AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 10
Fischer In Dominant Position as 3rd Chess Game Adjourns
Reykjavik, Iceland—The third game of the world chess championship between titleholder Boris Spassky and U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer was adjourned Sunday night with the American in a commanding position.
If the challenger triumphs today—and there are few experts here who doubt that he will—it will be his first victory over the Russian and will put him back in the running for the championship.
Success seemed near for Fischer at the end of a day in which he was on the point of abandoning the contest after a series of disputes.
Play was adjourned on the 41st move. The next move, which is Fischer's, has been written on a piece of paper and sealed in an envelope.
The game was held in an upstairs room behind the stage of the Reykjavik exhibition hall to ensure that the U.S. champion would appear.
He had bitterly opposed the presence of ([disruptive camera men operating]) cameras around the stage and the organizers were afraid he would stay away if the match was continued in the auditorium.
Chief match arbiter Lothar Schmid moved the play behind the scenes under a special ruling which allows for such a measure on temporary basis.
By midafternoon, after Fischer was informed that the match could continue in the back room and after a flood of telegrams was received from the United States urging him to stay on here and complete the match, the 29-year-old challenger made his decision.
Playing on a simple wooden chessboard across a table, and with only the match arbiters and a closed-circuit television camera in the long, narrow room, Fischer showed why he was the prematch favorite.
Although holding the black pieces, he was quickly on the offensive and it was clear he was prepared to take considerable risks to break down Spassky's resistance.
When play was adjourned on the 41st move Fischer clearly had a winning advantage.
Spassky's two closest aides, grand masters Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius, both confirmed their man was losing the game.
Even though Krogius and Geller, and a third Soviet grand master, Ivor Nej, have been joined by a fourth, Isaac Oleslavsky, who is a brilliant analyst, chess experts considered it almost out of the question that they could save the game for Spassky.
Spassky Moody
When the game was adjourned, Spassky emerged moodily from the side entrance of the building, looking exhausted.
Fischer also looked tired. He showed no signs of elation when he walked to his car and did not react when the crowd waiting outside burst into applause.
Fischer's second, Father William Lombardy, told reporters he had no doubt the challenger would turn up for the resumption of the game today.
The American's administrative assistant, Fred Cramer, beaming happily, declared: “Bobby is going to win this game and he is going to win all the rest of them, too.” ([Interesting statement that nobody else found worthy to report, considering the uncertainty whether Chester Fox Inc., and organizers may still have insisted on camera men swarming Fischer, or no.])
Icelandic officials appeared delighted at Fischer's comeback. Some said this meant that the match was virtually certain to be completed.
But Fischer still has an uphill task. If he wins today, he will be down only 1-2. But as Spassky need only draw the 24-game match to retain his title, the effective score is 1-3.
Spassky's second, Geller, said the Soviet side understood that play would be moved back to the auditorium for the fourth game Tuesday, and that the Americans planned to protest this.
