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Date: 07 Jan 2005 20:38:02
From:
Subject: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Kasparov, Fischer and ...Geography!
By Lev Khariton
Sometimes Mig Greengard has original ideas, although most of his
writings use a flowery language only to hide trivialities.
In his "Daily Dirt" column Mig writes: "No one seems to be
considering the effects of Fischer living in Iceland".A very
"profound" thought, really. My question is, why? Mig, as usual, is
quite straightforward: "It's not an easy place to hide in..." So,
big Bobby needs big countries, at least bigger than Iceland.
Understandably, Israel is out of question. Qatar, Jordan,Monaco are
ruled out as well. I am looking at the globe on my desk.Really, it's
difficult to find a good place for Bobby on our Earth!
"Every chess event in Iceland would be obscured by "will Bobby show
up?" speculation.",- Mig is sending all the Icelanders as well as all
chess fans into a frenzy of total scare. So, chess will be badly
affected because of Bobby's presence in Iceland? Is that Mig's
rationale? Or, on the contrary, chess will get a boom it did not know
even in the USA after Fischer's win over Spassky in 1972? Both
guesses are wrong. Mig's explanation is incredibly simplistic:
"Every visiting player will be inundated with Fischer questions. If
Kasparov, Kramnik, or Karpov set foot in Iceland the rumor mill would
be out of control".Are we to understand here that Kasparov as well
as any other chess player will be having a hell of a life tirellesly
pushing away all those who will go into harrassing him with all sorts
of Fischer question? Or, probably, diving into Freudism, Mig feels some
bitter jealousy, being a pro-Kasparov fan, that Fischer will steal
Kasparov's show?God forbid, Bobby might be more popular than Kasparov
in some countries. Yes, in Iceland they love Bobby, and Garry would do
the right thing by skipping Reikjavik.And most likely, in former
Yugoslavia they would prefer Bobby to Garry (the only one who could
stand up to Bobby in Yugoslavia would be, I believe, Tal - some
people say that when Tal was playing a candidates' match with
Gligoric in 1968 in Yugoslavia, many of Gligo's compatriots were
rooting for Tal!). Kasparov, with his pro-US and pro-war stand, would
not be on a par with Fischer in Yugoslavia.
Yes, it is difficult for Kasparov and Fischer to split any country.
Even a big one, like Russia, would be too small for them to share! All
our notions about the geography of the Earth are to be scrapped when
we think about Garry and Bobby as neighbors!
Iceland is well known as a chessicaly active country and Mig is
understandably a bit sad when he says,."Having all future chess
activity overshadowed by Fischer is of dubious value..." The
ex-English teacher from Argentina is afraid that Iceland will lose all
of its chess charm on account of Bobby's presence.
What I like about Mig is that he always has comforting words for
everyone, even for Fischer. "...unless he has a dramatic change of
heart (and brain) and decides to be helpful and/or quiet. Fischer
remaining a recluse would be better than Fischer sounding off with
outrageous statements".
"Ah, there's the rub", as Hamlet uttered. So, Bobby keep quiet,
don't stick out your head (or tongue).Be out of sight! And being out
of sight means being out of mind. Although not necessarily.
In the end Mig suddenly sounds optimistic: "it would be fantastic if
Bobby got his head on straight and became a positive ambassador of the
sport". But, Mig, we have one such "ambassador" Kasparov, and
Fischer's case will be "one too many"! The saying has it that
"too many cooks spoil the broth".What about too many ambassadors?
Especially if these ambassadors are Fischer and Kasparov.
Mig's optimism, however, is at its lowest when he tries to foresee
Bobby's future in hospitable Iceland: "More likely, we'd see more
of Fischer's habit of biting the hand that feeds." Sounds too
caustic, doesn't it? If I were Mig (God forbid!), I would
characterise Bobby's integrity in friendlier words.
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Date: 14 Jan 2005 16:22:56
From: Nick
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Taylor Kingston wrote:
> Nick wrote:
> > Is it true that was some personal friction between Pal Benko
> > and Mikhail Tal ever since an incident (at the 1959 Candidates'
> > Tournament?) when Benko had worn sunglasses in his attempt to
> > avoid being intimidated by Tal's stare and Tal had made Benko
> > look foolish for doing so?
