Sadly for the chess world, Fischer passed away on January 17 in Iceland. The legend who was baffled and rattled by life beyond the 64 squares of the chequered board, coincidentally lived for only 64 years. Hitting the headlines in 1972, both for his on and off board theatrics against Boris Spassky in the World Championship, the American maverick triggered a chess boom across the world, comprehensively breaking the stranglehold the Russians had on the game.
It was in 1956 at New York that the 13-year-old Fischer shook the world with his brilliance. It was a 41-move game against a well- established player Donald Byrne that hit the chess world like a thunder storm, the sheer brilliance of the game putting to shade other top games. Incredulity and amazement followed this masterpiece which was dubbed as 'the Game of the Century'. This is perhaps the most analysed, publicised and drooled over game in the annals of chess history.
Fischer then played many more games which stirred the imagination of masters and amateurs alike. The pieces appeared to be having a magic of their own under the influence of Fischer and no one can forget or repeat or even dream of emulating the 6-0 drubbing he inflicted on Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen, top stars then, in the Candidates Matches en route to the world title clash against Boris Spassky in 1972.
It is best to remember Fischer for the joy his games gave rather than touch upon his troubled personal life. An aggressive style with sound scientific application, spiced with sacrifices and combinations and the most lethal weapon, the winning touch — this is the way Fischer should be remembered.
While the Game of the Century is a sparkling gem which no one ever tires of despite going through it many times, India’s world champion Viswanathan Anand, who considers Fischer his idol, has another of his game as his favourite. Incidentally the game, featured below, was played against Donald’s brother Robert.
A point to be noted is that Fischer’s book My 60 Memorable Games, one of the best on chess, does not feature the Game of the Century.
