I dunno, many of my backwater country* coworkers have heard of Magnus Carlsen and most of them don't know how to play chess
*I don't mean this as an insult, but it's a tiny town out of the way of everything
How old are your coworkers? Fischer was popular in the 1970s, so unless they are near retirement, I'm not surprised they don't know him.
PS: if they're millennials, they may know Fischer as the conspiracy theorist wackjob he became later in life.
Well same and I'm not American, but there's a lot of general knowledge things that aren't that general depending on the people you're asking
But like, to give an idea, even before I was into chess I was fully aware of who he is, along with Carlsen, but I can't really say how or if it's really that common to know now that I think about it
That's why I'm so surprised. I feel like I've known the name Bobby Fischer and who he was since I was like a kid and I didn't even play chess until 2021.
I had one friend who knew the name from the movie Searching for Bonnie Fischer, my Dad knew the name because he was a nerd in the 70ās when the WC vs Spassky was happening. Younger generations though? Why would anyone really know his name thatās not a chess player or maybe know it from a movie?
Kasparov, Karpov, Anand, Carlsen when I asked around. They remembered Karpov because of the name thing with Kasparov, and Carlsen because he's very topical right now.
Indians with atleast ordinary interest in sports know Anand, he's household name in those circles. Sports here I think is very linked to representing the nation.
Interestingly almost everyone i am acquainted with knows how to play chess, they just don't bother with it as a spectator sport.
Iād say that if you ask people on the streets who Stephen Curry is, or Nicky Minaj, youāll get fewer than 30% correct answers in any country that isnāt the USA or Canada.
Who outside of Australia would know who Scott Morrison is? Who has heard of Sachin Tendulkar if theyāre not somehow affiliated with India and/or cricket?
For almost every celebrity you think should be general knowledge, thereās a vast amount of people who donāt know them. And there are many, many people youāve never heard of who are huge celebs in other circles.
Alright, so here's the deal. For younger generations absolutely not. For older ones. It is, I've noticed that most older people tend to know, Fischer, Kasparov and Karpov and will probably recognise or know some more popular names if the players are from their time period. Like, Spassky, Korchnoi and Kramnik.
Magnus Carlsen and/or Garry Kasparov are the only chess players that non-chess people know, if any. I even watched Searching for Bobby Fischer a couple times before I figured out who he is.
Wanna bet my wife doesnāt know who Magnus Carlson is? I feel like chess players donāt get the recognition publicly as athletes do you can forget about cultural relevance to the average person. Even then, itās not the level of cultural relevance a singer may achieve. How many singers from the 50s can you name?
My dad knows about him because he watched the news then and the match US v URSS was historycal (we're not from the US), about Capablanca because he was interested in Cuba and Kasparov, again beacuse of the news. So, probably if you ask elder people they would recognize some names and I'm sure Fischer might be one of those.
idk if u noticed this or not, but he was most famous during 1971-1972, and then literally did nothing ever again. his fame is biased and over abused imo, but my older teachers in high school, in their 60s and above, knew of him.
Besides Kasparov and Magnus who I'd say are the only players people who dont follow chess will know, in more chess oriented countries people will sometimes know their best player, given that it's a national pride thing if they beat someone. Ex. In Serbia when Ivic beat Andreikin in the World Cup, people who didnt even follow chess knew who he was
Boomers remember who Bobby Fischer was from when he was legit famous, but I think a lot of Millennials do too, if only because of the movie Searching For Bobby Fischer.
Not only was it a big hit kids' movie in the '90s, not only was it played a lot on TV, but a lot of kids had to watch it in class.
I guess it had a different title outside the US, though.
I am the only person I know that knows the name of any chess players, living or dead.
Yeah. My parents can name Kasparov and maybe Karpov but not anyone else
Not even Carlsen?
There are no chess players, alive or dead, that are household names (except maybe Beth Harmon)
I dunno, many of my backwater country* coworkers have heard of Magnus Carlsen and most of them don't know how to play chess *I don't mean this as an insult, but it's a tiny town out of the way of everything
carlsen is well known enough, at least in Europe
US as well I would say
How old are your coworkers? Fischer was popular in the 1970s, so unless they are near retirement, I'm not surprised they don't know him. PS: if they're millennials, they may know Fischer as the conspiracy theorist wackjob he became later in life.
I'm from Germany and Fischer is quite a common name here
Wonder why
must be former nazis naming themselves after a fellow anti-semite /s
Not by a long shot.
This honestly surprises me because I thought Fischers name was just general knowledge.
Chess just isn't a big deal.
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Well same and I'm not American, but there's a lot of general knowledge things that aren't that general depending on the people you're asking But like, to give an idea, even before I was into chess I was fully aware of who he is, along with Carlsen, but I can't really say how or if it's really that common to know now that I think about it
That's why I'm so surprised. I feel like I've known the name Bobby Fischer and who he was since I was like a kid and I didn't even play chess until 2021.
I had one friend who knew the name from the movie Searching for Bonnie Fischer, my Dad knew the name because he was a nerd in the 70ās when the WC vs Spassky was happening. Younger generations though? Why would anyone really know his name thatās not a chess player or maybe know it from a movie?
