AHonolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 14
Fischer Wins Third Game, Trails, 2-1
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—American chess challenger Bobby Fischer won the third game today in the $250,000 world championship match against Russia's Boris Spassky.
Spassky, who still holds a 2-1 edge in the possible 24-game series, quit on the 42nd move.
Fischer was not even on the stage when Spassky threw in the towel. Fischer had written his next move down when the game adjourned yesterday and the play—bishop to Q6 to check Spassky's king—was made by referee Lothar Schmid.
THE RUSSIAN champion took one quick look at the board and stopped the clock.
Schmid earlier upheld a protest from Spassky to move the third game back into the main sports hall from a table tennis room, where it was moved because Fischer objected to closed circuit television cameras.
Schmid said playing conditions in the backstage table tennis room on the first floor of the sports hall were inferior.
“MR. SPASSKY had agreed to play there for one session only and felt the conditions were very poor. He said there was noise from the streets outside, he could hear children play and the light and the chess board was not up to the highest standard.
“I weighed the two playing venues against each other and decided to move the third game back into the big hall,” Schmid said.
The game was moved backstage yesterday after Fischer protested against the presence of closed circuit television cameras.
RUSSIAN chess sources said one of Spassky's complaints was against the wooden board which was used for yesterday's third match.
The first match last Tuesday, which Spassky won in the 56th move, was played on a specially designed slate table weighing almost 300 pounds.
Schmid told the Russians that it had not been possible to transport the table upstairs, the sources said.
The sources said Spassky objected to playing on the wooden board because the pieces were placed one inch above the table level while the original board was level.
There was no immediate reaction from Fischer. U.S. sources said the challenger slept late in his presidential suite.
Schmid met with a Russian delegation headed by Nikolai Krogius, Spassky's second and a chess grand master. The U.S. delegation was headed by the Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's second; his lawyers Paul Marshall and Andrew Davies and Fred Cramer, a U.S. Chess Federation vice-president.
Until 90 minutes before the start of yesterday's third game, Fischer kept the chess world guessing whether he would appear or continue his boycott in protest against television cameras, or “the evil eyes,” as he called them.
Only after the Icelandic organizers broke a $120,000 contract with Chester Fox Inc., a New York firm which had acquired all film and television rights, and moved the board into an adjoining table tennis room, did Fischer give in.
Hilmar Viggoson, treasurer of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said he did not know the implications of the breach of contract. ([Here's a clue: “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Col. Ed Edmondson, US Chess Federation])
“We had to cancel a meeting with Mr. Fox but the matter will be straightened out later,” he said. “We heard a nasty rumor he will sue us for millions but let's see what happens.” ([Yes, return the money to Mr. Fox, as Mr. Fox deceived Mr. Fischer regarding the men who were hired to purposely disruptively operate the cameras, as an excuse to swarm Mr. Fischer in the playing hall and distract him from his games.])
FRED CRAMER, a U.S. Chess Federation vice president said Fischer had been persuaded to appear because of the great number of cables he received from all over the world “begging him to sit down opposite Spassky.”
Honolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 14
Here It Is Again On Instant Replay, Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—The moves in the third game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship.
The Daily Herald Provo, Utah Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 9
Fischer May Win This One
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — For a final 30 seconds Bobby Fischer towered over the chess board. Then he allowed himself a rare smile, collected his pencils and walked out of the room Sunday after one of the most dramatic days in world championship chess.
Minutes earlier world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union had completed his 41st move and left the room, pensive and worried.
The third game in the 24-match world championship was adjourned with the 29-year-old American challenger in a commanding position. The match resumes at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) today.
U.S. grandmaster Robert Byrne looked up from a pocket chess board and said “He (Spassky) is almost finished. I cannot see Bobby letting him slip out of the rope. He (Fischer) has the advantage of a pawn and is in a very strong attacking position.”
Most experts on hand gave Fischer a 70-30 chance of winning and reducing the 35-year-old Russian's 2-0 lead.
Immediately after the game Spassky jumped into a car with one of his seconds, grandmaster Nikolai Krogius, and left for their hotel to analyze the situation.
Until 90 minutes before the start of Sunday's third game Fischer kept the chess world guessing whether he would appear or continue his boycott in protest against television cameras, or “the evil eyes,” as he called them.
Only after the Icelandic organizers broke a $120,000 contract with Chest Fox Inc., a New York firm which had acquired all film and television rights, and moved the board into an adjoining table tennis room, did Fischer give in.
Hilmar Viggoson, treasurer of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said he did not know the implications of the breach of contract. ([Breech of contract with world chess, you mean! “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Edmondson, USCF But Soviets and Icelandic Chess had no respect for the rules!])
“We had to cancel a meeting with Mr. Fox but the matter will be straightened out later,” he said. “We heard a nasty rumor he will sue us for millions but let's see what happens.”
Fred Cramer, a U.S. Chess Federation vice president, said Fischer had been persuaded to appear because of the great number of cables he received from all over the world “begging him to sit down opposite Spassky.”
Fischer staged a 35-minute protest during Tuesday's first game by inspecting the hall for hidden cameras and subsequently resigned after 56 moves. He then boycotted Thursday's second match, sulking inside his presidential suite in protest against the cameras. German referee Lothar Schmid awarded the game to Spassky.
Drawing Depicts Chess Board
This Artist's Drawing Depicts the Chess Board in the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky World Championship chess game as it ended Sunday. Experts say the U.S. challenger appears to be headed for his first win, but game referee Lothar Schmid ordered the game back into Reykjavik's main sports hall after Spassky protest conditions in the tennis room where it was being held.
The Daily Herald Provo, Utah Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 9
Chess Game Returns To Main Sports Hall
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Referee Lothar Schmid today upheld a protest from champion Boris Spassky and moved the adjourned third game of the $250,000 world chess championships back into Reykjavik's main sports hall, despite American challenger Bobby Fischer's earlier objections to it.
The Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's second, said the 29-year-old challenger would be at the board when the game was scheduled to resume today.
“Why shouldn't he? Bobby is going to win this game,” Lombardy said after a two-hour emergency meeting with the match committee and representatives for the Russian camp.
Spassky holds a 2-0 lead in the match but Fischer had a one pawn advantage and a stronger attacking position when the third game adjourned Sunday after 41 moves. Most experts gave Fischer the edge to take the game.
Schmid said playing conditions in the backstage table tennis room on the first floor of the sports hall were inferior.
“Mr. Spassky had agreed to play there for one session only and felt the conditions were very poor. He said there was noise from the streets outside, he could hear children play and the light and the chess board was not up to the highest standard.
“I weighed the two playing venues against each other and decided to move the third game back into the big hall,” Schmid said.
The game was moved backstage Sunday after Fischer protested against the presence of closed circuit television cameras.
Caption: BORIS SPASSKY, left, world chess champion, and American Challenger Bobby Fischer, right, shown leaving the chess hall after their third chess game adjourned Sunday. The game was scheduled to resume today. The game was adjourned after Spassky made his 41st move. Fischer's 41st move was then placed in a sealed envelope where it was to remain secret until play resumed.
The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 15
Fischer Takes Lead In 3rd Chess Game
by Jim Ward, Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — For a final 30 seconds Bobby Fischer towered over the chess board. Then he allowed himself a rare smile, collected his pencils and walked out of the room Sunday after one of the most dramatic days in world championship chess.
Minutes earlier world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union had completed his 41st move and left the room, pensive and worried.
The third game in the 24-match world championship was adjourned with the 29-year-old American challenger in a commanding position. The match resumes at 5 p.m. (1 a.m. EDT) today.
U.S. grandmaster Robert Byrne looked up from a pocket chess board and said: “He (Spassky) is almost finished. I cannot see Bobby letting him slip out of the rope. He (Fischer) has the advantage of a pawn and is in a very strong attacking position.”
Most experts on hand gave Fischer a 70-30 chance of winning and reducing the 35-year-old Russian's 2-0 lead.
Immediately after the game Spassky jumped into a car with one of his seconds, grandmaster Nikolai Krogius, and left for their hotel to analyze the situation.
Until 90 minutes before the start of Sunday's third game Fischer kept the chess world guessing whether he would appear or continue his boycott in protest against television cameras, or “the evil eyes,” as he called them.
Only after the Icelandic organizers broke a $120,000 contract with Chester Fox Inc., a New York firm which had acquired all film and television rights, and moved the board into an adjoining table tennis room, did Fischer given in.
Hilmar Viggoson, treasurer of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said he did not know the implications of the breech of contract. ([The most important, and only “implication” that should have ever mattered to organizers was Fischer's boycott. “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Edmondson, USCF])
“We had to cancel a meeting with Mr. Fox but the matter will be straightened out later,” he said. “We heard a nasty rumor he will sue us for millions but let's see what happens.”
Fred Cramer, a U.S. Chess Federation vice president, said Fischer had been persuaded to appear because of the great number of cables he received from all over the world “begging him to sit down opposite Spassky.”
But if Fischer was emotionally upset he put it behind him the moment he sat down at the board. For a couple of minutes after Spassky had pushed forward his queen pawn, Fischer argued with Schmid over the presence of a hidden camera relaying moves to the world outside the room. Then he shrugged, cupped his hands under his chin and got on with the game.
In the big hall outside the secluded room a crowd of 1,500 followed the match on a vast screen. Other fans munched hot dogs and ice cream in the cafeteria with their eyes on the closed-circuit screen.
Fischer, appearing in his first world championship playoff, was the first to leave the middle of the road. His 11th move, moving a knight instead of a pawn, brought comments like “suicide” from grand and international masters in the audience who had not expected this variation of the Benoni opening.
Spassky, apparently caught by surprise, spent almost 15 minutes in deep meditation. Fischer kept pressing forward and after a rapid exchange of pieces starting with the 31st move, he came out on top with six pawns to Spassky's five.
Spassky could have sealed his 41st move but spent almost 20 minutes before he moved his queen. Fischer grabbed his pencil, after another tense pause, scribbled his move and handed it to Schmid, who sealed it. Then Fischer rose, stood over the board for a while and strolled from the room.
The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 18
A Daring Move Wins for Fischer
Reykjavik, Iceland — (AP) — Bobby Fischer scored his first victory in the world chess championship against Boris Spassky today with a move he had sealed in an envelope.
Spassky, Russian titleholder, resigned the third game playoff before Fischer showed up.
Fischer had sealed his 41st move in the envelope yesterday after Spassky called for an adjournment. it was bishop to queen six, a move most grand masters here had predicted would be the decisive one for the game.
It left the score in the 24-game match at 2-1 in Spassky's favor. Spassky won the second game by forfeit.
As he has been throughout, Spassky was in the 2500-seat exhibition hall exactly on time for the resumption of the third game.
Promptly at 5 p.m., Referee Lothar Schmid opened the envelope entrusted to him by Fischer and moved Fischer's bishop to the sixth square on the queen side, putting Spassky's king in check.
Spassky waited five minutes before turning his king on its side, signifying that he had conceded the game to the 29 year old grandmaster from Brooklyn.
It was the first time Fischer had ever defeated the Soviet world champion.
Spassky walked off the stage and the spectators sat in silence. Fourteen minutes after Schmid had started the clock for the resumption of play, Fischer strode into the hall. Some of the crowd cheered him but many of the ([hostile, Pro-Soviet, Anti-American agitators and rabble-rousers, along with notorious Icelandic racism]) in the audience booed.
A Daring Move
The fourth game is scheduled for tomorrow.
“Fischer's sealed move was the best move,” said Grandmaster Dragoljub Janosevic of Yugoslavia, who beat Fischer in 1961 in an 11-hour game.
“Spassky had to give in at once. He was rattled for the first time. For Spassky, the whole game was a psychological blow.
“Fischer's 11th move yesterday was abnormal,” Janosevic added.
Fischer's 11th move was knight to rook four, unusual in that it apparently enabled Spassky to smash Fischer's kingside pawn formation.
Private Room
Fischer obviously had prepared the move well in advance, however, for only a few moves later he not only repaired his pawn formation but launched a strong attack.
Fischer and Spassky began the third game in a private room offstage yesterday because of Fischer's complaints that television and movie cameras had disturbed his concentration. It was because of the cameras that Fischer did not show up on Thursday for the second game and lost it by forfeit.
Fischer lost the first game by moving his bishop on the 29th move into the midst of Spassky's pawns. He took a Spassky pawn but lost a valuable bishop. Grand masters called it a blunder, but others said Fischer was trying desperately for a win instead of a draw.
In this third game, Spassky played the white pieces, as he did in the first, which allows him the slight advantage of the first move. ★
The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 2
Active Queens a Factor - Extra Pawn May Spell Difference
Following is an analysis of the third Fischer-Spassky chess match written for the Associated Press by Isaac Kashdan, an international chess grandmaster.
