Chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer: A Classic Example of a World Chess Champion

Although born in the U.S., chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer was documented to have spent the final moments of his life in Iceland. He first got a taste of the spotlight as a young chess player who displayed exemplary skills in the game of chess. He is also known to be the only chess player from the U.S. to win a prestigious World Chess Championship.

Fischer began playing chess at the very gentle age of six. The following year, he showed a certain kind of seriousness and passion for the game. The Brooklyn Chess Club, the Manhattan Chess Club, and the Log Cabin Chess Club were among the respectable chess organizations that greatly influenced him during his early years. Chess journalist Hermann Helms, grandmaster Arnold Denker, and chess tutor John W. Collins were all positively influences as well.

In 1956, Fischer started to show a glimpse of what to expect from him for years to come. His brilliance and unique brand of play made him a very tough to beat. The United States Junior Chess Championship, the U.S. Open Chess Championship, and the Canadian Open Chess Championship were all impressive finishes in his very young career as chess player.

Fischer's stage as a young champion was filled with key victories that greatly contributed to his overall reputation as a good chess player. He took the 1957 U.S. Open Chess Championship by storm before defeating Arthur Bisguier in a tightly contested match at the final round. This successful run was followed by another major triumph at the New Jersey Open Championship.

After these two important chess championships, Fischer was invited to participate in the U.S. Chess Championship in New York. A great deal of fame and popularity followed him soon after winning this invitational tourney. At 14 years of age, he became the youngest chess champion in the U.S. Because of this precious victory, Fischer was granted an International Master status.

The first championship of Fischer came in 1972. During that eventful year, reigning champion Boris Spassky succumb to the youthful exuberance and better strategies of the up-and-coming superstar when they met Reykjavic, Iceland. Many observers during that time believed that Fischer has huge potential to become one of the game's all time greats. His last recorded official chess game was a final showdown with Spassky.

Overall, Fischer has a very impressive track record in professional chess tournaments. He participated in a grand total of eight United States Chess Championships, winning each and every individual event. In the 1963 season of this prestigious tournament, he set an unblemished record of 11 consecutive victories en route to another championship.