Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Friday, July 21, 1972 - Page 34
Spassky Seen Cracking Under Fischer Attack by Dr. Leroy Dubeck, President, U.S. Chess Federation
With the world chess championship games between U.S. Grandmaster Bobby Fischer and Russia's titleholder Boris Spassky, now even, observers see Spassky cracking under the pressure.
Yesterday's game lasted only 28 moves. Spassky resigned immediately after making a blunder in an inferior position.
This blunder was probably caused by the intense pressure under which Spassky is playing. After starting with a 2-0 advantage (one game was lost by Fischer by forfeit). Spassky has lost both games in which Fischer has played an opening innovation. This despite the fact that Spassky had the white pieces in both games, which is considered an advantage as white moves first.
Meanwhile, in the fourth game Fischer survived a carefully analyzed opening trap of the Russians.
I suspect that Spassky's morale is rather low due to his dismal performance. He may well make further blunders under the pressure and no doubt the criticism of his grandmaster seconds. These seconds help the competitor prepare opening surprises for his opponent and also aid him in analyzing the adjourned position, if one occurs.
Fischer's second is Father William Lombardy, a priest from New York City. Lombardy is in his mid thirties and is one of America's best chess grandmasters. He was once world junior chess champion and perhaps might have become a contender for the world chess championship if he had devoted himself exclusively to chess.
He has known Fischer for many years and agreed to act as Fischer's second on very short notice. In fact, he originally planned to host a TV series on the Fischer-Spassky match since Fischer apparently intended to play without a second. When Fischer asked him to go as his second a couple of days before the match was scheduled to start, Lombardy agreed and I am sure that he will do a splendid job.
Father Lombardy played for the United States Chess Team in the 1970 Olympics and had the best score of any of the six American players. Fischer included. However, he did play on a lower board than Fischer and consequently faced weaker opposition.
Fischer's sixth move is something of an opening innovation.
If Spassky played 28. QxB then QxP threatens both checkmate on Spassky's K-N2 as well as threatening QxBch. Mate can not be avoided. An incredible error for the World Chess Champion!
