The geek world is mourning the loss of one of their own. Bobby Fischer, the first U.S.-born World Chess Champion, who later became a magnet for controversy with his defection from the US, died Thursday at the age of 64.

Born Robert James Fischer on March 9, 1943, Bobby began playing chess on a competitive level when he was only 8. He would go on to win the United States Junior Champion at age 13 (the youngest to do so), as well as become the youngest International Grand Master in 1958 at age 15.

His prowess in the game, however, was soon overshadowed by his eccentric behavior and penchant for making unusual demands.

While Fischer became an American hero in the midst of the Cold War with his victory over Soviet champion Boris Strassky in 1972, he was stripped of his championship in 1975 when he refused to defend it. He then dropped from the chess scene and went into seclusion.

This is where the weirdness starts...

In 1992, Fischer first becomes at odds with the United States.

Later, weirdness would become crackpot douchebaggery. Hours after the September 11 attacks, Fischer granted a radio interview in the Philippines (which can be heard here) applauding the attacks and denouncing the US. As a result, his United States Chess Foundation membership was revoked by unanimous decision (though that decision was later vacated).

Three years later, he was involved in more legal issues after renouncing his U.S. citizenship and seeking political asylum in Europe.

Fellow legend Garry Kasparov, who called Fischer's presence in the chess world "a revolutionary breakthrough," had this to say about his death:

To the end, Fischer was still convinced of his superiority in the game.

thefreak was in the Chess Club. He was not an insane douchebag, though.