The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Tuesday, July 25, 1972 - Page 1
Spassky Opening Move Indicates He's Out for Blood
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—World chess champion Boris Spassky, fighting to make up a one-point deficit in his seventh game with Bobby Fischer, started play today with a king's pawn opening. It was an unusual move for the Soviet titleholder and indicated he was out for blood.
Fischer, leading 3½-2½, replied with an equally aggressive move, pawn to queen's bishop 4, moving into a Sicilian defense.
The American challenger is one of the world's most experienced players in this defense.
Spassky arrived on time. As soon as referee Lothar Schmid started the time clock, he made his first move, using the white pieces which allowed him to open the game and gave him a slight edge.
Fischer Minutes Late
Fischer, arriving four minutes late, sat for a few minutes considering Spassky's opening, a favorite of the lanky American.
By the seventh move, the game developed into the Najdorf variation, one extremely familiar to Fischer. Spassky again showed his mettle by inviting a pawn sacrifice, hoping to gain an open attack file. At the eighth move, Fischer took the pawn.
This cost him at least three moves, as white soon developed four powerful pieces—his two knights and two bishops.
At this point Nikolai Krogius, Spassky's second, was all smiles.
There were no cameras in the huge auditorium. Lawyer Paul Marshall, who flew in from New York at Fischer's request, said the American was not yet satisfied with the setup.
“Bobby did not want to be involved in technical arrangements just before the game but everything should be settled by Thursday.” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the International Chess Federation.
