As I conclude the lengthy Karpov interview discussing only Fischer, I was surprised when Karpov, over dinner in Nassau, noted that Fischer had legions of chess fans in the Soviet Union during his match with Spassky. There was a mystique about Fischer which continues to fascinate people who are not even remotely connected to chess. No other chess player, alive or dead, has succeeded in capturing the imagination of people around the world like Fischer did.
He did more to popularize chess than any other player who has ever lived. His tantrums and inexplicable actions were front page news wherever he went. Fischer was the ego-crushing titan of chess who singlehandedly broke the Soviet hegemony on the ancient brain game. He was already a legend before he even played for the world championship title. The commotion generated over Fischer’s conquest of the awesome Soviet chess machine generally, and Spassky in particular, was unprecedented. A genuine renaissance occurred overnight. Sales of chess sets increased. Everybody who was anybody wanted to play chess. Rarely had chess been so honoured. Besides becoming a national hero in his own country, Fischer had become a household name.
Irwin W Fisk: So Fischer flew there [in 1976, Tokyo] just to meet you?
Anatoly Karpov: Yes, Campomanes joined me for the flight to Tokyo, but of course he knew already that Fischer would be in Tokyo. When I arrived, Matsumoto was already in the airport, then we agreed to have dinner in the Hilton Hotel. I was in the hotel and then Campomanes stopped there in the Hilton. He asked me to come to his suite, so I came to his suite and he said I should expect a surprise. Suddenly, Campomanes went out and one minute later he came with Fischer, so this was a
