The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 18, 1972 - Page 1
Chess Rivals Step Up Pace in 4th Battle
(AP) — Referee Lothar Schmid switched on the clock, starting the fourth game in the world chess championship today but neither Boris Spassky nor Bobby Fischer was on the stage.
It was the first time the Russian title holder had not been waiting at the chess board as the game opened.
Fischer, playing white pieces this time, had the first move.
Finally, Spassky strode onto the stage four minutes after the start of the clock.
Fischer walked on 10 minutes after the start and took his seat opposite Spassky in the main exhibition hall.
A hush fell over the 2500-seat auditorium.
Fischer moved his king's pawn two squares. This is his favorite first move, an aggressive opening.
Spassky, however, chose an unusual response for him. He went into the Sicilian defense, possibly, experts said, to surprise Fischer.
The 29-year-old American chess whiz won his first game ever from world title-holder Boris Spassky yesterday and now trails the Russian 2-1 in their 24-game match. In seven previous meetings, Fischer lost five times and two were draws.
Spassky was at the chess board alone yesterday when the third game resumed after the overnight adjournment, and referee Lothar Schmid opened Fischer's sealed 41st move, left with him the night before. It was bishop to queen six, and it put the champion's king in check.
Play was swift.
Spassky made his first eight moves in less than two minutes, having obviously prepared his defense well in advance.
Fischer, behind 2-1 in the 24-game match, was also prepared, for he played his first seven moves in less than three minutes.
For his eighth move, however, Fischer took 10 minutes; the intellectual battle was on in earnest.
Spassky sat for five minutes, turned his king on its side to concede defeat, and left the stage as the audience sat silent.
A few minutes later, Fischer arrived to mixed boos ([due to Iceland's notorious bitter anti-American hostility]) and cheers. He stayed only two minutes.
For the first time since the match was supposed to start on July 9, there was no overnight protests or complaints, or negotiations between officials of the various chess federations and representatives of the players.