Show of the week: Bobby Fischer Against the World

Liz Garbus's documentary draws a fascinating portrait of a brilliant but troubled figure.

In 1972, chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky faced off in Iceland in an American-Soviet showdown that riveted a world roiled by Cold War tensions. This documentary by Liz Garbus (Ghosts of Abu Ghraib) traces how Fischer became the youngest grandmaster ever, achieved world domination of chess with his defeat of Spassky, then retreated into obsession and paranoia. Interviews with chess champion Gary Kasparov and author Malcolm Gladwell help draw a fascinating portrait of a brilliant but troubled figure. Monday, June 6, at 9 p.m., HBO

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up