DNA Solves Bobby Fischer Paternity Case
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Well that settles it. It turns out that Jewish chess-champ-turned-rambling anti-Semite Bobby Fischer is not the father of a 9-year-old Filipino girl, Jinky Young, whose mother claimed to have been impregnated by Fischer.
As we reported in June, four parties, including young Jinky, were caught in a legal battle over Fischer’s $2 million estate following the chess champ’s death in 2008 from kidney failure. The other claimants included a Japanese chess official named Miyoko Watai, who says she was married to Fischer in 2004; Fischer’s two American nephews, Alexander and Nicholas Targ, and the American government, which claims Fischer’s money in compensation for unpaid taxes.
To settle the matter, the Supreme Court of Iceland — where Fischer spent his final days — decided to exhume Fischer’s corpse for DNA testing. According to Icelandic law, if the girl was indeed his daughter, she’d be entitled to two-third of his estate.
But it turned out that Fischer was not the father, as reported in a BBC article yesterday. “The DNA report excluded Bobby Fischer from being the father of Jinky Young, and therefore the case has come to a close,” lawyer Thordur Bogason was quoted saying in the article.
With three claimants remaining, the court case over the inheritance is still before an Icelandic court. Proceedings will continue next month, according to the article.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
