Best chess documentary videos

That’s an old movie: Mr. Fischer shares his various views about chess in the Soviet Union on The Dick Cavett Show in the summer of 1971.

Where do you live now? You just fell off the chess map.

Robert Fischer’s answer: Right, I live everywhere, in hotels.

What is the money in chess?

The money, you know, could be better. It’s not like you’re getting rich.

Maybe, you see, I have a contract. Why do the Russians dominate the chess world?

It’s subsidized by the government there — not all players, but the professionals. So they stay at the top. We have a lot of talented players in this country (the United States), but for one reason or another none of them shine through — they lose interest, lack incentive.

And you’ve made strong accusations a couple of times, including of cheating, I think is the correct word. What were those about?

In one tournament I played back in 1962, specifically what I was talking about, they prearranged games among themselves to eliminate me.

How did they prearrange it? Some strategy? Is that legal?

No, it’s against the rules. But it happened.

Is chess a gift? Could someone without that gift learn to become a great chess player?

Not a great one — but they could become good. The top players are talented. It seems to me that you need talent, but the ones who reach the top also have character — they’re not distracted by other things in life until they get the title, or whatever they’re after.

What’s the moment of greatest pleasure for you — when you see somebody in trouble? What’s the greatest pleasure?

When I see he’s finished.

That’s how Mr. Kasparov can also impress his opponents — with non-chess tricks.

Two top US grandmasters, Maxim Dlugy and Hikaru Nakamura, playing a one-minute blitz game after the national championship. That was a great show, with very fast moves!