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  • Endgame by Frank Brady - Bonus Content

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    Crown Publishing Group
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    Endgame is acclaimed biographer Frank Brady’s decades-in-the-making tracing of the meteoric ascent—and confounding descent—of enigmatic genius Bobby Fischer. Only Brady, who met Fischer when the prodigy was only 10 and shared with him some of his most dramatic triumphs, could have written this book, which has much to say about the nature of American celebrity and the distorting effects of fame. Drawing from Fischer family archives, recently released FBI files, and Bobby’s own emails, this account is unique in that it limns Fischer’s entire life—an odyssey that took the Brooklyn-raised chess champion from an impoverished childhood to the covers of Time, Life and Newsweek to recognition as “the most famous man in the world” to notorious recluse. At first all one noticed was how gifted Fischer was. Possessing a 181 I.Q. and remarkable powers of concentration, Bobby memorized hundreds of chess books in several languages, and he was only 13 when he became the youngest chess master in U.S. history. But his strange behavior started early. In 1972, at the historic Cold War showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he faced Soviet champion Boris Spassky, Fischer made headlines with hundreds of petty demands that nearly ended the competition. It was merely a prelude to what was to come. Arriving back in the United States to a hero’s welcome, Bobby was mobbed wherever he went—a figure as exotic and improbable as any American pop culture had yet produced. No player of a mere “board game” had ever ascended to such heights. Commercial sponsorship offers poured in, ultimately topping $10 million—but Bobby demurred. Instead, he began tithing his limited money to an apocalyptic religion and devouring anti-Semitic literature. After years of poverty and a stint living on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, Bobby remerged in 1992 to play Spassky in a multi-million dollar rematch—but the experience only deepened a paranoia that had formed years earlier when he came to believe that the Soviets wanted him dead for taking away “their” title. When the dust settled, Bobby was a wanted man—transformed into an international fugitive because of his decision to play in Montenegro despite U.S. sanctions. Fearing for his life, traveling with bodyguards, and wearing a long leather coat to ward off knife attacks, Bobby lived the life of a celebrity fugitive – one drawn increasingly to the bizarre. Mafiosi, Nazis, odd attempts to breed an heir who could perpetuate his chess-genius DNA—all are woven into his late-life tapestry. And yet, as Brady shows, the most notable irony of Bobby Fischer’s strange descent – which had reached full plummet by 2005 when he turned down yet another multi-million dollar payday—is that despite his incomprehensible behavior, there were many who remained fiercely loyal to him. Why that was so is at least partly the subject of this book—one that at last answers the question: “Who was Bobby Fischer?” To read more about Endgame or Frank Brady please visit Crown Publishing Group at www.crownpublishing.com

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    Endgame is acclaimed biographer Frank Brady’s decades-in-the-making tracing of the meteoric ascent—and confounding descent—of enigmatic genius Bobby Fischer. Only Brady, who met Fischer when the prodigy was only 10 and shared with him some of his most dramatic triumphs, could have written this book, which has much to say about the nature of American celebrity and the distorting effects of fame. Drawing from Fischer family archives, recently released FBI files, and Bobby’s own emails, this account is unique in that it limns Fischer’s entire life—an odyssey that took the Brooklyn-raised chess champion from an impoverished childhood to the covers of Time, Life and Newsweek to recognition as “the most famous man in the world” to notorious recluse. At first all one noticed was how gifted Fischer was. Possessing a 181 I.Q. and remarkable powers of concentration, Bobby memorized hundreds of chess books in several languages, and he was only 13 when he became the youngest chess master in U.S. history. But his strange behavior started early. In 1972, at the historic Cold War showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he faced Soviet champion Boris Spassky, Fischer made headlines with hundreds of petty demands that nearly ended the competition. It was merely a prelude to what was to come. Arriving back in the United States to a hero’s welcome, Bobby was mobbed wherever he went—a figure as exotic and improbable as any American pop culture had yet produced. No player of a mere “board game” had ever ascended to such heights. Commercial sponsorship offers poured in, ultimately topping $10 million—but Bobby demurred. Instead, he began tithing his limited money to an apocalyptic religion and devouring anti-Semitic literature. After years of poverty and a stint living on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, Bobby remerged in 1992 to play Spassky in a multi-million dollar rematch—but the experience only deepened a paranoia that had formed years earlier when he came to believe that the Soviets wanted him dead for taking away “their” title. When the dust settled, Bobby was a wanted man—transformed into an international fugitive because of his decision to play in Montenegro despite U.S. sanctions. Fearing for his life, traveling with bodyguards, and wearing a long leather coat to ward off knife attacks, Bobby lived the life of a celebrity fugitive – one drawn increasingly to the bizarre. Mafiosi, Nazis, odd attempts to breed an heir who could perpetuate his chess-genius DNA—all are woven into his late-life tapestry. And yet, as Brady shows, the most notable irony of Bobby Fischer’s strange descent – which had reached full plummet by 2005 when he turned down yet another multi-million dollar payday—is that despite his incomprehensible behavior, there were many who remained fiercely loyal to him. Why that was so is at least partly the subject of this book—one that at last answers the question: “Who was Bobby Fischer?” To read more about Endgame or Frank Brady please visit Crown Publishing Group at www.crownpublishing.com

