AThe Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 13
Fischer Concedes: Spassky Takes First Game In Title Series
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — World champion Boris Spassky won the first game Wednesday in his world title chess series against American Bobby Fischer.
Fischer, in a hopeless position, resigned. He stood up, folded his score sheet and walked out of the Reykjavik sports palace.
The decision confirmed the judgment of the experts who considered Fischer was in a difficult position when the game was adjourned after 40 moves Tuesday night.
The victory gave Spassky a 1-0 lead in the 24-game match and an important psychological advantage. Fischer has never beaten Spassky. His winless streak against the Russian now stands at six games.
With Bobby Fischer struggling to escape with a draw, Spassky resumed play Wednesday night in their adjourned first game, further reducing Fischer's forces with a pawn exchange.
The opening game of the world championship was adjourned Tuesday night after 40 moves.
Fischer and the defending champion from Russia left the table with the American in a difficult position.
Spassky's 41st move was written on a slip of paper, put in a sealed envelop at the close of play Tuesday night and given to Chief Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany.
Schmid ceremoniously opened the envelope at 5 p.m., 1 p.m.
After five minutes of play and several indecisive moves by both men, Fischer popped up, spoke animatedly to Schmid and stalked offstage.
Schmid followed him off.
Fred Cramer, a U.S. Chess Federation official who went backstage to talk to Fischer, said the American had complained about the presence of move cameras in the back of the hall. They were about 150 feet away and seemed inaudible from where Fischer sat.
Fischer's walkout lasted about half an hour.
When play was called off last night, there was little left on the board: a king and five pawns for Fischer; a king, three pawns and a bishop for Spassky.
Fischer Late
Spassky made his first move Tuesday all by himself in the shadowless illumination of the stage at Reykjavik's 2,500-seat Sports palace.
There was something surrealistic about the world championship series with prize money of about $300,000 starting with only one man sitting at the chess table.
Fischer, as usual, was late. He arrived seven minutes after Spassky moved his queen's pawn and referee Lothar Schmid pressed the button to start Fischer's clock.
Fischer, dressed in a dark suit, leaned forward with his head propped on his fist during the game, or rocked back in his swivel chair to get a longer view of the forces silently colliding on the marble and slate chess board.
Spassky Was Comfortable
Spassky seemed more comfortable with his forearms on the padded edge of the table. His legs were bent back under his chair, toes downward.
A large neon sign blinked on occasionally to admonish “silence.” Its purpose was to hush a low murmur in the vast audience.
Spectators sat in near darkness, most of them too far away to make out what was happening onstage. But above and in front of the stage, a screen 30 feet across displayed the positions on the board.
Photo Caption: Bobby Fischer studies the chess board before making a move. AP Wirephoto.
Fischer Concedes: Spassky Takes First Game In Title Series 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California) Newspapers.com
Bobby Fischer studies the chess board before making a move. AP Wirephoto 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California) Newspapers.com
