Q 01/05

Whom did Bobby Fischer beat in 1972 to become World Chess Champion?

A) Mikhail Tal

B) Anatoly Karpov

C) Tigran Petrosian

D) Boris Spassky

Answer · why

D) Boris Spassky

He had never beaten the Soviet champion before the match, with three losses and two draws between them.

Q 02/05

In which city was the 1972 world title match, dubbed the Match of the Century, played?

A) Moscow

B) Belgrade

C) Reykjavík

D) New York

Answer · why

C) Reykjavík

Fischer had wanted Belgrade and only turned up after a London financier doubled the prize fund and Henry Kissinger phoned him.

Q 03/05

Fischer was the how-many-th World Chess Champion?

A) Thirteenth

B) Ninth

C) Eleventh

D) Fifteenth

Answer · why

C) Eleventh

He held the title for three years without playing a single competitive game, then forfeited it.

Q 04/05

Which country granted Fischer citizenship in 2005 by a special act of its parliament, letting him live there until his death?

A) Philippines

B) Hungary

C) Japan

D) Iceland

Answer · why

D) Iceland

The Althing voted unanimously, partly in gratitude for the 1972 match that had "put the country on the map".

Q 05/05

In which US city was Fischer born in 1943?

A) Los Angeles

B) New York

C) Chicago

D) St. Louis

Answer · why

C) Chicago

His mother was homeless at the time; the family settled in Brooklyn when he was seven.