>
> Benko talks about the sunglasses incident, but does not indicate
> that any friction arose from it. On page 152 of his autobiography,
> he writes:
>
> "Once I played [Tal] with sunglasses on because he often stared
> at people, as if he was trying to hypnotize them. Some journalists
> convinced me to do it, as a joke. Afterward, a story circulated
> around the world that I had been seriously worried about Tal
> putting me under his spell!"
>
> Benko does talk about friction at Cura=E7ao between Fischer and
> himself (the famous slapping incident), and with Keres over their
> third game. Benko talks about wanting "revenge" against Tal, but
> he means only over the board, to atone for some painful losses he
> had against Tal 1957-59.
Thanks again to Taylor Kingston for his information.
So it seems that Pal Benko would have had no personal motive
not to visit Mikhail Tal in hospital.
--Nick
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Date: 14 Jan 2005 06:49:48
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Nick wrote:
> Is it true that was some personal friction between Pal Benko
> and Mikhail Tal ever since an incident (at the 1959 Candidates'
> Tournament?) when Benko had worn sunglasses in his attempt to
> avoid being intimidated by Tal's stare and Tal had made Benko
> look foolish for doing so?
Benko talks about the sunglasses incident, but does not indicate that
any friction arose from it. On page 152 of his autobiography, he
writes:
"Once I played [Tal] with sunglasses on because he often stared at
people, as if he was trying to hypnotize them. Some journalists
convinced me to do it, as a joke. Afterward, a story circulated around
the world that I had been seriously worried about Tal putting me under
his spell!"
Benko does talk about friction at Cura=E7ao between Fischer and himself
(the famous slapping incident), and with Keres over their third game.
Benko talks about wanting "revenge" against Tal, but he means only over
the board, to atone for some painful losses he had against Tal 1957-59.
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Date: 13 Jan 2005 18:58:58
From: Nick
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Taylor Kingston wrote:
> Nick wrote:
> > On account of his health problems, Tal had to retire from the
> > 1962 Interzonal in Curacao. It's *reportedly* true that *only*
> > Fischer 'visited Tal in hospital' then, but is it *possible* that
> > some of the other players (Benko, Filip, Geller, Keres, Korchnoi,
> > Petrosian) might have visited Tal without having had their visits
> > noted for the record?
>
> I think you can eliminate Benko as a possibility. A photo caption on
> page 155 of his autobiography reads "Tal was hospitalized during the
> Cura=E7ao event, and it was said that the only player to visit him was
> Fischer." I can only interpret this as meaning Benko himself did not
> go, but he's not sure if others did. See "Pal Benko: My Life, Games
> and Compositions" (Siles Press 2003).
Thanks to Taylor Kingston for the information.
I concur with Mr Kingston's interpretation of its meaning.
Is it true that was some personal friction between Pal Benko
and Mikhail Tal ever since an incident (at the 1959 Candidates'
Tournament?) when Benko had worn sunglasses in his attempt to
avoid being intimidated by Tal's stare and Tal had made Benko
look foolish for doing so?
--Nick
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Date: 12 Jan 2005 17:20:12
From: Nick
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Nick wrote:
> Goran Tomic wrote:
> > Mikhail Tal was (is) also very popular and appreciated in
> > Yugoslavia. His style of playing chess and life style was
> > admirable.
>
> I admire Mikhail Tal as a chess-player. But chess biography
> should not be hagiography. Some aspects of Tal's 'life style'
> seem less than exemplary to me.
Mikhail Tal was (and is) such a highly admired chess-player
that chess journalists tend to avoid mentioning some less than
exemplary aspects of his life such as his heavy drinking.
> > Fischer appreciated Tal's human qualities, so he was the only
> > chess player who visited Tal in hospital during the big tournament
> > from which Tal had to retire cause health problems.
>
> On account of his health problems, Tal had to retire from the
> 1962 Interzonal in Curacao.
In fact, it was the 1962 Candidates' Tournament in Curacao.
Actually, I *did* know that it was the Candidates' Tournament
(I named all of its players in my earlier post), but, when
writing quickly, I carelessly typed 'Interzonal' instead.
