On Chess: High Standards Credited to Fischer

An interesting chess column in The Columbus Dispatch by Shelby Lyman. Read on:

Before the rise of Bobby Fischer, international chess — even among the vaunted Soviets — was sometimes a quasi-amateur affair. Several of the top Soviet grandmasters depended on inspiration rather than diligence and preparation. In a category of his own was the young Mikhail Tal, whose creative flair at the board astonished and terrified foes. Often, he seemed to make up his game as he went along. His moves weren’t always correct, but, in the hurly-burly of struggle, they were effective. He became world champion at 24.

At the other extreme were players such as Fischer, Efim Geller and Viktor Korchnoi: harbingers of a more radical work ethic to come, laboring with little respite at the chess grindstone. Mikhail Botvinnik set a new standard for preparation and performance.

But it was the young American, Fischer, who raised the professional banner and chess work ethic to its highest level. As he explained to fellow grandmaster Larry Evans, Fischer focused on the game, consciously or unconsciously, 24 hours a day.

The previous bohemian approach to chess is no longer workable. This is, as some older grandmasters wistfully and woefully explain, largely both the contribution and the curse of Robert James Fischer. (Shelby Lyman is a Basic Chess Features columnist.)

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French Chess Champ in 'Secret Story' French Reality TV Show

This Libran chess grandmaster and former French women's chess champion is entering French television reality show 'Secret Story' that is quite like the Indian 'Big Boss'. The contestants entered the house on May 25.

This is the sixth season of 'Secret Story'. The 'Secret Story' keeps contestants locked in the house for 10 weeks without any outside contact. The house is called 'La Maison des Secrets'. There are cameras all over the house except in the bathrooms. There is one twist unlike 'Big Boss'. Every contestant has a secret and the other participants try to discover that secret. A contestant wins the money of the person whose secret he guesses. Each participant has €10,000. Each Tuesday, two contestants are nominated and put up against the public vote to be evicted on the Friday. The girls and boys nominate the opposite sex, alternating weekly. So, what is Marie Sebag's secret? That she is a French chess champion. She proves how a frail appearance can be so deceptive. Unfortunately, the videos cannot be re-played in India from the television website. Don't worry, the other contestants cannot read this chess news snippet!

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2012 Anand Gelfand World Chess - A Funny Batman-Joker Chess Video Dedication

The 2012 Anand Gelfand World Chess Championship has defied definitions so far. Here is a funny video we find apt for the situation. It is up to you to decide who is 'Batman' and who is the 'Joker'! In the end, the Joker says in Russian: Why so serious!

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