AThe Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 2
Fischer Leads in 3d Game from Wire Services
Bobby Fischer returned to the chess board yesterday in a game that was adjourned with the American challenger apparently holding the edge over the Russian world champion, Boris Spassky.
If Mr. Fischer wins when the game resumes today—and there are few chess experts here who doubt that he will—it will put him back in the running for the championship. Mr. Spassky now leads, 2-0.
Mr. Spassky had five pawns at adjournment, Mr. Fischer six. Each retained a queen and a bishop in addition to his king, but Mr. Fischer was reported in a strong position for mate.
The game was played in an upstairs room with no spectators present.
The American challenger never has beaten Mr. Spassky.
Before this match he had lost three games to the Russian playing black and had drawn two when he played white and had the first move.
He lost the opening game of the championship playing black (due to disruptive camera men]), and forfeited the second game by failing to appear ([due to protesting until the disruptive camera men were removed]).
Sealed Envelope
The chief referee, Lothar Schmid, of West Germany, stopped play after Mr. Spassky had made his 41st move and Mr. Fischer had handed in his reply move in a sealed envelope.
The decision to hold the game in a private upstairs room instead of in the vast auditorium was apparently a condition set by Mr. Fischer for continuing the match ([actually, other sources report it was suggested by the organizers and the offer made to Fischer]).
Informed sources said that up to that time he had been against going ahead with the tournament, angered at the decision that he forfeit the second game and by the refusal of match officials to have backstage cameras removed.
Fred Cramer, Mr. Fischer's chief administrative adviser, was asked what changed the American's mind about continuing the match.
“I think it was the hundreds of thousands of telegrams he received from the United States. They just flooded in asking him to play on,” he replied.
Mr. Fischer, playing the black pieces and thus moving second, played aggressively and seized the initiative on the 11th move with an unexpected counterattack down the king-side. Mr. Spassky seemed a little shaken by the thrust and when midgame was reached Mr. Fischer had the upper hand.
He forced the Russian to give up one of his bishops for a knight and then proceeded to exert pressure on the world champion's center pawn.
Some Skirmishing
After some skirmishing on both sides, apparently aimed chiefly at gaining time on the clock, Mr. Spassky lost a pawn and when play was adjourned, Mr. Fischer clearly had a winning advantage.
Mr. Spassky's two closest aides, grandmasters Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius both confirmed that their man was losing the game.
When the game was adjourned, Mr. Spassky emerged moodily from the side entrance of the building, looking exhausted.
Mr. 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.
The President of the Icelandic Chess Federation, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, told reporters that Mr. Spassky had not been particularly happy about the game being played in private but had been talked into agreement by the referee, Lothar Schmid.
Mr. Geller reportedly said the Russian side understood that play would be moved back to the auditorium for the fourth game tomorrow, and that the Americans planned to protest against this.
Mr. Thorarinsson said the organizers and match officials felt today that Mr. Fischer “in his heart of hearts” wanted to continue playing and that he only needed a sufficiently good reason.
Therefore, it was suggested that the match could temporarily be moved behind the scenes.
Footnote: Repetitively, the rumors of Fischer's plans to leave Iceland has been repeated in the preceding article, and instances of the rumor purposely omitted, for on Saturday, July 15, 1972 it was also reported: “The Reverend William Lombardy, Fischer's second, discounted rumors that the American chessmaster was flying home. “I haven't heard anything about that and I hope it's not true,” Father Lombardy said. “Everything is still up in the air. We have settled nothing so far.” - Minneapolis Tribune.