By Isaac Kashdan, Los Angeles (AP) — Bobby Fischer has excellent winning chances in the adjourned third game of his chess match with Russia's Boris Spassky for the world championship.
Though his one-pawn vantage would seem slight to the average player, it is generally ample in a contest between grand masters.
An important factor is the presence of bishops of opposite color, which tend to create drawing positions, especially in the absence of major pieces.
If the queens were removed, Spassky would have little difficulty in drawing the game. His king would move to a central square and Fischer's extra pawn could never advance.
It is a different matter with active queens for each player. In the adjourned position, Fischer has many mating threats because Spassky's king is exposed.
In the opening, Fischer played the Benoni Defense, differing from the method he used in the first game.
The Benoni leads to a rather backward position, but it maintains tension and avoids early exchanges in pieces.
Fischer only occasionally uses this opening, and when he does it is against players who may be trying to equalize early.
He probably felt that Spassky, now two points ahead, would be content to run off a series of draws. In the first game, Fischer allowed exchanges readily. Not this time.
The first challenge came on Fischer's 11th move, apparently a novelty allowing Spassky to weaken the black pawns by capturing a knight with a bishop.
Several moves later, another exchange brought Fischer's pawns back to their normal lines. As a result, Fischer had gained the very slight advantage of bishop for knight.
A pawn maneuver on the queen side also turned out favorably for Fischer. He established a passed pawn, which wasn't an immediate threat but which would need watching later. A passed pawn is in position to reach the opposite end of the board without opposition and become a queen.
Perhaps the weakest move for Spassky was his 18th, which fixed his kingside pawns in a strictly defensive formation.
With his 22nd move, Fischer started an attack on Spassky's king pawn, now exposed and vulnerable. Spassky had little to do but wait. On the 32nd move, the pawn fell.
From that point to the adjourned position, Fischer improved his prospects considerably. Note that Fischer made certain not to exchange queens.
After the 41st move, sealed by Fischer, it was apparent that Spassky's king was in grave danger and that Fischer would possibly win a second pawn while retaining his mating threats.
The Pocono Record Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 11
Chess Master Recalls Duels With Fischer
By Bruce Posten, Pocono Record Reporter, Canadensis — Arthur Feuerstein, a 36-year-old Brooklyn native, had the distinct honor of playing and beating United States Chess Champion Bobby Fischer in the U.S. Junior Chess Championship in 1956.
Feuerstein, vacationing at Spruce Hill Farms in Canadensis, has known Fischer since his early high school days and has played in several tournaments with the professional.
“The last time I played Fischer,” said Feuerstein, a national grand master in chess, “was either in 1970 or 1971, when we competed in a speed chess tournament. Fischer won 21 games out of a possible 22 and was well on his way to national and international fame.”
Feuerstein described Fischer as a “chess player in a class by himself.” He noted of the half-dozen full time professional chess players in the United States, none of them could come close to approaching Fischer's excellence.
“I remember when Bobby first began playing chess. He always played the defensive and was very cautious. Today, he only plays a very aggressive and offensive game. As a matter of fact, so far in the tournament between Fischer and Boris Spassky, Fischer has been taking all the risks and Spassky is playing a conservative game.’ he said.
“I believe Fischer never developed a personality beyond the level of a 15-year-old and many of his individual quirks are not necessary,” he said.
He specifically dismissed Fischer's annoyance with the presence of cameras in the chess room by saying “professional chess players are trained to have absolute concentration and very seldom give away their emotions through facial expressions.”
He added Fischer was always bothered by noises when playing chess and once even asked for the removal of the audience.
“Many chess players in the Soviet Union and the United States have other jobs besides chess, but for Bobby Fischer, chess is his entire life.
“Although he has a high IQ of 130 or 140, he dropped out of high school because of boredom and became the U.S. Chess Champion at age 14,” he said.
Feuerstein explained the tournament between Fischer and Spassky is a 24-game match with challenger Fischer having to earn 12½ points in order to dethrone champion Spassky.
“A point is given for each game won and a half point is awarded to each player in case of a tie. Spassky will be able to retain the championship if he can keep Fischer from winning more than 12 points,” he explained.
Feuerstein characterized Spassky as a versatile chess player who can be both innovative and cautious.
He noted Spassky's second, Ewfim Geller, who advises the champ before games, is an extremely aggressive player along the lines of Fischer. However, he pointed out “Spassky's playing does not reflect any aggressive moves, as of yet.”
Fischer, at first refusing to have a second, finally accepted Father William Lombardy, who was considered to have even more potential than Fischer ten years ago.
“Lombardy is also a versatile player like Spassky; quite adept at playing both offense and defense,” he said.
Feuerstein hopes Bobby wins the tournament and praises him for the contributions he has made to the promotion of chess in the United States.
“He has brought the purse for chess up to $200,000 equal to that of golf, and aroused people's interest in the game,” he said.
He noted if Fischer wins the tournament such companies as Coca-Cola and IBM, who sponsor foreign chess tournaments, would be more likely to sponsor tournaments in the United States to help beginning U.S. players.
“After all,” Feuerstein remarked, “Bobby admitted he was playing more for the sake of U.S. prestige than for the money, and with his will to win I hope he makes it.”
The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 3
Spassky Objects to Playing Series in Backstage Room
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—World chess champion Boris Spassky of Russia today protested against the playing conditions in a back-stage table-tennis room for the 24-game playoff against American Bobby Fischer.
Referee Lothar Schmid called an emergency meeting to discuss the latest snag in the on-again—off-again $250,000 world championship match. The third game, which was adjourned Sunday, was scheduled to resume today at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT).
Spassky holds a 2-0 lead in the match but Fischer had a one pawn advantage and a stronger attacking position when the third game was adjourned after 41 moves. Most experts gave Fischer the edge to take the game.
Schmid said he received a letter from the Russian delegation protesting against the playing conditions in the table-tennis room behind the main stage of the Reykjavik sports hall. ([Temperamental Soviets can not stop ranting and lodging complaints of nit-picking criticism. Where's that saintly contentment?])
The match was moved there Sunday for the third game after Fischer objected to the presence of television cameras ([actually disruptive crews of men operating said cameras!) and threatened to fly home. ([Said which source? others deny this claim])
Schmid met with a Russian delegation headed by Nikolai Krogius, Spassky's second and a chess master. The U.S. delegation was headed by the Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's second, his lawyers Paul Marshall and Andrew Davies and Fred Cramer, a U.S. Chess Federation vice-president.
In five previous meetings, Fischer had never beaten Spassky. He lost three playing black and drew two when he played white and had the first move.
Fischer needs 12½ points to dethrone Spassky while the Russian can retain his title with only 12. A player gets a point for winning a game and half a point for a draw.
U.S. Grandmaster Robert Byrne looked up from a pocket chess board and said:
“He (Spassky) is almost finished. I cannot see Bobby letting him slip out of the rope. He (Fischer0 has the advantage of a pawn and is in a very strong attacking position.”
Most experts on hand gave Fischer a 70-30 chance of winning and reducing the 35-year-old Russian's lead.
Immediately after the game, Spassky jumped into a car with one of his seconds, Grandmaster Nikolai Krogius, and left for their hotel to analyse the situation.
Would he or wouldn't he?
Until 90 minutes before the start of Sunday's third game Fischer kept the chess world guessing whether he would appear or continue his boycott in protest against television camera ([disruptive men operating the infernal machines]), or “the evil eyes” as he called them.
Only after the Icelandic organizers broke a $120,000 contract with Chester Fox Inc., a New York firm which ([is sympathetic with the Soviet Union]) had acquired all film and television rights ([an affront to constitutional freedom of the press and was widely criticized by world news journalists]), and moved the board into an adjoining table tennis room, did Fischer give in.
Hilmar Viggoson, treasurer of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said he did not know the implications of the breech of contract ([Here's a clue, Sherlock, the contract was null and void to begin with, since Fischer was under the wrong impression, unaware there would be crews of men, disrupting the game, and that “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Colonel Ed Edmondson, USCF, but Icelandic Chess Federation proved to the entire world it has no respects for contractual obligations or rules.])
“We had to cancel a meeting with Mr. Fox but the matter will be straightened out later,” he said. “We heard a nasty rumor he will sue us for millions but let's see what happens.” ([No bother mentioning the fact, Fischer's lawyer was just on the verge of taking the Icelandic Chess Federation to court, of its breech of contract with Fischer! With the fact, “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Colonel Ed Edmondson, and bearing in mind, Fischer's very legal protest of the second game, was illegally forfeited to the Soviets… it's so timely, that suddenly, the Icelandic Chess Federation conveniently “breaks its contract with Chester Fox” and expresses worries of Chester Fox suing, but nothing of Robert Fischer suing... interesting coincidence.])
Fred Cramer, a U.S. Chess Federation vice president, said Fischer had been persuaded to appear because of the great number of cables he received from all over the world “begging him to sit down opposite Spassky.”
Fischer staged a 35-minute protest during Tuesday's first game ([after, as Golombek reported, a reporter was dangling above, from the roof, with a camera trained on Fischer and Schonberg of the N.Y. Times reports disruptive camera man at the side of the stage]) and subsequently resigned ([due to disruptive camera men, some working in crews up to three men, and located no farther than 5 meters/15 feet from Fischer]) after 56 moves. He then boycotted Thursday's second match, inside his presidential suite in protest against the ([disruptive men operating the]) cameras. West German referee Lothar Schmid awarded the game to Spassky ([illegally, because as Paul Marshall reports, “At 11:58 P.M., two minutes before the deadline Cramer, handed a formal written protest to Schmid.” - Paul Marshall and that's aside of the oral protest lodged by Fischer. But the Icelandic and Soviet officials have no intention of following rules of sportsmanly conduct or regulations of international chess.]) Fischer appealed. ([And rightly so. As U.S. Chess official, Ed Edmondson stated, “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” but the purpose, and persuasive argument fallacies presented by the author, Jim Ward, have no intention to provide readers with “fair and balanced” presentation of the facts.])
Officials ([3 out of 4, overtly and unapologetically in the Soviet corner]) overruled the American's appeal against the forfeit, and until the last minute it was uncertain if Fischer would continue. He and two lawyers assisting him in Iceland had seats booked on a Sunday afternoon flight to New York, but they did not leave. Instead, at Fischer's insistence, the match was moved to the small room and the audience of paying fans in the big sports hall downstairs watched on closed circuit television. Apparently Fischer had no objection to that TV equipment.
But Schmid announced he had moved the third game into the private room “just for today … just to save the match.”
Schmid said the rest of the games would be played in the hall.
Spassky's aides described the offstage room as a chess cupboard, and warned that the Russian would not play any more games in it. ([Oh my! SO TEMPERAMENTAL those Soviets!])
Asked how Fischer would react to this, one of the American's aides said, “I don't even know if he knows.”
Schmid said he moved the game site under Rule 21, providing that the competition can be in private if either player demands it because of disturbance.
Gets on with Game
But if Fischer was emotionally upset he put it behind him the moment he sat down at the board. For a couple of minutes after Spassky had pushed forward his queen pawn, Fischer argued with Schmid over the presence of a camera relaying moves to the world outside the room. Then he shrugged, cupped his hands under his chin and got on with the game.
In the big hall outside the secluded room, a crowd of 1,500 followed the match on a vast closed-circuit screen.
Fischer, appearing in his first world-championship playoff, was the first to leave the middle of the road. His 11th move, moving a knight instead of a pawn, brought comments like “suicide” from grand and international masters in the audience who had not expected this variation of the Benoni opening.
Spassky, apparently caught by surprise, spent almost 15 minutes in deep meditation. Fischer kept pressing forward and after a rapid exchange of pieces starting with the 31st move, he came out on top with six pawns to Spassky's five. ★
Spassky Lodges Protest on Conditions Backstage 17 Jul 1972, Mon The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 25
Fischer Turns Unorthodox Move Into an Attack by Al Horowitz
Reykjavik, Iceland, July 16 — For the second time in two games, the American challenger for the world chess title has made a move that set match-watchers on their ear.
Unlike the unexpected move in the first game,however, this one turned out to be the precursor of a powerful attack.
Both times, Bobby Fischer had the black side—normally the side on the defensive — and both times he made attacking moves. In his first game with Boris Spassky, he seemed to be moving into a draw when he played the astounding 29 … BxKRP.
The move led to the loss of his bishop, for which he got two pawns, and was probably the chief factor in his loss of the game.
This time he played 11. … N-R4.
The game began with Spassky making the move with which he is associated and that he used in his first game with Fischer in this match. 1. P-Q4. The moves that followed—1. … N-KB3; 2. P-QB4 P-K3; 3. N-KB3 P-B4; 4. P-Q5—led to the so-called Benoni opening.
