The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, July 19, 1972 - Page 26
Spassky and Fischer Draw on the 45th by Leonard Barden
The fourth game of the world chess championship match in Reykjavik between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer finished in a draw last night on the 45th move. The game reached a completely level ending with bishops of opposite colors and four pawns on each side. Spassky now leads the 24-game series by 2½ points to 1½, with the next game scheduled for tomorrow night.
It was an epic fighting encounter which did equal credit to Spassky's seconds for their skillful preparation of a new theoretical idea, to Spassky himself for the vigour with which he sacrificed a pawn and organized his pieces for a combined attack against the American king, and to Fischer for the brilliant defensive skill with which he regrouped his scattered forces and exchanged off the most dangerous attacking pieces.
Fischer survived in this game pressures which would have broken the morale of many lesser chess masters. The clocks after 16 moves already told the tale of a thoroughly researched Russian secret weapon.
Spassky generalled his queen, rook, and bishop pair for a massive assault, and by move 28 it looked as if Fischer's knight and bishop, which had been driven to the queen's flank by Spassky's prepared pawn sacrifice, were useless as defenders.
The key to Fischer's play was the plan which brought back his knight into defense and enabled him to break Spassky's hopes of checkmate by exchanging off the queens.
Earlier, Spassky's well planned chess enabled him to offer Fischer a pawn on move 13.
