El Daheeh Episode: The World Chess Championship 1972

Introduction

• The episode discusses the 1972 World Chess Championship.
• Known as the "Match of the Century."
• Fischer (USA) vs. Spassky (USSR).

Opening Scene

• Discussion starts with humorous demands for comfort.
• Highlighting the intense pressures around the match.

Historical Context

• Match held in Reykjavík, Iceland on July 11, 1972.
• Cold War backdrop: USA vs. USSR rivalry on a chessboard.

The Players

Bobby Fischer

• Genius chess player from Brooklyn, NY.
• Known for erratic behavior and high demands.
• Won 8 US Chess Championships.
• Known as the "Mozart of Chess."
• Lived a highly isolated and obsessive life.

Boris Spassky

• Soviet champion and defender of the title since 1969.
• Had the support of the Soviet government and training resources.

The Championship

• 24 games set; winner needs 12.5 points.
• Fischer arrives 6 minutes late, criticized cameras.
• Fischer lost the first game due to a beginner's mistake.
• Fischer forfeits the second game by not showing up.

Middle of the Series

• Fischer makes a comeback in the third game held in a small room.
• Wins using the aggressive Benoni Defense.
• Fischer and Spassky tie the score 2.5-2.5 after five games.

The Sixth Match: The Match of the Century

• Fischer surprises with the English Opening.
• Fischer's slow and methodical play wins the match.
• Spassky applauds Fischer's intelligence.
• Fischer leads 11.5 - 8.5; wins the championship with 12.5 points.

Post-Championship

• Fischer proclaimed hero in the US.
• Fischer disappears, rejects deals, declines defending the title.

Later Life

• Involved in another match in 1992 against Spassky, wins again.
• Match held during Yugoslav wars; US issues arrest warrant.
• Goes into hiding, spends final years in Iceland.

Legacy

• Fischer's influence popularizes chess globally.
• The game saw a surge in interest and participation worldwide.
• Fischer's book becomes a best-seller.
• Dies in 2008 in Iceland.

Conclusion

• The episode ends with reflections on Fischer's life and achievements.
• Fischer’s last words: "Nothing soothes as much as the human touch."