Named for some reason after “Ben Oni” a work published in Frankfurt in 1825, the opening has a long history. It was a favorite of the Russian expatriate Alexander Alekhine, who was world champion from 1927 to 1935 and again from 1937 to 1946, and has been used extensively by a more recent champion, Mikhail Tal.
The idea of the Benoni is to create a radical pawn imbalance, with Black having the queenside majority and White the kingside majority.
Basically, it is a forceful defense, giving rise to extremely active positions rich in rapid-fire tactical possibilities. Often, both sides skate on thin ice with no sure footing in sight.
The Benoni can be met in various ways. But it seems that Spassky was taken completely by surprise, for he had evidently not been prepared with a pattern of his own to meet Fischer's play.
In the opening, Fischer divided his game into a kingside and a queenside squadron without emphasizing anything in particular. On pure development, Fischer worked up play on the opponent's king pawn, which was attacked and had to fall.
Fischer's unorthodox 11. … N-R4 was so unusual that Spassky, amazed, studied it for half an hour before replying with 12. BxN. Rarely is a knight played on the rim as Fischer played it here and the remark “a knight on the rim is dim,” is often heard.
The idea in permitting the knight to be capture was to gain and put to use the white squares of the opposing bishop.
Here, Spassky traded bishop for knight and the absence of the white bishop was felt later. Toward the end of the time control, when the champion saw he was going to lose a pawn, he tried desperately to force a perpetual check, which would turn the game into a draw. But Fischer, known for his accurate play, steered the game away from such a draw.
Although games in apparently hopeless positions have been saved, there seemed little that Spassky was able to do when Fischer sealed his 41st move.
Argus-Leader Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sunday, July 16, 1972 - Page 15
Chess Being Promoted by Enthusiasts in Sioux Falls by Gary Deguise, Argus-Leader Staff Writer
Quiet … nothing but quiet for over four hours.
Then, white makes a move and “checkmate.” The audience and players sigh with relief. They are all totally exhausted from concentrating constantly for those four hours.
The scene was the South Dakota Chess Tournament recently held in Pierre, where three Sioux Falls persons claimed the top three positions.
And these three persons belong to the Sioux Falls Chess Club, are members of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and are working hard toward building up a club in Sioux Falls that could sponsor chess tourneys.
Gerald Mortimer, recently elected president of the South Dakota Chess Club who took third in the tourney, and Art Tollefson, junior state champion and president of the Sioux Falls club, are spearheading the club drive.
“Presently,” said Mortimer, the biggest obstacle in our way is to get a building where we can hold our meetings and where chess tournaments could be held.”
“We really hope that anyone with a site that we might possibly be able to use would give me or Art a call.”
The weekly meetings of the club are mainly just a fun get-together. Many different variations of chess are played, the most hectic being a game called speed chess, where each player has only five minutes of playing time. A special type of stop watch is used to keep track of the seconds each person takes to make a move.
“At times, it really is hectic,” said Mortimer, “but it is great fun.”
An interesting point about the club is the age spread of the members. The club has persons ranging in age from 14 into their 60's, but the spirit in the club overshadows any generation gap there might be.
Presently, the club has only about 15 members, but as Mortimer pointed out, “If we can get a building then the interest can be generated to get the young people involved.”
In 1952, the United States had only 1,152 rated chess players, but in 20 years, the number has increased to 22,500 and over. The main reason being, said Mortimer, that clubs such as ours set up tourneys which interested the young. But, we still have only 72 chess players per million compared to Russia with over 12,000 per million.
Mortimer began playing chess when he was eight years old, joined the USCF when he was 19 and has played about 40 USCF sanctioned games. He is rated in the high B class. The top player in Sioux Falls, Sam Prieb, is just below expert level.
Recalling his longest match, Mortimer said rather regretfully, “I tried hard for seven hours, nearly had a draw, and then blew it.” When asked about the fewest moves a player could lose in, he said four moves. (This writer has been close, he lost in five moves once.)
Giving some opinions on the chess match presently between world champion Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, Mortimer pointed out that Fischer has a higher point rating than does Spassky.
But, he was quick to point out too that the point rating was put out by the USCF.
“That may have something to do with it,” he said with a laugh.
“I'm putting my guesses on Fischer,” he said “but then I'm from the United States, so I may be prejudiced.
Many USCF tournaments are held each year in the United States but the first international Chess Tournament for the United States will be held this year.
A native son, George Koltanowski, a former Yankton Chess Club member back in 1946, is the International Tournament Director. It is sponsored by the Church's Fried Chicken Inc.
Many great names have been invited including Boris Spassky, although it is not sure he will attend yet.
A tournament event coming anywhere near this one, said Mortimer, is years away. “What we have to do now is get a building so we can generate the interest for our club.
Who knows, if the interest is there in the people, Sioux Falls may have another Bobby Fischer, who was U.S. champion at 14.
Of course, at the tournaments we go to, said Mortimer, no one holds out for more money, but some good prizes are given. And, a person doesn't have to be a rated player. Some tournaments give prizes in all different categories including novice and unrated. So, everyone has a chance to win, said Mortimer.
“What we need now is a start; a building, and a chance to build.”
Chess Being Promoted By Enthusiasts in Sioux Falls 16 Jul 1972, Sun Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) Newspapers.com
The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 2
Fischer Leads in 3d Game from Wire Services
Bobby Fischer returned to the chess board yesterday in a game that was adjourned with the American challenger apparently holding the edge over the Russian world champion, Boris Spassky.
If Mr. Fischer wins when the game resumes today—and there are few chess experts here who doubt that he will—it will put him back in the running for the championship. Mr. Spassky now leads, 2-0.
Mr. Spassky had five pawns at adjournment, Mr. Fischer six. Each retained a queen and a bishop in addition to his king, but Mr. Fischer was reported in a strong position for mate.
The game was played in an upstairs room with no spectators present.
The American challenger never has beaten Mr. Spassky.
Before this match he had lost three games to the Russian playing black and had drawn two when he played white and had the first move.
He lost the opening game of the championship playing black (due to disruptive camera men]), and forfeited the second game by failing to appear ([due to protesting until the disruptive camera men were removed]).
Sealed Envelope
The chief referee, Lothar Schmid, of West Germany, stopped play after Mr. Spassky had made his 41st move and Mr. Fischer had handed in his reply move in a sealed envelope.
The decision to hold the game in a private upstairs room instead of in the vast auditorium was apparently a condition set by Mr. Fischer for continuing the match ([actually, other sources report it was suggested by the organizers and the offer made to Fischer]).
Informed sources said that up to that time he had been against going ahead with the tournament, angered at the decision that he forfeit the second game and by the refusal of match officials to have backstage cameras removed.
Fred Cramer, Mr. Fischer's chief administrative adviser, was asked what changed the American's mind about continuing the match.
“I think it was the hundreds of thousands of telegrams he received from the United States. They just flooded in asking him to play on,” he replied.
Mr. Fischer, playing the black pieces and thus moving second, played aggressively and seized the initiative on the 11th move with an unexpected counterattack down the king-side. Mr. Spassky seemed a little shaken by the thrust and when midgame was reached Mr. Fischer had the upper hand.
He forced the Russian to give up one of his bishops for a knight and then proceeded to exert pressure on the world champion's center pawn.
Some Skirmishing
After some skirmishing on both sides, apparently aimed chiefly at gaining time on the clock, Mr. Spassky lost a pawn and when play was adjourned, Mr. Fischer clearly had a winning advantage.
Mr. Spassky's two closest aides, grandmasters Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius both confirmed that their man was losing the game.
When the game was adjourned, Mr. Spassky emerged moodily from the side entrance of the building, looking exhausted.
Mr. Fischer also looked tired. He showed no signs of elation when he walked to his car and did not react when the crowd waiting outside burst into applause.
The President of the Icelandic Chess Federation, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, told reporters that Mr. Spassky had not been particularly happy about the game being played in private but had been talked into agreement by the referee, Lothar Schmid.
Mr. Geller reportedly said the Russian side understood that play would be moved back to the auditorium for the fourth game tomorrow, and that the Americans planned to protest against this.
Mr. Thorarinsson said the organizers and match officials felt today that Mr. Fischer “in his heart of hearts” wanted to continue playing and that he only needed a sufficiently good reason.
Therefore, it was suggested that the match could temporarily be moved behind the scenes.
Footnote: Repetitively, the rumors of Fischer's plans to leave Iceland has been repeated in the preceding article, and instances of the rumor purposely omitted, for on Saturday, July 15, 1972 it was also reported: “The Reverend William Lombardy, Fischer's second, discounted rumors that the American chessmaster was flying home. “I haven't heard anything about that and I hope it's not true,” Father Lombardy said. “Everything is still up in the air. We have settled nothing so far.” - Minneapolis Tribune. ★
The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 5
Fischer Holds Edge in 3rd Chess Game
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The third game of the world chess championship adjourned Sunday night after 5 hours and 18 minutes of play with challenger Bobby Fischer apparently holding the edge.
The Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's second and an American grandmaster, said Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky was “in a bad position. He a pawn down.”
Spassky had five pawns at adjournment, Fischer six. Each retained a queen and a bishop in addition to his king. The game will be resumed Monday.
The American challenger never has beaten Spassky. Before this match he had lost three games to the Russian playing back and drawn two when he played white and had the first move. He lost the opening game of the championship playing black ([due to disruptive men operating the cameras]), as he is in the third game.
Fischer forfeited the second game by failing to appear ([due to boycotting the match in protest of the disruptive men operating the cameras]), and Spassky leads the match 2-0.
Chief Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany stopped play after Spassky had made his 41st move and Fischer had handed in his reply move in a sealed envelope.
The game was played in an upstairs room. No spectators were present. ([The Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's second, discounted rumors that the American chess master was flying home. “I haven't heard anything about that and I hope it's not true,” Father Lombardy said. “Everything is still up in the air. We have settled nothing so far.” - Saturday, July 15, 1972])
The adjournment prompted a burst of noise from the hundreds watching the game on television screens in the public auditorium and halls.
“It's great. It's fantastic,” gasped an American student. “I love it. It can't end.”
The game opened with a typical Fischer defense, the Nimzo-Indian merging into the Benoni counter—a strong play for domination of the center of the board, where most kills are made and most games won.
The boy from Brooklyn attacked from all sides: He slammed down the queenside, he switched to the kingside, he switched back to the queenside and then he struck down the middle.
Spassky bit his nails. Fischer leaned back, swiveled in his chair, leaned forward—and moved rook to king two.
It was the 23rd move.
Spassky, moving his 24th, moved queen to queen three. In other words, he mounted his defense.
Spassky's attack was effectively over. From then on he defended, moving slowly.
Fischer moved rapidly. He had the key square of the board—king five—covered with a full four pieces. Spassky had no chance of pushing forward his vital king's pawn to convert. For three moves he shuffled one rook up and down, reduced to utter passivity.
Then, for one moment, it looked as if he had the chance of mate. But Fischer moved one piece, and at once regained the initiative.
That was the 35th move. Six moves later, it was over for the day.
Visiting grandmasters rattled a dozen possible routes to mate off the tops of their heads. Lesser talents worked it out on chess boards.
Spassky arrived shortly before the scheduled starting time for the game—5 p.m., or 1 p.m. EDT. Fischer arrived after the Russian had made his first move, bent over the table with a smile and shook Spassky's hand.
Spassky began the game with a queen's pawn opening, his favorite.
Fischer replied with knight to king's bishop three.
Spassky continued by advancing his queen's bishop's pawn to the fourth rank and Fischer made pawn to king's three.
After Spassky's third move—knight to king's bishop three—Fischer made pawn to queen's bishop four.
The game was beginning along the lines of an opening called the Nimzo-Indian, the line of play in their first game, when Spassky was also playing white. Spassky won that game.
As a silent movie, the several hundred spectators in the 2,500-seat sports palace watched Fischer gesticulate to the referee. There was no sound from the back room.
The referee disappeared from the screen. Fischer fidgeted. He pivoted on his swivel chair, covered his face with his hands, then one by one straightened the 16 black chess men before him, starting with his king's rook. The audience laughed out loud.
After a few minutes, Schmid came onto the empty stage and said he felt obliged to “explain a strange situation.”
“There is a match for the world championship, but there are no chess players here,” Schmid said—meaning in the outer room. “Bobby Fischer protested against certain conditions. He feels disturbed for several reasons.”
The referee said that according to Rule 21 the organizers guarantee players against disturbance. If one complains, he can demand that the game be moved to a closed room.
