Robert James (Bobby) Fischer (born 3/9/1943 Chicago, IL; died 1/17/2008 Reykjavik, Iceland), a high-school dropout, had a prominent chess career and many authorities have described him as the greatest human (non-computer) chess player in history.

Bobby achieved fame as a child prodigy. At the time he played, at age 15, he was both the youngest master and grandmaster who ever lived. He routinely destroyed seasoned players, and even world champions much older than himself. His chess appetite was mono-maniacal and he avoided most other activities in order to devote himself to studying chess.

As a prelude to the 1972 World Chess Championship, his astounding record was:

  • Won the last seven games in a row at the 1970 Palma De Mallorca interzonal, thereby qualifying for the world championship cycle.
  • Beat veteran Mark Taimanov (USSR) in a match, 6-0.
  • Crushed top-3 rated Bent Larsen (Denmark), 6-0.
  • Prevailed over former world champion Tigran Petrosian (USSR) in their first match game.

This 20 game winning streak among the world's elite players has never been duplicated before or after.

Sadly, after winning the World Championship from Boris Spassky in 1972, Bobby lapsed into progressively severe psychoses which ultimately and completely destroyed this genius's life.

Bobby Fischer passed away in 2008 from an untreated urinary tract infection which led to renal failure.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org