Bobby Fischer v. Boris Spassky, from The Times

Bobby Fischer's legendary 1972 world title match with Russia's Boris Spassky became an expression of the Cold War tensions of the time and began his reign as the only non-Soviet or non-Russian world champion in the latter half of the 20th century. Tim Jones, Times journalist, recalls his time reporting on the event in the early days of his career:

"When Bobby Fischer eventually turned up in Iceland to save the world – as he saw it – from the "Commies" by waging war against Boris Spassky over the battlefield of 64 squares, he was met by the greatest number of journalists, academics, spooks and Kremlin watchers ever to have assembled to watch a chess match.

"I was among them to witness this strange, smart, lonely and obsessive genius grind his way to the victory which broke the back of Soviet domination of the game which they had regarded as proof of the intellectual superiority of their political system.

"His hopeless lack of social graces was amply demonstrated after his victory when, I ventured to his hotel suite to congratulate him and ask for an interview. The door of his room opened an inch and in answer to my request he said: "Shove off jerk" before slamming it shut. It hardly mattered for I had witnessed a little bit of history and caught a glimpse of his tortured, troubled mind." 

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Bobby Fischer, the self-appointed champion of the 'free world' - April 5 1972, The Times

"The one-time boy prodigy, who shuns company and dreams of living in a house shaped like a rook, regards himself as the natural representative of the "free world" against the evils of communism.... Fischer is conscious of the prestige he would bring to the United States if he wrests the crown. The Russians have virtually monopolized chess since the war and the acquisition of the title would be regarded by Fischer as a blow for democratic truth."

Bobby Fischer, still missing, is given a two-day reprieve - July 3 1972, The Times

"The match was officially opened last night at a ceremony resembling the Court at Versailles without the Sun King. The National Theatre was packed with Icelandic dignitaries and grandmasters from all over the world. The only empty seat was one in the front row reserved for the absent challenger... Even Americans here have given up making excuses for him and are beginning to admire the correct etiquette of the Russian camp."

Fischer gets the world title after Spassky telephones surrender - September 2 1972, The Times

"Fischer dislikes Russians and it appeared at times that he was using the opportunity to punish them through Spassky for all the injustices that he alleges he has suffered at their hands. In his hands the gentle game of chess became a weapon of retribution and the result a vehicle for telling the world: "I told you so.""

Comments

[Grenville Allen]

It was one of THESE games between Fischer & Spassky that I memorised. And then beat John (the mathematical physicist) for the one and only time!

[Bobby Essex]

Terribly sad for chess on death of a flawed genius, every opponent says he acted like a perfect gentleman on the chess board which was his battlefield. RIP Bobby.