AThe Miami News Miami, Florida Friday, July 21, 1972 - Page 6
Fischer Takes 5th, Evens Chess Match
(AP) Bobby Fischer won the fifth game of the world chess championship last night when Boris Spassky made a blunder after only 3½ hours of play. The score is now 2½-2½.
“It was just what we expected,” said Frank Skoff, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. “The general opinion of the American camp is that Fischer will win—even with the forfeit.”
Spassky was awarded the second game by forfeit on July 13, when Fischer refused to play because three ([disruptive men operating]) movie cameras were stationed in the hall. The cameras were removed before the third game, and Fischer has said he will not play if they are brought back.
Spassky defeated Fischer in the first game, then lost to him in the third, and the fourth was a draw. So in terms of actual play Fischer now has won two games to the Russian's one.
The sixth game in the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. With a win counting one point and a draw half a point, Fischer needs 12½ points to take the title and the winner's share — $153,125 of the $245,000 prize money. The Russian, as the defending champion, needs only 12 points to win.
