Bobby Fischer, one of the world's most renowned chess players, died on 2008-01-18 00:00:00 UTC at the age of 64. During his lifetime, Fischer was a ground-breaking figure in the field of chess, becoming the first American -born world chess champion and the youngest person ever to win the title. He defied the chess world by storming out of a world championship match, and organized a legendary series of matches against Russian legend Boris Spassky. Throughout his career, Fischer shared the world stage with such figures as Boris Spassky and Anatoly Karpov, and his name was universally associated with genius and controversy. His prodigious achievements included an unbeaten record of 20 wins and no losses in matches, known as "The Perfect Game". His influence on chess spurred a tremendous surge in chess players and clubs throughout the world and permanently elevated the profile of the game. After retiring from professional chess in the early 1970s, Fischer became a recluse in Iceland, surrounded by controversy and politics. Upon his death at age 64, Fischer will be remembered for his brilliance in chess, as well as his enigmatic and polarizing personality.