R.I.P Bobby Fisher

Bobby Fisher died today in Iceland, reportedly from kidney failure. He was 64, either appropriately or ironically, depending on your perspective.

I used to play chess a lifetime ago. At my first job In Columbus (a Blue Cross plan that doesn't exist anymore) there was a group of guys in IT who played chess at lunch. I would occasionally join them and they would humor me and play a few games. Most of them were members in The World Chess Federation and were ranked. They urged me to join, but I was young, and dumb, and had other priorities and as I convinced myself, not the spare money to spend on the membership, so I didn't. And as a consequence, I haven't really played much since.

About half a lifetime ago, my wife bought me a chess computer for my birthday. Or maybe it was Christmas, I don't recall (and yes, that is disappointingly sad that I can't remember.). I still have it, it's a Kasparov from Saitek, very similar to this one. I put some new batteries in it and am very happy to see that it still works.

I think I'll spend at least part of this weekend getting reacquainted with the game of chess.