The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, July 22, 1972 - Page 9
Soviet Analysts Seek New Gambit
Reykjavik (AP)—World champion Boris Spassky went fishing yesterday as his seconds put their heads together to try to save his chess title for the Soviet Union.
Said the Yugoslav chess commentator, Dimitri Bjelica, a friend of Spassky: “I am amazed he is not analyzing the game. Things are not going well for him.”
After his victory, Fischer made one of his rare sorties from his hotel room to dine at Reykjavik's chic Restaurant Norse.
In this last three games, Spassky has taken only half a point from a draw in the fourth game. Experts say he could have won then, but for a blunder on the 29th move.
Spassky's wins in the first two games of the series were little consolation. He took his first point after Fischer made a bad move and soon after resigned.
The next day Fischer did not show for the second game, angered by cameramen. That forfeit was another point for Spassky.
GLUM RUSSIANS
“Look at the Russians' faces,” said Fred Cramer, one of Fischer's advisors. “If they're smiling, Spassky's alright. If they're glum he's not.”
The Russians are looking glum, bunched in the hotel. Unlike the solitary Fischer, Spassky has a gaggle of grandmasters advising him.
There are Nikolai Krogius, grandmaster and psychology professor; Efim Geller, grandmaster and professional engineer; Isaac Boleslavski, grandmaster, and international master Ivo Nei.
Fischer has Rev. William Lombardy, a Franciscan priest and grandmaster.
“Fischer does not like to share the glory,” said ([the disgruntled]) Larry Evans, who was Fischer's second in Buenos Aires last year in his fight for the right to meet Spassky. Fischer packed Evans home after six games, when he was one point up.
“It's more difficult to advise Fischer because he knows so much,” explained Frank Skoff, upcoming president of the U.S. Chess Federation “and of course we don't have the finances to pay seconds.”
Soviet seconds are on the government payroll.
Caption Key to moves: Black and white pieces are shown here ready for play. Directional arrows show lines of power. FILE (Rows from player to player), DIAGONAL and RANK. White's files are named as coded at bottom, and ranks as numbered at the left. Black's ranks are numbered as at the right. Pawns are named by the files on which they stand but their designations change when they shift to a new file. The major pieces (outer rank) retain their designations throughout the game.
