Fischer announced Fischer Random Chess in 1996, long after his retirement from competitive chess (1972). His reason for doing so in 1996 was very prosaic: he was simply no longer familiar with modern opening theory.
Yeah, it's been retconned somehow that Fischer was this non-booked up player and didn't like opening theory. Instead, it's his convenient excuse for not wanting to study anymore.
There was probably not a more booked-up player than Fischer in his prime, something he seemed to try to make people forget. Famously when asked about a young Soviet prodigy by the Soviets, Fischer responded that the kid was good, but that there was a better player in their women's division who had more signs of promise. Many of the Soviet masters had no idea who Bobby was talking about; but Bobby was reading all Soviet chess literature and magazines to stay up to date.
> he was simply no longer familiar with modern opening theory.
That's what parent said. Fischer wanted to get the memorization out, since memorization makes the game unplayable for someone who doesn't have The Knowledge.
There was probably not a more booked-up player than Fischer in his prime, something he seemed to try to make people forget. Famously when asked about a young Soviet prodigy by the Soviets, Fischer responded that the kid was good, but that there was a better player in their women's division who had more signs of promise. Many of the Soviet masters had no idea who Bobby was talking about; but Bobby was reading all Soviet chess literature and magazines to stay up to date.
That said, FRC is pretty interesting.