> It's *reportedly* true that *only* Fischer 'visited Tal in
> hospital' then, but is it *possible* that some of the other
> players (Benko, Filip, Geller, Keres, Korchnoi, Petrosian)
> might have visited Tal without having had their visits
> noted for the record?
Unlike an Interzonal, the Candidates' Tournament had only
eight players.
--Nick
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Date: 12 Jan 2005 13:52:33
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Nick wrote:
> On account of his health problems, Tal had to retire from the
> 1962 Interzonal in Curacao. It's *reportedly* true that *only*
> Fischer 'visited Tal in hospital' then, but is it *possible* that
> some of the other players (Benko, Filip, Geller, Keres, Korchnoi,
> Petrosian) might have visited Tal without having had their visits
> noted for the record?
I think you can eliminate Benko as a possibility. A photo caption on
page 155 of his autobiography reads "Tal was hospitalized during the
Cura=E7ao event, and it was said that the only player to visit him was
Fischer." I can only interpret this as meaning Benko himself did not
go, but he's not sure if others did. See "Pal Benko: My Life, Games and
Compositions" (Siles Press 2003).
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Date: 12 Jan 2005 16:43:55
From: michael adams
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Nick wrote:
<snipped by moi >
> > From "The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal" (RHM 1976), page 243:
> >
> > "In short I went into hospital, and there, by the united
> > efforts of the doctors, the other players, the controllers
> > and the leader of our delegation, I was persuaded to stop
> > playing."
>
> Thanks to Simon ('chapman billy') for the statement by Tal.
>
> > Could "the other players" have helped persuade Tal
> > if they had not visited him.
>
> Only by telephone conversations?
- mobiles did not abound in those far off days, but there were always
the flying rats, the paranormal (ask Victor), astral projection & esp -
don't forget esp..
>
> > Where is the proof that only Fischer visited?
> Goran Tomic has made that assertion; it's for him to prove it.
>
> --Nick
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Date: 10 Jan 2005 18:10:23
From: Nick
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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chapman Billy wrote:
> Nick wrote:
> > Goran Tomic wrote:
> > > Fischer appreciated Tal's human qualities, so he was
> > > the only chess player who visited Tal in hospital
> > > during the big tournament from which Tal had to retire
> > > cause health problems.
> >
> > On account of his health problems, Tal had to retire
> > from the 1962 Interzonal in Curacao. It's *reportedly*
> > true that *only* Fischer 'visited Tal in hospital' then,
> > but is it *possible* that some of the other players
> > (Benko, Filip, Geller, Keres, Korchnoi, Petrosian) might
> > have visited Tal without having had their visits noted
> > for the record?
>
> From "The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal" (RHM 1976), page 243:
>
> "In short I went into hospital, and there, by the united
> efforts of the doctors, the other players, the controllers
> and the leader of our delegation, I was persuaded to stop
> playing."
Thanks to Simon ('chapman billy') for the statement by Tal.
> Could "the other players" have helped persuade Tal
> if they had not visited him.
Only by telephone conversations?
> Where is the proof that only Fischer visited?
Goran Tomic has made that assertion; it's for him to prove it.
--Nick
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Date: 09 Jan 2005 15:23:34
From: Nick
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Goran Tomic wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Kasparov, Fischer and ...Geography!
> > By Lev Khariton
> >
> > And most likely, in former Yugoslavia they would prefer
> > Bobby to Garry (the only one who could stand up to Bobby in
> > Yugoslavia would be, I believe, Tal - some people say that
> > when Tal was playing a candidates' match with Gligoric in 1968
> > in Yugoslavia, many of Gligo's compatriots were rooting for Tal!).
> > Kasparov, with his pro-US and pro-war stand, would not be on a
> > par with Fischer in Yugoslavia.
>
> I can confirm that premise. When Fischer said (a few months ago)
> that he would ask asylum in my country (Yugoslavia) in my country
> erupted exaltation of chess fans and ordinary people. In all media
> the first news was about Fischer and his desire to live in our
> country. Our famous chess journalist Dimitrije Bjelica sent an
> invitation by media to Bobby to come in Yugoslavia and offered to
> Bobby Bjelica's family's house.
