22 Bobby Fischer Quotes on Competition

Bobby Fischer quotes on competition

5. They have nothing on me, those guys. They can't even touch me. Some people rate them better than me. That really bugs me. They think that no Americans play chess. When I meet those Russian patzers I'll put them in their place.

7. I usually never stay at the board after a game. Especially against Spassky. I made a dumb suggestion and he refuted it instantly! I know I'm going to have to play him some day and it was really stupid to look like such a jerk in front of him.

8. Americans like a winner. If you lose, you're nothing. I'm going to win, though. It's good for the match that Spassky has a plus score against me. We've met five times. He's won three times and we've drawn twice. But I'm a stronger player and a long match favors me.

9. I'll play a lot, stake matches. Not like the Russians. They win the championship and then hide for three years. Every few months, anyway twice a year, I'd like to get up a purse and meet a challenger. It's good for the game, keeps up interest in chess, and it's good for the bank account. I want to get some money together. Like take professional football. All these athletes making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Contracts, endorsements. If there's room for all of them, there ought to be room for one of me. I mean, after all, I'm a great goodwill ambassador for the United States!

10. I have a minus score (against Spassky). I lost 3 and drew 2. I was better than him when I lost those games. I pressed for the win. My overall tournament record is much better than his. I'm not afraid of him, he's afraid of me.

49. The turning point in my career came with the realization that Black should play to win instead of just steering for equality.

50. All that matters on the chessboard is good moves.

53. I like to make 'em squirm.

55. There are tough players and nice guys, and I'm a tough player.

62. People have been playing against me below their strength for fifteen years.

63. It's just you and your opponent at the board and you're trying to prove something.

65. I play honestly and I play to win. If I lose, I take my medicine.

69. You know, I can beat all those guys.

71. Let's play. I'm willing to play anywhere.

74. If you don't win, it's not a great tragedy - the worst that happens is that you lose a game.

75. Don't even mention losing to me. I can't stand to think of it.

81. I wanted to give them something to think about when they prepare for me in future tournaments. (on why he played 1.d4, 1.c4 & 1.Nf3 a few times)

86. It's like taking a five hour final examination.

90. The Russians have held my title for ten years and they're going to be in for it when I win the Championship. They're going to have to wait and play under my conditions.

102. There was open collusion between the Russian players. They agreed ahead of time to draw the games they played against each other. Every time they drew they gave each other half a point.

103. ...People don't know how utterly corrupt it [chess] is, and has been for many years...Just like when you go to watch a wrestling match, right? Saturday night wrestling. They are very good wrestlers, but anybody with half a brain knows it's almost all prearranged.

106. One of the reasons the God-damn Jews hate me so much, is that all my games are real. Nothing is pre-arranged, its all over the board, and if I play great, I play great. If I plunder my Queen, I'm looking to mate him too. That's real, y'know. Not like the God-damn Russian Jew players. It's all staged.