Well, blog reader Bob Woodworth sent a couple pages from Weekend Chess and the May 2008 issue featured an article by Kenny Harman titled "Could Bobby Fischer have been saved?" He too posits that Fischer had Asperger's Syndrome as a kid.
David Edmonds who was a co-author of Bobby Fischer Goes to War suggested the same thing. I had read about half that book but not the part(s) concerning his mental state. Harman also suggests that Fischer was a paranoid schizophrenic.
The part I found interesting was that ASD most likely helped Fischer to become world chess champion in 1972 because it "protected Bobby from the overwhelming stress that Spassky had to endure." Sounds quite reasonable. No I am not a doctor, and neither are most of you but when you compare the conditions (and explanations), a lot of soil has been turned over.
Thanks Bob Woodworth.
BTW, hot items of last week: Nigel Short DVD. Seirawan DVDs sold out, but still have plenty of the book.
bob@thinkerspressinc.com
Asperger syndrome and autism usually consists of similar symptoms. Sufferers usually face various difficulties such as abnormal nonverbal body postures, problem in understanding, lack of co-ordination and speech rigidity, etc.
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