Crack anyone?
Jonah from Paramus, NJ writes:
I've been playing on ICC for about 5 years. I usually go on after my wife and kids go to sleep, at around 11pm, and stay on until 2:30am (eastern time). I play 3 and 5 minute rated blitz, and my ICC rating fluctuates between 1860 and 1920. About a month ago, I started playing 3-minute rated blitz with someone who I am absolutely positive is Bobby Fischer. Not only because I can't seem to beat him, but because I compared our games to Bobby's speed chess tournaments and the style is identical! I also asked him some very specific questions about his early tournaments from the 50s that only Bobby Fischer would know the answer to and he answered me right away. We've played a total of 28 games (I won 2 of them), all of which I have recorded. After talking to you today, I realize that you are a skeptic and don't believe that Bobby is still playing no matter how obvious the evidence is. But still, can you post this on your blog, because I want to get in touch with other people who have been playing Bobby on ICC, and compare our games.I am very sympathetic to people who suffer from hero-worship related dementia, but I don't want my email account to get flooded with this junk. So please forward all your crack-induced sightings and deranged tales to iamacrackhead@gmail.com (It's a legitimate email account that I set up specifically for this purpose... I know what you are thinking, and I was also surprised that it was still available). If there is a continued interest, I might set up a message board, although there are already several (defunct) message boards on the web devoted to just this kind of insanity.
11 Comments:
I appreciate Jonah's ambition. Further, his knowledge base and attention to detail with regard to the legendary Bobby Fischer is noteworthy. However, I don't believe he's found Fischer on the web. First, anyone average chess player with a decent computer program can simulate speed play above the 1900-2100 level. All it takes is either a second computer, or a dual window feature to play online as a competitor while at the same time being supported by a silicon tutor. All due respect to Jonah ... someone who is an expert on a certain personality could spot certain nuances that might show up on the chessboard. However, these same preferences which translate into “style of play” can be loaded into a chess program. Even Chessmaster, an off-the-shelf software package, has a Fischer-like personality in its lineup of computer opponents. Secondly, the likelihood of catching Bobby, who's in Iceland, at the precise moment Jonah is online in New Jersey is small. History shows Bobby is a night-owl, though in the late 70's and early 80's, he would use his morning powers for chess (see articles in Sports Illustrated). To catch Bobby for a decent "night game" ... say, around midnight, Iceland time, Jonah would have to be logging on in New Jersey earlier in the evening at least. Third, the comment about specific questions only Bobby would know the answer to ... well, how does Jonah also happen to know the answers? Fischer's life has been well-chronicled by the likes of Brady and others. Someone with scholarly ambition could get spun up on Fischer and know the answers to specific questions regarding obscure details. The fact is, there are some Fischer Zombies out there ... die hard fans who still believe he's the World Champ, and still believe he could take down Kasparov or Kramnik or even Deep Blue. Interestingly, Kasparov assessed Fischer's play, circa early 90's, to be, in Gary's words, "ok" ... and probably around 2600 to 2650. Still awesome. Still in the Super GM range. But well below Fischer's top form which brought him shutouts and W's leading up to the World Championship in 1972.
Jonah's insights add up to a whale of a tale. Bobby logging on from a hotel suite or home in Iceland ... and going through a "system" (Bobby isn't a systems guy) of entering a password to play on a site? Then, resolving to stay at it for awhile ... playing patzers in the 1900 range - players who he could beat 90 times out of 100 if he wasn't trying and maybe 98 times out of 100 if he was? Of course, in Bobby's prime, he'd not only win all 100 speed games against someone in the 1900-2000 range, but he'd be able to recite from memory every move of every game a day later over an espresso.
No, this website phantom is not Fischer. It is not the one who once wanted his fillings removed for fear spies could get to him via electronic frequencies. It is not the paranoid recluse who lived on both coasts under pseudonyms and cautiously walked the streets in costumes, wigs, dark sunglasses, etc. to go unnoticed. It is not the Scotch sipping, anti-Semitic who can't stay focused long enough to simply appreciate an old friend like Jeremy Schaap. Plus, according to Bobby, he doesn't like chess anyway. He says the game is dead. If Jonah were playing Fischer Random, it might add a slight level of credibility to the story.
The final clincher: the 2 wins. Who wouldn't want to believe he beat Bobby? Even if it was speed chess. Here's where Jonah slipped. He should have said he was blanked in every game.
But as I said initially, I appreciate Jonah's ambition.
JC -
I appreciate Jonah's ambition. Further, his knowledge base and attention to detail with regard to the legendary Bobby Fischer is noteworthy. However, I don't believe he's found Fischer on the web. First, anyone average chess player with a decent computer program can simulate speed play above the 1900-2100 level. All it takes is either a second computer, or a dual window feature to play online as a competitor while at the same time being supported by a silicon tutor. All due respect to Jonah ... someone who is an expert on a certain personality could spot certain nuances that might show up on the chessboard. However, these same preferences which translate into “style of play” can be loaded into a chess program. Even Chessmaster, an off-the-shelf software package, has a Fischer-like personality in its lineup of computer opponents. Secondly, the likelihood of catching Bobby, who's in Iceland, at the precise moment Jonah is online in New Jersey is small. History shows Bobby is a night-owl, though in the late 70's and early 80's, he would use his morning powers for chess (see articles in Sports Illustrated). To catch Bobby for a decent "night game" ... say, around midnight, Iceland time, Jonah would have to be logging on in New Jersey earlier in the evening at least. Third, the comment about specific questions only Bobby would know the answer to ... well, how does Jonah also happen to know the answers? Fischer's life has been well-chronicled by the likes of Brady and others. Someone with scholarly ambition could get spun up on Fischer and know the answers to specific questions regarding obscure details. The fact is, there are some Fischer Zombies out there ... die hard fans who still believe he's the World Champ, and still believe he could take down Kasparov or Kramnik or even Deep Blue. Interestingly, Kasparov assessed Fischer's play, circa early 90's, to be, in Gary's words, "ok" ... and probably around 2600 to 2650. Still awesome. Still in the Super GM range. But well below Fischer's top form which brought him shutouts and W's leading up to the World Championship in 1972.
