On This Day in American History |
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On Sept. 1, 1972, Bobby Fischer becomes the first American to win the World Chess Championship when he defeats Russian Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland. It was called the “Match of the Century” and was the most high-profile chess match ever played. The 29-year-old Brooklynite, known for his difficult personality, won $156,250 in prize money. In 1975, he refused to defend his title, resulting in a new champion, Anatoly Karpov, by default. |
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