Bobby Fischer, GM
1943-2008

While certainly a man of questionable sanity, there can be no question that Bobby Fischer was a
brilliant chess player. The youngest ever to attain the rank of Grandmaster when he did so at 15,
Fischer would go on to a stunning but short career on the international chess stage culminating with
the defeat of Boris Spassky in 1972 to be the first and, at the time of his death yesterday, only
American to ever hold the title. Others stayed on top longer but in my opinion none have been
better or more dominate in their time.