Created Created by Mr. by Mr.

JohnsonJohnson

FischerFischer vs.vs. Spassky Spassky An Episode of the Cold WarAn Episode of the Cold War

Objective 11.01Objective 11.01

Describe the Describe the effects of the effects of the Cold War on Cold War on economic, economic,

political and political and social life in social life in

AmericaAmerica

Chess in the Soviet UnionChess in the Soviet Union

• Chess as a “socialist Chess as a “socialist sport”sport”

““We must organize shock We must organize shock brigades of chess players brigades of chess players and immediately begin and immediately begin fulfilling the five-year plan fulfilling the five-year plan for chess.”for chess.”

––Nikolai Krylenko, head Nikolai Krylenko, head of Chess Sectionof Chess Section

• Housing and salaries for Housing and salaries for the best playersthe best players– 1,000 registered players in 1,000 registered players in

19231923– 3 million by 19653 million by 1965

World Champs – “Soviet Chess World Champs – “Soviet Chess Machine”Machine”

Mikhail Mikhail Botvinnik Botvinnik

(1948-1957)(1948-1957)

Vassily Vassily Smyslov Smyslov

(1957-1958)(1957-1958)

Mikhail Mikhail Botvinnik Botvinnik

(1958-1960)(1958-1960)

Mikhail Mikhail Tal Tal (1960-1961)(1960-1961)

Mikhail Mikhail Botvinnik Botvinnik (1961-1963)(1961-1963)

Tigran Tigran Petrosian Petrosian

(1963-1969)(1963-1969)

Boris Boris Spassky Spassky (1969)(1969)

Can Can anyone anyone

beat beat them?them?

Child Prodigy – Bobby FischerChild Prodigy – Bobby Fischer

•Born 1943Born 1943•Chicago, IllinoisChicago, Illinois•Youngest U.S. Youngest U.S. Junior Chess champ Junior Chess champ (age 14)(age 14)•VideoVideo

–Simultaneous demonstration against 16 opponents

Child Prodigy – Boris SpasskyChild Prodigy – Boris Spassky

• Born 1937Born 1937• Survived German siege Survived German siege

of Leningradof Leningrad• Defeated Botvinnik at Defeated Botvinnik at

the age of 10 in a the age of 10 in a simultaneous simultaneous demonstrationdemonstration

• Became world champ Became world champ in 1969in 1969

• Record against Fischer:Record against Fischer:– 3 wins3 wins– 0 losses0 losses– 2 draws2 draws

Road to the World ChampionshipRoad to the World Championship

FischerFischer 6 6

Taimanov 0Taimanov 0

LarsenLarsen 5.5 5.5

Uhlmann 3.5Uhlmann 3.5

Korchnoi 5.5Korchnoi 5.5

GellerGeller 2.5 2.5

Petrosian 4Petrosian 4

HubnerHubner 3 3

FischerFischer 6 6

LarsenLarsen 0 0

Korchnoi 4.5Korchnoi 4.5

Petrosian 5.5Petrosian 5.5

FischerFischer 6.5 6.5

Petrosian 2.5Petrosian 2.5Fischer – SpasskyFischer – Spassky1972 Championship1972 Championship

Unprecedented: Unprecedented: Five draws, no Five draws, no

losses against the losses against the best in the worldbest in the world

1972 World Chess 1972 World Chess ChampionshipChampionship

Reykjavik, IcelandReykjavik, Iceland

• Reykjavik, IcelandReykjavik, Iceland– Neutral nationNeutral nation

• Cold War confrontationCold War confrontation– No American has ever No American has ever

held the titleheld the title– Soviet pride at stakeSoviet pride at stake

• 12 points needed to 12 points needed to winwin– Win = 1 pointWin = 1 point– Draw = .5 pointsDraw = .5 points– Loss = 0 pointsLoss = 0 points

““Match of the Century”Match of the Century”

SuperpowersSuperpowers

vs.vs.

SuperpowersSuperpowers

GeographicGeographic PoliticalPolitical

CulturalCultural EconomicEconomic

MilitaryMilitary PopulationPopulationSuperpowerSuperpower

Intellectual & Scientific Intellectual & Scientific CompetitionCompetition

• Easing of tensionsEasing of tensions• Nuclear Non-Nuclear Non-

Proliferation TreatyProliferation Treaty• Nixon visits ChinaNixon visits China• Sports DiplomacySports Diplomacy

– Ping-Pong (China)Ping-Pong (China)– Chess (Soviet Chess (Soviet

Union)Union)

Cold War Context – DétenteCold War Context – Détente

• Missed opening Missed opening ceremonyceremony

• Fischer’s demandsFischer’s demands– More prize moneyMore prize money– Adjusted lightingAdjusted lighting– 30% of gate & TV 30% of gate & TV

revenues…revenues…– ……Removal of TV camerasRemoval of TV cameras– ““Psychological warfare”?Psychological warfare”?