“I took the responsibility to move the game just for today,” Schmid said. “I made the decision just to save the match.” ([That's a lot of pontificating when after all, it was Schmid leading the Soviet choir in the false claim the cameras CAN NOT be removed, as “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Ed Edmondson, US Chess Federation, who helped draft the Amsterdam Agreement. So why didn't Schmid, simply follow the rules?])
Above the empty stage burned 90 specially installed fluorescent bulbs of mixed colors. Their light was being filtered through 105 specially made frosted glass panels. The intensity of the light could be raised or lowered by a system of switches.
It was installed on Fischer's demand and it cost $5,500. ([Astounding claim require astounding evidence … and this is the first time such a thing has ever been mentioned among the many syndicated press releases, which may be so, or, as often is the case, may not. ★])
CAPTION: POSITION AT ADJOURNMENT—Chess board set up in New York has pieces placed exactly as at Reykjavik. Bobby Fischer has black; Boris Spassky has white. (AP)
New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1, 25
Fischer Presses His Lead As 3d Game Is Adjourned by Harold C. Schonberg
Reykjavik, July 16 — Bobby Fischer decided to play the scheduled third game of the world championship chess match with Boris Spassky. The game was adjourned after five hours in a position favorable to the American challenger.
The day was another turbulent one in this match, which —had everything gone smoothly—would have been up to the seventh game instead of the third.
The site of the game was moved from the 2,300-seat Exhibition Hall to a closed, private room. The referee said he had made the switch—for this game only—“just to save the match” ([a lot of crowing from the man who was the ring leader of Soviet meddling to upset the match! “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Col. Edmond Edmondson, USCF]) following Fischer's ([justifiable protests well within his rights!])
And one of Fischer's aides walked out on talks involving Fischer's forfeiture of his second game, charging that a Russian negotiator was trying to sabotage the match.
Later, the Russians filed a protest over the change in playing site, ([temperamental conniving Soviets, always complaining and creating unnecessary drama to upset the match!]) and it became obvious that the match was still far from being clear of the ([Soviet]) troubles, protests and problems that started besetting it even before the date had been set.
At adjournment—Spassky played 41 moves and Fischer sealed his reply—the 29-year-old American grandmaster was ahead by a pawn and had strong mating threats. In the opinion of many experts, he had a won game. Play was to resume at 5 P.M. tomorrow.
“At least a draw and probably a win,” said an Icelandic grandmaster, Fridrik Olafsson.
“It is a clear win for Fischer,” said a Yugoslav grandmaster, Dragolub Janosevic.
A Strong Effort
From the beginning of the game it was clear that Fischer was going to make a strong effort to wrest the initiative from Spassky. He went into the game on the short side of a 2-0 score. He lost the first game after making what many experts feel was a blunder ([due to disruptions from men, hired to disruptively operate the cameras, in crews of up to three men, and stationed no more than 15 feet/5 meters from Fischer, certainly not “hidden” nor “silent” as was widely circulated in the media's rumor mill]) and the second by forfeit after refusing to show up ([due to a legal boycott of the disruptive camera men, which was permitted within the rules. The “forfeit” was a sham action made by a Soviet-dominated “committee”.]) Today, playing the black pieces, he swung into the Benoni Counter Gambit after Spassky's expected first move, pawn to queen four.
“This is wild stuff,” said one expert. “Fischer is announcing that he wants to slug it out. He wants the point.”
Experts called Fischer's 11th move, knight to king rook four, an entirely new conception. Spassky spent a half-hour studying it. Apparently Fischer was willing to break up his king side for a possible attack. Three moves later, Fischer brought out his queen with menacing attacking possibilities, and the audience—watching on closed-circuit television piped into the main hall—was electrified.
“Bobby's attacking as though his life was involved,” said a grandmaster.
Spassky defended himself skillfully, and the action shifted to the queen side. Soon a positional struggle developed, with Fischer always on the attack and Spassky doggedly holding on.
Tonight there will be hours and hours of analysis by both players and their seconds. Spassky's position is described by virtually every grandmaster here as unenviable.
The game was played in a private room of Exhibition Hall because Fischer had objected to the presence of the television and film cameras used in the first game, saying they ([the crews of, up to three men, operating the cameras]) were noisy and disturbed his concentration.
Lothar Schmid, the referee, explained to the audience immediately after play started why the site had been moved upstairs. Fischer had a right to protest the use of the cameras under Rule 21 ([but not protest the devices be “video tape film that didn't make any noise… un-manned,stationary and automated” as Fischer was led to wrongly believe, by the Soviet's colluder Chester Fox, Inc.]) of the match, Schmid said. Therefore it was decided to change the site of the game this time only.
“I made the decision just to save the match,” Schmid said. ([Come off the soap box with such grandstanding! “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Col. Ed Edmondson, US Chess Federation, who aided in drafting the Amsterdam Agreement and Schmid, along with Soviet delegates have denied this rule, from the beginning hoping to turn world coverage of the imminent humiliating Soviet defeat, against Fischer… so that Fischer makes the call to remove the cameras, and hence, achieve a Soviet black-out in press coverage.])
Shortly after the game was adjourned, the Russians delivered a protest to Schmid demanding that tomorrow's playoff, as well as all future games, be played on the stage of the Exhibition Hall.
Meetings to thrash out the issue have been called for tomorrow and the focus of attention may shift once more from the chessboard to the negotiating table.
But for today's game, at least, Fischer won his point about camera equipment. Chester Fox, Inc., which had ([based on an unethical move, unconstitutional suppression of freedom of press, by the Icelandic Chess Federation]) purchased film and television rights, agreed to waive the use of cameras for this game. Whether it will do so in the future remains an open question.
The room in which today's game was played is normally used for table tennis tournaments. It is long, narrow and bare, with a sloping ceiling. The players did not use the special table constructed for the match. That was left on the stage of Exhibition Hall. Instead, a plain utilitarian oak table was used, on which was set a wooden board constructed by the same artisans who had built the elaborate table.
This morning nobody would have given much of a chance for the game to be held. Meetings that started yesterday afternoon and continued through the early morning hours resulted only in the match committee's affirmation of the forfeit lodged against Fischer for not appearing on Thursday night. Fred Cramer, who has acted as Fischer's spokesman, walked out of the deliberations at 12:30 this morning, claiming that the Soviet delegate, Nikolai Krogius, a grandmaster as well as a psychologist, was trying to sabotage the match.
Fischer had made reservations on all three flights out of Reykjavik today. At one point in the afternoon, his entourage had entirely given up hope, but Fischer changed his mind once again and sent two of his aides—the Rev. William Lombardy, his second and Paul Marshall, one of his lawyers—to inspect the new playing site. One being assured of absolute privacy and the exclusion of film and television cameras ([men, disruptively operating cameras, in crews of up to three]), Fischer decided to play.
The only equipment in the room was the closed-circuit television camera that brought the game to the audience downstairs.
In some respects the game was more interesting to watch than the Tuesday game and its Wednesday playoff. The huge screen over the stage gave close-ups of both players, and these were supplemented by diagrammatic representations of the moves.
It was not necessary for viewers in the hall to remain silent. They could chat and use their pocket sets to try out variations.
Thus there was a much more relaxed air. Spassky arrived first, and could be seen on the screen talking to the referee. When Fischer arrived, about 10 minutes later, there was some surprised laughter from the audience, numbering about 1,000, and a smattering of applause. Fischer is so unpredictable that many had not expected him to show up.
The two players shook hands. The 35-year-old Soviet titleholder removed his jacket and hung it on the back of his chair.
As before, they were studies in immobility during the play, both leaning forward across the board, not eyeball to eyeball, but rather forehead to forehead. They never looked at each other, but concentrated on the pieces, occasionally rising to stretch their legs.
The camera crews are angry at Fischer not only because they were not allowed to work today but also because they regard Fischer's comments about them two days ago an unwarranted slur. Fischer, in his letter of protest to Schmid, had referred to them as “bungling unknowns who claim to be professional motion-picture cameramen.” They demand a written apology, or else, they said, they will bring a suit for libel.
Fischer Protest Recalled
In New York, a lawyer for Chester Fox, Inc., purchasers of film and television rights for the match, said yesterday, “We won't do anything to disrupt Tuesday's ball game.”
The lawyer, Richard C. Stein, went on:
“We are not the least bit interested in creating any friction to disrupt the games, but we cannot just stand idly by and let such a substantial investment be destroyed.” ([You're a lawyer, Mr. Stein. Why didn't you read the contract? “Under agreed rules of the match, [Robert Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Col. Edmund Edmondson, US Chess Federation])
Mr. Stein said Fischer “knew everything in advance…certainly he was aware” that TV cameras were to be operating. ([Actually, no. Mr. Fischer was misled by Chester Fox Inc., while shown the playing hall prior to the match, he was not shown the television camera equipment and especially the crews of men who would be operating the devices, mere feet from where Fischer was to be seated. Fischer clarifies in November 1972, “I was more disappointed than anybody that this thing wasn't televised because, you know, there was a lot of publicity and a lot of money involved and I wanted the people to see me in action. Let's face it. But they had these characters there, who instead of having, some kind of video tape film that didn't make any noise, just, nobody around to operate them, just sort of stationless and they just had guys there with film cameras that were worrying, and they were all around me. Making a racket. A nuisance. Too much noise, and visually you could see them moving around.”]) He pointed out that Fischer, in the original negotiations for a match site, had objected to Iceland for the lack of television coverage there. ([Precisely, and that is a major reason behind the motive of the Soviets choosing the notoriously racist and Anti-American Iceland—to bury the match with help, of Chester Fox Inc.])
“We're not making any overt moves now,” Mr. Stein said. “Everything is subject to negotiation and discussion.” ([and soon enough, turned into an excuse to relentlessly persecute and harass Robert Fischer with a $3.2 million lawsuit for the “crime” of taking the world crown from the Soviet Union whose track record is one of such notoriously poor sportsmanship and sore losers!])
Caption: Fred Cramer, representing Bobby Fischer, conferring with Lothar Schmid, left, match referee, near the sports hall in Reykjavik. The man in the center is unidentified.
The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Sunday, July 16, 1972 - Page 127
International Chess Championship, Reykjavik Iceland
“Of course, in the old days it was Icelandic Vikings who were noted for their power plays, extortion and trampling of sovereign rights…”
Fails to elaborate on the finicky, overbearing demands and complaints of European organizers who refused for months to sort out details before match. Belgrade's illegal demand of 35K USD "guarantee" refused by USCF! Australia's legal $225K bid snubbed by Russia, threatening they "would not play". USSR selecting Anti-American, Racist Iceland who restricted entry of blacks and news coverage. Schemes to disqualify Fischer and replace with Petrosian, etc.
2nd Game Camera Boycott? “instead of..video tape film that didn't make any noise they had guys with film cameras that were..all around..making a racket..and visually you could see them moving around.”- R.J. Fischer, “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Edmondson, USCF
International Chess Championship, Reykjavik Iceland 16 Jul 1972, Sun The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) Newspapers.com
Fitchburg Sentinel Fitchburg, Massachusetts Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 8
Fischer Remembered As “Courteous, Friendly, and Carried Himself As a Perfect Gentleman”
Fitchburg, Massachusetts (AP) Bobby Fischer, the American chess grandmaster playing for the world championship in Iceland, is remembered as “a perfect gentleman” by men who played him in 1964.
The remembrance came from Fischer's appearance in March 1964 (for a $250 honorarium) at the Wachusett Chess Club.
Fischer took on 56 opponents at one time, and over 45 minutes beat 49, lost to five and had two draws.
Clarence A. Barber of Holden, one of the five who defeated Fischer, said the master was “courteous, friendly and carried himself as a perfect gentleman.”
When it became apparent to Fischer that he was going to lose, Fischer “took a long look at the board, looked at me, then said ‘Congratulations’ shook my hand and went on to the next board.” Barber said.
“There were no tantrums, no signs of distress on Fischer's face,” Barber said.
Additionally, no such accounts exist in contemporary 1964 Fitchburg newspapers. Wild story made up in 1972 by some person craving attention and “15 minutes of fame.” A poor reflection on that individual.
The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 6
Game Adjourned, Fischer Leading by Ian Westergren
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—The third game of the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky world chess championship match was adjourned Sunday with the American challenger one pawn ahead after 40 moves.
Fischer and the world champion began the third game of their $250,000 challenge match Sunday in a small room with only the judges present. The moves were relayed to an audience in an adjacent hall by closed-circuit television.
Experts said Fischer's position after 30 moves was superior to Spassky's but that the two grand masters were equal. Fischer led in time allotted with nearly a 2-1 advantage toward the close of Sunday's session.
