AAustin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 6
Fischer Victory A Point Away
By Andrew Torchia
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer was only one point from the world chess championship today, and the big question was whether he would try to wrap it up in today's game or cautiously coast to victory on two half-point draws.
Fischer and champion Boris Spassky drew their 20th game Wednesday, giving the American challenger 11½ points to Spassky's 8½.
A victory counts one point, a draw half a point for each player. Fischer needs 12½ points to win the title and Spassky needs 12 to keep it.
Victory for Fischer would take the championship away from the Soviet Union for the first time since 1946.
“I think Bobby will play to win — but he is being very careful now,” said Miguel Quinteros, an Argentinian master who recently joined the American entourage.
Some observers say the last seven games were draws because Spassky was playing sound chess and not because Fischer's appetite for a win had diminished. Others believed that having racked up six wins to Spassky's three in the first 13 games, and one of those Russian three a forfeit, Fischer felt he would prove nothing by taking risks.
If this match was being played according to the rules already adopted for the 1976 championship, Spassky would have lost his crown to Fischer on the 13th game. Under the new rules not yet in effect, draws will not count, and the match goes to the first player to win six games.
The young American appeared delighted as he walked off the stage after Wednesday's draw on the 54th moves. Spassky sat glumly staring at the board for several minutes after the referee cleared away the pieces.
The game had begun Tuesday and was adjourned with Spassky in a position some experts thought might give him a victory. But after the game resumed, the champion could not find a line of play to capitalize on his placement.
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Here are the remaining moves in the adjourned 20th game of the world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky: Fischer-white Spassky-black.
