Bobby Fischer and His Predecessors in the World Chess Championship

The distinguished author, himself a past world champion and President of FIDE, analyzes aspects of Fischer's play in comparison with previous holders of the title Alekhine, Botvinnik, Capablanca, Euwe, Lasker, Petrosian, Smyslov, Spassky, Tal. He examines the relevance of the respective ELO ratings of the earlier champions and provides more specific evidence for considering the true status of Fischer among the champions. Though no constructive judgment is possible, the comparison of Fischer's strengths and weaknesses in various compartments of the game with those of other champions affords great insight into his style, and shows him to be on a par with the greatest of those earlier heroes, a player whose main weakness was his own human fallibility.