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Wayne Komer has kindly quoted today Yasser Seirawan's reminiscences of Fischer's days in Pasadena. This reminded me of a topic I planned to address but kept delaying due to the WYCC.
On September 20, 2017, Genna Sosonko published an article titled "Fischer's Letter" in the Russian-language area of chess-news.ru. The article examines Viktor Korchnoi's tour of the United States in September 1977, thirteen months after his defection to the West, and centers on a meeting between Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer in Pasadena, CA. Brilliant writing in the best traditions of Sosonko's investigative journalism.
First, Sosonko quotes extensively a previously published Korchnoi's account of this meeting and the subsequent break of any communication. Then, the author makes a sensational statement. He reveals that Viktor's son Igor has discovered the never-before-published Fischer's letter to Korchnoi that allegedly became the cause of a conflict between two great chess players. Sosonko proceeds to publish a complete text of the letter in Russian translation and goes into many details discussing English misspellings in the original and a handwritten signature "BOBBY" in all caps. In the subsequent analysis, Sosonko calls Fischer's letter "irreproachable" and "restrained", and puts the blame for the conflict on Korchnoi.
A facinating read. Unfortunately, there is no photo or scan of the supposed English original. Other period photos and anecdotes make for it somewhat.
Click here to access an automated English translation by Google.
On September 20, 2017, Genna Sosonko published an article titled "Fischer's Letter" in the Russian-language area of chess-news.ru. The article examines Viktor Korchnoi's tour of the United States in September 1977, thirteen months after his defection to the West, and centers on a meeting between Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer in Pasadena, CA. Brilliant writing in the best traditions of Sosonko's investigative journalism.
First, Sosonko quotes extensively a previously published Korchnoi's account of this meeting and the subsequent break of any communication. Then, the author makes a sensational statement. He reveals that Viktor's son Igor has discovered the never-before-published Fischer's letter to Korchnoi that allegedly became the cause of a conflict between two great chess players. Sosonko proceeds to publish a complete text of the letter in Russian translation and goes into many details discussing English misspellings in the original and a handwritten signature "BOBBY" in all caps. In the subsequent analysis, Sosonko calls Fischer's letter "irreproachable" and "restrained", and puts the blame for the conflict on Korchnoi.
A facinating read. Unfortunately, there is no photo or scan of the supposed English original. Other period photos and anecdotes make for it somewhat.
Click here to access an automated English translation by Google.
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