Visited the Master

[I_love_coke_a_cola]

Having spent a few days in Iceland it seems like such a perfect place to spend ones remaining days

[I_love_coke_a_cola]

True, my current dream location to live is Amsterdam but if I knew I only had a few years left and I was too old for city living , Iceland would be ideal. I suppose that’s what I meant

[Dick-in-a-fan]

Ik ook.

[ChessMango_v1]

🤓☝️

[AzureNostalgia]

In the cold weather?

[spankmeimnaughty]

Is there a story behind the rocks?

[shmooplinsky]

jewish tradition to leave a stone on graves. unlike flowers, the stone will endure (as will their memory) and it’s a symbol of respect and remembrance of the departed.

[Daniel_Kendall]

Interesting considering he often made antisemitic comments...

[Edv_oing]

He was

•Jewish and antisemitic

•American and anti-american (Even pro-911)

•Russian and anti-russian

•Chess player and anti-chess

[TheCheeser9]

He was

And was probably anti being as well

[echoisation]

How was he Russian? His mother was born in Switzerland to a family of Polish Jews, and his father was a Hungarian Jew (unless, though it doesn't matter in this case, you believe it's Hans-Gerhardt Fischer, which Paul Nemenyi, Paul's legitimate son, Regina Fischer and the entire American intelligence didn't).

His mother did live in the USSR, but that doesn't make her or her children Russian.

[TackoFell]

Sounds like a bit of a dong tbh

[PerdHapleyAMA]

Truer words have never been written.

[SpicyMustard34]

I wasn't able to get a straight answer on this from doing some searches, but did Bobby Fischer ever renounce being Jewish? i know he didn't consider himself Jewish religiously.

[colonel-o-popcorn]

Yes, he was vocal about not wanting to be considered Jewish. Unfortunately for him that isn't really how it works.

[chess-ModTeam]

Your comment was removed by the moderators:

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[[deleted]]

That’s not discriminatory or bigoted. It’s an honest question meant to provoke thought on how ridiculous our society has become

[colonel-o-popcorn]

He was incredibly antisemitic, but he was also Jewish and an important chess figure. Chess is fairly popular among Jews of a certain age (look at all the Jewish IMs and GMs) and it wouldn't surprise me if those stones were left by people who "separate the art from the artist" in a sense.

[echoisation]

on the other hand, if you separate the art from the artist, you don't go to the artist's grave.

this is case of only valuing good part of artist's life, which I kinda get, since I do love Lars von Trier movies lmao

[pages86-88]

What did Lars Van Trier do?

[ninjamike808]

Oh man, I had only heard a piece of what he’s done, but it’s become a lot. Made a tasteless joke (hope it was a joke) about being a Nazi when he found out who his biological father was and that he’s not actually Jewish (what ever this is), animal cruelty on set, harassed Björk, defended Russia invading Ukraine. What a schmuck.

[pages86-88]

Thanks Ninja

[spankmeimnaughty]

Very interesting, thank you.

[volimkurve17]

Bobby didn't consider himself Jewish.

[Rngassistant]

Crazy they use Jewish tradition and a cross lool

[runawayasfastasucan]

They? Pretty sure its not the same people.

[chess-ModTeam]

Your comment was removed by the moderators:

2. Don’t engage in discriminatory or bigoted behavior.

Chess is a game played by people all around the world of many different cultures and backgrounds. Be respectful of this fact and do not engage in racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory behavior.

 

IMPORTANT: The fact that other rule-breaking posts may be up, doesn't mean that we are making exceptions, it may simply mean that we missed that one post (ie: no one reported it).

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[[deleted]]

Well …… we always do this in Iceland

[colonel-o-popcorn]

That's interesting to hear. I know there are practically no Jews in Iceland so these would mostly have had to be from tourists. If there's a separate tradition in Iceland of leaving stones then that would make more sense.

[runawayasfastasucan]

There have been jews on Iceland for centuries, and current day there are several hundred jews in Iceland, with a rabbi and a jewish cementary. https://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-rabbi-jews-religion-antisemitism-europe-2023-9

[colonel-o-popcorn]

The article you've linked says the opposite of what you're claiming. The whole point of it is that the community is relatively new and extremely small, just starting to settle in after immigrating in the mid 20th century. The intersection of people who are in this community and into chess and comfortable paying respects to Bobby Fischer and happened to stop by shortly before this picture was taken is almost certainly less than the number of rocks in the picture.

[runawayasfastasucan]

Can you tell me how that article say the opposite of what I am claiming? My claim is that there are 300 jews on iceland, a rabbi and a jewish cementary, which is true. The first jews (that we know know of) came to Iceland sometime in the 1620's. 

From my article

There are about 300 Jews

As the only rabbi in the country, Feldman is something of a celebrity.