Spassky was in trouble as he pondered his 41st move, which will be sealed in an envelope to be opened when the match resumes at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) Monday. Fischer ended the five-hour playing session on the attack, forcing two queen checks in the 38th and 39th moves.
Even Nikolai Krogius, one of the world champion's seconds, admitted Fischer now had a chance to win his first game in the match when the game is finished Monday.
The two played the game in a closed room with only the arbiters present after a dramatic day in which it was highly uncertain until only 90 minutes before the start of the game if there would be any play at all.
Spassky leads the 24-game match 2-0 after beating Fischer in the first game and winning the second on default.
Robert Byrne, a U.S. grand master, said “Bobby has a chance to win this game. He is a pawn ahead. The only problem is that they have bishops of different colors which is a complication.”
Krogius said Spassky made an error in his opening game around the 11th move but he would not discuss it in detail. “We will have to look at that tonight,” he said.
When Spassky made his 41st move, filing it in a closed envelope, he got up and left the table. Fischer remained in his black leather swivel chair pondering his response for 10 minutes before he finally took his protocol, wrote his move, stuck the paper into a big envelop and handed it to arbiter Lothar Schmid of West Germany who sealed it.
Spassky opened the game with his queen's pawn, the same opening he used in the first game—which he won.
Fischer, who showed up eight minutes late, opened with a knight—also his opening move in the first game.
After 15 moves, most chess experts felt Fischer had the stronger position and the initiative while Spassky was forced into a defensive game.
The Russian took off his black and white jacket and looked slightly worried. Both men drank orange juice.
Fischer played a strong positional game and some experts said his position was superior to Spassky's after 30 moves even though they were materially equal. Spassky on the other side of the table appeared to be short of ideas in a complex position and repeated himself at least once.
Fischer had 43 minutes left after 30 moves while Spassky had only 27 minutes left for his last 10 moves before a possible adjournment.
Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 4
Chess Federation To Appeal Forfeit by Dr. Leroy Dubeck, President U.S. Chess Federation
Bobby Fischer's move 11 in game three was an opening innovation which undoubtedly surprised Boris Spassky. The adjourned position should be an easy win for the American grandmaster.
This would mean that Spassky would lead two points to one. However, one of Spassky's wins was by forfeit since Fischer refused to play Thursday due to the presence of TV cameras which he claimed were distracting him.
These cameras have been removed and yesterday's game was played in a small room near the previous playing hall. Spectators watched the game on closed circuit TV.
Fischer has protested the forfeit by the arbiter, Lothar Schmid of Germany, to the match committee, which upheld the forfeit.
Nevertheless, Fischer has recourse to the general assembly of the World Chess Federation. This body over 70 member countries will have its next annual meeting in Skopje, Yugoslavia in September.
I will attend as part of the United States delegation and we intend to protest the forfeit decision if that game becomes crucial to the outcome.
Thus, if Fischer wins his adjourned game, he would have an even score in the two games played, despite the fact that he played the black pieces in both games.
In addition he will have broken the jinx that Spassky has had over him in the past. The Russian has never before lost to Fischer.
I can only hope that Fischer will concentrate in the future more on playing chess and less on negotiating with the Icelandic Chess Federation. However, his past actions may have unnerved Spassky and may in the end be worth the forfeited game even if the forfeit is not reversed.
Spassky's play in yesterday's game was rather passive, simply trying to hold the draw. This kind of game is hopeless against Fischer.
Fischer's retinue as of yesterday included Grandmaster William Lombardy, a Brooklyn priest, his second. Two attorneys were also on hand as well as Fred Cramer, a World Chess Federation vice president, and Frank Scoff, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. A couple of other American grandmasters also are present as journalists. Fischer's staff is the largest ever for an American grandmaster in any international event.
The News Journal Wilmington, Delaware Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 2
Edge Bobby's--But Will He Play in Hall?
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Bobby Fischer goes into the playoff of the third game of the world chess championship today holding the initiative over titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
The American challenger, after keeping the match in limbo with protests against ([disruptive men operating]) TV and movie cameras, forced the start of the third game yesterday to a private room offstage.
Spassky threw the competition into doubt early today by saying he would refuse to play again in the private room. Chief Referee Lothar Schmid announced shortly after noon, however, that the adjourned game would go on in the main hall where the 24-game match began last Tuesday.
FISCHER had said that the cameras in the main exhibition hall of the Sports Palace disturbed him. ([Actually, Fischer said “…they had these characters there, who instead of having, some kind of video tape film that didn't make any noise, just, nobody around to operate them, just sort of stationless and they just had guys there with film cameras that were worrying, and they were all around me. Making a racket. A nuisance. Too much noise, and visually you could see them moving around.”])
The opening of Fischer's 41st move was the signal for the resumption of play.
The 29-year-old Brooklynite appeared yesterday for the third game in a small upstairs room of the Reykjavik sports hall. Spassky, 35, playing the white pieces, had already made his first move.
Fighting to overcome the Russian's 2-0 lead, Fischer forced Spassky to the defensive midway in the 5-hour 18-minute session. At adjournment he was in a position to threaten the Russian's king. At the pause, each player had his king, queen and one bishop remaining while Fischer had six pawns to Spassky's five.
Isaac Kashdan, the international grandmaster analyzing the match for The Associated Press, said Fischer had excellent winning chances.
In five previous meetings Fischer had never beaten Spassky. He lost three playing black and had drawn two when he played white and had the first move.
Fischer needs 12½ points to dethrone Spassky while the Russian can retain his title with only 12. A player gets a point for winning a game and half a point for a draw.
Spassky won their opening game at Reykjavik last week and was declared winner of the second by forfeit when Fischer failed to appear because he objected to ([disruptive camera men operating]) television cameras filming the match.
OFFICIALS overruled the American's appeal against the forfeit ([which was illegal, according to what the US Chess Federation who helped draft the rules, “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.”]) and until the last minute it was uncertain if Fischer would continue. ([Snipping embellishments about Fischer booking flights on every airline in Iceland, every day, for over a week or more. William Lombardy put these rumors to rest, saying he certainly hoped it wasn't true and that he had heard nothing about it, and that nothing was decided yet.]) At Fischer's insistence ([other articles state it was the organizers themselves who made the recommendation]), the match was moved to the small room and the audience of paying fans in the big sports hall downstairs watched on closed circuit television. Apparently Fischer had no objection to that TV equipment.
Spassky's aides described the offstage room as a “chess cupboard&rduqo; and warned that the Russian would not play any more games in it. ([Picky. Picky.])
Asked how Fischer would react to this, one of the American aides said “I don't even know if he knows.”
Schmid said he moved the game site under Rule 21 providing that the competition can be in private if either player demands it because of disturbance.
Edge Bobby's--But Will He Play in Hall? 17 Jul 1972, Mon The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) Newspapers.com
The Alliance Daily Times-Herald Alliance, Nebraska Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Fischer Wins Chess Game
Reykjavik (AP) — World chess champion Boris Spassky resigned the third game against Bobby Fischer on today five minutes after the clock was switched on to resume their adjourned game.
Referee Lothar Schmid opened Fischer's sealed 41st move. It was bishop to queen six.
Fischer was not in sight.
Spassky waited only minutes, and knocked over his king, giving the game to Fischer.
The score in the 24-game match now stands at 2-1 in Spassky's favor.
Spassky had lost his first game ever to Fischer.
The Russian had been playing white, which gave him a slight advantage.
Fischer's sealed move had been predicted as the winning move by all grandmasters watching the game.
The Sumter Daily Item Sumter, South Carolina Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 12
After 41st Move
Artist's drawing depicts chess board in Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky World Championship game in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sunday, after Spassky made his 41st move. Fischer's 41st move remains sealed in an envelope to be opened when the game resumes today. Experts say U.S. challenger Fischer appears to be headed for his first win against Spassky, of the Soviet Union. (UPI)
After 41st Move 17 Jul 1972, Mon The Item (Sumter, South Carolina) Newspapers.com
The Sumter Daily Item Sumter, South Carolina Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 12
Third Game
UPI chart shows the moves in the third game of the Boris Spasky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship. Chess experts give Fischer a 70 per cent chance of winning (UPI).
Third Game 17 Jul 1972, Mon The Item (Sumter, South Carolina) Newspapers.com
Carroll Daily Times Herald Carroll, Iowa Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 30
Fischer Gains Chess Initiative From Russian
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—American challenger Bobby Fischer forced the third game of the world chess championships off the stage and into a private room ([actually, that choice was made by the organizers and offer extended to Bobby, according to other sources]), gained the initiative from Russian titleholder Boris Spassky and was given a good chance to win when play resumes today.
But the future of the competition remained in suspense as aides of Spassky warned that the Soviet champion would refuse to play any additional games in the private room.
Play continues at 1 p.m. EDT with the referee opening a sealed envelope in which Fischer wrote out his 41st move at Sunday's adjournment.
The 29-year-old Brooklynite appeared for the third game in a small upstairs room of the Reykjavik sports hall. Spassky, 35, playing the white pieces, had already made his first move.
Fighting to overcome the Russian's 2-0 lead, Fischer forced Spassky to the defensive midway in the 5-hour, 18-minute session. At adjournment he was in a position to threaten the Russian's king. At the pause, each player had his king, queen and one bishop remaining while Fischer had six pawns to Spassky's five.
Isaac Kashdan, the international grandmaster analyzing the match for The Associated Press, said Fischer had excellent winning chances. He said in a clash of grandmasters, the one pawn advantage could be decisive.
Spassky won their opening game at Reykjavik last week and was declared winner of the second by forfeit when Fischer failed to appear because he objected to disruptive men operating the television cameras filming the match.
The South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 5
Lakefront Fischers
Chess players in the open-air chess pavilion along the lake in Lincoln Park, Chicago, provided these studies in thought Sunday. AP Press Wirephoto
Lakefront Fischers 17 Jul 1972, Mon The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana) Newspapers.com
Calgary Herald Calgary, Alberta, Canada Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 2
Spassky Concedes 3rd Game as Chess Turmoil Continues
Bulletin: Reykjavik (Reuter)—Bobby Fischer of the U.S. won the third game of the world chess title match against Russian Boris Spassky when the Soviet champion resigned today after 41 moves.
Reykjavik (Reuter)—The chaotic world chess championship appeared to be in jeopardy once again today after a decision to move play back to the main auditorium.
The ruling came just as American challenger Bobby Fischer seemed poised for the first win of his career over titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, who requested that the adjourned third game be moved to the main hall.
The chief arbiter of the match, German grandmaster Lothar Schmid, ruled that play would continue in public following a statement made by the Russians at a special meeting of the two sides and the tournament committee.
The U.S. representative objected, saying the decision would frighten off Fischer—who is in a commanding position in the current game and is generally expected to clinch victory soon after this afternoon's restart scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT.
But informed sources said that after some bitter debate, a solution to the problem appeared to be in sight when a telephone call from Fischer's senior lawyer, Paul Marshall, in New York, revealed that the American Broadcasting Co. was giving up its rights to television coverage of the event.
However, it was not immediately clear whether this meant the definite withdrawal of cameras from around the stage in the auditorium, which is the demand Fischer has been making.
Fischer lost the first match to Spassky and then forfeited the second when he did not appear, leaving him an uphill task since Spassky has only to draw in the remaining matches of the 24-game series to retain his title.
Only Sunday, Fischer was on the verge of flying home and leaving ([but according to William Lombardy, these rumors were circulated widely and he knew nothing of them]) what has been described as the chess match of the century in ruins behind him ([due to disruptive camera men violating rules of the match, organizers attempting to force Fischer into an intolerable situation with what was described as up to three men per camera crew, that could both be seen and heard, no more than a mere 15 feet from where Fischer was seated. An obvious, deliberate attempt to blow Fischer's concentration, to provoke him. Organizers and their media contacts flagrantly and misleadingly denied rules of the match in world news media, knowing, Fischer had the right not only to protest but demand removal of the cameras altogether, if they disturbed either contestant. The crews of men operating the cameras were neither silent nor were they invisible or hidden. Additionally, reports were made by notable chess reporters such as Schonberg and Golombek in personal, eye-witness syndicated commentaries about the disruptions of such camera men, from above, on the roof training a camera on Fischer, and from the side of the stage during the first match, after which, Fischer not only protested, but boycotted the second match]) But he stayed on and has bounced back into the title race.
Papers Turn About
Reykjavik newspapers which had been critical, heaped praise on the 29-year-old New Yorker today and described his play in the third game as a great display of vigorous and imaginative chess.
Fischer was expected to finish off the adjourned third game in a few moves to reduce Spassky's lead to 2-1.
Chess experts are not ruling out the possibility that Spassky will inform chief arbiter Schmid during the day that concedes the game. This would then be announced from the stage when the game is scheduled to resume.
