Did Fischer Play a Few Informal Games Against Karpov?

It is mentioned that they did indeed play a few informal games
in the Philippines. Google it. Any truth to this?

I doubt it. If this happened, I'm sure Karpov would have bragged about it and made the games public.
If someone showed me a game score perhaps I would be more inclined to believe it.

By the way, I saw Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa at Cancun last year.

It is possible. They negotiated a match. Maybe they played an informal game on condition of non-disclosure. Maybe they just played blitz. Maybe Karpov lost. Only Karpov can tell.

Maybe Fischer lost.

If i am not wrong, Karpov was ready to play. Fischer was the pussy. And dude, Karpov was STRONG at that time...

It would have been a great match. Damn shame it never happened. The world will never know who would have won that. It's not that Fischer was a pussy, but he was just paranoid, and had some issues. He already proved he was the world champion.

I'm unaware of any games between these 2, and would like to see them if they do exist.

Fischer was the only Champion who never defended his title. This doesnt make him a less great player but it is not fair play in my eyes. Karpov was given the WCH title for free but he always proved that he deserved it and he also defended his title in matches. Fischer has full responsibility for losing his title in my eyes. Edit: Ok, Kaspy also did it with Shirov. And Aliechin also avoided a rematch against Capablanca. Consequently both players lost their title in the next match.

Karpov wanted to play, but he or the Soviet chess federation rejected the terms proposed by Fischer. Two of the breaking points were that Fischer wanted to play a match to the first player with 10 wins, draws not counting and that at 9:9 the World Champion i.e. Fischer would retain his title as a single game could not decide the World Championship. Karpov and the Soviet Chess Federation said that such a match could go on forever and that the 9:9 regulation would force Karpov to win 10:8 and thus meant a 2 point handicap for Karpov as the challenger.
It took a lot of persuasion by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ("the worst player in the world calling the best player in the world: you must play"), Dr. Anthony Saidy ("Do it for the kids who learn chess now") and others to make Fischer play at Reykjavik 45 years ago. After the 1st game he forfeited the 2nd game and booked 3 flights home. Fischer had previously withdrawn from the Sousse Interzonal while leading. At the Lugano Olympiad he arrived, but he departed again as he was unsatisfied with the chess pieces and the lighting. So although he was a professional player, he has chosen not to play on several occasions before.
Karpov wanted a match and was unhappy to get the Word Championship title by forfeit.
Maybe they played Fischer Random Chess during their negotiations at Manilla.

@tpr

Just curious if you have read "The KGB Plays Chess" by Viktor Korchnoi?

No I have not read that, but I guess Korchnoi there states that the Soviet Chess Federation forced him to throw the candidates final against Karpov. That may be one more reason the Karpov wanted his match against Fischer. Also Fischer has written that the Soviet players drew or even throw games as dictated by the Soviet chess Federation.

@tpr

It is an astonishing read; very eye opening as to what went on behind the scenes. Once the Soviet establishment picked their "man" (in this case, Karpov) they afforded Karpov and his team the full support of the KGB as well as other outside support.

Kortchnoi was told flat out that he would be murdered if he beat Karpov lol