As far as I know, Bobby Fischer always has been popular in
Yugoslavia ever since his first visit there. And Fischer
evidently became even more popular there after he declared
his opposition to the United States's economic sanctions
and military actions against Yugoslavia.
> Mikhail Tal was (is) also very popular and appreciated in
> Yugoslavia. His style of playing chess and life style was
> admirable.
I admire Mikhail Tal as a chess-player. But chess biography
should not be hagiography. Some aspects of Tal's 'life style'
seem less than exemplary to me.
> Fischer appreciated Tal's human qualities, so he was the only
> chess player who visited Tal in hospital during the big tournament
> from which Tal had to retire cause health problems.
On account of his health problems, Tal had to retire from the
1962 Interzonal in Curacao. It's *reportedly* true that *only*
Fischer 'visited Tal in hospital' then, but is it *possible* that
some of the other players (Benko, Filip, Geller, Keres, Korchnoi,
Petrosian) might have visited Tal without having had their visits
noted for the record?
--Nick
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Date: 10 Jan 2005 19:53:54
From: chapman Billy
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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Nick wrote:
> Goran Tomic wrote:
>
>
>>Fischer appreciated Tal's human qualities, so he was the only
>>chess player who visited Tal in hospital during the big tournament
>>from which Tal had to retire cause health problems.
>
>
> On account of his health problems, Tal had to retire from the
> 1962 Interzonal in Curacao. It's *reportedly* true that *only*
> Fischer 'visited Tal in hospital' then, but is it *possible* that
> some of the other players (Benko, Filip, Geller, Keres, Korchnoi,
> Petrosian) might have visited Tal without having had their visits
> noted for the record?
>
> --Nick
>
From "The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal" (RHM 1976), page 243:
"In short I went into hospital, and there, by the united efforts of the
doctors, the other players, the controllers and the leader of our
delegation, I was persuaded to stop playing."
Could "the other players" have helped persuade Tal if they had not
visited him. Where is the proof that only Fischer visited?
Regards,
Simon.
--
Excise Burns and his dates to email me.
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Date: 08 Jan 2005 19:43:05
From: Goran Tomic
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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<[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Kasparov, Fischer and ...Geography!
>
> By Lev Khariton
>
>.And most likely, in former
> Yugoslavia they would prefer Bobby to Garry (the only one who could
> stand up to Bobby in Yugoslavia would be, I believe, Tal - some
> people say that when Tal was playing a candidates' match with
> Gligoric in 1968 in Yugoslavia, many of Gligo's compatriots were
> rooting for Tal!). Kasparov, with his pro-US and pro-war stand, would
> not be on a par with Fischer in Yugoslavia.
>
I can confirm that premise. When Fischer said (a few months ago) that he
would ask asylum in my country (Yugoslavia) in my country erupted exaltation
of chess fans and ordinary people. In all media the first news was about
Fischer and his desire to live in our country. Our famous chess journalist
Dimitrije Bjelica sent an invitation by media to Bobby to come in Yugoslavia
and offered to Bobby Bjelica's family's house.
Mikhail Tal was (is) also very popular and appreciated in Yugoslavia. His
style of playing chess and life style was admirable. Fischer appreciated
Tal's human qualities, so he was the only chess player who visited Tal in
hospital during the big tournament from which Tal had to retire cause health
problems.
Berst regards,
Goran Tomic.
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Date: 08 Jan 2005 16:49:28
From: Jerzy
Subject: Re: Lev Khariton: Kasparov,Fischer and ...Geography!
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<[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Kasparov, Fischer and ...Geography!
>
> By Lev Khariton
>
> Sometimes Mig Greengard has original ideas, although most of his
> writings use a flowery language only to hide trivialities.
>
> In his "Daily Dirt" column Mig writes: "No one seems to be
> considering the effects of Fischer living in Iceland".
That`s an absolutely correct prediction by Mig. What`s more : Fischer`s
presence in Iceland can boil water not only in geysers but also lead to a
global warming of the Islandic atmosphere.
BTW What would happen if Fischer dropped in to Moscow ? Still minus 20
degrees Centigrade (-4 Fahrenheit) ? :-)
Regards,
Jerzy
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