Robert James Fischer was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he won his first of a record eight US Championships at the age of 14. In 1964, he won with an 11–0 score, the only perfect score in the history of the tournament. Qualifying for the 1972 World Championship, Fischer swept matches with Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen by 6–0 scores. After winning another qualifying match against Tigran Petrosian, Fischer won the title match against Boris Spassky of the USSR, in Reykjavík, Iceland. Publicized as a Cold War confrontation between the US and USSR, the match attracted more worldwide interest than any chess championship before or since.
American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeats Russian champion Boris Spassky 12.5-8.5 in Reykjavik, Iceland, in the m
American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeats Russian champion Boris Spassky 12.5-8.5 in Reykjavik, Iceland, in the most publicized world title match ever played; Fischer becomes the first American to win the title
Historical Significance
Robert James Fischer was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion.
Key People
Events Before
Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
1st "Quickie" Divorce granted in UK
1st "Quickie" Divorce granted in UK
Tamla Records releases Marvin Gaye's single "What's Going On" about police brutality, from the album of the same name
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by the American soul singer Marvin Gaye. It was released on May 21, 1971, by the Motown Records subsidiary label Tamla.
Military coup in Uganda led by Major General Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada Oumee (30 May 1928 – 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until his overthrow in 1979.
General Idi Amin ousts Milton Obote and appoints himself President and Dictator of Uganda
Idi Amin Dada Oumee (30 May 1928 – 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until his overthrow in 1979.
Events After
Britain, Ireland, and Denmark become the 7th, 8th, and 9th members of the European Economic Community
Denmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark, also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that...
Elvis Presley files for divorce from Priscilla Presley on his 38th birthday
Elvis Presley files for divorce from Priscilla Presley on his 38th birthday
Actress Jane Fonda weds activist Tom Hayden
Jane Seymour Fonda is an American actress and activist. Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television.
In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court legalizes most abortions (Roe v. Wade). Writing the majority opinion, Justi
In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court legalizes most abortions (Roe v. Wade). Writing the majority opinion, Justice Harry Blackmun states that the criminalization of abortion does not have "roots in the English common law tradition."
US President Richard Nixon announces an accord has been reached to end the Vietnam War
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1974.
More from the 1970s
death
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
birth
Chai Jing is born
Chai Jing, Chinese journalist and environmental activist, known for chinese journalist and environmental activist, was born on 1976-01-01. Chai Jing is a Chinese journalist.
Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League
Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.
Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on September 1, 1972?
- Robert James Fischer was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he won his first of a record eight US Championships at the age of 14. In 1964, he won with an 11–0 score, the only perfect score in the history of the tournament.
- Why is American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeats Russian champion Boris Spass... significant?
- Robert James Fischer was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion.
- Who was involved in American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeats Russian champion Boris Spass...?
- Key figures include Bobby Fischer (chess grandmaster).