Jonah's insights add up to a whale of a tale. Bobby logging on from a hotel suite or home in Iceland ... and going through a "system" (Bobby isn't a systems guy) of entering a password to play on a site? Then, resolving to stay at it for awhile ... playing patzers in the 1900 range - players who he could beat 90 times out of 100 if he wasn't trying and maybe 98 times out of 100 if he was? Of course, in Bobby's prime, he'd not only win all 100 speed games against someone in the 1900-2000 range, but he'd be able to recite from memory every move of every game a day later over an espresso.
No, this website phantom is not Fischer. It is not the one who once wanted his fillings removed for fear spies could get to him via electronic frequencies. It is not the paranoid recluse who lived on both coasts under pseudonyms and cautiously walked the streets in costumes, wigs, dark sunglasses, etc. to go unnoticed. It is not the Scotch sipping, anti-Semitic who can't stay focused long enough to simply appreciate an old friend like Jeremy Schaap. Plus, according to Bobby, he doesn't like chess anyway. He says the game is dead. If Jonah were playing Fischer Random, it might add a slight level of credibility to the story.
The final clincher: 2 wins. Who wouldn't want to believe he beat Bobby ... even if it was speed chess? Here's where Jonah slipped. He should have said he was "swallowed up … and spit out on dry ground."
But as I said initially, I appreciate Jonah's ambition.
JC -
By the way, did I motivate your blog? I notice that the first and only post is this comment.
Hi Irina:
Actually, I was dodging a work project by scanning topix.net when I came across the Fischer blog. It was interesting and I couldn't help but reply.
So, where did you see the comment by Jonah from New Jersey?
We were chatting on ICC, and the next day he sent me the email.
Once I posted an article about Nigel Short, where he makes very similar claimes about Bobby playing on the web. So, I get all sorts of email from people on the web, along those lines.
Irina:
Here's where I show how dull I am: how come I have two entries of basically the same thing? I did enter one, then edited it, thinking it would replace the original - but instead, it posted a second time here.
Thanks for your expertise.
It happens all the time, don't worry. If I have time to goof off with blogger settings later, I'll go in and delete one of the duplicate entries.
Thanks. The second entry is the intended one. Also, I "posted" by comment to you as a "blog" under the title: Jonah and Bobby Fischer: Whale of a Tale. Yet, it doesn't show up when doing a search - for example - on topix.net Thanks again. JC
Frankly, I don't think that Bobby can hold his own in speed chess, even when playing some 1900 rated ICC dork. Sorry. I know that Irina has a thing for Bobby Fischer, so I'm probably going to hear a lot of crap about this. But the man is done. He is out of the picture. Maybe in 1965. Maybe even in 1985. But not now, no way.
Andrew - I hear what you're saying. Check my blog - the paranoid recluse ... Scotch-sipping anti-Semetic ... I concure that he may not be able to focus long enough to play at a top level in either speed or regulation chess. However, my guess is that he is still in the 2400 range at least. It's interesting to consider what seperates a GM from a top level GM. And then from there, what seperates a top-level GM from a Super-GM. Bobby was at the top. No doubt about it. Even Kasparov, though his rating was higher than Bobby's highest, didn't achieve the sustained and stellar play that Bobby did, litereally shutting out GM's and taking down elite heavyweights. Kasparov never had to go up against Botvonik or Petrosian. Even Spassky knocked off Kasparov, though the latter would exceed the former Russian world champ's playing level. It would stand to reason that Bobby, in his prime, would have made a good match with Kasparov. That said, Bobby wouldn't fall much below 2500 or so. Most top GM's, after aging, played in the 2400-1500 range. However, he probably will degenerate even more. I think the man's crazy. I really do. And in a way, it's tragic.
Dear gentlemen
I write to you for the difficulties that I have in ICC, for my
denunciations of cheats realized in educared for the son of the admin
unicornio21. Unicornio21 was observant in the match of his son, and the
tournament was directed by MI Mikel Rahal
You can see the Game in the links
Game Mac - chakal
http://ajedrez.educared.net/club/partidas/pgn.asp?iCounter=446950
Game Mac - Armagedon
http://ajedrez.educared.net/club/partidas/pgn.asp?iCounter=449238
Game Lopextra - Mac
http://ajedrez.educared.net/club/partidas/pgn.asp?iCounter=454238
the games correspond to the championship sub 18 for Internet in Spain
realized in the educared portal. All player are Fide rated. Handle " Mac "
is Jon Angulo, the cheater, son of Unicornio21. You will be able to verify
the cheats analyzing the middle game with fritz
Gm Illescas, Rahal and Unicornio21 received the denunciations of cheat,but
they did not do anything. That way the tricky and cheater gained this
tournament For denouncing the previous thing, my payment ICC Handle was
baned.
You havee now as a partner, a cheaters in the chess, and ICC to postponed
to helpers of good conditions in the channel 71, like Berowne or Don-nadie
Gentlemen already know it, its a shame for ICC have this kind of admin.
sorry for my bad english
Post a Comment
<< Home