Fischer Number

Andrew Bak · Post by **Andrew Bak** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:58 pm

A bit like the Bacon number in acting or the Erdos number in Maths/Science, my colleague at Yorkshire Chess has suggested that we should try build up a database of links for a Fischer number - the chain links are people who have DEFEATED their opponents in standard play games, no rapid, blitz etc.

This is Dave's post to view - The man who beat the man who drew with Mikhail Tal

My Fischer number is 4:

Borislav Ivkov beat Fischer â€“ 1965 Capablanca Memorial
James Plaskett beat Ivkov â€“ 1983 Manchester Benedictine Open
Jean-Luc Weller beat Plaskett â€“ 2012 4NCL
Andrew Bak beat Jean-Luc Weller â€“ 2012 Woodhouse Cup

What are the forumites Fischer numbers?

IM Jack Rudd · Post by **IM Jack Rudd** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:03 pm

Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

Sean Hewitt · Post by **Sean Hewitt** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:10 pm

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

Well, that's that then

Andrew Bak · Post by **Andrew Bak** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:19 pm

Sean Hewitt wrote:
IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.
Well, that's that then

There probably aren't that many people alive who have beaten Fischer, never mind any who visit the forum!

Eric Gardiner · Post by **Eric Gardiner** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:26 pm

I'm not sure what mine is although based on the information supplied by Andy I know it's at most 5 as I once managed to beat him

I have beaten Roelof Westra who told me he played Fischer when Fischer was aged 11 but the game was a draw (and also a 'friendly' I think, in as much as it might have been possible to have a friendly game with Fischer!).

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:26 pm

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

That's the route for quite a number of people. It's difficult to find players that Fischer lost to, even fewer are those who've played much in the UK or against British players. Other routes would be via Korchnoi, Spassky and other top players of that era, although that's likely confined to GMs.

LawrenceCooper · Post by **LawrenceCooper** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:33 pm

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

I suspect that will be the most popular route

Simon Ansell · Post by **Simon Ansell** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:41 pm

Pretty sure I've beaten Jimmy Sherwin, but can't remember the game. If Bronstein ever beat Fischer, I'm claiming a double 2

Edit: if not, I have a disappointing 3 via Jack!

A few must be able to claim 2 via Korchnoi.

Leonard Barden · Post by **Leonard Barden** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:49 pm

Barden 1-0 Donner (BUCA v Dutch Universities 1950)
Barden 1-0 Donner (Bognor 1954)
Donner 1-0 Fischer (Varna Olympiad 1962)
Also: Barden 1-0 Fischer blitz 1960

I prefer Morphy numbers....

Andrew Bak · Post by **Andrew Bak** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:50 pm

Simon Ansell wrote:Pretty sure I've beaten Jimmy Sherwin, but can't remember the game. If Bronstein ever beat Fischer, I'm claiming a double 2
Edit: if not, I have a disappointing 3 via Jack!

A few must be able to claim 2 via Korchnoi.

Bronstein =3 -1 vs Fischer according to my database. Still, pretty cool that you've beaten Bronstein though!

Simon Ansell · Post by **Simon Ansell** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:56 pm

Andrew Bak wrote:
Simon Ansell wrote:Pretty sure I've beaten Jimmy Sherwin, but can't remember the game. If Bronstein ever beat Fischer, I'm claiming a double 2
Edit: if not, I have a disappointing 3 via Jack!

A few must be able to claim 2 via Korchnoi.
Bronstein =3 -1 vs Fischer according to my database. Still, pretty cool that you've beaten Bronstein though!

Yep, let's do Botvinnik numbers instead

Although Leonard could almost certainly trump me there also!

Leonard Barden · Post by **Leonard Barden** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:04 pm

Simon Ansell wrote:
Yep, let's do Botvinnik numbers instead

Although Leonard could almost certainly trump me there also!

Barden 1-0 Alexander Buxton 1950
Barden 1-0 Alexander Hastings 1953 (despite not knowing how to win the Lucena position)
Alexander 1-0 Botvinnik radio match 1946

Andrew Bak · Post by **Andrew Bak** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:19 pm

Leonard Barden wrote:Barden 1-0 Donner (BUCA v Dutch Universities 1950)
Barden 1-0 Donner (Bognor 1954)
Donner 1-0 Fischer (Varna Olympiad 1962)
Also: Barden 1-0 Fischer blitz 1960

I prefer Morphy numbers....

Blitz games not allowed, but interesting all the same!

David Grobler · Post by **David Grobler** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:51 pm

well....anyway.....getting the discussion back to the "average" players....mines a 6...which I thought was very impressive (until I read some of the others !)

IM Jack Rudd · Post by **IM Jack Rudd** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:20 pm

David Grobler wrote:well....anyway.....getting the discussion back to the "average" players....mines a 6...which I thought was very impressive (until I read some of the others !)

It's probably lower than 6. You've beaten Alan Papier, and it shouldn't take that long to get from Papier to Sherwin given how long they've both played in the Bristol League.

EDIT: It is lower than 6, seeing your message on Facebook:

David Grobler beat Alan Merry
Alan Merry beat Jack Rudd
Jack Rudd beat James Sherwin
James Sherwin beat Robert Fischer

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