The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Tuesday, July 18, 1972 - Page 1
Fischer Wins Third Game for His First Defeat of Spassky by Isaac Kashdan
Bobby Fischer defeated world chess champion Boris Spassky Monday in the third game of their $250,000 match in Reykjavik, Iceland, cutting the lead of the Russian champion to one point.
Fischer was not in the room at the moment of victory. Spassky arrived … according to 7/18/1972 AP report, “Finally, Spassky strode onto the stage four minutes after the start of the clock.” and referee Lothar Schmid opened the envelope which Fischer had entrusted to him when the first session of the game ended.
Spassky examined the move that Fischer had enclosed for his 41st turn. It was B-Q6ch. Spassky had evidently feared this reply. He gazed at the position on the board for several minutes, then stopped the clock in token of resignation.
Fischer turned up … closer to 10. Not longer after the late arrival of the Soviets.
According to news service reports, he was greeted by mixed cheers and boos from the audience, ([expected result of Soviet selecting the notoriously Racist, Anti-American Iceland as the venue host]), most of them already on the way out. Informed that he had won, Fischer promptly left the stage.
Series Dates Back to 1960
The victory was the first ever for Fischer over Spassky in a series that dates back to 1960. Spassky had previously won four times, including the first game of the current match, and drawn twice.
Spassky's lead was cut in half by the loss. It is 2-1, including the result of the forfeited second game. Spassky needs 10 points of the remaining 21 games to retain the championship. Fischer must score 11½ points for victory.
In the fourth game, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. PDT today, Fischer will have the white pieces and make the first move—for the first time in the match.
The players are due back in the main hall, instead of the small room offstage in which the third game was played. Spassky protested the use of the small room and said he would not play there again. Fischer had protested the cameras in the main hall.
Referee Schmid had set up the board for the adjourned position in the main hall, and this is where Spassky resigned.
The third game was an excellent example of Fischer's superior strategy. It was the kind he was expected to produce, based on his extraordinary successes of the past two years.
The opening was a quiet one, with little chance for fast combinations, but with latent power on both sides.
Fischer aimed to set up an unbalanced pawn formation. He advanced tentatively on both the king and queen sides, feeling out his opponent.
Spassky, who seemed to lack any aggressive ideas, soon found himself on the defensive. Two or three of his moves were slightly inferior, and that is all Fischer needed.
As soon as a single weakness was fixed, which turned out to be Spassky's king pawn, Fischer concentrated his attack on that point. When he won the pawn, final victory was hardly in doubt.
If Spassky had continued with 42. K-K3, Fischer would reply with Q-Q8. This attacks the white bishop and also threatens mate in several moves. The bishop would be the minimum loss.
The best alternative would be 42. K-K1, when Fischer would win a second pawn with QxPch. Fischer would then have two connected passed pawns ready to advance. At that stage he could win even if the queens were exchanged.
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