A win tonight would be Fischer first in seven meetings with the 35-year-old Spassky and could perhaps mean the breaching of a major psychological barrier for the American.
To ensure that Fischer would continue the match, play was held Sunday in a back room of the hall instead of on the giant stage. It was followed only by an automatic close-circuit camera, to which Fischer had no objection. ([Exactly. Unmanned, automated video cameras are what Fischer was wrongly led to believe would be placed in the main auditorium to begin with, by organizers and Chester Fox Inc. when he agreed to the cameras weeks earlier.])
Although Spassky had the advantage of starting first with white pieces, Fischer moved into the attack quickly and showed he was ready to take chances in order to shake Spassky.
On the 11th move, the Brooklyn genius launched an unexpected counter-offensive down the king side and by mid-game seemed to have taken the upper hand.
He forced the Russian to relinquish a bishop for a knight and then concentrated pressure on the champion's center pawn. After some skirmishing on both sides, Spassky lost a pawn and Fischer clearly had the advantage at adjournment.
Two of the Russian's closest aides, Grandmaster Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius, both confirmed that their man was losing.
Both players looked tired as they emerged from the side entrance of the building and Fischer showed no signs of elation when the crowd waiting outside applauded.
Has One More Pawn
When they adjourned, each player had his king, queen and one bishop remaining while Fischer had six pawns to Spassky's five.
Rev. William Lombardy, American grandmaster who is Fischer's second, said Spassky was “in a bad position.”
In five previous meetings, Fischer never had beaten Spassky. He lost three playing black and drawn two when he played white and had the first move.
Fischer needs 12½ points to dethrone Spassky while the Russian can retain his title with only 12. A player gets a point for winning a game and half a point for a draw.
The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Commanding Position Held by Fischer by Ian Westergren
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The third game of the world chess championship match was adjourned after 40 moves Sunday and experts said U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer appeared to be headed for his first win against world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
Spassky was in trouble as he pondered his 41st move. After he made it, he got up and left the table. Fischer remained in his black leather swivel chair for 10 minutes pondering his response and then filed it in an envelop to be opened when play resumes at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) Monday.
Fischer ended the five-hour playing session Sunday on the attack. He forced two queen checks in the 38th and 39th moves.
“Bobby has a chance to win this game,” said Robert Byrne, a U.S. grand master. “He is a pawn ahead. The only problem is that they have bishops of different (board) colors which is a complication.”
Even Nikolai Krogius, one of the world champion's seconds, admitted the American chess grand master had a good chance for his first win in the $250,000 match. Fischer lost the first game by a decision on the 56th move and the second game by forfeit when he failed to show up. Spassky, 35, leads in the 24-game match 2-0.
In Closed Room
Sunday's game was begun in a closed room with only the arbiter's present. The room, a table tennis playing area, is 75 feet by 30 feet with red-painted walls and yellow curtains to shut out the late night sun.
For a time organizers feared Fischer, 29, would again fail to show up protesting the presence of closed-circuit television cameras in the Icelandic Chess Hall. ([Why should Fischer do that? Were the “closed-circuit television cameras” buzzing with crews of disruptive camera men, making noise and visually, making such a commotion they blew Fischer's concentration, or is this another of the sordid attempts to mislead the unsuspecting world public into the wrong assumption those cameras in the playing hall, were “automated, un-manned cameras…” just as Fischer was wrongly led to believe, by Chester Fox, Inc., and the organizers in Moscow-controlled, Icelandic Chess Federation?])
However, 90 minutes before the game was to begin the unpredictable chess genius suddenly changed his mind and agreed to play in the closed room.
When the game was adjourned after Spassky, playing white took his 41st move and Fischer had handed his next move to arbiter Lothar Schmid of West Germany, Fischer hurried from the closed room with his second, the Rev. William Lombardy, the American's only analyst.
Others agreeing that Fischer held a commanding position in the third game were Frank Skoff, president-elect of the U.S. Chess Federation and Fridrik Olafsson, an Icelandic grand master.
“Fischer has definitely a winning position,” Olafsson said.
When the game began, the two players brought their own chairs in to the room with only their seconds and started play on a simple wood table in the center. An automatic closed circuit television camera—of the type Fischer had no objections to—recorded what happened inside for the 1,500 spectators in the hall, who did not seem to mind the absence of the players.
Experts said Fischer's position after 30 moves was superior to Spassky's but that the two grand masters were equal. Fischer led in time allotted with nearly a 2-1 advantage toward the close of Sunday's session.
Spassky was in trouble as he pondered his 41st move, which will be sealed in an envelope to be opened when the match resumes at 5 p.m. (noon CDT) Monday. Fischer ended the five-hour playing session on the attack forcing two queen checks in the 38th and 39th moves.
Even Nikolai Krogius, one of the world champion's seconds, admitted Fischer now had a chance to win his first game in the match when the game is finished Monday.
Newsday (Nassau Edition) Hempstead, New York Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 73
Position at Adjournment
The position at adjournment is displayed here, on a more prosaic board than one in use in Reykjavik: Fischer black, Spassky white. Each player retains a bishop and a queen, but Fischer has six pawns to Spassky's five.
Position at Adjournment 17 Jul 1972, Mon Newsday (Nassau Edition) (Hempstead, New York) Newspapers.com
The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 9
Bobby Seems Headed For First Victory In World Chess Tourney
Reykjavik, Iceland(UPI)—The third game of the world chess championship match was adjourned after 40 moves yesterday and experts said United States challenger Bobby Fischer appeared to be headed for his first win against world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
When they left the board, Fischer, who still must play his 41st move, had six pawns, his queen and the white bishop. Spassky, with one move more than Fischer, had five pawns, his queen and black bishop.
FISCHER AND the world champion began the third game of their $250,000 challenge match in a small room with only the judges present. The moves were relayed to an audience in an adjacent hall by closed-circuit television.
Experts said Fischer's position after 30 moves was superior to Spassky's but that the two grand masters were equal. Fischer led in time allotted with nearly a 2-1 advantage toward the close of yesterday's session.
SPASSKY WAS in trouble as he pondered his 41st move. The match resumes at 5 p.m. (noon EST) today. Fischer ended the five-hour playing session on the attack forcing two queen checks in the 38th and 39th moves.
Even Nikolai Krogius, one of the world champion's seconds, admitted Fischer now had a chance to win his first game in the match when the game is finished today.
Robert Byrne, a United States grand master, said “Bobby has a chance to win this game. He is a pawn ahead. The only problem is that they have bishops of different colors which is a complication.”
KROGIUS SAID Spassky made an error in his opening game around the 11th move but he would not discuss it in detail. “We will have to look at that tonight,” he said.
When Spassky made his 41st move he got up and left the table. Fischer remained in his black leather swivel chair, pondering his response for 10 minutes before he finally took his protocol, wrote his move, stuck the paper into a big envelope and handed it to arbiter Lothar Schmid of West Germany who sealed it.
SPASSKY OPENED the game with his queen's pawn, the same opening he used in the first game—which he won. Fischer, who showed up eight minutes late, opened with a knight—also his opening move in the first game.
The issue of the closed-circuit television coverage of the match was dealt with in an agreement worked out only hours before. The agreement, which made yesterday's game possible, called for it to be held in the small room rather than in the 3,000-seat auditorium in the same building. The audience in the auditorium had been keeping track of the moves through television screens connected to cameras near the playing stage. His seconds continued negotiating with the match organizers.
The committee's ultimatum came in a report which caused Fred Cramer, a vice-president of the U.S. Chess Federation, to walk out of negotiations with match organizers.
“THE RUSSIANS are sabotaging the match,” Cramer said as he stormed out. “If there is no more play they have torpedoed it by insisting on inserting inflammatory statements and anti-Fischer propaganda into the committee report. The Russians simply did not want to give Bobby a fair hearing.”
But under the agreement worked out later, the third game was to be played in the same building as the auditorium where the first game was held, but in a small backstage room previously used for Ping-Pong tournaments, said Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation.
THORARINSSON said the Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's official second, accepted the agreement on the American champion's behalf. The solution, however, appeared only temporary. Schmid said he would try to have the fourth game moved back into the auditorium.
The television cameras, meanwhile, were being moved away from the auditorium playing area to a balcony 175 yards away. Chester Fox Inc., owner of the television and film rights to the match, said telephoto lenses for the cameras were being flown in to accommodate the new position.
AFTER THE agreement to play the third game in private was announced, Fischer and Father Lombardy brushed past reporters waiting in the lobby of their hotel and went into a private dining room to eat and prepare game strategy.
Bobby Seems Headed For First Victory In World Chess Tourney 17 Jul 1972, Mon The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) Newspapers.com
The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Tell-It Line: If You're Turned On by Fischer vs. Spassky, Here's a Beginner's Chess Tournament For You
How can I get into a chess tournament? I'm 11 years old, and so far I play only with my father. I usually beat him. I guess the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky match has me all excited. D.L., Charlotte.
Try Charlotte's first “Duffer's Delight” chess tournament on Aug. 5-6 at the Camelot Apartments clubhouse, 1425 Eastcrest Drive. And bring your dad. Sessions start at 2:30 p.m., and anyone who hasn't made Class A in competitive play is eligible. You've got a lot to learn—from the classic opening gambit of pawn to King 4 (P-K4) to how to clock your play with a double stopwatch. Competitive play starts at Class E for beginners who've accumulated less than 1,200 points. From there, you can move up to classes D, C, B, A, Expert and Master. Grand Master Bobby Fischer's rating is 2,824 points; Spassky's is 2,690.
Tell-It Line: Beginner's Chess Tournament 17 Jul 1972, Mon The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina) Newspapers.com
The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 6
Fischer's On The Threshold of First Win Over Spassky
Reykjavik, Iceland — U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer was on the threshold today of his first victory in the world chess championship match.
Defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, ahead 2-0 in games, was in serious trouble at adjournment on the 41st move of Sunday's game. He was a pawn down and very nearly enmeshed in a mating net.
After adjournment, however, the champion's aides warned match organizers that Spassky would not play again in the small upstairs room of Reykjavik's sports hall, where the first stage of the third game was played.
Chief referee Lothar Schmid moved play back to the main room today.
The game had been moved to the small room because of Fischer's protests over playing conditions in the main hall, particularly the presence of move and television cameras ([and the disruptive men operating said cameras.])
Fischer, changed his mind and agreed to play in the small room. He showed up a few minutes late, as usual.
The room, long and narrow, is used for table tennis. It had only a small closed-circuit TV camera in it, to which Fischer did not object. It was used to relay the scene to the audience in the main hall.
Spassky's aides described the room as a “chess cupboard.”
When the game began, Fischer as black chose the Modern Benoni defense to Spassky's P-Q4. It is a fighting, no-nonsense defence with sharp counter-attacking chances for black.
The game is characterized by an early P-QB4 move by black, giving him attacking chances on the queenside as opposed to white's chances on the kingside.
The Benoni, an old defense, was refined by former world champion Mikhail Tal of the Soviet Union when he was terrorizing the chess world in the 1950s, so Spassky was familiar with it.
Fischer, however, has never lost with the defence and added a refinement of his own on the 11th move Sunday. His N-R4 forced the exchange of one of white's bishops and neutralized Spassky's kingside chances.
After some slashing play, Fischer forced the exchange of the rooks, gained a pawn and had a hammerlock on the queenside.
Although each player had an opposite colored bishop — often an indication of a draw — Spassky was in dire straits when Fischer sealed his 41st move.
Already a pawn down, Spassky was on the verge of losing more material in order to forestall Fischer's mating thrust.
Spassky won the first game when Fischer, who has never beaten Spassky, badly misplayed the endgame. The second game was forfeited to Spassky when Fischer failed to show up in protest over the playing conditions.
Officials ([illegally due to 3 to 4, Soviet bias]) overruled the American's appeal against the forfeit, and until the last minute it was uncertain if Fischer would continue.
To the winner of the 24-game match goes $153,125 of prize money put up by the Icelandic Chess Federation and James Slater, British financier and chess buff.
The loser gets $91,875. In addition, each player will collect 30 per cent of the income from the sale of television and movie rights. Before Fischer's complaints about ([disruptive men operating]) the cameras this had been expected to amount to $27,500 each.
Spassky needs 12 points to win and Fischer 12½. A player gets a point for winning a game and a half point for a draw.
The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Fischer Scores First Victory
Sealed Move Defeats Spassky—Reykjavik, Iceland — Bobby Fischer won his first game ever from world chess champion Boris Spassky today — and he wasn't even present.
The controversial U.S. grandmaster was still en route to the sports hall here when Spassky resigned their adjourned third game in the protest-plagued world chess title series.