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    2K vizualizări5 pagini

    Endgame by Frank Brady - Bonus Content

    Încărcat de

    Crown Publishing Group
    Endgame is acclaimed biographer Frank Brady’s decades-in-the-making tracing of the meteoric ascent—and confounding descent—of enigmatic genius Bobby Fischer. Only Brady, who met Fischer when the prodigy was only 10 and shared with him some of his most dramatic triumphs, could have written this book, which has much to say about the nature of American celebrity and the distorting effects of fame. Drawing from Fischer family archives, recently released FBI files, and Bobby’s own emails, this account is unique in that it limns Fischer’s entire life—an odyssey that took the Brooklyn-raised chess champion from an impoverished childhood to the covers of Time, Life and Newsweek to recognition as “the most famous man in the world” to notorious recluse. At first all one noticed was how gifted Fischer was. Possessing a 181 I.Q. and remarkable powers of concentration, Bobby memorized hundreds of chess books in several languages, and he was only 13 when he became the youngest chess master in U.S. history. But his strange behavior started early. In 1972, at the historic Cold War showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he faced Soviet champion Boris Spassky, Fischer made headlines with hundreds of petty demands that nearly ended the competition. It was merely a prelude to what was to come. Arriving back in the United States to a hero’s welcome, Bobby was mobbed wherever he went—a figure as exotic and improbable as any American pop culture had yet produced. No player of a mere “board game” had ever ascended to such heights. Commercial sponsorship offers poured in, ultimately topping $10 million—but Bobby demurred. Instead, he began tithing his limited money to an apocalyptic religion and devouring anti-Semitic literature. After years of poverty and a stint living on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, Bobby remerged in 1992 to play Spassky in a multi-million dollar rematch—but the experience only deepened a paranoia that had formed years earlier when he came to believe that the Soviets wanted him dead for taking away “their” title. When the dust settled, Bobby was a wanted man—transformed into an international fugitive because of his decision to play in Montenegro despite U.S. sanctions. Fearing for his life, traveling with bodyguards, and wearing a long leather coat to ward off knife attacks, Bobby lived the life of a celebrity fugitive – one drawn increasingly to the bizarre. Mafiosi, Nazis, odd attempts to breed an heir who could perpetuate his chess-genius DNA—all are woven into his late-life tapestry. And yet, as Brady shows, the most notable irony of Bobby Fischer’s strange descent – which had reached full plummet by 2005 when he turned down yet another multi-million dollar payday—is that despite his incomprehensible behavior, there were many who remained fiercely loyal to him. Why that was so is at least partly the subject of this book—one that at last answers the question: “Who was Bobby Fischer?” To read more about Endgame or Frank Brady please visit Crown Publishing Group at www.crownpublishing.com

