Bobby Fischer settles down

First the news

• We reported that Bobby Fischer had recruited La Jolla (San Diego) attorney Richard Vattuone to represent him in a lawsuit against the United States, and that Fisher was ready to file a $200 million claim against the United States illegally revoking his passport and causing a nine-month detention in Japan.
  
  Now a San Diego news service has reported that Fischer has dropped the federal lawsuit, which was filed March 23, the same day Fischer was released from a Japanese detention center and took up residence in Iceland. "He wants to get on with his life," Richard J. Vattuone, the attorney who filed the lawsuit told The San Diego Union-Tribune in Tuesday's editions. "He's not interested in any more lawsuits, so that matter is over, dismissed." [AP report in SignOn San Diego].

  However, we have learnt that Fischer in fact fired his attorney on March 26 this year. It is possible that Vattuone had filed the lawsuit without Fischer's permission.

• The Russian news agency RIA reported that Fischer is planning to play another match in Serbia, this time against veteran GM Pal Benko, 75. A friend of Fischer, Janos Kubat, was the source of this information. Kubat said Fischer wanted to play the match in Kanizsa, a town located on the border between Serbia and Hungary, where he had spent some time in 1993. According to Kubat a sponsor has already been found and the venue decided. [Full RAI report in Russian]

• The Bulgarian news agency Standart is reporting that Fischer has been invited to attend the M-Tel Masters in Sofia from May 11–22. Organizer Silvio Danailov broke the news before reporters of the Focus news agency. "We have sent a personal invitation to Fischer and a copy of the invitation the Chess Federation of Iceland, asking them for assistance" Danailov explained. From friends in Iceland we learn that Fischer had indeed received the invitation, but that Danailov had not stated any conditions, just VIP treatment. They did not expect Fischer to go to Sofia.

• I a recent interview with the newspaper Morgunbladid in Reykjavik Fischer was asked about his best or most beautiful game of chess. Fischer responded, after some thought: “Probably the game I played against Donald Byrne 1956 in New York, sometimes called 'the game of the century. My opponent does not seem to have made any serious mistake, but lost very quickly. The perfect game of chess does not exist, not even that one against Byrne. I took a risk with the move 11...Na4". He also spoke about his "kidnapping" in Japan, the detainment and the harsh conditions, about his new chess clock, his friendship with Saemi Palsson, the policeman who is so unpolicemanlike, the US tax claims (unjustified according to Fischer), his political views ("There is no law against saying that the moon is made out of green cheese"), and the Karahnjukar Hydroelectric Project in East Iceland, between Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company and Alcoa Inc., the big American Utility. Fischer criticised this mega project which would harm the environment of Iceland, which has the largest unspoiled open wilderness in Europe. He said the project must be stopped, and advocates that Iceland should cut off all relation with the US, close the US base at Keflavik, close down the US Embassy and prohibit all business with the US.

• Meanwhile Fischer is being sought by the US media. After the 60 Minutes enquiry HBO and others have requested reporting time with Fischer, who however currently does not show any special interest in being filmed or interviewed. After his fiancée Miyoko Watai left for Japan last Friday Bobby has spent most of his time in his hotel suite, relaxing and acclimatizing. He enjoys Icelandic food a lot, especially seafood and lamb. He is also very gratified to know that there are no nuclear power stations around, just natural thermal baths, lots of space and refreshing air.

And now a picture gallery from Reykjavik

Bobby Fischer, after nine months in Japanese detention, and after two weeks in Iceland

Feeling better, a few days later after a much-needed trimming of hair and beard

A dinner reception arranged for the new Icelandic citizen

With candlelight, friends and helpers

In animated discussion with friends

Bobby with Icelandic psychologist M. Skulason

With his fiancée Miyoko Watai, who returned to Japan some days ago

At a welcome dinner with Miyoko and Einar Einarsson

A blissfully happy Miyoko with tireless Einar of the RJF Committee

Fischer officially gets his brief of Icelandic citizenship

Previous ChessBase articles

Easter editorializing on Fischer's escape 29.03.2005 Thursday night Bobby Fischer arrived in Iceland, looking haggard after a detention of almost nine months in Japan. Over the Easter weekend journalists all over the world have sat down to write down their own personal views on the case. From the hundreds of articles that have appeared in the world press, here are a few of the more striking ones.

