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Fischer becomes World Champion on schedule ending years of Soviet domination as per our OTL by defeating Boris Spassky.

POD: Fischer reaches an agreement with FIDE for the rematch with Spassky in 1975 which he wins and continues on as World Chess Champion.

Bobby Fischer---Chess Champion 1972-1984

Fischer embarks on some of the best chess the world has seen. After defeating Boris Spassky easily in their fabled rematch in 1975, Fischer successfully defended his title seven consecutive times. Fischer's opponents in these matches are all Soviet players, leaving no doubt that the USSR was still the overall dominant force in the chess world. Most notable was his easy defeat of former champion, and fabled Soviet player, Tigran Petrosian in 1981.

By 1984 Fischer's age and increasing paranoia finally began to take a serious toll on his abilities. Increasing outlandish statements about people who are Jewish (IOTL Fischer hated the Jews and advocated killing them.), and his belief that there was a conspiracy against him by Jews showcased his seeming mental instability.

In 1985, after intense negotiations with FIDE, Bobby Fischer defended his title against Soviet Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov who won the Moscow Interzonal tournament narrowly edging out 22 year old Garry Kasparov six games to five, and easily winning the Candidate Knockout Tournament in 1984.

1985 World Chess Championship Valencia, Spain

Game 1

Bobby Fischer (white pieces) vs. Anatoly Karpov (black pieces) 1-0

Game 2

Anatoly Karpov (white pieces) vs. Bobby Fischer (black pieces) 1-0

Game 3

Bobby Fischer (white pieces) vs. Anatoly Karpov (black pieces) 0.5 to 0.5

Game 4

Anatoly Karpov (white pieces) vs. Bobby Fischer (black pieces) 1-0

Game 5

Bobby Fischer (white pieces) vs. Anatoly Karpov (black pieces) 1-0

Game 6

Anatoly Karpov (white pieces) vs. Bobby Fischer (black pieces) 1-0

Game 7

Bobby Fischer (white pieces) vs. Anatoly Karpov (black pieces) 0-1

Final Score:

Bobby Fischer 2.5
Anatoly Karpov 4.5

Chess historians debate where Fischer went wrong in the series. The two main schools of thought that emerged say that Fischer blundered in game three drawing with the white pieces which shifted momentum into Karpov's corner. The other side of the argument is that Karpov's ability to win the crucial sixth game in the series ultimately sealed Fischer's fate. Fischer went into game seven down 2.5 to 3.5 necessitating that Fischer win game seven to tie the series which would cause him to retain his title automatically. Karpov ahead a full point by game seven played for a draw which was the intelligent thing to do. Fischer's continual attacking due to the need to win, was no match for the strong defense of Karpov who ultimately won the match after Fischer blundered on move 54.

The aftermath of the match is something that has become one of the most talked about events in the entire history of chess. Fischer shook Karpov’s hand and left the room. In a press conference Karpov stated that he dedicated his “win to former World Chess Champion Tigran Petrosian, one of the greatest Soviet Chess players of all time.”

Bobby Fischer after leaving the match area quickly gathered his belongings from his hotel and took the first plane back to the USA. On board the plane Fischer’s rage finally exploded and he began a verbal tirade blaming his loss on the Jewish race. When a stewardess tried to calm down Fischer, he lost control, shoved the woman to the floor, and began screaming “the Jews are out to get me.” After being physically detained by other passengers, Fischer was sedated for the remainder of the flight. Upon landing at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York Fischer was arrested by law enforcement officials and eventually taken to a psychiatric hospital.

The debate rages to this day among the chess community as to whether or not Fischer was mentally stable during the entire match with Karpov. Fischer was diagnosed by mental health professionals as a Disorganized Schizophrenic in the early 1990s. After his match with Karpov, Bobby Fischer never played competitive chess again. Fischer died in 2003 at a local hospital in Chicago, Illinois. His absence from chess and a biography of his life entitled Searching for Bobby Fischer (OOC: Sorry I could not resist) was published to rave reviews by the chess community in 2005.
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