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    din 5

    Fischer,

    Fischer, March 2005


    October 1972

    BOBBY FISCHER TIMELINE


    From “Most Famous Man in the World” to Notorious Recluse
    ASCENT
    March 9, 1943: Born in Chicago, Illinois, January 1964: Competing in the U.S.
    to a homeless mother. Championship, now 20 years old, achieves a
    perfect score of 11 wins, no losses, and no
    May 1949: Living in Manhattan at age 6, taught draws—one of his greatest feats.
    chess by his sister, using a chess set purchased for
    $1. Shows instant progress and easily defeats his 1965: Makes international headlines, engaging in
    sister and mother. a back-and-forth exchange of combative cables
    with Fidel Castro, over a tournament he is to play
    January 1951: Plays against a chess master for the in Havana. Claims Cuba’s Prime Minister is using
    first time, and although he loses he’s inspired to his participation in the tournament for propaganda
    continue to play. “All I want to do – ever – is play purposes and threatens to drop out.
    chess,” he says.
    April 1970: In the World Championship Speed
    October 1952 to 1956: Masters several languages Tournament held in Yugoslavia, outplays all of the
    so that he can ultimately absorb more than 1,000 world’s greatest players. At the tournament’s end,
    books on chess theory. rattles off all 1,000 moves of the games he played,
    an unprecedented memory feat.
    July 1956: At age 13, becomes the youngest chess
    master in U.S. history. July to September 1972: Match against the
    Russian World Champion Boris Spassky, which he
    October 1956: Defeats an International Master in a ultimately wins, is seen as a metaphor for the Cold
    game so brilliantly played, it is dubbed “The Game War. The match publicity (including worldwide
    of the Century.” television broadcasts and cover stories in Life,
    Time, and Newsweek) leads to a U.S. chess boom.
    March 1957: Only 14 years old, stuns the chess Stores around the country sell out of chess sets.
    world by obtaining a draw in a game with former Bobby Fischer is acknowledged to be the most
    world champion Max Euwe. famous man on Earth.

    1959: Secretly threatens to murder Soviet


    champion Mikhail Tal—whom he claims is CONTINUE FOR FISCHER’S DESCENT TO
    harassing him in a tournament. NOTORIOUS RECLUSE
    BOBBY FISCHER TIMELINE
    From “Most Famous Man in the World” to Notorious Recluse

