The following report was sent to us from Iceland by Marilyn Young's lawyer Samuel Estimo, with whom we have been subsequently communicating. One matter of central importance that we have clarified: the blood samples of taken from Jinky Young will be sent, together with available specimens from Bobby Fischer from the hospital where he died, to DNA specialists abroad for examination. The process will take at least two months before the final result will be known. Samuel Estimo has assured us that these results will be made available to us independent of what the outcome is. We will be expected to press for them at the beginning of February.
One more note for this preamble: we are not sure of the intestacy (death without a will) laws in Iceland, but in most countries we know they are patterned after the common law of descent. Property goes first or in major part to a spouse, then to children and their descendants. The status of Fischer's wife, Miyoko Watai, appears to have been cleared in her favour, though this decision by Icelandic courts has been appealed by Fischer's nephews, who also lay claim to his estate. At the bottom of this page you will find links to all the ChessBase reports pertaining to the subject at hand.
On a snowy and windy afternoon last December 1, Jinky Young, the late Bobby Fischer's Filipino child, finally linked up with her father in a small cemetery in front of the Laugardaelir church in Selfoss town, southwest Iceland.
Marilyn and Jinky Young at Fischer's grave in Iceland
Braving the distance from far-away Philippines and the minus 8 weather of Iceland, Jinky took leave from school to visit her father's tomb with her mother, Marilyn Young. The last time they saw Fischer was in September 2005 in Reykjavik, when the chess legend had a three-week rendezvous with them. Fischer took mother and daughter around central Reykjavik, and rode with them in buses, his preferred means of transportation. Jinky had a grand time with her dad after she missed him during Fischer's eight-month stay in a Japanese airport prison.
Fischer was taking a flight to the Philippines in 2004 to be with a waiting Jinky and Marilyn at the airport, but he was stopped from boarding his plane because of an allegedly cancelled passport.
Marilyn recalls that their parting was hard when they returned to the Philippines. "There was not a day that Bobby didn't call us, sometimes three to four times, except when I was in school. He would always ask for Jinky, who would say, ' I love you, Daddy'," said Marilyn.
GM Eugene Torre, who accompanied Jinky and Marilyn to Fischer's tomb, also found time to reunite with his close friend. It was Torre who acted as Bobby's chief second during his return match with Boris Spassky in 1992 in the former Yugoslavia. This match earned for Fischer the ire of the U.S. government, who pursued him no end until he was placed behind bars in Japan.
Lawyer Estimo, Jinky, Marilyn, GM Eugene Torre
Torre accompanied Fischer in various destinations in Europe after the U.S. indictment to the point of even risking his own safety for the sake of his friend. It was also Torre whom Fischer called for a series of radio interviews while he was in prison to drum up worldwide sympathy for his cause.
Samuel Estimo, Jinky's lawyer, had already made arrangements with an Icelandic law firm who will handle Jinky's claim to the estate of her father, which consists of around 1.5 million Euros and gold deposited at the Landsbanki Islands.
On December 2nd, Estimo and a lady Icelandic lawyer accompanied Jinky to a Reykjavik hospital where her blood samples were taken for DNA testing. It turned out that it was the same hospital where Fischer died of renal failure on January 17, 2008.
GM Eugene Torre, Lawyer Thordur Bogason, Jinky, Marilyn, Lawyer Samuel Estimo
Estimo and Thordur Bogason of the law firm who will handle the claim, are optimistic about Jinky's chances of getting her due to the estate of her father. "The Magistrate of Iceland will uphold Jinky's claim, which means that she will get two-thirds of Fischer's estate," said Bogason.
"That is on the assumption that Ms. Miyoko Watai's supposed marriage to Bobby Fischer will be affirmed by the Icelandic Supreme Court. Otherwise, Jinky will collect the whole of Bobby's estate," concluded Estimo. Fischer's nephews had appealed their suit against Watai, and now pends before the Supreme Court of Iceland.
Marilyn, Jinky, Philippine Consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria, Estimo
Jinky and her group are staying at the Reykjavik house of Philippine consul Maria Priscilla Zanoria, who had graciously offered her services to her countrymen. The four will fly to London on December 5 for the shoot of a BBC-HBO documentary on the life of Fischer.
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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. |
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Iceland: Fischer's estate, his final resting place 10.11.2009 – The chess legend Bobby Fischer died in Iceland on January 17, 2008. He was buried in the compound of a church in Selfoss, 60 km from the capital Reykjavik. Since then there has been a battle over his estate, which is claimed by his nephews Alexander and Nicholas Targ. Now the Reykjavik Discrict Court has ruled in favour of Fischer's lawfully wedded wife, Miyoko Watai. Pictorial report. |
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Fischer's daughter Jinky files claim to his estate 11.11.2009 – Yesterday we published a report on an Islandic court awarding Fischer's estate to his lawfully wedded wife Miyoko Watai. Today we received a message from Marilyn Young, Fischer's "Filipina live-in partner", who is seeking justice for her and Fischer's eight-year-old daughter Jinky. The two are on their way to Iceland to file their claim. Marilyn has sent us some fairly compelling photographic evidence. |
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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. |
