Bobby Fischer, former world chess champion, was arrested in Japan this morning and will be deported back to the United States on charges that he violated trade sanctions against Yugoslavia by playing a 1992 match against Boris Spassky. He had been a fugitive since that match and was arrested by Japanese immigration officials as he tried to enter Japan.

Since he refused to defend his title in 1975, Bobby Fischer's behavior has become increasingly bizarre and troubling. He became a fugitive in 1992 and one of the few places he had been heard in public was in broadcasts on Filipino radio where he ranted against chess officials who had "cheated" him and indulged himself in anti-Semitic screeds. It bottomed out in a Sept. 11, 2001 broadcast in which he praised the attacks on the US:

In an interview broadcast this time by Bombo Radyo, a small public-radio station in Baguio City, Fischer revealed views so loathsome that it was impossible to indulge him any longer. Just hours after the most devastating attack on the United States in history, in which thousands had died, Fischer could barely contain his delight. "This is all wonderful news," he announced. "I applaud the act. The U.S. and Israel have been slaughtering the Palestinians, just slaughtering them for years. Robbing them and slaughtering them. Nobody gave a shit. Now it's coming back to the U.S. Fuck the U.S. I want to see the U.S. wiped out."

Fischer added that the events of September 11 provided the ideal opportunity to stage a long-overdue coup d'état. He envisioned, he said, a "Seven Days in May scenario," with the country taken over by the military; he also hoped to see all its synagogues closed, and hundreds of thousands of Jews executed. "Ultimately the white man should leave the United States and the black people should go back to Africa," he said. "The white people should go back to Europe, and the country should be returned to the American Indians. This is the future I would like to see for the so-called United States." Before signing off Fischer cried out, "Death to the U.S.!"

Fischer plans to fight extradition back to the US, but it seems another chapter in a pathetic, horrifying story is about to be written.

The above quote is from this article in the Atlantic monthly, which charts Fischer's fall from chess prodigy to paranoid anti-Semite.

reacher

USA

March 2004

JUL 16, 2004 11:17 AM

The line between insanity and genius is a fine one indeed.

reprobate

New Orleans, LA

December 2002

JUL 16, 2004 11:26 AM

I don't know which is more bizarre, Fischer's behavior or the fact that we've arrested Bobby Fischer for the crime of playing Chess with Boris Spassky.

oninotaki

Ypsilanti, MI

March 2003

JUL 16, 2004 11:27 AM

holy crap

SilverRevolver

United Kingdom

May 2004

JUL 16, 2004 11:32 AM

That's very appropraite, there's a chess geek that hangs out at my favorite cafe. Very creepy, in a paranoid sorta way... speaking of genius...

mokole

Canada

June 2004

JUL 16, 2004 11:34 AM

how in the hell can playing chess with someone be a crime?? and who cares what he said, on some radio station, freedom of speech remember. violated trade sanctions for playing chess with someone.... and they are surprised that he's mad at the US??? and it happened 12 years ago!

the_cheat

Beaverton, OR

May 2004

JUL 16, 2004 12:10 PM

Holy hell...I better watch who I play chess with...Or checkers for that matter...

Sheesh....

dirtyground

Chicago, IL

August 2003

JUL 16, 2004 12:23 PM

but that kid was so cute in that movie! thats not the same guy is it? that'd be awful.

SilverRevolver

United Kingdom

May 2004

JUL 16, 2004 12:29 PM

Hepburn said:
but that kid was so cute in that movie! thats not the same guy is it? that'd be awful.

the world can be an aweful place...