    DESCENT
    October 1972 to September 1973: Refuses 1992: Fearing for his life, travels constantly with
    commercial sponsorship offers that will pay him bodyguards who carry automatic weapons. Wears a
    upwards of $10 million, and turns down a $1 long heavy leather coat to ward off knife attacks.
    million dollar offer to play a match in Las Vegas.
    1992-1993: Determined to find a woman who
    September 1973 to 1975: Becomes involved in a can breed a suitable offspring (thereby passing
    cult, the Worldwide Church of God, tithing the his brilliance along to future generations), pleads
    Church large amounts of money. with Zita Rajcsanyi to marry him. When that fails,
    asks Zita whether her sister might be available for
    September 1973 and Onward: Even though Jewish, “breeding.”
    begins reading anti-Semitic hate literature, such
    as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. 1996: Interested in the structure of the criminal
    underworld, travels to Italy to meet with a member
    1974: Fearing mercury poisoning, has all the of the Mafia.
    fillings in his teeth removed. Causes major
    embarrassment when his teeth begin falling out. Sept. 11, 2001: Furious with the U.S. government,
    goes on the radio and applauds the attack on the
    January 1975: Offered by the Philippines a $5 World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It is one of
    million dollar purse to defend his title against the the most hate-filled broadcasts in radio history.
    challenger, Anatoly Karpov. His 132 conditions
    prove too much for the World Chess Federation, July 2004: Arrested in Tokyo, ostensibly for
    which strips him of his title. attempting to travel without a valid passport,
    but with the hidden agenda of extraditing him
    1975-1980: Initiates several lawsuits and refuses to the U.S. for violating U.S. sanctions in 1992.
    to pay any U.S. income tax. When he fights back, he is beaten and chained.
    His incarceration lasts 9 months.
    1982: Seriously asks: “Is it a crime to murder a
    journalist?” March 2005: Granted Icelandic citizenship and
    lives for three years in Reykjavik as an Icelandic
    Through the early 1990’s: Refuses to be interviewed citizen. Refuses offers of millions of dollars to play
    or photographed. Money runs out and he subsists chess and continues his anti-Semitic and hate-
    for years on his mother’s Social Security checks. filled rhetoric.
    Living in flophouses in Los Angeles, becomes more
    and more paranoid, believing the Soviets want him January 2008: Dies in a Reykjavik hospital,
    murdered for taking away “their” title. refusing dialysis that will prolong his life. A friend
    believes the refusal is a form of suicide.
    September 1992: Comes out of 20-year retirement
    to play a match against Boris Spassky in 2010: Even in death, controversy surrounds
    Montenegro for a $5 million dollar purse. The U.S. Fischer. He doesn’t leave a will and there is an
    government has established sanctions against the ongoing fight among four putative heirs to inherit
    country and warns that if he plays he’ll face up to his estate.
    $250,000 in fines and 10 years in prison. In front
    of the world’s press, he spits on the government’s ENDGAME: Bobby Fischer’s Rise and Fall—from
    letter of warning. Wins the match and $3.65 America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness
    million dollars, but an indictment is issued for his Frank Brady • Available February 2011 as a
    arrest. hardcover and eBook wherever books are sold.
    Front jacket photograph: Stephen Green—Armytage
    September 1992: Lives as an exile in Serbia, /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
    Hungary, Switzerland, Japan, and the Philippines. Back jacket photograph: Everett Kennedy
    Brown/epa/Corbis
    Fischer,
    Fischer, March 2005
    October 1972
    1965: Forbidden to travel to Cuba, Bobby is forced
    BIOGRAPHER to play by teletype in the Havana International,
    FRANK BRADY’S RELATIONSHIP and chooses Frank to be the referee. The two men
    to BOBBY FISCHER are locked away in a closed room for ten to twelve
    hours each session. Ultimately, more referees are
    May 1956: Frank is a director of the U.S. Ama- recruited to ease the strain.
    teur Championship in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in
    1965: Frank publishes Profiles of a Prodigy, which
    which Bobby plays. Bobby almost always pursues
    discusses Bobby’s games and includes biographi-
    each game to the bitter end, seldom resigning
    cal material. Bobby criticizes the book because it
    even if in a losing position. And he always attracts
    mentions that he is Jewish.
    attention at his board. He is the youngest player
    in the tournament, and Frank is impressed by his 1972: Bobby plays for the World Championship,
    steadfastness. Frank talks about the boy to his and Frank spends two months in Iceland cover-
    mother, Regina. ing the match for PBS and ABC’s Wide World of
    Sports. He interviews dozens of players about
    1958: Now executive director of the U.S. Chess
    Bobby’s play and behavior, and in his zeal to get
    Federation and editor of Chess Life magazine,
    a unique angle on the match even crawls into the
    Frank receives a visit from Bobby and Regina, who
    air-conditioning ducts above the players’ table so
    are seeking funds for Bobby to play in interna-
    he can get closer to the action than anyone but
    tional tournaments overseas. Frank helps secure
    the arbiter and the competitors themselves.
    sponsors. More visits from the Fischers occur from
    1958 to 1961. 1972- 2007: During Bobby’s “Wilderness Years”
    there is no contact between Bobby and Frank,
    1961: Bobby plays American grandmaster Samuel
    although Frank is continually interviewed on televi-
    Reshevsky in a celebrated match, but forfeits over
    sion and in documentaries about the phenomenon
    a dispute about the scheduling. Frank supports
    of Bobby Fischer, and continues to collect articles,
    him with editorials in Chess Life, and as a result
    information, and interviews about him.
    loses his job. Bobby and Frank bond as a result of
    the controversy. December 2007: Frank gives a lecture on Bobby at
    the Marshall Chess Club. It is carried on YouTube.
    1961-1964: Bobby visits Frank at his apartment
    Bobby, in Iceland and near death, sees the lecture
    once or twice a week and borrows copies of for-
    and makes a nostalgic comment to a third party
    eign chess magazines. The two often have dinner
    about one of the anecdotes Frank had related con-
    together, and afterward play speed chess in chess
    cerning an incident that Bobby shared with Frank
    clubs in Greenwich Village. During this time Frank
    years before. It is perceived to be an affectionate
    brings Bobby to dinner parties hosted by various
    gesture from Bobby to Frank. Bobby dies in Janu-
    chess players, and teaches him to play billiards.
    ary 2008.
    1964: Bobby plays in the U.S. Championship and
    scores a historic 11-0 sweep. Frank is the Arbi- ENDGAME: Bobby Fischer’s Rise and Fall—from
    ter for the tournament and follows all of Bobby’s America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness
    games for weeks. Frank Brady • Available February 2011 as a
    hardcover and eBook wherever books are sold.
    Front jacket photograph: Stephen Green—Armytage
    /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
    Back jacket photograph: Everett Kennedy
    Brown/epa/Corbis

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