Many pay respect to Fischer

24/09/2008 11:06
Fischer’s Grave Places Laugardaelir on the Map

Since Robert James Fischer, grandmaster in chess, was buried at a local cemetery in Laugardaelir, earlier this year, there has been a steady increase in visitors to the gravesite. Laugardaelir is a hamlet of only 30 inhabitants, about one kilometer away from Selfoss in southwest Iceland.

“You could say that Laugardaelir has been placed on the map,” Rev. Kristinn Ásgeir Fridfinnsson of Hraungerdishreppur Parish and the Laugardaelir Church told Fréttabladid.

“In July and August it often occurred that as many as two buses a day came here,” Rev. Fridfinnsson said. “It appears that a few travel agencies have made a loop on the Ring Road to include us. Many Icelanders also come this way at weekends.”

Haraldur Thórarinsson, churchyard supervisor and Laugardaelir resident, said locals have not taken advantage of the increased traffic. “He is buried here where he wanted to rest in peace so that is hardly appropriate.”

Rev. Fridfinnsson has gotten his share of the attention. “Journalists from the Daily Times and Sunday Times have talked to me but what they find most remarkable is that he was buried without the knowledge of the pastor.”

Fischer’s burial ceremony was conducted by a Catholic priest with only a few people present.

Click here to read about Boris Spassky visiting Fischer’s grave.