Do players outside the United States think Bobby Fischer wasn't actually that good?

Fischer won the world championship in 1972 because he was the world's best chess player then. The only person who could have taken the world championship from Fischer was Kasparov.

People outside the United States know and acknowledge that Fischer was the best chess player in the 70's but is certainly not the greatest player of all time, that recognition and honour belongs to Kasparov and maybe Carlsen might take of that wreath from Kasparov's neck (matter of time ). I agree with the person who posted that Chess is Russia's game. It is Russia's game. History points to that so as the present as well. The USA only won the Olympiad because they imported Caruana and So from Italy and the Netherlands otherwise without that move the 2016 Olympiad would not have made it to the states. Minus importing players it can only take a strong and vibrant chess culture to genuinely knock Russia of their perch and i guess only former soviet countries like Armeni, Ukraine among others can overtake Russia.

Amazing theory, that Bobby's false claim to greatness was based on the aging of the Soviet"s best.

More so that the Russians did not, I repeat....did not, develop their players born out in the 1940's....like they should have. I'm sure they would admit to dropping the piece here (hopefully it wasn't treble-weighted....they say they chip).

And BTW, funny how my "theory" holds up that they got back on their high knight & got back to development w/ the 1950's & 1960's born players. Women too....yay !

Short-lived was Fischer's hold on the title? Surely his reluctance was not based on the young punk, Karpov, who finally ran out of puff against Kasparov, the only modern player who would have given the Fischer at his prime a run for his money.

Again, an age thing. AK was not being outthunk so much by GK. He was entering the chessworld's senior citizenship ! 

And BTW,  I actually feel sorry for you if you are a (Dupus) Fischer Boomer. I would say, "snap outta it !", but it's probably too late.

Good post, but regarding Caruana remember that he was born in the United States, began his chess career in the US, and lived here until he was 12. Then he left for a while and came back. So while he did leave to study chess abroad, he's not really comparable to So in that regard.

These forums are pathologically (and in part, nauseatingly) obssessed with Robert James Fischer. Look how many threads there are with people arguing over this bloke. Most sane people would agree that he was one of the best ever to play the game. Some of his achievements/results are jaw-dropping. But THE BEST ever? Obviously, not everyone agrees with that assessment. What is clear, though, is that many considered him a complete knob as far as his character and (apparently very few) non-chess achievements were concerned, even before he gave up the game.

Oh la la! Who said he was not THAT GOOD?!!...

Chess is a game of IDEAS or SCHEMES yo make  when in a critical position!!..

 Fischer's Tactical and strategic ideas EQUAL  ONLY THAT OF ALEKHINE's I hope...and perhaps Kasparov's!

So he is in the 3 Great Players group Alekhine, Fischer and Kasparov.....!

So is from the Phillipines , NOT the Netherlands .   Caruana has dual citizenship and is as much American as Italian . 

As funny as it may seem, fascination with Fischer is due as much to his personality as to his chess achievements, regardless of how much people may say otherwise. He was remarkable BOTH because he was a great chess player AND because the guy was just a wild human being.

I have no doubt that if he had just been this meek, unassuming, upstanding gentleman then he would not be discussed as much as he is today. He would certainly still be regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game, but he wouldn't have the cult that surrounds him. 

What's the measure? 
Just looking at the cold facts, it would seem just the opposite is true.

Do we measure by examining world champions?
World Championships by nation (each time it changed hands from 1948)
1948 USSR
1957 USSR
1958 USSR
1960 USSR
1961 USSR
1963 USSR
1969 USSR
1972 USA
1975 USSR
1985 USSR
     [FIDE WC]
      1993 Russia
      1999 Russia
      2000 India
      2002 Ukraine
      2004 Uzbekistan
      2005 Bulgaria
2006 Russia
2007 India
2013 Norway


or by international team competitons?
ETC  Gold Medals:
1957  USSR
1961  USSR
1965  USSR
1970  USSR
1973  USSR
1977  USSR
1980  USSR
1983  USSR
1989  USSR
1992  Russia
1997  England
1999  Armenia
2001  Netherlands
2003  Russia
2005  Netherlands
2007  Russia
2009  Azerbaijan
2011  Germany
2013  Azerbaijan
2015  Russia

Olympiad Gold Medals:
1952  USSR
1954  USSR
1956  USSR
1958  USSR
1960  USSR
1962  USSR
1964  USSR
1966  USSR
1968  USSR
1970  USSR
1972  USSR
1974  USSR
1976  USA
1978  Hungary
1980  USSR
1982  USSR
1984  USSR
1986  USSR
1988  USSR
1990  USSR
1992  Russia
1994  Russia
1996  Russia
1998  Russia
2000  Russia
2002  Russia
2004  Ukraine
2006  Armenia
2008  Armenia
2010  Ukraine
2012  Armenia
2014  China
2016  USA

or by other means?

USSR/Russia vs Rest of the World
1970
USSR -20.5
ROTW -19.5

1984
USSR -21
ROTW -19

2002
Russia -52
ROTW -48

Nowhere does the Soviet Union or Russia appear to to have relaxed their hold on the chess world since their post WWII hegemony until around the turn of the century. 

Unless there is, perhaps, another measure?

Don't bother Lola with facts ...

It might be interesting to note what Gligoric wrote in Nov. 1973:

Batgirl, pleez tell me where chess was an institution in 1970 USA ? My father, who shuttled from FL to the USVI's back then has said that he knew nothing of chess. Nothing ! Until BF played for the WC against BS. Not even before then !

Mosta u beauzeau's, including u "batboy", knew nothing of chess in 1970. You were wandering around left of your bellbottoms cruzing in a multi-fenestrated van....humming AM hits like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaecsIUETYA

....and BTW NM Reb, I'm going to the 2017 Open in Norfolk (it's kinda close  ) & I'm gonna come up & bite u on ur earlobe....right when ur in a deep think....'cuz I gotta photo a u from ur old avatar.

And don't think I won't 'cuz I'll be in all-black macabre....flowing. But don't worry. I'll find you. And that's (4) drinks now - there at the Sheraton....u a$$  !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTTsY-oz6Go

....and shutcher cakestuffer tickle me elmo....'cuz cyberslaps are as fun as a extraction.

do reb a favor and make sure your rabies shots are up to date.

Ohhh.....your gotta get it Ovaltine.

....y divertimos mucho.....tendremos !

Korchnoi in 1978 was a B player!

Weak!!

But Fischer wasn't a time traveller coming from the future either, he had not better means that his contemporaries.

I always struggle with your English, Lola, but of course I blame myself. Not this time!