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by radicalcentrist 1885 days ago
> "I was so happy because it was the first time where we could see chess as a positive factor," he said. "We had so many years with chess being seen as potential destruction and something that could push kids to the dark area of psychological instability."

This surprises me, could someone expand a bit on this? I've only ever heard chess referred to positively in popular culture. I would assume most non chess players' understanding of chess is based on idioms like "thinking N moves ahead" and "playing 4D chess."

(I'm not sure I'd consider Beth Harmon a shining example of psychological stability either...)
2 comments
bobsled 1885 days ago
This is something that has been over-hyped for the sake of dramatization. Paul Morphy[1] and Bobby Fischer[2] are great examples of people who most likely were already psychologically 'at risk', and 'went over the edge' because of their obsessive chess playing. Certain potentially self destructive traits, largely obsessiveness and paranoia, can be of great use when playing chess if they are moderated. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Morphy#Abandonment_of_che... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer#Speculation_on_p...
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indigochill 1885 days ago
In the west, at least, Bobby Fischer went down what some might consider a pretty dark path. Fugitive status from the US for violating cold war sanctions, choice words about 9/11, and remaining on the run from the US for the rest of his life in Iceland.

That said, I grew up as a chess nerd and although I knew vaguely that Bobby Fischer was a tragic figure (largely thanks to "In Search of Bobby Fischer", despite the movie having almost nothing to do with the titular character), I'd never heard of that association with chess in general.

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kzrdude 1885 days ago
> Fugitive status from the US for violating cold war sanctions

All in all, I think that was a pretty silly charge. His violation was wanting to play chess in Yugoslavia. The only tragedy there is US foreign policy, not some "crime" that he committed.

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greedo 1885 days ago
His anti-semitism was pretty ugly as well.
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