Bobby Fischer Goes to War : How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time
by David Edmonds, John Eidinow

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Book Reviews of Bobby Fischer Goes to War : How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time

Book Review: The Cold War Comes to Iceland
Summary: 5 Stars

This book details the events and characters that led up to the 1972 World Championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland. You don't have to be a chess player to read this (almost none of the actual game details are covered here - there are many other books that perform this task). The focus is on how a lone American challenged for and finally won the world title, a title that had been held by the Soviets since the end of World War II. The Cold War between these two countries forms the backdrop for this encounter, and incredible as it may sound, diplomats, lawyers, the KGB, high political figures in both countries, and multi-millionaires helped create and shape many of the events leading to the match - for a game that had, at the time, perhaps 10,000 serious adherents in the U.S.

The authors delve deeply into the characters of both Bobby and Boris Spassky, giving a large amount of biographical detail, some of which is either not widely known or newly revealed here, using as sources both FBI files and documents from the KGB and other Soviet agencies. Their assessments of the mental state of both participants will generally ring true, amply supported by documents, interview material, photos and assessments by other grandmasters, though at times I thought they may have gone a bit overboard with generalizations. Also well presented is the political and chess climate that swirled around the match itself and the InterZonal and Candidates Matches leading to it. Much of this information was originally published somewhat piecemeal by both the regular and chess press, and often left many areas of confusion and blank spots in what was really happening. Here it is well organized, rich in detail, and brought back to me the feeling of just what it was like back in '72.

The fate of the participants after the match is also covered, including the 1992 re-match between Bobby and Boris, though not nearly in the level of detail of the main event. The picture painted of both players is somewhat saddening, one for his descent into near-psychosis, the other for his fall from grace in the USSR and his personal troubles.

For anyone who has a passing interest in chess, or who likes to read about classic clashes between the lone hero and the staid and possibly nefarious establishment, this is an excellent book. For Americans, it will engender feelings of pride, shame, and total embarrassment at some of the inexcusably rude actions and statements by those on that side. For Russians, perhaps sadness at opportunities missed, and anger at their own bungling. For everyone, a rich historical adventure, with more twists than a James Bond movie.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)