Bobby Fischer

Chess icon Bobby Fischer causing a commotion in his new home in Iceland


Every Icelander I interviewed said that this may be hard to understand outside of Iceland. Not everyone in Iceland understands it, either.
      The question is, why did Iceland grant citizenship to the volatile Bobby Fischer - famed these days as much for his bizarre anti-US and anti-Israel rants as for his awesome chess prowess - a man whom the United States would have liked to put on trial?
      By virtue of the citizenship approval, the former chess world champion was released from a Japanese prison in late March and allowed to travel to Iceland. The authorities had nabbed Fischer because he was allegedly travelling with a void passport.
     
The citizenship granted by Iceland saved Fischer from being extradited to his native country, the United States. He has been charged there for violating sanctions against the former Yugoslavia. In 1992, Fischer played an exhibition chess match against Boris Spassky in Belgrade. He is also under investigation in the U.S. for white-collar crimes.
      Fischer has further infuriated his former native country with his vocal hostility towards Jews and Americans alike. He praised the terrorist attacks of September 11th and has called Jews "thieving, lying bastards".
      Fischer is known to be an extremely difficult, even paranoid individual, who reportedly had the fillings in his teeth removed out of fear of radio signals from the Soviets. He blurts out whatever pops into his mind, criticises those who help him, and demands that others gratify his every whim, by wearing the right brand of shoes, for example.
      In Iceland, Fischer stated his hatred towards the United States and Jews immediately at his press conference. After that he has lived quietly in a hotel, gone out to swim and eat, and has avoided reporters.
     
So why did Iceland take Fischer in?
      Of the politicians, it was Minister of Foreign Affairs David Oddsson, the former Icelandic Prime Minister, who began to campaign for Fischer. His political adviser Illugi Gunnarsson explains that Fischer has a special place in Icelandic history.
      In 1972, American Fischer played in Reykjavik against Soviet chess great Boris Spassky for the world championship. The game, touted as the "Match of the Century", was also a symbol of the power struggle between the world's superpowers during the Cold War. Fischer was the victor.
      The entire world held its breath watching the duel, which lasted for several weeks over 21 games. At the same time, unknown Iceland found its place on the world map, and the hearts of Icelanders swelled with pride.
      Many Icelanders consider Fischer to be a friend that the country is, in a way, indebted to.
     
Illugi Gunnarsson emphasises that Iceland did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of Japan or the U.S. Through the citizenship, Iceland simply offered the Japanese the possibility to send the detained Fischer to Iceland.
      "It was a sentimental act in a way", Illugi Gunnarsson observes.
      At the outset, Iceland offered Fischer an alien's passport and residence permit, but that was not good enough for Japan, so Iceland wound up granting him citizenship.
      Illugi Gunnarsson stresses that Icelandic politicians by no means support Fischer's hostile statements. "In my opinion, the statements are wrong, but in a free society people have the right to express their opinions."
     
Gunnarsson explains that one element that influenced the decision was the love Icelanders feel for chess. He recommends visiting the local schools.
      In the Rimaskol school, clatter can be heard in one of the rooms as around twenty students move around their knights and bishops. Well-known chess promoter Hrafn Jökulsson says that all of the pupils in the school know how to play chess, and some are even Nordic champions.
      The traditions regarding chess have been disappearing among the younger generation, but now there are plans to include chess in the curriculum of every Icelandic school. The revival of the hobby has been the topic of plenty of discussion in Iceland. This most likely contributed to the decision on Fischer.
     
In the last vote held in the Icelandic Parliament, the Althing, no one opposed the citizenship of Fischer. Many representatives were absent, however, and a couple chose to abstain from voting.
      That is puzzling, as a later survey found that a slight majority of Icelanders opposed granting Fischer citizenship.
      According to political researcher Baldur Tharhallsson, the actions of the Parliament reflect the power enjoyed by Foreign Minister David Oddsson. The minister is a giant in Icelandic politics.
     
Many Icelanders believe the United States are harassing Fischer, and they feel it is a good thing that he was released from his cell.
      However, it is easier to find opponents than supporters of his citizenship from among regular Icelanders.
      "I do not understand why he gets to come to Iceland. Many others would deserve citizenship much better", remarks 33-year-old Hrönn Hjalmarsdottir.
     
Iceland has new, extremely tight immigration legislation. Citizenship is hard to come by, and it is also difficult to spend long periods of time in the country.
      A foreigner under the age of 24 is not allowed to stay in the country even if he or she is married to an Icelandic citizen.
      The conflict between the special treatment Fischer has received and Iceland's immigration policy angers many people, as do Fischer's often vitriolic statements. Hrönn Hjalmarsdottir feels that he should be sued.
      "Public racism is not allowed in Iceland. A man was recently convicted of writing racist comments about blacks. Fischer talks about Jews in the same way", she says.
      Human rights organisations have raised similar concerns.
     
Even some of the active chess players who eagerly saved Fischer from Japanese custody are now irked by Fischer's hostile statements about Americans and Jews. "Fischer has already brought us shame", laments Hrafn Jökulsson.
      Nevertheless, he feels it is good that Fischer was released from prison. "Even though he has unpleasant thoughts, it would not have been right to lock him up forever. He was a genius - to chess what Beethoven was to music. And after all, he was an old friend of Iceland."
      Hrafn Jökulsson hopes that Fischer will not stay in Iceland for a long time. "He is a very unpleasant character. His opinions and ways of expressing things are such that you do not feel like meeting him."
     
Retired policeman Saemundur Palsson has spent time with Fischer daily in Iceland. He befriended the chess grand master during the time he spent in Iceland for the Reykjavik game in the 1970s.
      He is Fischer's only lifelong friend, and one of his extremely few friends overall.
      The friend reports that he has tried to get Fischer to stop making public statements with such bile and animosity. "I am afraid he will not stop. He understands it is not for his own good, but he keeps doing it anyway", Saemundur Palsson shakes his head.
     
Many believe Fischer is mentally ill. As a man of Jewish heritage and an American, he himself is the butt of his own hatred. Nowadays, he even hates chess.
      According to Saemundur Palsson, besides the angry outbursts, there seems to be nothing much wrong with Fischer.
      When Fischer was jailed in Japan, he contacted Saemundur Palsson, and it was Saemundur who suggested that Fischer ask the Icelandic Foreign Minister for assistance.
      "I am glad that Bobby is free. I do not believe that he could have survived ten years in prison in the U.S.", Saemundur Palsson says.
      "And if you are not a friend in need, you are no friend at all."