Chess: iconic Reykjavik Open sparks memory of Bobby Fischer from 1973
The US legend declined a $25,000 offer from shoe firm Clarks to meet the cream of England’s juniors
The nine-round Reykjavik Open, which began on Wednesday afternoon at the Harpa Conference Centre, is an iconic event. It was first played as an all-play-all in 1964, when Mikhail Tal won, and is close to the Hotel Reykjavik Natura, formerly the Hotel Loftleidir, which featured prominently in the epic Bobby Fischer v Boris Spassky match of 1972.
The top seed in the capacity entry of 422 players is Iran’s Amin Tabatabaei, the only 2700-rated player in the field, with Romania’s Bogdan-Daniel Deac (2655) next, and the veteran Ukrainian Vasyl Ivanchuk (2624) the fourth seed.
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© Photograph: J Walter Green/AP

© Photograph: J Walter Green/AP

© Photograph: J Walter Green/AP