Alas ...
This month, January 2008, will forever more be remembered with sadness by all those associated with chess in Ireland.
On New Years day we learned of the tragic loss of the immensely likeable and talented 19 year old Irish Chess Union Chairman -and former underage international- Phillip Hogarty. Phillip was a bright and rising talent. He had a passion for the game and the development of the game which is rare today. Irish chess is much the poorer for his most untimely departing.
Today we hear about the loss of arguably the most gifted chess player ever, Bobby Fischer. Born into humble circumstances in Chicago, he taught himself chess and became US chamption at 14, achieving Grand Master status at 15. In 1972 he became the 11th world champion amid somewhat bizarre circumstances in Reykjavik age 29.
While Bobby's victory was hailed as a great triumph for the West over the East at the height of the cold war, Bobby saw his victory as a personal triumph over opponents whom he respected. He refused to become a propaganda weapon for the US, in much the same way that Borris Spassky and later Gary Kasparov also refused to be pawns for the Soviet cause. Fischer's views won him few friends at home and he became an exile for the remainder of his life.
Bobby suffered from mental illness in his later life and his anti-American views, and his increasingly anti-semitic views (both of Bobby's parents were of Jewish descent) were reported in the press, his public comments became ravings which cast a shadow over his legacy.
But for all his faults and they are many, he is still held with the deepest regard among all chess players who appreciate his natual talent, his unique dedication to improvement and his ruthless competitive play which was always matched by his dignity and the upmost respect he showed for his opponents, away from the board.
Bobby and Phillip we will miss you both. Chess has lost two of its kings.
The games of Bobby Fischer can be viewed by clicking the spinning knight at the top right of this page (requires Java).
On New Years day we learned of the tragic loss of the immensely likeable and talented 19 year old Irish Chess Union Chairman -and former underage international- Phillip Hogarty. Phillip was a bright and rising talent. He had a passion for the game and the development of the game which is rare today. Irish chess is much the poorer for his most untimely departing.Today we hear about the loss of arguably the most gifted chess player ever, Bobby Fischer. Born into humble circumstances in Chicago, he taught himself chess and became US chamption at 14, achieving Grand Master status at 15. In 1972 he became the 11th world champion amid somewhat bizarre circumstances in Reykjavik age 29.While Bobby's victory was hailed as a great triumph for the West over the East at the height of the cold war, Bobby saw his victory as a personal triumph over opponents whom he respected. He refused to become a propaganda weapon for the US, in much the same way that Borris Spassky and later Gary Kasparov also refused to be pawns for the Soviet cause. Fischer's views won him few friends at home and he became an exile for the remainder of his life.Bobby suffered from mental illness in his later life and his anti-American views, and his increasingly anti-semitic views (both of Bobby's parents were of Jewish descent) were reported in the press, his public comments became ravings which cast a shadow over his legacy.
But for all his faults and they are many, he is still held with the deepest regard among all chess players who appreciate his natual talent, his unique dedication to improvement and his ruthless competitive play which was always matched by his dignity and the upmost respect he showed for his opponents, away from the board.
Bobby and Phillip we will miss you both. Chess has lost two of its kings.
The games of Bobby Fischer can be viewed by clicking the spinning knight at the top right of this page (requires Java).
Labels: Phil Hogarty Bobby Fischer
posted by Ed Doyle | 12:32 PM
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