12 Bobby’s plea was based on his paternity http://21-1-TW. Facebook.
13 North Korea … Libya … Iran … Montenegro … The Philippines Undated e-mail from Miyoko Watai to Pal Benko, circa spring 2005 in DeLucia and DeLucia, p. 304.
14 Venezuela … Switzerland. “Freeing Bobby Fischer,” a report by Einar S. Einarsson, June 6, 2008, FB.
15 he’d become part of the Icelandic sagas NYT, (London), January 28, 2005, p. A7.
16 “Saemi, this is Bobby.” From the film Me and Bobby Fischer, 2009.
17 He was on a plane to the East Interview of Saemi Palsson by author, October 7, 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
18 To not help them, they believed “Freeing Bobby Fischer,” a report by Einar S. Einarsson, June 6, 2008, FB.
19 they began lobbying the Icelandic government Interview of Einar Einarsson by author, October 8, 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
20 “We feel obliged to express our deepest dismay” Letter of March 15, 2005, by the RJF Committee, FB.
21 “the whole country has no culture, no taste” Interview of Bobby Fischer on Bombo Radyo, August 12, 2004.
22 Fischer then announced that he was going to marry AP wire story (Asia), August 17, 2004.
23 “a pawn can become a queen.” NYT, August 20, 2004, p. A5.
24 “I’d rather not say” Associated Press, December 4, 2006.
25 “It was already a de-facto marriage.” NYT, August 20, 2004, p. A5.
26 “We had been satisfied with our life before he was detained” Interview of Miyoko Watai by Ev Mafurji on chessbase.com, January 9, 2004.
27 After months behind bars http://www.channelnewasia.com.
28 Honorable Members of Althingi From Bobby Fischer, January 19, 2005. FB.
29 These calls to Gardar Interview of Gardar Sverisson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
30 Bobby read some of the book Letter from Richard Vattuone to author, January 2010.
31 Fukushima criticized Chieko Nohno “Freeing Bobby Fischer,” a report by Einar S. Einarsson, June 6, 2008, FB.
32 warning that if action weren’t taken quickly E-mail exchange between Einar Einarsson and John Bosnitch, March 21, 2005, FB.
33 “When the leader of a country” Interview of David Oddsson by author, October 10, 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
34 A federal grand jury in Washington AP wire story (Philadelphia), March 8, 2005.
35 suggesting that Iceland drop the offer of sanctuary Japan Times, December 23, 2004.
36 Fischer’s alleged crime of a violation of trade sanctions Ibid.
37 “The Immigration Bureau must think” Mainichi Daily News, March 22, 2005.
38 polled on whether to grant Fischer permanent citizenship Act Respecting the Granting of Citizenship, no. 16/2005, FB.
39 a limousine supplied by the Icelandic embassy AP wire story, March 23, 2005.
40 This was nothing but a kidnapping” Watching America website, and various network sources. March 24, 2005, FB.
41 “It is not his beard” Interview with Zita Farkasházy by Tivadar Farkasházy; Bobby Visszater, p. 369.
Chapter 15: Living and Dying in Iceland
A great amount of the source material for this chapter consisted of face-to-face interviews, telephone conversations, and correspondence with many Icelanders who knew Bobby Fischer during his residence in Reykjavik (2005–2008) and in 1972, and who were instrumental in freeing him from imprisonment in Japan. Additionally, correspondence with Bobby’s lawyers resulted in the clarification of important information. Examination of documents and correspondence concerning his detention and the ultimate granting of his Icelandic citizenship also provided new facts.
1 blue denim work shirt and pants AFP (Reykjavik), January 19, 2008.
2 As for what people thought about his dress Interview of Gardar Sverrisson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
3 he gave it as a gift to his new friend Ibid.
4 “Fischer came close to being a moron” Skeptical Inquirer, Vol. 33–5, September/October 2009.
5 and sometimes even falling asleep Interview of Bragi Kristjonsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
6 “It’s good to be free” E-mail to Pal Benko from Bobby Fischer, April 20, 2006, in DeLucia and DeLucia, p. 305.
7 he pored over books on battles from ancient Greece to World War II Interview of Einer Einarsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
8 “This is absulutely vicious, illegal and unfair” Morgunbladid, July 29, 2005.
9 exchange of long, technical e-mails with UBS Interview with Einar Einarsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
10 So he lost Letter from UBS, “Termination Business Relationship Account,” July 22, 2005, FB.
11 UBS liquidated all of his assets Bank transfer statements from UBS to Landsbanki, various dates, May–August 2005, FB.
12 speculated that he was somehow prescient Interview of Einar Einarsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
13 deep, serious study of history, philosophy, and other topics Iceland Review, February 2008, p. 41.
14 Bókin reminded him of Dr. Albrecht Buschke’s chess bookstore The Smart Set, by Sara Blask, March 28, 2008.
15 Finally, he said he’d work for nothing Interview of Bragi Kristjonsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
16 “You know, the fairy tale and the Brothers Grimm” Interview of store clerk in Yggdrasil by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
17 Bobby answered in his typical Calvin Coolidge style Telephone interview of Helgi Olaffson by author, October 8, 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
18 Sonja gently asked if he’d pose for a photo Interview of “Sonja” by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
19 “Gee, they didn’t know who I was” Interview of Einar Einarsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
20 “as Fischer probably feels trapped in Iceland” Interview of David Oddsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
21 Iceland was a “prison” Interview of Gardar Sverrisson by author, October 9, 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
22 flagged to be arrested at any one of 368 airports Interview of Bragi Kristjonsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
23 “Eating was very important to him” Interview of Zsuzsa Polgar by author, May 2009, Princeton, NJ.
24 Bobby grimaced and agreed not to buy it Interview of Einar Einarsson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
25 “They were in love and showed it in many small ways” Interview of Gardar Sverrisson by author, October 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland.
26 “But he also liked to study people when he was riding.” Ibid.