Fischer, Kasparov and the Others [Paperback]

Donald Schultz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

A memoir and tribute to 45 years of world-class chess competition, this book's two major themes coalesce a series of humorous, sometimes ominous anecdotes into a realistic and compelling portrait of the stars and the controversy behind chess on the world stage. While much of the book focuses on the actions of the game's greatest geniuses, including Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, and the controversial Florencio Campones, these true-to-life tales spare no detail in the accounts of the underhanded manipulations of the game by despots and world leaders alike, among them Fidel Castro, Jacques Chirac, Saddam Hussein, and Margaret Thatcher. The abuse of the game by international organizations is also documented: readers will get the inside scoop on a player's seduction by a KGB agent, and will learn how a Russian police chief known as the Bloodthirsty Dwarf attempted to turn the tides of one tournament in his country's favor.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Even better than CHESSDON" -- International Master Walter Shipman

"Sequels seldom rise to the level of the original. An exception is Fischer, Kasparov and the Others" -- Syndicated Columnist Grandmaster Larry Evans

A great book and a contribution to chess history. -- Former President of the Soviet Chess Fed., GM Yuri Averbach

From the Author

I have represented the United States to the World Chess Community for 45 years and have personally met all the players and world leaders discussed in the book. My story is one of a collection of first hand tales woven together with candor and encompassing the humorous and the ugly.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Chessdon Publishing (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967077516
• ISBN-13: 978-0967077512
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,945,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and informative view of chess politics, June 29, 2005

By 

Eric A. Schiller "www.ericschiller.com" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fischer, Kasparov and the Others (Paperback)

"Fischer, Kasparov, and the others" is a substantial revision of Don Schultz is earlier book "CHESSDON". It is a collection of anecdotes, stories, and reports from the battlefields of chess politics. Whether you are familiar with the Machiavellian plots of the international chess world, or have no idea just how down and dirty those battles can be, you'll find this book provides a great and entertaining education. These are the recollections of Don Schultz, former president of United States Chess Federation and a major figure at times in the World Chess Federation. The political nature of the book is made clear by the list of endorsements on the back cover. Most people have never heard of the majority of them, unless you happen to be involved in the international struggle for the future of the chess world, or the American slice of it..
It is entirely fitting that the first chapter of the book is titled "The Manipulators". Even the world's best chessplayers are often mere pawns on the board of the politicians. The current president of the World Chess Federation is the President of the Republic of Kalmykia, and his predecessor was a close pal of the Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Schultz has plenty to say about many of these colorful figures. I will leave it to others to critique the historical facts of the book. The author and I have been on opposite sides in some of these battles, and on the same side in others. Well, you know, in chess sometimes you play with the white pieces and sometimes you play with the black pieces! I was present at some of these events and my recollection does sometimes vary from the views presented by "chessdon" (as the author is known online), but one nice thing about the chess world is that many avenues of communication are possible so that all perspectives can be considered. Definitive history, perhaps not, but essential reading, absolutely!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chess Memoirs of Being With the Greats!, January 13, 2006

By 

Eskychesser (Michigan - USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fischer, Kasparov and the Others (Paperback)

This book goes behind the scenes of the professional and amateur world of organized chess. It is very entertaining because not many people (even die hard chess players themselves) have experiences of this nature in the realm of chess politics. The man has done it all and it was fun to read about his spectacular path! Mr. Schultz' love for chess is clear and his accounts of his chess past are entertaining. He tells of the good and he tells of the bad and a lot of humorous little anecdotes in between. If you play chess with any seriousness, this book is certainly an educational tool in terms of understanding how the big organizations like FIDE and USCF operate. However, this book is very suitable for non-chessplayers as well in that there is no actual chess positions or analysis. It is a story of a man's chess life and political career and I found it to be well done.