On October 17, 1956, a 13-year-old Bobby Fischer shocked the chess world with a brilliancy against Donald Byrne in the Rosenwald Memorial Tournament at the Marshall Chess Club in New York. Annotator Hans Kmoch called it “The Game of the Century”, and it remains one of the most celebrated games in chess history.
Though his tournament result overall was modest, Fischer would soon surge forward – winning the U.S. Championship at 14, becoming a grandmaster at 15, and World Champion by 29.
The opening transposed into a Grünfeld Defence (ECO D92). Byrne appeared solid, but a small slip on move 11 allowed Fischer to unleash a ferocious attack.
After sacrificing his queen, Fischer obtained two bishops, a rook, and a pawn – overwhelming force compared to Byrne’s lonely queen. Fischer’s active coordination crushed White’s undeveloped pieces.
Complete development before launching attacks, beware of repeating moves unnecessarily, and never underestimate piece activity. Fischer’s victory shows how initiative and coordination can outweigh material.
This single game put Fischer on the world map. It foreshadowed his uncompromising style and tactical clarity, qualities that would later help him topple the Soviet chess empire in 1972. Today, the game is regarded as a masterpiece of prodigy brilliance and remains one of the most famous games ever played.
👉 Discover more iconic games in our Chess History Guide.