Was Bobby Fischer crazy?

I don't think crazy is a clinical term. Obviously, he wasn't stark raving mad, but I do think he was mentally ill.

(Ha, I got Post #3 in what will probably be a very long thread.)

Hardly to answer with yes or no. It mainly depends on your definition of crazy.

geniuses are usually eccentric because the neurons in the brain that give them their specific skill are so great in number that they need to commandeer other neurons that would otherwise be used for other cognitive functions. the soviets cheated but there is a lot of controversy around fischer too. Apparently an item was found in his chair during a scan and then the chair was changed by fischer (using a tantrum as an excuse) immediately after the x-ray and b4 the images were developed. so when the chair was cut open there was nothing. fischer played in a time when the cold war was at its height. regardless, I think fischer was a great guy and great chess player. but he was one man against the Soviet machine so he did what he had to do to try and level the playing field.

Of course the games between the 2 K's were not pre-arranged.  Fischer chose to believe that.

And, as a person Fischer was a lousy piece of shit.

This. There was indeed some collusion between Soviet GMs early in Fischer's career, drawing with each other and playing full-strength against Fischer... but as to Fischer's repeated claim that every move of every game between K, K and K was fixed; that's paranoid nonsense.

Korchnoi was a defector, remember! He wasn't likely to cooperate with that sort of arrangement.

Good point 2Q1C,

Once again, I urge people to view the film "Pawn Sacrifice" to gain some insight into the roots of Fischer's mental illness. Everybody likes to pass judgement on Fischer... Far fewer wish to understand the man.

Personally, I think there is much to be learned about Cold War historical perspective specifically, and the "human condition" in general.

It is free if you have Amazon Prime.

Disclaimer: I have no association with Amazon Prime other that being an ordinary customer.

Just asking, what exactly is the reason u think this emotional way about him.

He denied the Holocaust and was glad about 9/11...that is pretty crazy...

I can tell you one thing sir, you may be from the Netherlands, but you are neither humble nor polite.

Your obscenities are unappreciated, sir, and the value of your insights is nil.

Baseless accusations of cheating can be damaging, especially if they come from someone who has a high reputation in the field.

Also saying derogatory things about Jews is hurting people.

But yes. I think some of his "craziness" was founded. The US government was spying on him after all. And most of what he ranted about was true. But he also showed signs of serious mental issues. Americans know our government is spying on us but we still get on with our lives. Fischer just broke down. He couldn't get over what he saw as injustices. I think he eventually became so fed up with everything that he spiraled downward. His eccentricities sort of grew into "crazy". And I think most people attribute his issues with his upbringing, which makes sense. Every single person in his life used him. So his issues seem mostly environmentally caused.

He was glad about 9/11 but that was before the whole world(except the american people) knew that it was a false flag attack with empty us military planes painted to look like commercial planes so the us could get a dominating foothold of military bases in the Iraqi area. Free the people my @ss

Take the oil, yeah!

Hard to answer yes or no ???

You are right in one respect that any answer is predicated on defining just exactly what "crazy" is. However in this case if you examine any old archive footage, audio & visual, any sort of definition of what crazy is becomes rather incontrovertible.

Here was such an individual who said that that America and the American people & goverment got what they deserved on 9/11 not long after it happened and yet.....and yet, mind you, there are people who were and still are willing to rationalize that Fischer although a repugnant individual was the greatest chess player of all time.

To answer the orignal question was Fischer crazy, simply put the answer is yes. He was a special kind of crazy.

I also think those Fischer acolytes who continue to revel in his legacy are just as bad for thinking that being able to play a game exceedingly well forgives you for being a stain on humanity.