April 9, 1972: Chess champ Bobby Fischer on 60 Minutes

In 1972, Mike Wallace profiled the infamous Bobby Fischer, who was then only 29 years old and training for a Cold War showdown against Russian Boris Spassky.

[vajee]

Bobby had everything.
Good looks, super intelligence, talent, confidence.
A loner who found his own way.
Didn’t need anyone.
I so admire him.

[drumcircler]

Bobby beat me and 19 other players in a simultaneous exhibition a few months prior to his demolition of Spassky in the World Championship. He polished off all 20 of us in 42 minutes. It was a great honor to play him, he was a stone cold genius.

[mensaswede]

What makes him spectacular among other chess geniuses in history, was that he reached the top of the world virtually by himself.

[rickintexas]

This is the time I have seen this interview. The one thing that sticks out more than anything is that he had no coach or trainer. He did it alone. That is simply amazing.

[joesmith]

He is not arrogant. He is just supremely confident in his ability. He knows he is the best, and he proved it a few months later.

[henryseidel]

"I am still under the shock of this loss for the world of chess. In my view Bobby Fischer was the most honest person in chess history. He never made any politics.
He was a very pure personality. He could be tough from outside, but inside of him he was like a crystal - very pure. "
(Boris Spasski, 2009)

[jamie]

When you understand what Fischer was up against, nothing less than the entire Soviet Chess apparatus that included WC's Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, future WC Karpov, along with every GM they could muster, it almost incomprehensible that Fischer went in alone, and destroyed them. Just an amazing story!

[OzzyCat]

Fischer was a different kind of cat. Enjoyed his solitude, didn't seem to pay much mind to what people thought of him. Absolute legend in the chess world and I'm glad everyone can appreciate his greatness.

[justinpinard]

"Champion of the world? I didn't even compete, he's not much of a champion of the world." what an absolute legend lmao

[jakemaye]

"I used to say I was the best player in the world, and everyone said 'he's an arrogant, terrible, conceited person.' but it's just an obvious fact." incredible

[Krishnashares]

"He is the best they have got. Big deal". Fischer's confidence is at another level

[Baz]

You simply have to admire his honesty in every sense. That is all.

[daniellos]

It's so upsetting that Nicholas Cage in his prime never got a role as Bobby Fischer

[cursive]

I have a lot in common with Bobby, except the child prodigy and genius part.

[kajaskov]

What I love the most about Bobby is his total lack of false humility!!!

[TomBarrister]

They cut out the end of the interview, where Wallace wishes Fischer well, saying: "I hope you win (the match against Spassky)." Fischer replied, matter-of-factly: "I will." There was never a question in his mind about it.

[martinhyizna]

His brilliance emanates from him, it can still be felt today

[mizuhonova]

Wow, I never knew he didn't have a coach or trainer. Dude was really alone in the world and shouldered everything himself. He was so amazing at what he did but at the cost of almost everything one would say makes a human human.

[AdamantSeraph]

Bobby Fischer - the miracle of individualism and the tragedy of its loneliness

[bkbg]

I love his creation, Fischer Random, and feel it truly isolates talent...