The Soviet Union was an exception, but even there chess players were not rich. Only Fischer changed that.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Bobby Fischer has an enormous knowledge of chess and his familiarity with the chess literature of the USSR is immense.
Like everyone, I was a kid who played chess when I was young. And I am admittedly old enough to have been around during the fervor of the match in Reykjavik and the rise of Bobby Fischer, so those two things conspired to pique my interest.
I learned that fighting on the chess board could also have an impact on the political climate in the country.
Fischer, the great American chess champion, famously said, 'Chess is life.' I would say, 'Pi is life.'
People are governed with the head; kindness of heart is little use in chess.
It's a shame to be the face of chess and to play chess badly.
I think that by and large chess players have been very kind. Like I said there have been a few incidents, but they certainly didn't serve to bring me down any.
Chess is intellectual gymnastics.
Nowadays there is more dynamism in chess, modern players like to take the initiative. Usually they are poor defenders though.
In my country, at that time, being a champion of chess was like being a King. At that time I was a King - and when you are King you feel a lot of responsibility, but there is nobody there to help you.