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Bobby Fischer's Remains to be Exhumed in Iceland

By Jason Beahm on June 22, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Let the dead rest in peace. A nice sentiment, but in the case of Bobby Fischer, apparently it does not apply.

The Supreme Court of Iceland ruled Wednesday that Fischer's body will be exhumed, two years after he was buried. Lower courts had denied the request to examine his remains for paternity tests.

The famous chess genuis will have his remains exhumed in order to determine whether he fathered a 9 year old girl. Fischer is buried approximately 30 miles outside of Reykjavik, Iceland, where he had lived for three years prior to his death in 2008. At stake is his estate, reportedly worth $2 million, after he died in Iceland in 2008 with no will. Thordur Bogason, a lawyer for the child in question and her mother said that the investigation was launched because legal cases over who has rights to Bobby Fischer's estate have not been resolved.

Bogason believes there is strong evidence that Fischer is the father of the 9 year old girl, having sent thousands of Euro to her and her mother on eight occasions in the years prior to his death.

Fischer, is considered one of the greatest chess players in history. His life was filled with unpredicable twists and turns, including holding the title of World Chess Champion from 1972 to 1975, when he declined to defend his title after being unable to come to an agreement with the international chess federation over the conditions for the match. As the Wall Street Journal reports, in later life, Fischer gained notoriety for anti-Semitic and anti-American comments, including applauding the 9/11 attacks. He became a citizen of Iceland in 2005 after his U.S. passport was revoked.

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