The game had been adjourned Sunday night with Fischer in a commanding position over the Soviet champion. Today, when chief referee Lothar Schmid opened Fischer's sealed, 41st move, Spassky pondered his hopeless position for a few minutes then tipped over his king to signify defeat.
The move, B-Q6ch, was the obvious one and further enmeshed Spassky in mating net.
As spectators in the main hall set in silence, Spassky walked off the stage.
About 10 minutes later Fischer strode in to find he had finally beaten Spassky for the first time in eight attempts dating back to 1960. Some of the crowd cheered.
Fischer's look of concern quickly changed to one of relief when he learned of Spassky's resignation. He left the hall two minutes later.
Spassky now leads the 24-game match, 2-1.
Whether the match will continue to a conclusion, however, is still obscure. Sunday's game was shifted from the main stage to a small, upstairs room because of Fischer's objections to ([men disruptively operating]) television cameras in the main hall.
Following adjournment Sunday, the Russians warned Schmid that Spassky would not play again in the small room, and Schmid today moved the adjournment back to the main hall.
How Fischer will take this latest decision is not yet known, and probably won't be until fourth game starting time Tuesday.
But informed sources said that, after some bitter debate, a solution to the problem appeared to be in sight when a telephone call from Fischer's senior lawyer, Paul Marshall, in New York, revealed that the American Broadcasting Co. was giving up its rights to television coverage of the event.
However, it was not immediately clear whether this meant the definite withdrawal of cameras from around the stage in the auditorium, which is the demand Fischer has been making.
The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 46
Play by Play for a Chess Fan
To local fans, yesterday's chess match between Russian world champion Boris Spassky and American challenger Bobby Fischer was the most important world event of the day.
For some three hours, an enthusiastic local chess player sat in the Honolulu office of United Press International watching the play by play chess moves come over the teletype machines from Reykjavik, Iceland, where the games are being played.
Glenn Kageyama meticulously plotted each player's moves on miniature chess boards using small rubber stamps depicting chess pieces. As the hours slipped by, he saw the game of masters develop more than 10,000 miles away.
THE UNIVERSITY of Hawaii business student also recorded and analyzed each of the 40 moves played yesterday before the game was recessed.
“I'm presenting the game play to the chess club meeting this afternoon.” Kageyama said.
“The other guys are interested in how Fischer is playing.”
“Fischer is playing an active defense … he seems to be out to win.” said the 1964 Kalani High School graduate who has been part of the chess world for nine years. He also teaches beginning chess to servicemen at Ft. Shafter once a week.
KAGEYAMA SAID he will appear at the UPI offices every day Spassky and Fischer pair off. The conclusion of the third game continues today. Twenty-four games have been scheduled between the two giants in the chess field.
Locally, the small army of chess players (The Honolulu Chess Club, a part of the Hawaii Chess Association) meets every first and third Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Moiliili-McCully Library. About 40 usually appear to play.
At other times they are sitting on the concrete benches along Kuhio Beach or any other place they can find the game.
The Capital Times Madison, Wisconsin Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 17
Fischer Plays In True Form by Pete Dorman (State Chess Champion)
The third game between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer has been adjourned in a position that looks like a win for the American challenger. Fischer is a pawn ahead, and Spassky will have to give up at least one more in order to save his threatened king.
At last the true Bobby Fischer emerges; the chess wizard whose deadly accuracy cuts through the toughest opposition. This third game, after Bobby's first-round fiasco ([due to disruptive camera men who were both in plain sight and audible]) and his second-round forfeiture ([which was done out of nationalist bias for Soviet imperialism by Anti-American Icelandic organizers and a Soviet opposed to 1 American representative on the deciding committee]), marks the real start of the match.
Fischer opened with the Benoni Defense, a double-edged system that usually leads to a dangerous game for both players. With Black attacking on both sides of the board and White straining to break through in the center, the Benoni is one of the most complicated setups in modern tournament chess.
And before long, it was Fischer who was getting the upper hand. With his 11th move, Bobby began an attack against Spassky's king. By taking the knight, the Russian hoped to profit from the challenger's weakened pawn structure, but it was Fischer who grabbed the key squares and took control of that part of the board.
Then attention shifted to the queen's wing, where the American opened up a second front with 21. … P-N4. This is standard procedure in this opening, threatening to open lines for Black's rooks and bishops, and possibly to push Black's queen's bishop pawn deep into White's position.
Spassky replied with another standard device: with his 22nd move he threatened to push his king pawn, giving new attacking scope to his pieces. But Fischer put a stop to this plan, forcing the champion to fall back on passive defense.
Hoping to defuse Fischer's attack, Spassky initiated a maneuver on his 25th move to lock pawns on the queen's side. Yet this plan only added to his troubles, for it made the champion's king pawn all but untenable. A brief period of peaceful wood-shifting followed, and then the American captured the weak pawn, opening a path to the heart of Spassky's position.
Soon, the Russian's king was on the run, and Fischer's queen and bishop moved in for the kill, hopping from one menacing white square to another.
With his monarch caught in the middle of the board, with his pieces in disarray, Spassky faced imminent defeat.
The adjournment postpones, but it will not prevent, this defeat. If Fischer's sealed move is 41. … B-Q6ch, Spassky will be hard pressed to find an adequate reply. In every instance, Fischer picks up another pawn with no letup.
In a few, the game ends quickly, for example: 42. K-K3 Q-Q8; 43. Q-N2 Q-B6; 44. K-Q2 Q-K7; 45. K-B3 Q-K4; 46. K-Q2 P-B6; 47. QxP Q-K7 mate. The one slim hope remaining to the world champion is that he can somehow force an exchange of queens and set up a blockade with his bishop. (He would be relying on the fact that his bishop can control squares that Fischer's can't. But this is a very slim hope. Few observers would be surprised if Spassky resigned before resuming play.
In all probability, Bobby Fischer will go on to win this game, the first triumph over Spassky in his entire career. This will give the American a powerful psychological boost.
Caption: Diagram shows Bobby Fischer's use of the Modern Benoni Counter, an attack designed for domination of the center of board, against Boris Spassky in the third game of the world chess championships in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sunday. Diagram shows the position of pieces at adjournment. The game is to be continued today. (AP)
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 10
Fischer In Dominant Position as 3rd Chess Game Adjourns
Reykjavik, Iceland—The third game of the world chess championship between titleholder Boris Spassky and U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer was adjourned Sunday night with the American in a commanding position.
If the challenger triumphs today—and there are few experts here who doubt that he will—it will be his first victory over the Russian and will put him back in the running for the championship.
Success seemed near for Fischer at the end of a day in which he was on the point of abandoning the contest after a series of disputes.
Play was adjourned on the 41st move. The next move, which is Fischer's, has been written on a piece of paper and sealed in an envelope.
The game was held in an upstairs room behind the stage of the Reykjavik exhibition hall to ensure that the U.S. champion would appear.
He had bitterly opposed the presence of ([disruptive camera men operating]) cameras around the stage and the organizers were afraid he would stay away if the match was continued in the auditorium.
Chief match arbiter Lothar Schmid moved the play behind the scenes under a special ruling which allows for such a measure on temporary basis.
By midafternoon, after Fischer was informed that the match could continue in the back room and after a flood of telegrams was received from the United States urging him to stay on here and complete the match, the 29-year-old challenger made his decision.
Playing on a simple wooden chessboard across a table, and with only the match arbiters and a closed-circuit television camera in the long, narrow room, Fischer showed why he was the prematch favorite.
Although holding the black pieces, he was quickly on the offensive and it was clear he was prepared to take considerable risks to break down Spassky's resistance.
When play was adjourned on the 41st move Fischer clearly had a winning advantage.
Spassky's two closest aides, grand masters Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius, both confirmed their man was losing the game.
Even though Krogius and Geller, and a third Soviet grand master, Ivor Nej, have been joined by a fourth, Isaac Oleslavsky, who is a brilliant analyst, chess experts considered it almost out of the question that they could save the game for Spassky.
Spassky Moody
When the game was adjourned, Spassky emerged moodily from the side entrance of the building, looking exhausted.
Fischer also looked tired. He showed no signs of elation when he walked to his car and did not react when the crowd waiting outside burst into applause.
Fischer's second, Father William Lombardy, told reporters he had no doubt the challenger would turn up for the resumption of the game today.
The American's administrative assistant, Fred Cramer, beaming happily, declared: “Bobby is going to win this game and he is going to win all the rest of them, too.” ([Interesting statement that nobody else found worthy to report, considering the uncertainty whether Chester Fox Inc., and organizers may still have insisted on camera men swarming Fischer, or no.])
Icelandic officials appeared delighted at Fischer's comeback. Some said this meant that the match was virtually certain to be completed.
But Fischer still has an uphill task. If he wins today, he will be down only 1-2. But as Spassky need only draw the 24-game match to retain his title, the effective score is 1-3.
Spassky's second, Geller, said the Soviet side understood that play would be moved back to the auditorium for the fourth game Tuesday, and that the Americans planned to protest this.
The Guardian London, Greater London, England Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 18
Novel Fischer Move by a Correspondent
After 20 moves of the third game of his match with Spassky, Fischer looked set to pull off his victory: but whatever the outcome, his startling conception on his 11th move makes all the haggling seem worthwhile.
Fischer's imaginative 29th move in the first game, be it good or bad, will be much talked about by all future generations of chess players. In this game, he has produced an exciting innovation the validity of which will be closely scrutinized in the next few months.
This eleventh move, apparently allowing Spassky to wreck black's position, is what this match is really all about: to get the world's two greatest chess players to sit down and play. And when the results of that play are as fine as they have been so far, it no longer seems to matter what problems have arisen, and may arise in the future, as long as these two players can be kept playing.
Fischer, it seems, had seen deeper into the position than had Spassky, for his position improved steadily. After 20 moves, the position was clearly favorable for the American, as he not only enjoyed the slight advantage of having the two bishops against bishop and knight, but also had good possibilities for a queen-side flank advance to lever open still more opportunities for his domination of the black squares, which were effectively controlled by the queen and bishop battery.
When the game was adjourned until this evening, Fischer had an extra pawn and superior position; and once again seemed to have the upper hand psychologically. Nikolai Krogius, Spassky's psychologist, said: “It is remarkable that Fischer could come back and play so strongly after all the drama earlier today.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 8
Letters to the Editor: Challenging Game
To the Editor:
Cheers for publishing the first game of the Spassky-Fischer match. You can hardly imagine how much chess players appreciate being able to play over the games soon after they take place.
Chessplayers are a small minority — some say a misguided minority. Sir Walter Scott pointed out that the time spent learning to play chess could be spent learning a foreign language. Yet chess is a wonderful game, and those who do not play do not know what they miss.
Roland Horner, Margate, N.J.
To the Editor:
Like almost chess players, I am dismayed by Bobby Fischer's uncalled actions in his world title ([a result of not knowing Fischer's side, the full story behind the]) chess contest match, but your cartoon placing his side of the chessboard with dollar insignias is in my estimation a misplaced conception ([actually, that was the intent of Soviet propaganda to paint Fischer as the embodiment of Capitalism… so they misguided the Russians and Americans too]).
Like many other geniuses, Fischer is subject to various ([standards, such as …demanding organizers follow rules, demanding the prize stakes be raised to the fair market value, etc]) and his boycott prior to this chess match are characteristics that have EVERYTHING to do with his love and devotion to a game that is actually life itself to him.
Ely Moskowitz, Shamokin
Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Good Morning
Fischer, In Iceland, Melts His Icy Demeanor And Puts Heat On His Red Opponent—And the Pawns Fall.
The Wichita Eagle Wichita, Kansas Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 11
Fischer, Spassky Arrive for Third Game
…No spectators allowed this round…
Fischer and Spassky Arrive for Third Game 17 Jul 1972, Mon The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas) Newspapers.com
Nanaimo Daily News Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Bobby Fischer Wins As Spassky Resigns
Reykjavik (Reuter) — Bobby Fischer of the U.S. won the third game of the world chess title match against Russian Boris Spassky when the Soviet champion resigned today after 41 moves.
Fischer was not in the hall when the end came although Icelandic officials said he had been on his way.
It was the American challenger's first victory over the world champion in seven meetings and made the score 2-1 in Spassky's favor.
The match in the 24-game series ended as soon as match arbiter Lothar Schmid of West Germany opened the envelope containing Fischer's secret last move before the adjournment and moved bishop to queen six.
Has One More Pawn
When they adjourned, each player had his king, queen and one bishop remaining while Fischer had six pawns to Spassky's five.
Rev. William Lombardy, American grandmaster who is Fischer's second, said Spassky was “in a bad position.”
In five previous meetings Fischer never had beaten Spassky. He lost three playing black and drawn two when he played white and had the first move.
