Robert James Fischer was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Regina Wender Fischer, a Swiss-born Jewish woman of Polish descent. His biological father's identity remains debated, with some alleging it to be Paul Nemenyi, a Hungarian physicist. Fischer's early life was relatively solitary, marked by his mother's progressive views and frequent relocations.

At the age of six, Fischer's sister Joan bought him a chess set from a candy store. Initially, he taught himself the rules from the instruction booklet. This seemingly small event ignited a lifelong passion that would define his life. Fischer became completely absorbed in the game, spending countless hours studying and playing.

Fischer's rapid rise through the chess world was astonishing. In 1956, at the age of 13, he won the U.S. Junior Championship. A year later, at 14 years old, he became the youngest grandmaster in history at the time, a record that showcased his extraordinary talent and dedication. This solidified his status as a chess prodigy and announced him as a major contender on the world stage.

Fischer achieved an impressive fourth-place finish in the 1962 Candidates Tournament in Curaçao. However, he publicly accused Soviet players of colluding to prevent a non-Soviet player from challenging the World Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik. While his claims were controversial, they contributed to changes in the tournament format, making it less susceptible to potential collusion.

After a period of relative inactivity, Fischer returned to competitive chess with renewed vigor. He achieved a stunning victory at the Interzonal tournament in Palma de Mallorca in 1970, securing his place in the Candidates matches. This marked the beginning of his unprecedented run towards the World Championship.

In 1971, Fischer achieved arguably the greatest series of match victories in chess history. He defeated Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen, both by the score of 6-0, and then defeated Tigran Petrosian 6.5-2.5. These overwhelming victories demonstrated Fischer's unparalleled dominance and set the stage for his showdown with Boris Spassky.

The 1972 World Chess Championship match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavík, Iceland, became a global spectacle, viewed as a symbolic battle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. After a dramatic start, including forfeiting the second game, Fischer defeated Spassky to become the World Chess Champion, ending Soviet dominance in chess. This victory made him an instant celebrity and a national hero.

Fischer refused to defend his title against Anatoly Karpov in 1975, citing unacceptable conditions imposed by FIDE (the World Chess Federation). He demanded that the match be a 'first to ten wins, draws not counting' format, but FIDE refused to comply entirely. As a result, Karpov was declared the World Champion by default, and Fischer retreated from public life.

After 20 years of seclusion, Fischer emerged from obscurity to play a rematch against Boris Spassky in Yugoslavia. This event, though unofficial, garnered considerable attention. However, it violated US sanctions against Yugoslavia, leading to an indictment for violating those sanctions, forcing him into exile to avoid arrest.

Fischer spent his final years living in Iceland, granted citizenship to circumvent his US arrest warrant. He continued to make controversial and often antisemitic statements. Bobby Fischer died of kidney failure on January 17, 2008, in Reykjavík, leaving behind a complex legacy as both a brilliant chess genius and a deeply troubled individual.