AThe Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 8
Kibitzers Puzzle Over Fischer's Fatal Move No. 29 by Jim Mitchell, Observer Staff Writer
Charlotte chess fanatics played out the first of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer championship chess matches Wednesday night and they just couldn't understand how Fischer had made the move that cost him the game.
“I just can't believe Fischer making such a simple mistake,” said Grady Brown, president of North Carolina Chess Association.
“That was just unreal,” said Stan Polk, Concord's chess champ. “Even I know that one.” ([Try being distracted by camera men making a commotion, which Fischer had specifically demanded ousted and Soviet/Icelandic organizers mocking him, hoping to disrupt his concentration.])
“And once you have it happen to you, you remember forever,” Brown said.
Brown had invited several friends to his home at 3921 Woodleaf Road for some hamburgers, a few chess games and an analysis of the first Spassky-Fischer match.
The two chess champions, Spassky from Russia and Fischer from the United States, have started their 24-game $250,000 championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The first game started Tuesday and was conceded by Fischer Wednesday.
According to the kibitzers at Brown's house, which seemed to have at least one chess set in each room, Fischer's fatal move was No. 29.
Up to that point, Fischer and Spassky were even, the commentators agreed. But then Fischer captured a pawn with his bishop and discovered the bishop was caught in a trap.
As a result of the exchange Fischer lost his bishop for two pawns. This, the commentators said, gave Spassky an edge, and when a champion has an edge, he's assured of victory.
The group thought Fischer still had a good chance of winning the championship and everyone was rooting for him.
CAPTION: Chess Club's Karen Howard, Mrs. Grady Brown, Gary Brown, Chuck Howard … Enthusiasts Reply the Spassky-Fischer Match
Kibitzers Puzzle Over Fischer's Fatal Move No. 29 13 Jul 1972, Thu The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina) Newspapers.com