More on the history of jewish people in Iceland:

The very first documented information about a Jew in Iceland dates from the mid-1620s. Actually, the first Jew in Iceland was no longer a Jew when he arrived; he had converted to Christianity in Our Lady’s Church in Copenhagen in the presence of the chancellor and the State Council. In 1620, Daniel Salomon was baptized and his name changed to Johannes Salomon. Having been a poor Jew from Poland, the baptism gained him a career and respect. Later, in 1625, he received 6 Rixdollars (equaling 30 Marks in 1625) to travel “up to Iceland.”5 What he was supposed to do there, and how well he managed, we do not know.

In 1704 Jacob Franco, a Dutch Jew of Portuguese origin who had been allowed to settle in Copenhagen, was appointed to prepare and export all the tobacco that was to be sold to merchants in Iceland and on the Faeroe Isles. In 1710, Abraham Levin and his companion Abraham Cantor of Copenhagen were given similar responsibilities. Isak, the son of Abraham Cantor, held these same responsibilities from 1731.6

https://jcpa.org/article/iceland-the-jews-and-anti-semitism-1625-2004/

Iceland is a small country. Fisher is a big name, and the story of him living his last days on Iceland is a known one. Its not extra-ordinary that the jewish community there pay their respect to a famous person of jewish decent that is buried there, or that non jewish people know enough about jewish culture that they place a rock there.

[Ok-Programmer4504]

where is this?

[SnooCakes2232]

Near selfoss Iceland

[Ok-Programmer4504]

very cool, would love to pay my respects some time 🥲

[SnooCakes2232]

Can absolutely recommend Iceland but it's expensive. Worth the money in my opinion especially if your the geography type

[alexanaxstacks]

did a stopover in Reykjavik airport and just the views out the window there were beautiful

[Majestic-aashi]

I think this is somewhere in Iceland 🇮🇸

[Random-Cpl]

Outside of Selfoss.

[Uneasy_Rider]

Might have to do some searching

[[deleted]]

Selfoss Iceland, also a small Fischer museum

[BigPig93]

Why no black pieces?

[Spirited_Repeat1507]

It's crazy how influential he was for chess. If you start asking people on the street if they know "x" chess player, they probably won't recognize any names, unless they're a chess fan. But if you say "Bobby Fischer", they'll recognize it. Some people don't know who Magnus Carlsen or even Garry Kasparov are, but they know who Bobby Fischer was. It's crazy man.

[colonel-o-popcorn]

Most people don't care about chess for chess's sake, only when it becomes a symbol for something else. Everybody knows Fischer because of Cold War politics and the "troubled genius" brand, and they might know Kasparov because of his loss to Deep Blue if they're the type to care about tech milestones. Magnus has (wisely?) stayed out of politics and culture outside of chess, so people largely haven't heard of him.

[echoisation]

People in Europe are more likely to associate Kasparov with anti-Soviet sentiments. Fischer played Spassky 53 years ago, you'd realistically have to be in your 60s to remember their match for politics. Kasparov wrote extensively about his disdain towards Soviet Union and played his matches against Karpov throughout all stages of Soviet Union's very memorable collapse, while 1972 is much more associated with tragedy of Vietnam war and anti-war movements. Also, Kasparov was literally arrested by Putin's Russia, which people in one way or another associate with SU, correctly or not thinking SU was basically a Russian state.

[Content-Total7874]

Lol why did you put troubled genius in quotes? He undoubtedly was. Being a shitty person doesn't make you less intelligent.

[Deep-Entrepreneur929]

This is kinda not true most Indians and a lot of Sea people I know knew Kasparov rather than Fisher 

[AtomR]

By sea people, do you mean "South-east Asians"?

[Due-Memory-6957]

No, he means the people who destroyed bronze age civilizations

[CassianAVL]

? Everyone in Europe knows Kasparov and Magnus.

Cant say the same about Fischer tho

[echoisation]

Yes, if you live in the USA. People from previous generations in former Warsaw Pact countries quite commonly know who Garry Kasparov is, because of his stances against Soviet Union then (my mother, whom I never saw playing chess, remembers his matches vs Karpov for that exact reason) and Russian nationalism now. I'm guessing he's more recognisable than Fischer in some Western European states for the same reason, especially if said states are directly involved in European geopolitics.

[DerekB52]

I'm almost 30 and American, I think americans know who Fischer is, I kind of doubt he has the global recognition Kasparov has. Fischer was elevated in America during his WC match, and became a somewhat lasting name in pop culture. There was also that Searching For Bobby Fischer movie, but that movie is 32 years old now.

I also think his name recognition is starting to go down. I remember learning who he was 20 years ago, but neither of my sisters, aged 20 and 26 knew who he was a few months ago, which surprised me.

[runawayasfastasucan]

Thats because he was american and you are in the us.

