Sport: Master Bobby

In the cosmopolitan cant of chess players, it is legend that masters of the game are all meshuga—Yiddish for a little batty. But when they talk of Brooklyn's Bobby Fischer, the newly crowned U.S.

champion, the kibitzers are moved to uncommon awe. Bobby, they declare, is ganz meshuga, which is to say that he is quite addled. Though he celebrated his 15th birthday only last week, he already shows all the marks of the great grand masters of one of the oldest, most intricate games known to man.

As to his greatness, Bobby himself agrees....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!