Tumultuous welcome for Fischer in Iceland 25.03.2005 They are scenes like we have never seen before, certainly not in the chess world. Bobby Fischer arrived in Iceland to a hero's welcome from a midnight crowd at Reykjavik Airport. Looking harrowed and gaunt after almost nine months in Japanese detention he took time to speak to TV journalists. We have dramatic live footage from Icelandic TV.

11:30 GMT: Fischer arrives in Iceland 3/24/2005 Bobby Fischer is on a plane en route to Iceland, where he is due to arrive later tonight. During his departure from Narita Airport in Tokyo he was mobbed by press and TV. At 11:05 p.m. Fischer's plane, a private jet sent to pick him up by an Icelandic TV station, landed at Reykjavik Airport (not Keflavik International, which is a NATO base) at 21:30 GMT. Latest news...

Fischer released in Japan 23.03.2005 Bobby Fischer is due to be released from the Japanese detention center at midnight GMT. "The passed Fischer pawn has been shepherded home to the eighth rank," wrote the RJF Committee. "It can now be promoted into a piece, with complete freedom of movement." Update: we have just learnt that Bobby Fischer has been released!

Bobby Fischer: five days in solitary confinement 08.03.2005 We had just reported about Fischer's new passport, which an Icelandic delegation had carried to Japan. A minor mystery was why it had not been handed over to him last Wednesday, as planned. Now we learn that Japanese authorities had put the former world champion into solitary confinement. For five days. Over a hard-boiled egg. We are not joking.

Fischer receives an Icelandic passport 2/23/2005 Immigration authorities in Iceland have decided to issue full travel documents for former world champion Bobby Fischer, who is being held in Japanese detention for not possessing a valid passport. Fischer's new passport will be sent to Japan by diplomatic mail, and a delegation is traveling there to escort him to Iceland.

Fischer's lawyer Masako Suzuki speaks out 02.02.2005 Is Japan buckling under pressure by the US? Bobby Fischer, 61, former World Champion of Chess who has been jailed in Japan for six months now, is applying for Icelandic citizenship. But Tokyo seems to be balking at a constructive solution entailing his release to Iceland. Fischer's lawyer Masako Suzuki has given us an exclusive interview.

Bobby Fischer applies for Icelandic Citizenship 25.01.2005 After the Japanese authorities last week refused Fischer's request to be extradited to Iceland the chess legend, who is being held in a Japanese detention facility, has today written to the President of the Icelandic Althingi (picture), applying for Icelandic citizenship. A special law would have to be passed to grant Fischer's request.

Bobby Fischer – immigration plans on ice 22.01.2005 His supporters filed a petition that Fischer might be released from detention in a Tokyo jail and allowed to travel to Iceland, where he has been granted refuge. But Japanese Justice Ministry lawyers said they were not prepared to change Fischer's deportation destination to Iceland, and that he would have to remain in detention. A harsh blow for the chess legend.

Bobby Fischer – six months in jail 1/17/2005 On July 13, 2004 he was arrested at Narita Airport in Tokyo, for attempting to leave the country on an invalidated. Since then the greatest hero of Western chess has been languishing in a Japanese detention facility, now physically exhausted and suffering from dizzy spells. His Icelandic friends, who are offering him refuge, have launched another appeal to the authorities.

US threatens Iceland, Fischer Committee appeals 22.12.2004 Iceland is under US pressure to drop plans to offer a home to fugitive former chess champion Bobby Fischer, the Reuters news agency tells us. But the Icelandic government has stated that its offer "will not be withdrawn despite pressure from the United States." How do we know that? Among other things we read it in Aljazeera, would you believe? Here's the latest on this international confrontation.

RJF Committee mobilizes pro-Fischer forces 18.12.2004 While Bobby Fischer remains incarcerated in a Japanese prison a special committee in Iceland is moving to get him free and find him a home on the North-Atlantic island country. Iceland's foreign minister and a prominent political scientist have spoken out. Here's a report on Fischer's Iceland Connection...

Fischer to get refuge in Iceland? 12/16/2004 The news today on Bobby Fischer, who is currently being held in a Japanese detention facilities pending extradition to the US, is that the Icelandic government has offered to grant him a residence permit. In a telephone interview Fischer speaks about his plight in Japan and reacts to statements by Garry Kasparov on Fischer Random Chess. Full details...

Returning to the 'scene of the crime' 30.11.2004 Twelve years ago Boris Spassky played a match against Bobby Fischer in Yugoslavia. That got Fischer into a lot of trouble, while for Spassky, a French citizen, there were no repercussions. Now the tenth world champion returned to Belgrade to open the Belgrade Chess Trophy. Quick interview...