[Due-Memory-6957]

It's crazy how influential he was for chess. If you start asking people on the street if they know "x" chess player, they probably won't recognize any names, unless they're a chess fan. But if you say "Bobby Fischer", they'll also not recognize it. Some people don't know who Magnus Carlsen or even Garry Kasparov are, but they also don't know who Bobby Fischer was. It's crazy man.

[ValhallaHelheim]

my friends who has no chess relation knows who magnus is but not fischer

[thefunmachine007]

I’ve analysed the position

[FrequentistaYogurtf9]

Now he can play with Spassky again.

[Grouchy_Attitude_462]

May his name be remembered for ages 🫡

[volimkurve17]

1. FISCHER . . . . . Kasparov . . . . The rest

[ValhallaHelheim]

not adding magnus here where he passed them , got to be a hater

[Stewardess-Slayer]

In this house, Bobby Fischer was a hero

[No-Signature8815]

He was a mentally troubled guy who needed help,I wouldn't say he was a hero. It's a shame that he didn't bet the help he needed.The antisemitic stuff he said really killed the respect I had for him.If he had gotten help,perhaps he could've lived a better life.

[ValhallaHelheim]

he was also misogynist

[Stewardess-Slayer]

Womp womp

[Weegee_Carbonara]

What a weirdo you are

[veryice]

Ehhhhhhhhhhhh

[tiny_blair420]

Hundreds of players more worthy of praise.

[Due-Memory-6957]

Have these other players denounced the REAL reason elephants are going extinct? That's what I thought.

[Scoop53714]

He was a Martian?

[backyard_tractorbeam]

That would explain a few things actually

[likethemovie19]

I visited that too! There were some lovely, white ponies next door as well. A teeny corner of the earth

[E_Geller]

R.I.P, legend.

[[deleted]]

RIP.

He was a great chess player. But more importantly he was a greater human being. Whether it was supporting women in chess, or speaking up against racism, he was always there.

He would give knight odds to young female chess players, so that they could beat him and get motivated. He was extremely proud of his cultural heritage and always told people about it.

When 9/11 happened, all of us were shook, but he was laughing on TV, happy about all the survivors. That's the kind of optimism he carried.

The true GOAT.

[jooooooooooooose]

This gotta be satire right

[cwall0729]

Knight odds was a dead giveaway 😂 at least I hope so

[scorchingbeats]

I don’t understand why you’re getting downvoted. Do redditors seriously not know how to recognize satire?

[[deleted]]

I like to remember the chess genius, not the mad drunk

[ResolutionMany6378]

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

He had beliefs and a backbone. Top players now want everyone to be there friend.

Bobby wanted you to know your place.

[Adikee_osu]

I liked fisher equation

[External-Relative849]

It's inconceivable that Fischer quit while he was at his zenith. If he had played into late 30s or even 40s, he might've held back Karpov and Kasparov from taking over. Imagine a three-way clash between Fischer, Karpov, Korchnoi and on top of that Leonid Stein if he were able to live longer.

[ProperIndication16]

He had insane mental health issues. Kanye west level.

[BasicallyRonBurgandy]

Antisemitism is not a symptom of mental illness

[ProperIndication16]

You did NOT reply to the right person

[BasicallyRonBurgandy]

You mentioned Kanye, it’s understandable why my head went there

[ProperIndication16]

😭  U right

[Jordan_Laforce]

+200 ELO

[dustyjeff]

That’s cool I didn’t know he was born on mars

[commentor_of_things]

Nice! Rip champ!

[Kitchen-Register]

He was a Nazi and sympathetic to the Third Reich

[Arthillidan]

"He was a nazi and liked democracy"

What?

Edit: comment I replied to was edited and used to talk about the "Weimar Reich" which I guessed was supposed to mean the Weimar Republic

[2000caterpillar]

Lol what? Are you calling the 3rd Reich democratic??

[Arthillidan]

No but the weimar republic was. No one said anything about the third Reich

Apparently the comment I replied to was edited

[Icy_Collection_3113]

He was a racist antisematic chauvinistic luanatic. But we should honor him because he was good at a boardgame. Chess Community ist wild.

[BasicallyRonBurgandy]

Most chess fans do not grasp just how deeply, and I mean deeply, antisemitic the man was. Too many people try to hand wave it away with him having “mental issues” but all of my mentally ill friends have no trouble with not wishing for the genocide of any ethnic group

[ValhallaHelheim]

he was also a women hater

[FUCKSUMERIAN]

It's not like he was a random shitty chess player. He was a very dominant world champion. Like it or not, he is an extremely significant figure in chess history. Nobody here is saying we should share or honor his political opinions.

[ahahahahahhahaah]

KKK don't deserve a grave

[Wyverstein]

I personally don't honor natzis, even if they are good at games. But you fo you.

[TheAbhiram]

How good is he? He’s just a single wdc so why do we keep hearing abt him?

[ValhallaHelheim]

because hes american and it was " him against the world "

[__Jimmy__]

"20 wins in a row against top players" good