The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio Wednesday, August 09, 1972 - Page 3
Fischer, Spassky Adjourn Game
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, sweating and sweltering without air conditioning, played an “even steven” 12th game of their world chess championship then adjourned after 40 moves to study their positions.
Fischer, up two points in the 24-game, $250,000 match, studied the board for 18 minutes before finally writing down and sealing his 41st move to be opened Wednesday at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT).
Fischer, who arrived several minutes late and then demanded the air conditioning be turned off because of the noise it made, played somewhat erratically and seemed unable to make up his mind on a plan of attack.
“It seems to me Bobby has changed his mind two or three times in this game,” Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen said as the players pondered their last moves.
“It could be the after effects from his defeat in the 11th game” Larsen said. “I would consider black's (Spassky's) position good now with several possibilities. Bobby probably will be satisfied with a draw.”
Larson had predicted a draw early in the game. After the 17th move he said: “It's even steven so far and unless one of them takes a chance and makes a blunder, it's a draw.”
While watching Fischer ponder his 41st move, Larsen said: “Fischer is going for a win that is not there. I still favor black.”
Spassky left the stage while Fischer studied his 41st move and twice came back to see if the American had completed it.
Fischer began the game with an unusual queen bishop's pawn move and the game progressed from there at a slow pace.
The Moves
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The moves of the 12th game of the Boris Spassky - Bobby Fischer world chess championship:
