Narita, Japan
Japanese police arrested fugitive American chess champion Bobby Fischer last week as he was trying to board a flight to the Philippines. A grandmaster at age 15, Fischer became a Cold War hero when he defeated Soviet chess champion Boris Spassky in a series of games in 1972. A few years later, though, he lost the world championship and became a recluse. Now 61, he is wanted in the U.S. for traveling to Yugoslavia in 1992, in violation of an embargo. Fischer had gone there to play a rematch against Spassky, whom he beat again. Japanese authorities said they were planning to deport Fischer for traveling on an invalid passport.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during the winter chillThe Week Recommends As the calendar turns to 2026, check out some new music from your favorite artists
-
Kristi Noem might not be long for TrumplandIN THE SPOTLIGHT The Homeland Security secretary has been one of the most visible and vocal architects of Trump’s anti-immigration efforts, even as her own star risks fading
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
