Fischer

Robert James "Bobby" Fischer (1943-2008) was one of the most dominant talents of the twentieth century. At age 16, he first played in the Candidates Tournament, the stage that determines who earns the right to challenge the World Champion. In the 1970 to 1972 cycle he produced an exceptional run: he won the Interzonal, a qualifying tournament in the system of that era, then defeated Mark Taimanov 6-0 and Bent Larsen 6-0 in Candidates matches, and beat Tigran Petrosian to earn the right to challenge champion Boris Spassky.

In Reykjavik, Iceland, Fischer defeated Spassky 12½-8½ in 1972 and became the eleventh World Chess Champion. The victory mattered beyond the board because it ended a succession of champions from the Soviet Union that had lasted since 1948.

His play combined precise calculation, deep opening preparation, and a constant search for positions in which he could keep playing for a win. Opening preparation means studying likely early moves, positions, and plans before a game. He was not limited to one style: he could attack, defend, and convert small advantages with great precision. His focus on finding the best move for the specific position made him a reference point for later generations, including Kasparov.

Fischer did not play the scheduled title defense against Anatoly Karpov in 1975. Because the match did not take place, he lost the crown by default. He returned to play Spassky in a match in 1992 after nearly two decades away from regular official competition.