Garry Kasparov on Fischer Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors, Part 4

by Kasparov, Garry

• ISBN13: 9781857443950
• ISBN10: 1857443950
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Everyman Chess

Summary

This book brings together the two greatest names in the history of chess. The author, Garry Kasparov, is the world number one, and by common consent, the greatest player ever. The subject of the book, Bobby Fischer, is the only American to have become world champion and is probably the greatest natural talent the world has ever seen. In the period between 1955 and 1972, Fischer, more or less single-handedly, took on the might of the Soviet Chess Empire and won. During this time Fischer scored astonishing successes, the likes of which had not been seen before. These included 11/11 in the 1963/64 U.S. Championship and match victories (en route to the World Championship) by the score of 6-0 against two of the strongest players in the world, Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen. The climax of Fischer's campaign was his unforgettable match win in Reykjavik in 1972 against Boris Spassky. However, Fischer is not only remembered for his achievements over-the-board, he is almost equally well-known for his temperamental behavior away from the board. He made extreme demands of all those around him, including tournament organizers. When these demands were not met he often refused to play. The 1972 match against Spassky required the intervention of no less than Henry Kissinger to smooth things over. In 1975, when he was due to defend his title against Anatoly Karpov, Fischer was completely unable to agree terms with FIDE (the World Chess Federation) and was defaulted. After this, he more or less gave up chess, playing only once, a "return" match against Spassky in 1992. In this book, a must for all serious chess players, Kasparov deeply analyzes Fischer's greatest games and assesses the legacy of this great American genius.

Author Biography

Garry Kasparov is generally regarded as the greatest chess player ever. He was the thirteenth World Champion, holding the title between 1985 and 2000. His tournament record is second to none, featuring numerous wins in the world's major events, often by substantial margins. Over the last few years he has taken first prize in ten consecutive major international events.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Stars of the West	5	(2)
1 Sammy, Miguel and Bent	7	(199)
Reshevsky	7	(107)
Olympian Long-Liver	7	(6)
Second Coming	13	(10)
A bitter Pill	23	(7)
The Fine Enigma	30	(19)
The lone Warrior	49	(19)
Champion of 'the Rest of the World'	68	(9)
The last Chance	77	(9)
Seven-Times Champion	86	(11)
Finale	97	(14)
'I want to play and play...'	111	(3)
Najdorf	114	(34)
Don Miguel	114	(2)
Echo of Groningen	116	(4)
The last of the Mohicans	120	(9)
King's Indian Revelations	129	(6)
Hard-Hitting Veteran	135	(7)
'Chess is a Mirror of the Soul'	142	(6)
Larsen	148	(58)
The Danish Prince	148	(7)
Joining the Elite	155	(13)
At the Peak of his Career	168	(13)
Lessons in the 'Moran'	181	(16)
Against the two 'K's	197	(9)
2 Robert the Eleventh	206	(286)
The lone Genius	206	(1)
'He learned from God himself!'	207	(12)
European Debut	219	(33)
Adult Games	252	(8)
Duel of the Prodigies	260	(21)
Hat-Trick in Bled	281	(10)
'The Russian Pact'	291	(16)
Hello America!	307	(10)
Endurance Test	317	(7)
Hara-Kiri	324	(12)
He came, he saw, he conquered!	336	(19)
A vertical Ascent	355	(14)
The first Victim	369	(25)
Battle in Denver	394	(12)
The Miracles continue	406	(23)
Battle of the Gods	429	(38)
Abdication	467	(11)
The great Recluse	478	(14)
Bibliography	492	(2)
Index of Players	494	(1)
Index of Openings	495