Why Fischer comes ahead of Kasparov

Kochi, Dec 23: A recent vote by Chess magazine placed Bobby Fischer at the helm in its selection of the Chess Player of the Century. Compa...

Kochi, Dec 23: A recent vote by Chess magazine placed Bobby Fischer at the helm in its selection of the Chess Player of the Century.

Comparisons could be tricky especially if they are between individuals from vastly different eras and so former champions like Alexander Alekhine and Jose Raul Capablanca (1920s and 1930s) could lose out on facts and figures alone, though they would still be inseparable in talent and strength from modern giants like Fischer and Garry Kasparov.

Fischer’s best Elo-rating was 2,780 towards the end of his career and it should not be projected out of context as the system was introduced only in 1970 and the American’s hide-and-seek period of 1960s did not fall into the realm of Elo calculations.

Story continues below this ad

Or for that mater, Alekhine’s rating was not calculated at all. Or Capablanca’s. Emanuel Lasker (champion from 1894-1921) gets the nod on the top in the survey for the simple reason that his reign in terms of longevity (27 years) is still a record.

Yet, it is not the dryrecord that matters for avid chess followers who would even in semi-conscious state vote for Fischer because that is the call of sentiment.