Bobby Goes to Iceland?

The two BBC (one former) writers David Edmonds and John Eidenow, authors of Bobby Fischer Goes To War, 2004, an excellent history of the highly unusual World Chess Championship held in Iceland in 1972 between the World Champion Soviet player Boris Spassky, and America's Robert Fischer, won by the American, today report in the LA Times that Iceland has offered political asylum, citizenship, to Fischer in Iceland.

I've now read their book four times. The tone of the book, while accurate, is unusually warm and even cuddly toward Fischer in spite of his infamous antics during the beginning of the match when he repeatedly threatened to derail the match if his demands were not met to the letter.

So, I am startled and furious to read these same authors, who according to the photo on the inside, back jacket cover of the hardcover book seem posed gazing at each other as lovers, now declaring Fischer an out-of-control "boor" the generous Icelanders will seriously regret having harbored.

What happened? Did their book bomb? Did the New Yorker do them in with their tepid review? Or, is it merely one more example of fickleness in the arts? In any case, as expertly as their book seems to have been researched they left out a few things which I am about to tell you.

A bit more background first. Many Europeans, not just Russians, believe that the Russian chess player, Spassky, was robbed, and lost only because of Fischer's disruptive machinations during the match. After all, Spassky had repeatedly defeated Fischer earlier, and actually began the match in Iceland two points ahead, the first on a forfeit when Fischer didn't show up, and the second when Fischer blundered like a patzer (Bxh2) in the second game.

So, still smarting from 'Europe's' loss in 1972 a second match was arranged twenty years later, 1992, in the former Yugoslavia with a purse of over 5 million dollars. Again Fischer won, pocketing $3,500,000.  There was a wrinkle. In order to get to the site of the match Fischer had to travel to a country forbidden Americans by the US Department of State. So, his passport became invalid while he was living in Japan, married to Japan's woman chess champion. (Sure would like to get a peek at her!) And so, Iceland, ultracivilized and tolerant Iceland, offered Bobby sanctuary, and God bless them for doing so!

Why did Fischer become so angry with America? I can't offer an excuse, but I sure can offer an explanation. When it was convenient, when it was politically expedient, President Nixon, and his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, were at great pains to let Fischer know he had their support and very best wishes. Fischer, in his naivete, took this seriously, and therefore went into shock when America so soon forgot their enthusiasm for defeating the Russians and forgot all about him. There wasn't even an invitation to visit the White House!

The book authors, who wrote today's scurrilous L.A. Times op-ed page slander of Fischer's character made at least one big mistake in their book, a detail prejudice might have blinded them to. They do mention in their book Fischer's friend Lina Grumette's visit to Fischer in Iceland immediately before the beginning of the match when it looked as if the match was doomed never to even begin. They omit an important fact I happen to be privy to. Lina Grummette told me in person, tete-a-tete, what they talked about in Iceland: "God" she said. I believe her. At that time dear Lina was about seventy (70) and still 'hot.' Her husband was long dead. She is now dead, or I couldn't gossip like this. Lina had a lifesized, head-and-shoulders oil painting, a portrait of Bobby  on her livingroom wall. Bobby had stayed there for months. Many of his belongings were still there, including some of his chess books. I am positive she was his lover. Small chess tournaments were held in her home, I played in several of those tournaments, which were conducted on the basis of one game per week, usually on a Friday night. I was very fond of her. I remember being startled out of my wits, and my game, when I heard Lina upstairs on the telephone screaming at the top of her lungs at the wife of a man then living with her. I hope you understand, and know that there are many, many older women still expertly hungry for sex long after their permanent arrangements have ended, husbands, long time lovers and others long gone.  Perhaps you are familiar with Benjamin Franklin's praise of such women: "They are so grateful." (Perhaps he should have said, 'Appreciative,' which is less condescending. Let's forgive him, and chalk it up to the language of a former age.)

This is my second, no third, visit to the subject of chess in my journal. I want my journal to be read, by you, so I hope I am not trying your patience. Chess might be the only sport which resists performance enhancing drugs so maybe it will never become wildly popular in America? (<g>) I'm ever-hopeful.

Barry