Fischer needs 12½ points to dethrone Spassky while the Russian can retain his title with only 12. A player gets a point for winning a game and half a point for a draw.
Spassky's aides described the offstage room as a “chess cupboard” and warned that the Russian would not play any more games in it.
Asked how Fischer would react to this, one of the American's aides said: “I don't even know if he knows.”
Schmid said he moved the game site under Rule 21 providing that the competition can be in private if either player demands it because of disturbance.
“Bobby Fischer protested against certain conditions,” Schmid said. “He feels disturbed for several reasons.” ([And what were those reasons? “instead of..video tape film that didn't make any noise they had guys with film cameras that were..all around..making a racket..and visually you could see them moving around.”- R.J. Fischer, “Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Edmondson, USCF and when it was legal according to the rules, to file official protest against the disruptive conditions in the hall, “At 11:58 P.M., two minutes before the deadline Cramer, handed a formal written protest to Schmid.” - Paul Marshall. The biased committee simply rejected to petition out of hand without further ado.])
The 29-year-old challenger bounced back Sunday night with a striking display of originality and aggression, taking almost instant command in the game which was played in a secluded back room of the Reykjavik exhibition hall.
Spectators had to make do with closed-circuit television coverage of the game instead of watching it live on the main stage.
Play will resume in the same room tonight with Fischer, playing black, apparently on the verge of crushing Spassky in a pincer movement which had the Russian in check on the 28th and 39th moves.
More Grief Possible
But, while the unpredictable American now is considered likely to agree to continue the trouble-plagued match, it may run into more trouble Tuesday—this time in the form of Russian protests over the decision to move play from the main auditorium.
Spassky protested against the move, which chief arbiter Lothar Schmid said he had taken as a temporary measure to save the match, and Soviet sources said he will insist that the tournament be relocated in the auditorium for Tuesday's fourth game.
The Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 1
Victory for Fischer?
Experts feel U.S. chess master Bobby Fischer will beat Russian champion Boris Spassky in the third match of their 24-game world series when the two resume play today. Fischer, who has never beaten Spassky, has the next move. Fischer is playing the black pieces, Spassky the white. (UPI telephoto).
The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 6
Soviet-Russian Imperialists Laugh To See Such Sport
Whether they win or lose the chess or the hockey, the Russians have thus far won the propaganda warfare that surrounds the games. Bobby Fischer's personal conduct ([in retaliation to Soviet muddling of pre-match organization]) in his approach to the chess match and the NHL's exclusive attitude to the building of an all-Canadian team have given momentary substance in the world's eyes to the classic communist invective that North America measures its civilization in money.
Chess, the game for intellectuals; hockey, the game for keen athletes — and we come out onto the world arena kicking and yelling ([while the Soviet Imperialists merely get swept away with scandal after scandal involving doping of athletes]). The Kremlin, more interested in the long war for men's minds than in games won or lost on the way, must be grinning from tower to tower. Fischer may be the better man but certainly his opening plays have been disillusioning! ([and the reason why conveniently covered up in western press, to put it mildly. Such as disruptive camera men which could both be seen and heard and purposely placed in close proximity to Fischer by Soviet-Icelandic collaborators, to zap Fischer's concentration]) As for the hockey, once the whistle blows we suspect the Canadian players, as distinct from lawyers and owners, will get down to business and win—but the warming up has been hard to take.
Cumberland Evening Times Cumberland, Maryland Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 15
Tapping the Keg by J. Suter Kegg
THE BASEBALL ENCYCLOPEDIA is owned mostly by those who use it to look up an occasional record. The Jim Williams family of Clarysville keeps the huge book in their home only, it seems, to prove to others what it already knows. What one member of the family may not know about baseball history, another one does.
Star of the family diamond team is 14-year-old Alan who rattles off dates as well as facts and figures and little-known bits of information on players from the time baseball was first played. Occasionally, daddy Jim or brother David will take exception to a statement by Alan. It is then the huge encyclopedia, over 2,300 pages thick, is hauled out.
Like Bobby Fischer, the celebrated “chess nut,” Alan is in a class by himself when it comes to storing up all kinds of information in his brain. And daddy and David are by no means slouches in this department.
Scott, the youngest of the brothers, sticks his nose in the encyclopedia every once in a while although he prefers his baseball by participation. Scott, who will be nine next Sunday, is a Little League star.
David, while he loves baseball, prefers table tennis, following in his dad's footsteps in this respect. Dave, who will be a junior in September at the University of Maryland, thrives on competition and recently won over Bob Kominski, the 27th-ranked player in the country and the No. 4 man in Maryland.
All four male members of the Williams family are also chess players, with David being the star of the family. They all, by the way, are admirers of Fischer and pick him to beat Boris Spassky, the Russian champ, in the world chess finals now in process.
There's no way, say the chess-playing Williams thinkers, that Spassky can beat Fischer at his “own game.” David compares Fischer's achievement recently of winning 19 straight grand-master matches against the best players in the world with a pitcher hurling 19 consecutive no-hitters in baseball.
“There's nothing in chess history that comes close to matching that,” says daddy Jim.
The Williamses like two other things about genius Fischer. He plays tennis and table tennis for recreation, as do Jim and David.
Tapping the Keg 17 Jul 1972, Mon Cumberland Evening Times (Cumberland, Maryland) Newspapers.com
Evening Standard London, Greater London, England Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 6
Fischer, The Pawn, And The Way To Victory
THE BIGGEST secret in the chess world is today tucked safely inside a sealed envelope.
It's Bobby Fischer's next move in the third game of the world chess championship at Reykjavik against Russian Boris Spassky.
Can challenger Fischer beat Spassky with his extra pawn?
Readers can find out how to follow the championship by sending for How to Read Chess Moves by Leonard Barden, the Evening Standard chess correspondent. Just send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
Chess Leaflet, Evening Standard, 47 Shoe Lane, London, EC4P 4DD.
Fischer, The Pawn, And The Way To Victory 17 Jul 1972, Mon Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Evening Standard London, Greater London, England Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 11
What Fischer Can Do For A Victory by Leonard Barden
CAN Bobby Fischer beat Boris Spassky with his extra pawn?
This was the question facing the battlers in the world chess championship fight as Fischer planned his next move and a hint of trouble came from the Russian camp.
The hint of trouble centres on the venue of play. The Russians want to return to the main auditorium and away from the “little back room.”
They threaten that the next game may be canceled if their request is not met.
The Grand Masters are still arguing, but Fischer alone knows his next move, which he wrote down at last night's adjournment in Reykjavik, and sealed in an envelope.
This envelope is now the hottest property in Reykjavik and will be guarded by the match referee, Lothar Schmid, until the game is resumed this evening.
Swap
Fischer, already one pawn up, can make it two by the obvious capture … QxP. But then Spassky would threaten an immediate checkmate by 42. B-N2.
Another idea for Fischer is to swap queens by 41. … Q-B7ch; 42. Q-Q2 QxQch; 43. BxQ B-K5; 44. B-B4 BxP; 45. BxP. This end-game would almost certainly be a draw with Spassky's king and bishop keeping out Fischer's pieces and blocking his pawn.
The move I would play is 41. … B-Q6 ch. Now, if Spassky plays 42. K-Q2 he loses his bishop to Q-B7ch, and if 42. K-K1 he loses another pawn by QxPch.
(CAPTION: THE POSITION at the adjournment, after Spassky's 41st move. Fischer (black) placed his 41st move in a sealed envelope, to be opened when play resumes.)
If after 41. … B-Q6ch Spassky advances his king up the board by 42. K-K3 then 42. … Q-Q8; 43. B-N2 (if 43. Q-N2 P-B6) Q-B6ch; 44. K-Q2 Q-K7ch; 45. K-B3 Q-B7 checkmate.
Verdict: It looks good for Bobby Fischer to score his first win of the world title match and his first victory against his great Russian rival Boris Spassky.
Fischer, 29, bounced back last night with a striking display of originality and aggression, taking almost instant command in the game which was played in a secluded back room of Reykjavik exhibition hall.
Spectators had to make do with closed-circuit television coverage of the game instead of watching it live on the main stage.
Play will resume in the same room tonight with Fischer (black) apparently on the verge of crushing Spassky in a pincer movement which had the Russian in check on the 28th and 39th moves.
Icelandic officials said that, despite the audience and its huge size, the auditorium is quieter than the upstairs room, where the sound of cars and children playing outside can be heard ([but this does not detract from the fact Fischer was disrupted by “guys with film cameras that were..all around..making a racket..and visually you could see them moving around.” - Robert J. Fischer, Nov. 1972 Interview])
Afterwards he was informed the match could continue in the back room away from the battery of ([disruptive crews of men operating]) television cameras he said had distracted him in the first match which he lost.
Spokane Daily Chronicle Spokane, Washington Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 4
It's Summer Fun in the Park
The intensity, if not the caliber of play, rivals that of grandmasters Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in a playground chess match at Edgecliff Park.
Daily News New York, New York Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 2
Bobby and Boris Adjourn No. 3 by Robert Byrne
Reykjavik, Iceland, July 16—Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky adjourned the third round of their 24-game match for the world chess championship tonight with the brilliant 29-year-old challenger ahead by a pawn and holding strong winning chances.
Chief referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany stopped play after Spassky had made his 41st move and Fischer had handed in his reply move in a sealed envelope.
Not until an hour before game time was news sent that the American challenger intended to show up. He had threatened to walk out over the presence of ([disruptive crews of men disruptively operating]) the cameras, he had refused to play and forfeited last week's second game to the Soviet champion ([unfairly done, because a valid protest had been submitted before deadline, according to the rules by Fred Cramer, according to Fischer's lawyer, Paul Marshall]).
Fischer booked a plane seat to New York today ([although this rumor had been circulating for days, and William Lombardy testified knowing nothing of it and that nothing had been decided through negotiations. Fischer's lawyer stated he wouldn't have came to Reykjavik if Fischer was planning to leave]) before his seconds reached an agreement that the game would be played in a private room here in the Laugardalshoell sports palace, rather than in the noisy fish-bowl ambience of the main stage. Also at Fischer's request, all TV cameras ([and the disruptive men operating them]) were banned other than the closed-circuit monitors used to beam moves to spectators in the main hall.
The silence seemed to work for Bobby. He chose the ultrasharp Benoni defense, which produces an unbalanced pawn position right from the start, but maintains tension and avoids early exchanges of pieces.
Fischer only rarely uses that opening, and then mostly against players he feels may be trying to arrive at early draws. In the game yesterday, he probably felt that Spassky, already two fat points ahead, would be content to draw.
First Challenge
The first challenge came on Fischer's 11th move when he moved a knight into a kingside attack. Spassky took half an hour to answer, and, when he did, he captured the knight, at the expense of losing his white bishop in return, but breaking up Fischer's kingside pawn formation.
The pawn weakness did not look good. But five moves later, Fischer turned on such dangerous kingside pressure that Spassky was forced to exchange knights. That straightened out Fischer's kingside pawns once again and left him with the advantage of the two bishops.
Keeping Spassky off balance by successive threats in the center and on the queen wing, Fischer forced Spassky to artificially isolate his king pawn and then maneuvered to set up a passed pawn of his own on the queen bishop file.
No Immediate Threat
The passed pawn was not an immediate threat, but it created a potential end-game hazard to Spassky, since it was in position to reach the end of the board and become a queen.
Fischer then turned his attention back to the center as Spassky, all attack gone from his game, could do little but wait, moving a rook back and forth on the king file. Then Fischer struck and the pawn fell.
Bishop of Opposite Color
From that point on, Fischer's prospects improved considerably, gaining an enormous advantage in space and penetrating with his queen behind Spassky's isolated pawns. The world champion appeared to be hanging on the ropes.
About the only advantage Spassky had at adjournment was that his surviving bishop was opposite color from Fischer's bishop.
The bishop factor is the best thing Boris will have going for him when the game resumes at 5 p.m. tomorrow (1 p.m. New York time). If Bobby is to stay in contention for the winner's purse of $156,250, he must make up for the lost and forfeited games.
Bob and Boris Adjourn No. 3 17 Jul 1972, Mon Daily News (New York, New York) Newspapers.com
The News-Messenger Fremont, Ohio, Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 12
Summer Chess
Spurred by the Fischer-Spassky tournament in Reykjavik, interest in chess has received a boost. In Helsinki, Finland, chess is played outdoors during the summer. Vesa Ahlquist, 10, shows the technique in playing with modern-design chessmen weighing eight pounds. The game can be played as late as 3 a.m. during the northern country's lengthy summer days. (AP Wirephoto)
Summer Chess 17 Jul 1972, Mon The News-Messenger (Fremont, Ohio) Newspapers.com
