Bobby Fischer

This table gives a snapshot of the number of Americans in the top echelons of chess since 1972, the year of American Bobby Fischer's world championship. While the U.S. has had more players in the world's top 100 before, it hasn't had such a top-heavy  The story of chess champion Bobby Fischer was always ripe … Read more

The story of chess champion Bobby Fischer was always ripe for a Hollywood adaptation, rich in Cold War paranoia, FBI surveillance, media celebrity and mad genius. It's the sort of "Beautiful Mind" narrative that can make for juicy awards bait. Yet This table gives a snapshot of the number of Americans in the top echelons … Read more