Fischer to Bush and Koizumi: 'You are going to pay for this!' 18.10.2004 Bobby Fischer, still in detention in Japan, has spoken out again in an interview, this time threatening the Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi and US President Bush: "You are going to pay for this, and you are going to pay for your crimes in Iraq too." His new lawyer, Richard J. Vattuone, plans to release documents to prove US government involvement in a plot against Fischer.

'We want to live together forever' 01.09.2004 She collected pictures of her chess hero after his match with Boris Spassky in 1972. One year later they met in Tokyo – the start of a romance spanning decades. Since four years the two have lived together in downtown Kamata in Tokyo's Ota Ward. In an exclusive interview for ChessBase Miyoko Watai tells us the story of her life with Bobby Fischer.

Listen to Bobby Fischer 26.08.2004 In emotional phone calls from his detention cell in Tokyo ex world champion Bobby Fischer gave a Philippine radio station two lengthy interviews. Fischer is facing deportation and incarceration in the US, and voices his nightmare fears: "I will be tried, convicted, sentenced, imprisoned, tortured and murdered." We have summary transcripts and audio files.

Dramatic moments around Fischer's deportation 25.08.2004 First the Japanese Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa issued a deportation order against former world champion Bobby Fischer's, then Fischer's lawyers filed a lightning appeal on the grounds that physical deportation would be a flagrant violation of Fischer's right to full legal recourse and protection under Japanese law. Here's the full story by Fischer's legal coordinator.

'Bobby Fischer and I have decided to marry' 17.08.2004 Bobby Fischer, the former world chess champion, plans to marry the president of the Japan Chess Association (and four-time Japanese women's champion) Miyoko Watai. This was reported in newspapers and wire services last night. Now Watai-san has sent us a statement explaining the background of her personal relationship with Fischer.

Fischer renounces US citizenship 15.08.2004 Bobby Fischer has been moved to a new detention facility in Tokyo, pending a decision on his deportation to the US, where he faces a 10-year jail sentence. A lot of new material has surfaced, including Fischer's handwritten renouncement of his US citizenship and a blow-by-blow description and picture of his arrest at Narita Airport. Harrowing stuff...

Spassky to Bush: Arrest me! 10.08.2004 Boris Spassky, who played the contentious return match against Bobby Fischer in Yugoslavia 1992, for which the latter is currently facing deportation and incarceration in the US, has appealed to President Bush to show mercy and charity for his tormented successor. If for some reason that should be impossible, Spassky suggests a very imaginative alternative...

Fischer's appeal rejected 28.07.2004 Bobby Fischer's appeal against his deportation was rejected today by Japanese authorities. Meanwhile the Icelandic Chess Federation has appealed to US president Bush to pardon Fischer and set up a petition web site to collect signatures. In Tokyo a "Free Fischer Press Conference" is scheduled for Thursday. More...

Fischer a sacrificial pawn? 25.07.2004 Bobby Fischer is still in detention at Narita Airport in Tokyo, traumatised but stubborn, "behaving like a Samurai". At the same time news outlets all over the world are covering the story, with Fischer's brother-in-law Russell Targ assailing the Bush administration for playing election year politics with the former chess champion's freedom. There's a lot to be read...

Game of Life: Kasparov on Fischer – in full 20.07.2004 The news of Fischer's arrest in Japan came as a shock to Garry Kasparov, who was in a holiday camp working intensely on the games of his greatest American predecessor. In today's issue of The Wall Street Journal Kasparov assesses Fischer's chess career – for a public that was being exposed to his current situation. We now bring you Kasparov's full article.

Will Fischer be extradited? 19.07.2004 Chess legend Bobby Fischer, the hero of millions, languishes in the detention facilities of Narita Airport in Tokyo, waiting for a decision by Japanese Immigration authorities on his deportation to the US. We have collected all the documents and reconstructed a timeline to his arrest. Fischer, who has no legal counsel, is appealing for international assistance.

Bobby Fischer detained in Japan (updated) 16.07.2004 It's the latest twist in the sad tale of American former world champion Bobby Fischer. He has been detained in Japan and faces possible deportation to the US to face charges for playing in Yugoslavia in 1992. Fischer's website says he was "very nearly killed" in Japan. The story has been picked up by news services all over the world.