
23. "I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves."
24. "I am the best player in the world, and I am here to prove it."
25. "I have always preferred to sacrifice material."
26. "I don’t believe in fate."
27. "Chess is a fairy tale of 1,001 blunders."
28. "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist."
29. "Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind."
30. "Chess is all about getting the king into check."
31. "I don’t care about being champion. I care about chess."
32. "Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck."
33. "I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists."
34. "There are tough players and nice guys, and I'm a tough player."
35. "All I want to do, ever, is just play chess."
36. "I’m not afraid of Spassky. The world knows I’m the best. You don’t need a match to prove it."
37. "Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind."
38. "When I win, I'm so happy I eat a lot. When I lose, I'm so depressed, I eat a lot. When I'm in a good mood, I eat more, to celebrate. And when I'm in a bad mood, I eat more, to cheer myself up."
39. "Chess is a fairy tale of 1001 blunders."
40. "You've got to have a killer instinct. After you get up on him, you've got to finish him."
41. "My opponents make good moves too. Sometimes I don't take these things into consideration."
42. "You know, people are always talking about computer power. The human brain is an incredibly efficient computer running on very low power."
43. "I love the moment when I break a man's ego."
44. "I like the moment when I break a man’s ego."
45. "It's just you and your opponent at the board and you're trying to prove something."
46. "You need to play with aggression, but with good judgment."
47. "Chess demands total concentration."
48. "I believe in intuition and inspiration. At times, I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason."
49. "All that matters on the chessboard is good moves."
50. "Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck."
