Recent reports in MBL.is
According to MBL the District Court of Reykjavik has made a ruling in the legal
case of Alexander and Nicholas Targ, Bobby’s nephews, vs Miyoko Watai,
over his fortune, where their claim for official distribution of his estate
was rejected. Still it is expected that the findings will be appealed to the
Supreme Court of Iceland for final ruling. They were made to pay legal fees
of €1200 to the defendant.
This lengthy lawsuit has twice earlier been remitted to the Supreme Court over
formalities. The bottom line of the verdict which has now been published is
that the claim of Mrs. Watai for private distribution of Bobby’s Estate
is confirmed on the grounds that they were a married couple according to a confirmation
issued by the Japanese Embassy in Reykjavík January 30 2008. It is further
stated that their marriage certificate, issued on August 17 2004, was registered
at the Ota Ward region town authorities in Tokyo on September 6 2004, after
it had been certified by special means that the groom was the person he claimed
to be, as his passport was not available, and nor was the necessary information
from the US Embassy. Later, confirmation papers were forwarded to the Japanese
Department of Justice. After thorough investigation by the authorities and a
visit by their representatives to the Ushiku Detention Center on 5 November
2004, where Mr. Fischer was kept in custody, the registration of their marriage
was finally certified on January 28 2005 by the Japanese Minister of Justice.
It is further stated that Bobby and Miyoko had lived together “de facto”
for several years.
Bobby Fischer’s artifacts presented to Laugardaelachurch
Shrines with some artifacts related to Bobby Fischer’s memory were recently
delivered to Laugardaela Church, his resting place, for preservation. One of
the shrines includes the In Memoriam book, which many people –
chess players, the public and officials alike – signed after his death.
The shrines being delivered to Pastor Kristinn Agust Fridfinnsson by Olafur
Thorarinsson of the parish committee and Einar S. Einarsson on behalf of the
RJF Committee.
The other contains cards, messages of condolence, and souvenirs received by
the RJF Committee, among them two chessmen, kings made of lead, one silver the
other sable.
Although his grave is rather isolated and off the beaten track, many tourists
keep visiting it, both by bus and individually. Among recent visitors were the
film director Milos Forman and Dr. Frank Brady. The former said that he had
be planning to make a Hollywood movie about the Fischer-Spassky match several
years ago, having both of them play themselves. Spassky agreed right away and
Bobby too, after a while. But he had some reservations, not regarding money.
He only wanted to be on location after 2 p.m. and not for more than a a maximum
of three hours per day, which made things impossible for Mr. Forman.
Dr Frank Brady in Iceland
Dr. Brady is working on Bobby's complete biography, his third on him. There
is an interest in opening some kind of chess facilities for tourists at Laugardaelir
or at Selfoss the town close by to honor the memory of the 11th world champion.
Bobby Fischer's Grave
Photos by Panos Andriotis
Panos, who lives in Volos, Greece, went to Iceland in the June 2009, and sent
us "with a lot of love" photos of the grave of chess legend Robert
James Fischer. This is located in the village of Selfoss, 60 km from Reykjavik.
A view of Iceland when approaching by air
Selfoss, a small village 60 km from Reykjavik [View
Larger Map]
Travelling around Reykjavik by ferry
Nordic houses on the banks of the Ölfusá River, the largest in Iceland
Panoramic view of Selfoss with the Church and the Ölfusá River
Bridge on the right (scroll horizontally).
This photo by Simsa was stitched together from 14 individual photos.
Selfosskirkja – the church in Selfoss [Photo Jóna Þórunn
Ragnarsdóttir]
Inside the church
The front of the church with Fischer's grave
That's me, Panos Andriotis, and the view from the church spire
Where the chess legend lies buried
His final resting place...
Copyright
ChessBase
Related ChessBase reports
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Bobby Fischer dies in Iceland
18.01.2008 – One of the world's greatest chess
geniuses, Bobby Fischer, has died at the age of 64. A spokesman for Fischer
said the former world chess champion passed away in a Reykjavik hospital
yesterday. The US-born former world chess champion, who became famous
around the world for beating the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky in 1972,
had been seriously ill for some time. Rest
in Peace, Bobby. |
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Bobby Fischer – his final weeks
25.01.2008 – One of the greatest chess legends,
the eleventh world champion Robert Bobby Fischer, passed on January 17,
2008. The cause of death was renal failure. He was quietly buried by his
closest friends at a cemetery in the countryside he loved. Controversy
is arising due to the secrecy of the burial, but we are convinced it was
conducted according to his personal wishes. Report
and tributes. |
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Bobby Fischer buried in Iceland
22.01.2008 – Chess legend Robert James Fischer,
eleventh world champion, was laid to rest in the cemetery of Laugardalur
Church outside the town of Selfoss, 60 km south of Reykjavik. Fischer,
who died of kidney failure, had requested that only a handful of people
be present at the funeral – amongst them Fischer's companion, Miyoko Watai.
We bring you the wire reports and a statement
by Garry Kasparov. |
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First anniversary of Bobby Fischer's death
17.01.2009 – Exactly one year ago a great chess
legend died, at the age of 64. Bobby Fischer was buried without ceremony
in a private cemetery in southern Iceland, which now has a simple headstone
– a reader sent us a picture. In a commemorative article we remember Bobby
with an inspiring story from his childhood – "The Sicilian Vespers" and
with links to his Sixty
Memorable ChessBase Reports. |
On Fischer and Miyoko Watai
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'Fischer and Miyoko were indeed married'
27.01.2008 – Did Bobby Fischer marry the president
of the Japan Chess Association, Miyoko Watai, with whom he lived for some
years in Japan? This question moves out of the gossip columns and requires
serious investigation as questions are raised in the press about the legality
of Fischer's "secret burial" – and the fate of his estate, estimated at
about £1.5 million. We have received a letter
from a close associate. |
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'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. |
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'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. |
