The Guardian London, Greater London, England Tuesday, July 18, 1972 - Page 4
A Novel Win for Fischer by Leonard Barden
Bobby Fischer won the third game of the world chess title match in Reykjavik when Boris Spassky resigned as soon as the referee opened the envelop containing Fischer's sealed last move at the end of Tuesday's session and played 41. … B-Q6ch. Fischer was not in the hall when Spassky resigned.
Whey did Spassky resign? After Fischer's check with the bishop, white checkmated no matter where he places his attacked king.
If 42. K-Q2 Q-B7ch, and if 43. K-K1 Q-K7 mate, or if 43. K-K3 QxB mate.
If 42. K-K1 QxP ch, 43. B-Q2 Q-N8 ch, 44. B-B1 QxB mate.
If 42. K-K3 Q-Q8. And now if 43. B-N2 Q-B6 ch, 44. K-Q2 Q-K7 ch, 45. K-B3 Q-B7 mate, or if here 43. Q-N2 P-B6, 44. QxP Q-K7 ch, 45. K-Q4 Q-K5 mate.
Bobby's victory, reducing his match deficit to 1-2 is not only a fine example of the very best side of his chess ability but also strikes a moral blow in the negotiating battle which will decide whether game four of the championship is played in the auditorium before thousands of eager spectators and the ([disruptive men operating]) cameras which Bobby ([rightfully dislikes and the rules permit him to legally demand removal thereof]) or in the upstairs “chess cupboard” where he scored his win.
Fischer had looked set for his first victory after 20 moves and his startling conception on his eleventh move made all the haggling seem worthwhile.
Fischer's imaginative 29th move in the first game will be much talked about by all future generations of chess players. In this game, he produced an exciting innovation the validity of which will be closely scrutinized in the next few months.
