Chippewa Herald-Telegram Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Thursday, July 20, 1972 - Page 16
Fischer 'Only Just Started': No Protests During Fifth Game of Chess Title Match
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky sit down at the chess board again today. But this time it is different—Fischer isn't threatening to walk out. ([if that's so, it's because Soviets aren't forcing disruptive men with cameras in Fischer's face to throw his concentration off balance]).
The fifth game of the 24-game world chess championship match begins at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) with titleholder Spassky, a 35-year-old Russian playing white—which means he makes the first move.
Fischer, 29, has protested every previous game, mostly because of television cameras in the playing hall ([which are operated by clutzes making a lot of unnecessary visual and auditory distractions]). He even failed to turn up for the second game ([due to boycotting organizers for blatant refusal to enforce the rule that permits the competitors to demand disruptive camera men be ejected if disrupting concentration after which organizers, in spite of being in receipt of a valid protest in writing, delivered before the deadline, illegally]), forfeiting it to Spassky.
Going into the fifth game, Spassky leads with 2½ points to Fischer's 1½. The American challenger needs 12½ points—a win counts one point, a draw ½ for each player—to take the title, while the defending champion needs only 12 to retain the championship.
Although the question of the television cameras remained unresolved, it appeared not to bother Fischer — for the moment. Organizers said they were awaiting word from New York on whether the closed-circuit cameras could be re(?)installed(? [When were closed-circuit cameras ever in use by organizers, except in the back room during the opening of game 3 to be “uninstalled”?])
A spokesman for the company that has bought the film rights, Chester Fox, Inc., said: “We hope to resolve the problem before today's game starts. But cameras must no bother Mr. Fischer. That is our prime and principal concern.” ([Since when? After the Soviets had reaped a couple points to its advantage?])
Fischer's second, Father William Lombardy, said the New Yorker “only just started” his campaign to wrest the title from Spassky. Lombardy, a Catholic priest who also is a grand master, admitted Fischer “had a narrow escape in the fourth game but don't forget how he demolished Spassky in the third.”
Iceland grand master Fridrik Olafsson said “the next couple of games could be decisive.”
No Protests During Fifth Game of Chess Title Match 20 Jul 1972, Thu Chippewa Herald-Telegram (Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin) Newspapers.com
