Chesterton-Bobby Fischer connection!

Well this is stunning. The St. John's Valdosta blog says that chess grand champion Bobby Fischer was familiar with G.K. Chesterton through Dale Ahlquist's book, The Apostle of Common Sense.

According to the blog, when Fischer, who died January 17 in Iceland, was arrested in Japan in 2004 for allegedly attempting to travel on a revoked passport. "San Diego attorney Richard Vattuone, a Catholic, flew to Japan to act as counsel for Fischer. After his release, Fischer emigrated to Iceland." The blog says further:

Vattuone is intrigued by Fischer's final act. "When I met him in Japan, I gave Bobby a book about G.K. Chesterton, The Apostle of Common Sense. The book covered many matters of culture and religion. I know Bobby had read at least some of the book. Chesterton was a convert and the book contained an article about his conversion. We had also discussed religion." While Vattuone makes no claim that he "converted" Fischer, he can't help but wonder if he played some role in moving Fischer towards the Church.

A January 23 article from the Catholic News Agency confirms that Fischer had a Catholic funeral, which he had requested before he died. However, Church officials in Iceland could not confirm if he died a Catholic, though "that doesn't mean he didn't," the CNA article quotes a priest as saying. Fischer was notoriously guarded about his private life.

By a small miracle I just reached Apostle of Common Sense author Dale Ahlquist, who is in Seattle giving a series of lectures, and gave him this news. His calm and measured reaction: "No way!! Un-stinking-believable!!" Chaa! This is HUGE!

Yeah, I know that Fischer had some unsavory opinions. Though a Jew, he was known for harboring anti-Semitic opinions and even, I've read, expressed support for the 911 attacks. Reprehensible though that may be, we are all sinners. Has any of us had even a day when we did not play in the muck? And if Bobby Fischer did find solace at the end of his life, the kind of solace that leads to one only place, Chesterton's "ultimate inn," the inn at the end of the world, then let us raise our glasses in joy, and raise a prayer of thanskgiving to Heaven for G.K. Chesterton, who is the Apostle of Common Sense, and yet more prayers for the soul of Bobby Fischer. Checkmate, Professor Lucifer.

And good going, Dale.

EDIT: Robert Kumpel, from whose blog I got the original story on this, also has a comlete article here.