a friend had a question...she wanted to know if magnus carlsen (or
other recent world champions) surpassed bobby fischer in talent/skill.  i.e. could they beat him?

i assume this is a difficult question but i thought i would pass it along.

H.L.

Magnus was asked@a press conference whether Fischer or Kasparov would have prevailed in a match (forget@other recent champs). I will discuss w/U.

But his answer was that the Fischer of 1971-1972-i.e., Fischer-Taimanov 6-0; Fischer-Larsen qf 6-0; Fischer Petrosian sf 6 1/2-2 1/2; Fischer-Spassky WCC 12 1/2-8 1/2 was & continues to be an astounding accomplishment. The two 6-0 scores are the equivalent of a MLB pitcher throwing 2 consecutive no-hitters!!

But Carlsen went on to comment that while the Fischer of '71-72 was astounding, he played no games as WCC. Kasparov was WCC from 1985-2000, and the highest rated player until 2005-at a time when chess theory was exploding & the competition much stiffer than in Fischer's time.So Carlsen firmly believes GK was the greatest player in history-as i do.

As to Carlsen..well, we will see..😉