The Bobby Fischer Center houses memorabilia of the 11th World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. The American Bobby Fischer became the World Chess Champion when he defeated the Soviet grandmaster and reigning World Champion Boris Spassky in Reykjavík in the summer of 1972. The match is generally referred to as the Match of the Century. It took place at the height of the Cold War, mirroring the tense relations between the two superpowers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Since 1948 Soviet chess players had held the World Championship title – uninterrupted for 25 years. On display at the Bobby Fischer centre are among other things Spassky´s and Fischer´s scoresheets, a printout from the radiation measurements demanded by Spassky´s delegation after the 17th game and a replica of the chess board used during the match, which was staged in Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík. In addition there are many curious items related to Bobby Fischer’s stay in Iceland during his last years, 2005-2008, for example his chair from the antiquarian bookshop Bókin in Reykjavík. He died on 17th January 2008 at the age of 64. Bobby Fischer´s final resting place is at Laugardælir cemetery, a few hundred metres away from the Bobby Fischer centre.