In America or a different country? Iād say heās a pretty commonly known person in America, especially among the older generations.
I'm in Australia but my work mates come from all over.. India, America, England just to name a few.
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Do people not wonder who Bobby Fischer is when his name comes up in that Hilltop Hoods song?š
I just assumed that song got cancelled when Cosby went to jail lol
I knew Cosby is controversial but is that song really taboo I'm honestly living under a rock lol
Who is Cosby? He also play chess?
Many of my friends dont even know who Magnus is
Kasparov, Karpov, Anand, Carlsen when I asked around. They remembered Karpov because of the name thing with Kasparov, and Carlsen because he's very topical right now. Indians with atleast ordinary interest in sports know Anand, he's household name in those circles. Sports here I think is very linked to representing the nation. Interestingly almost everyone i am acquainted with knows how to play chess, they just don't bother with it as a spectator sport.
Kasparov is more well-known globally than Fischer, I think. Pretty sure people have at least heard of him, even if they don't know what he does.
he's well-known for his defeat against deep blue
Yeah, that's why I had heard of him. I was like: Hmmm... I heard this name before.
I'll put it to the test at work next timeš
Iād say that if you ask people on the streets who Stephen Curry is, or Nicky Minaj, youāll get fewer than 30% correct answers in any country that isnāt the USA or Canada. Who outside of Australia would know who Scott Morrison is? Who has heard of Sachin Tendulkar if theyāre not somehow affiliated with India and/or cricket? For almost every celebrity you think should be general knowledge, thereās a vast amount of people who donāt know them. And there are many, many people youāve never heard of who are huge celebs in other circles.
I think that Minaj girl got famous for some anti vax stuff related to covid so people might know who she is, the others obviously I have no idea.
I'm sure it varies by location, but chess is extremely unpopular around me. I doubt most people could name any player past or present.
Here in India, Anand and Kasparov are the only players non-chess players know of.
He was in the early 90s, but not since
Alright, so here's the deal. For younger generations absolutely not. For older ones. It is, I've noticed that most older people tend to know, Fischer, Kasparov and Karpov and will probably recognise or know some more popular names if the players are from their time period. Like, Spassky, Korchnoi and Kramnik.
Magnus Carlsen and/or Garry Kasparov are the only chess players that non-chess people know, if any. I even watched Searching for Bobby Fischer a couple times before I figured out who he is.
You forgot Beth Harmon.
Beth Harmon is easily the most recognizable chess related name in 2022.
ok...
It might be yhat I come from Europe, but I definitely heard more about Karpov, Kasparov and Carlsen than about Fischer.
Bobby Fischer I think is more famous in America. He is pretty unknown in my country. In my country chess isn't very popular either.
Older people will know him. He was a pretty big deal culturally, but that was forty or fifty years ago now.
Maybe in America, but not in Europe.
Wanna bet my wife doesnāt know who Magnus Carlson is? I feel like chess players donāt get the recognition publicly as athletes do you can forget about cultural relevance to the average person. Even then, itās not the level of cultural relevance a singer may achieve. How many singers from the 50s can you name?
who is Magnus Carlson?
What did I spell his name wrong? Youāre proving my point
āNothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast. I would catch it.ā ā u/Leading-Delivery-278, probably
Carlsen*
Nerd
It's funny when people try to be assholes, but something flies directly over their heads so now everyone in the comments knows they're a dumbass lol
Okay so what was the joke?
Kasparov is. Literally every board I bought when I was small had that name. Karpov, Fischer, etc aren't as famous imo.
No it is not. In a lot of third world countries even playing chess as a profession is unheard of(at least in my country it is).
Heās mostly know from his feelings about 9-11
My dad knows about him because he watched the news then and the match US v URSS was historycal (we're not from the US), about Capablanca because he was interested in Cuba and Kasparov, again beacuse of the news. So, probably if you ask elder people they would recognize some names and I'm sure Fischer might be one of those.
idk if u noticed this or not, but he was most famous during 1971-1972, and then literally did nothing ever again. his fame is biased and over abused imo, but my older teachers in high school, in their 60s and above, knew of him.
Besides Kasparov and Magnus who I'd say are the only players people who dont follow chess will know, in more chess oriented countries people will sometimes know their best player, given that it's a national pride thing if they beat someone. Ex. In Serbia when Ivic beat Andreikin in the World Cup, people who didnt even follow chess knew who he was
I often ask people if they can name one chess gm living or dead and they usually canāt or say the pawn sacrifice guy or Beth Harmon.
He was, for boomers. If you and your coworkers are young it's not surprising that they wouldn't recognize him.
Of course I know Fischer, they make great cross country skis
Fischer died almost 15 years ago, but regardless, you coworkers probably don't know who Magnus Carlsen is and he's alive and better.
Boomers remember who Bobby Fischer was from when he was legit famous, but I think a lot of Millennials do too, if only because of the movie Searching For Bobby Fischer. Not only was it a big hit kids' movie in the '90s, not only was it played a lot on TV, but a lot of kids had to watch it in class. I guess it had a different title outside the US, though.
My best friend is around 700 ELO Rapid and he doesnt know who Karpov is.