• British millionaire offers British millionaire offers ₤50,000 for Fischer to ₤50,000 for Fischer to competecompete

Fischer’s AnticsFischer’s Antics

Games 1 & 2Games 1 & 2

Match Begins, Spassky WinsMatch Begins, Spassky Wins

Blood in the Back RoomBlood in the Back Room

Game 3Game 3

• Small table Small table tennis roomtennis room

• No audienceNo audience• ““Psychic Psychic

bloodletting”bloodletting”

Fischer Smashes SpasskyFischer Smashes Spassky

Games 4-20Games 4-20

Fischer Smashes SpasskyFischer Smashes Spassky

• More Fischer anticsMore Fischer antics– Late to gamesLate to games– Rocking in his seatRocking in his seat– Walking away from Walking away from

the tablethe table– Complaints about Complaints about

“defects” in the board“defects” in the board– Piercing starePiercing stare

• After 20 gamesAfter 20 games– Fischer – 11.5Fischer – 11.5– Spassky – 8Spassky – 8

Fischer’s StareFischer’s Stare

• Soviet accusationsSoviet accusations– Fischer’s rude Fischer’s rude

behaviorbehavior– Use of toxic Use of toxic

chemicals to chemicals to poison Spasskypoison Spassky

• Embarassment & Embarassment & paranoia of Sovietsparanoia of Soviets

““Extra-Chess Means”Extra-Chess Means”

• Game 21Game 21– Spassky resigns Spassky resigns

after 10 movesafter 10 moves

• Award ceremonyAward ceremony– Spassky refuses Spassky refuses

to attendto attend– Fischer crowned Fischer crowned

as first American as first American champchamp

A New World ChampionA New World Champion

TheThe After Aftermathmath

• Remained among Remained among top players in the top players in the world for another world for another decadedecade

• Emigrated to France Emigrated to France and became a and became a French citizenFrench citizen

Spassky’s Later CareerSpassky’s Later Career

• Never played another pro Never played another pro tournamenttournament

• Forfeited title to Anatoly Forfeited title to Anatoly Karpov in 1975Karpov in 1975

• Anti-Semitism & anti-Anti-Semitism & anti-AmericanismAmericanism

• Reclusive lifeReclusive life– PhilippinesPhilippines– JapanJapan– IcelandIceland

• Fischer’s Life in Pictures• Died in 2008Died in 2008

Fischer’s DeclineFischer’s Decline

Fischer wins again, despite Fischer wins again, despite 20 years of professional 20 years of professional

inactivityinactivity

““Revenge Match of the Century” – Revenge Match of the Century” – 19921992

Russians Rule Again…Russians Rule Again…

Anatoly Karpov Anatoly Karpov (1975-1985)(1975-1985)

Garry Kasparov Garry Kasparov (1985-2000)(1985-2000)

Vladimir Kramnik Vladimir Kramnik (2000-Present)(2000-Present)

Kasparov vs. Deep BlueKasparov vs. Deep Blue

1997 – “Brute force” parallel 1997 – “Brute force” parallel processing defeats best player processing defeats best player in the world for first time in a in the world for first time in a tournamenttournament

• Kasparov is a vocal Kasparov is a vocal opponent of opponent of Russian president Russian president Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin

• Arrested in April Arrested in April 2007 protest2007 protest

Kasparov vs. PutinKasparov vs. Putin

Kramnik vs. Deep FritzKramnik vs. Deep Fritz

2005-2006 Match2005-2006 Match

Fritz wins, 4-2Fritz wins, 4-2

Computers are now clearly Computers are now clearly superiorsuperior

Will there ever Will there ever be another be another

world champion world champion from the United from the United

States?States?

““Searching for Bobby Fischer”Searching for Bobby Fischer”

SourcesSources• David Edmonds and John David Edmonds and John

Eidinov, Eidinov, Bobby Fischer Goes Bobby Fischer Goes to Warto War. HarperCollins (2004). HarperCollins (2004)

• Bobby Fischer Unofficial Homepage

• A Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma

• Wikipedia: Bobby Fischer• Wikipedia: Boris Spassky• Wikipedia: World Chess Cham

pionship 1972

Chess OrganizationsChess Organizations• U.S. Chess Federation• Fédération Internationale des

Échecs (FIDE)

Sources & LinksSources & Links

Learning the BasicsLearning the Basics• Patrick Wolff, Patrick Wolff, The Complete The Complete

Idiot’s Guide to ChessIdiot’s Guide to Chess. Alpha . Alpha (1997)(1997)

• Wikipedia: ChessWikipedia: Chess• FIDE Handbook: Laws of FIDE Handbook: Laws of

ChessChess• Chess Is FunChess Is Fun• Wikipedia: Algebraic Chess Wikipedia: Algebraic Chess

NotationNotation

Play OnlinePlay Online• Chess.netChess.net• Free Internet Chess ServerFree Internet Chess Server• Yahoo! ChessYahoo! Chess• Thinking Machine 4Thinking Machine 4