Talk:Bobby Fischer

@Mtjannetta: A recent edit broke out the citations about Fischer's death into separate footnotes. Combining them into one footnote is correct, see WP:CITEMERGE, and was done as a palliative for citation overkill. I considered reverting the recent edit, but taking the larger view, I don't think we need umpteen citations about his death. So perhaps I should just get rid of a few? Comments welcome. Bruce leverett (talk) 05:43, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

I simply started that project fixing harv errors and then it got out of hand. I agree its overkill. Please do whatever you think is best.

Michael Jannetta (talk) 06:19, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

In the section about Olympiads, regarding the Lugano Olympiad of 1968, we say,

According to Lombardy, Fischer's non-participation was due to Reshevsky's refusal to yield first board.

citing Lombardy's 2011 book.

This seems like it might be a simple error. It is documented that Fischer did not play in the 1958 Munich Olympiad because Reshevsky would not yield first board. Could Lombardy have been writing about that earlier event? I do not have a copy of Lombardy's book (and I can't find it online); can anyone read it carefully to determine exactly what he said? Also, the sources saying that Fischer backed out of Lugano after seeng the poor playing conditions seem quite solid. Bruce leverett (talk) 20:47, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

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Well, Have this been added that Bobby Fischer invented Chess960, now renamed and popularly known as Freestyle chess if not why/ Gaga2222 (talk) 10:12, 22 February 2026 (UTC)

 Not done. It's not clear what changes you want to make. –Deacon Vorbis (carbon • videos) 13:48, 22 February 2026 (UTC)

Yes, his invention of Chess960 is already mentioned in the article. As a courtesy, could we ask you to read the article before proposing a change to it. Bruce leverett (talk) 02:13, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

From MOS:OVERLINK:

In addition, major examples of the following categories should generally not be linked:

• Settlements or municipalities (e.g., New Delhi; New York City, or just New York if the city context is already clear; London, if the context rules out London, Ontario)

This seems to cover Chicago. That policy also says,

Unless particularly relevant to the context in the article, words and terms understood by most readers in context are usually not linked.

Readers of English Wikipedia will generally already know what "Chicago" is, and will not need a link to it.

Where exactly is the text that you quoted in your edit summary? It is not in MOS:OVERLINK. Bruce leverett (talk) 02:56, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Sorry, those were other editors' comments. Although many readers may know Chicago, some foreign visitors will not be as versed, and others may wish to check the page as one of the "Articles with relevant information". MOS:OVERLINK provides that "Unless particularly relevant to the context in the article, words and terms understood by most readers in context are usually not linked." Since Chicago is the city of Fischer's birth, and is only in the Infobox, it seems relevant. Strictly speaking, MOS:OVERLINK would eliminate the article's Manhattan and Reykjavík links as follows: "Examples of overlinking include: Settlements or municipalities (e.g., New Delhi; New York City...)", which indicates no exceptions and makes no sense to me if construed without exception. The section reads, "major examples of the following categories should generally not be linked" (emphasis supplied). The premise for MOS:OVERLINK is to eliminate an excessive number of links. Having Chicago just in the Infobox does not seem excessive. Also, in many BLP articles I notice many, many, many editors add, or don't object to, birth cities being linked in Infoboxes. On the other hand, a different section of the same Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Linking article (MOS:GEOLINK) anticipates linking, for example, "Instead, use: ✔️Paris, France (Paris, France)". I consider this a matter than can be logically supported, goes with MOS:GEOLINK, is not a major example, and is in keeping with not having too many links. Quaerens-veritatem (talk) 04:40, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Thanks for explaining your reasoning.

Chicago was indeed where Fischer was born, but it doesn't figure in the rest of the article, even in the parts about his childhood.

I agree that the interpretation of "major" might or might not include Manhattan and Reykjavik. I would have taken for granted that it would include Chicago.

I am not in favor of using a link here. But the policy is written to allow for editorial discretion. I will leave this alone unless other editors weigh in. Bruce leverett (talk) 13:51, 11 March 2026 (UTC)