| | Grandmaster Lev Alburt, a three-time American champion, said of Fischer: "Fischer was a great natural talent, but no greater talent than other of the game's best players. The difference was he gave 98% of his life to chess. Others, perhaps, gave 30%. So Fisher surpassed them. When, after '72, he became afraid that some accident may cost him his title, he stopped playing. He had nothing else in his mind and no wife or children. As [[Garry Kasparov]] pointed out, since nature abhors a vacuum, Fischer quickly filled up with the worst ideas.<ref>''Chess Life'', March 2008, page 24</ref> | | Grandmaster Lev Alburt, a three-time American champion, said of Fischer: "Fischer was a great natural talent, but no greater talent than other of the game's best players. The difference was he gave 98% of his life to chess. Others, perhaps, gave 30%. So Fisher surpassed them. When, after '72, he became afraid that some accident may cost him his title, he stopped playing. He had nothing else in his mind and no wife or children. As [[Garry Kasparov]] pointed out, since nature abhors a vacuum, Fischer quickly filled up with the worst ideas.<ref>''Chess Life'', March 2008, page 24</ref> |
| − | Chess may have led Fischer to [[Christ]]. He specifically requested and received a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] burial despite not having a [[Christian]] background.<ref>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chess_champion_bobby_fisher_requested_catholic_burial_in_iceland</ref> | + | Chess may have led Fischer to [[Christ]]. He specifically requested and received a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] burial despite not having a [[Christian]] background.<ref>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chess_champion_bobby_fisher_requested_catholic_burial_in_iceland</ref> Earlier in life he mentioned that "I can remember times coming home from a chess club at four in the morning when I was half asleep and half dead and forcing myself to pray an hour and study (the [[Bible)]] an hour. You know, I was half out of my head-stoned almost."<ref>https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer</ref> |