Courier-Post, Camden, New Jersey, Sunday, October 30, 1994 - Page 79
The rise — and fall — of Bobby Fischer
Despite an obvious God-given talent, Bobby Fischer has always liked to remind people of his continuous hard work at the chessboard. From the beginning, the American prodigy knew he wanted to be the world champion of chess. And he worked increasingly to that end.
His rise was spectacular. In 1958, at the age of 14 (only eight years after he learned the moves), he became U.S. champion.
But contemporaries remember in the first years, although a good player, he was not yet an obvious future superstar. His game did not blossom until after his 13th birthday when the immersion and hard work began to pay off.
After compelling a spectacular tournament and match record, Fischer attained his goal of world champion in 1972, only to then absent himself from competitive chess for the next 20 years.
When he returned to play and defeat Boris Spassky a second time in a controversial exhibition match in Bosnia a couple of years ago, the old stamina and fierce will to win were noticeably diminished.
Overweight and out of shape, he even briefly dozed at the board during one of the early games in the match.
Competitively inactive since then, Fischer seems satisfied with his previous accomplishments. He has shown no desire to demonstrate that a rusty 50-years-plus chess legend can play on equal terms with today's top grandmasters.
Significantly, he told a 1964 audience: “After 40, it's all down-hill in this game.”
To try a real comeback would be different but no less inspirational than Michael Jordan's current attempt at a second career.
Fischer's chances of becoming number one in chess again are slim, but definitely better than Jordan's of becoming the best outfielder in baseball.
Here is a Fischer loss from a 1964 San Francisco simultaneous exhibition. He obviously missed Burger's 12 … Nf6!
