Reports | August 18, 2010 22:25

Fischer not the father of 9-year-old Filipino girl

Robert J. Fischer is not the biological father of Jinky Young, a 9-year-old girl from the Philippines. This was the result of DNA tests after tissue samples were taken from the 11th World Champion's remains in July.

On Monday, July 5th the tissue samples had been taken from Fischer to determine whether he was the father of Jinky. This was ordered by the Icelandic Supreme Court in the struggle for the legacy of the tormented genius.

Fischer is said to have left behind at least two million American dollars, which is claimed by four parties: Marilyn Young (the mother of the girl), Miyoko Watai, who was married to Fischer, and Alexander and Nicholas Targ (two of Fischer’s nephews). Besides, the U.S. government is still trying to collect unpaid taxes.

Marilyn Young, who tried to prove Fischer is the father of her 9-year-old daughter Jinky, filed her claim in Iceland last November. As evidence she provided pictures of her, Fischer and Jinky, and postcards to Jinky signed “Daddy” that she said were from Fischer. Based on this, the claim was denied.

But after Young came up with new evidence, in the form of records showing that Fischer transferred money to her account 2006 and 2007, the Supreme Court reversed the District Court of Reykjavik and ordered a paternity test. Therefore, DNA samples were taken from the remains and compared with the genetic material of the girl and her mother.

The National Hospital of Iceland, where Fischer passed away on January 17, 2008 from degenerative renal failure, didn’t preserve DNA material. Fischer was buried in a cemetery near the town of Selfoss, Iceland.

The test result was announced in Reykjavik District Court. Thordur Bogason, a Reykjavik-based lawyer who represents Jinky Young and her mother Marylin, said on Tuesday: "the DNA report excluded Bobby Fischer from being the father of Jinky Young, and therefore the case has come to a close."

But the struggle for the Fischer legacy will continue. Gudjon Olafur Jonsson, who legally represents Fischer's two American nephews, said the result 'simplifies' the case between Fischer's nephews and the woman who was his long-term partner. The case is scheduled to be heard in Reykjavik next month but is not expected to finish before the end of the year.

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Editors's picture
Author: Editors

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Comments

JAKE C's picture

The title should be corrected to read "Filipino" girl. One "p" only,

Arne Moll's picture

Thx, Jake C, corrected. Curiously, it's 'Filipino' even though the country is officially called 'Philippines' in English. Rather confusing if you ask me :-)

Edmund manlapao, Jr.'s picture

Filipino not Phillipino.

Coy Morphew's picture

Is it possible that the (maybe) greatest chess genuis in history died a virgin?
Well, no wonder he was so good...

Rini Luyks's picture

Maybe a) because of b) , without prejudice ofcourse (he/she who is without sin...)
But bright enough to gamble, with two million at stake...

mike's picture

I was surprised by this news. I did not think any mother of a child would demand DNA-samples if they were unsure of who the father was. The mother of Jinky must be one of two...

a, Not sure who made her pregnant.
b, Not too bright.

I guess b clarifies matters most.

Boybawang's picture

That's sad. It means Fischers bloodline ends in his grave.

Titus's picture

@Coy Morphew
"Is it possible that the (maybe) greatest chess genuis in history died a virgin?
Well, no wonder he was so good…"

Just like Isaac Newton, maybe the greatest physics genius of all times

test's picture

>> I did not think any mother of a child would demand DNA-samples if they were unsure of who the father was.

According to the story it was not Jinky Young who demanded the DNA test but the Supreme Court, reversing the decision of the District Court of Reykjavik and ordering a paternity test.

ChessGirl's picture

@ Arne: It´s a reminiscence from Spanish, since the Philippines (Filipinas in Spanish) was a Spanish colony for centuries.

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