Though Bobby Fischer hated Soviet players for what he considered collusion i.e. drawing matches between themselves so they could concentrate on beating non-Soviet players like Fischer, Bobby Fischer liked and respected Boris Spassky. In turn, Spassky returned the affection and esteem.
Dedicated to editor Karen Schmeer who had only just begun working on the film when she was killed in a hit-and-run accident.
Of the famous chess games between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, producer Gail Katz' said: "It was the most important thing going on during a time when there were incredible political events happening in the world. I remember the top of the news every night was about what happened that day in Reykjavik [in Iceland]. Nothing like that has happened since. We were so aware that there had never been an American world champion. Here came a brash young upstart from Brooklyn [in New York, USA], who became a rock star. He was the perfect American hero for the time. His reputation for being difficult only added to the aura."
As a 14 year-old on the cusp of his 15th birthday, Bobby Fischer won the U.S. Chess Championship in 1958, giving him the title of International Master. Later that same year, he broke future opponent Boris Spassky's record to become the youngest World Chess Federation Grand Master; Bobby was 15, and Boris was 18 when he set the distinction. The two names would become linked forever in chess history. When the two first played each other in 1960, Fischer lost during an Argentine tournament, though the two tied and were co-winners of the tourney. He would not beat Spassky until their famous world title match in Iceland in 1972.