ACarroll Daily Times Herald Carroll, Iowa Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 30
Fischer Gains Chess Initiative From Russian
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—American challenger Bobby Fischer forced the third game of the world chess championships off the stage and into a private room ([actually, that choice was made by the organizers and offer extended to Bobby, according to other sources]), gained the initiative from Russian titleholder Boris Spassky and was given a good chance to win when play resumes today.
But the future of the competition remained in suspense as aides of Spassky warned that the Soviet champion would refuse to play any additional games in the private room.
Play continues at 1 p.m. EDT with the referee opening a sealed envelope in which Fischer wrote out his 41st move at Sunday's adjournment.
The 29-year-old Brooklynite appeared for the third game in a small upstairs room of the Reykjavik sports hall. Spassky, 35, playing the white pieces, had already made his first move.
Fighting to overcome the Russian's 2-0 lead, Fischer forced Spassky to the defensive midway in the 5-hour, 18-minute session. At adjournment he was in a position to threaten the Russian's king. At the pause, each player had his king, queen and one bishop remaining while Fischer had six pawns to Spassky's five.
Isaac Kashdan, the international grandmaster analyzing the match for The Associated Press, said Fischer had excellent winning chances. He said in a clash of grandmasters, the one pawn advantage could be decisive.
Spassky won their opening game at Reykjavik last week and was declared winner of the second by forfeit when Fischer failed to appear because he objected to disruptive men operating the television cameras filming the match.
