Bobby Fischer

Robert James “Bobby” Fischer (1943-2008) was an American chess Grandmaster and World Chess Champion. He became the U.S. Chess Champion at 14, and the youngest Grandmaster at 15. He also made many contributions to chess, including the modified timing system that adds a bonus after each move.

The Sponsor Returns for More Chess and Mayhem

Fred Das and Jeroen Terlingen, authors of The Sponsor: Murder at the North Sea Chess Tournament, teamed up again for The Sponsor Part II: The Marostica Chess Festival Under Attack. The first Sponsor book was published in 2024 and the second was published in 2026. I hope for a third Sponsor book in 2028. More 🡢

The Chess World of Ben Mezrich

Mezrich invented a world championship match and gave a well-known arbiter a new last name. His book is not an accurate portrayal of the chess world. But it is a rollicking read which is slated to become a Hollywood motion picture. More 🡢

Bobby Fischer’s Chess Queen: A Review

On January 14, 2026, New In Chess published Bobby Fischer’s Chess Queen: The untold story of the Indian woman who captured the American World Champion’s heart. Its author is Woman International Master Shernaz Kennedy. Her memoi.r is a quick and entertaining read More 🡢

Fischer Era Chess Prodigy Headlines Caveman Chess Festival

Chess Review first mentioned Salvatore “Sal” Matera in its July 1959 issue. In 1959, Matera was eight years old and had learned chess only the Christmas before. Yet Matera played well in the U.S. Amateur Championship, thus earning the 1959 mention. More 🡢

Three Bob Fergusons, Two Chess Masters, and One State of Confusion

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, age 59, is running for Governor of Washington State. As a teenager, he went by “Bobby Ferguson” and was a chess master. Just before the filing deadline, two other men named “Bob Ferguson” joined him in the race to become governor. Another chess master, Christopher Chabris, co-authored a book that discusses how people are fooled, with one example being voting for a similarly named, but less qualified, candidate. More 🡢

Accusations by World Chess Champions Bobby Fischer and Vladimir Kramnik

Fischer was convinced that some chess players were prearranging games. For example, the ninth game of the 1984/1985 Karpov versus Kasparov World Chess Championship match included a knight retreat in a knight and six pawns versus bishop and six pawns endgame. More 🡢

The MUNY Solved Chess

For the chess player at the MUNY’s production, the joys of Chess began even before the show started. Employees of the Saint Louis Chess Club and the World Chess Hall of Fame staffed tables where theatergoers played chess and received promotional chess items. Many attendees were playing chess for the first time, as I found out when I taught some of those beginners the two-rook checkmate. The employees also conducted chess trivia contests and handed out prizes. More 🡢

The surprising benefits of online chess for seniors

For seniors, learning and playing chess online can bring numerous benefits, such as improved cognitive skills, more opportunities to socialize, and the ability to exercise the mind and body. More 🡢