Friday, January 18, 2008

The Death of Bobby Fischer


The chess world learned yesterday that we had lost Bobby Fischer. As an American I feel great shame in the way we treated him. As his complex mind slipped into madness there was no help for Bobby.

The greatest chess genius of his generation spent the last days here in the United States living in shabby hotels and wearing the clothes of a derelict. When he finally returned to us in 1992 for a rematch with Spassky in Yugoslavia upon his return a warrant was issued by the US for his arrest. For the next 14 years his paranoia was fed by a very real attempt to capture and silence him. Perhaps if he had known he had but one year of life for every square on the chess board he would have played the game differently.

My view of Iceland has changed dramatically over the kindness that they showed Bobby. I would like to thank, on behalf of the international chess community; Iceland and its compassionate people for giving this man sanctuary and peace in the last days of his life.

May God forgive us for how we treated one of our native sons.

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