Everything Everywhere Daily The 1972 World Chess Championship (Encrore)
Nov 15, 2023
The podcast discusses the 1972 World Chess Championship during the Cold War, where the US and Soviet Union competed on a chessboard. It explores the dominance of the Soviet Union in chess, Bobby Fischer's journey to becoming a world championship contender, his surprising lead in the championship, and his rise to fame followed by a downfall.
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Soviet Chess Dominance Explained
- The Soviet Union dominated the world chess championship from 1948 to 2007 except once.
- Their chess system rigorously trained young talent and treated chess as a serious sport.
Bobby Fischer's Chess Rise
- Bobby Fischer learned chess at six and quickly became a prodigy with national records.
- He won eight US championships undefeated and set records as the youngest grandmaster and candidate qualifier.
Fischer's Demanding Match Antics
- Fischer initially did not show up for the match and game one causing tension and delay.
- He later withdrew from game two over camera disputes, an unprecedented forfeit at this level.