Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Wednesday, August 02, 1972 - Page 20 — Draw After 29 Plays Ends Chess Match —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Boris Spassky accepted challenger Bobby Fischer's offer of a draw after 29 moves in the ninth game of their world championship chess match Tuesday, enabling the American to maintain his two-point advantage in the contest. The draw gave Fischer 5.5 match points to Spassky's 3.5, and it put the Russian in an increasingly difficult position in the 24-game, $250,000 match.
Fischer, playing black, completed his 29th move and glanced up from the chess board to catch his opponent's eye. The American nodded slightly, and the two players rose simultaneously and shook hands to signify the game had ended in a draw.
Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany confirmed afterward that it was Fischer who offered the draw and Spassky who accepted it since it was not clear immediately to the observers in the Reykjavik auditorium where the match is being played.
The ninth game had been postponed two days from Sunday because Spassky was suffering from a head cold.
Playing white Tuesday, the Russian used his standard queen's pawn opening and then waited for Fischer to appear.
AS HE HAS done in all of the games played so far, Fischer arrived late. He rushed into the 3000-seat auditorium, which was one-third filled, nodded to Spassky but did not shake hands with him and then sat down in his special swivel chair. He studied the board for 45 seconds and responded with his knight to king's bishop three.
Play quickly developed into a queen's gambit, Tarrasch variation style. But on his ninth move, Fischer made an entirely new play by advancing out his queen's knight pawn. He put Spassky in check on the following two moves.
“This is the first time I have seen the variation,” U.S. grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek, a Czechoslovak refugee said of Fischer's ninth move.
FOLLOWING that move, Spassky took longer for each of his decisions. He sometimes left the table immediately after making his own move, returning to the board only after Fischer had moved.
Spassky put Fischer in check on the 25th and 26th moves, and by the 27th each player was left with only a rook and four pawns. They exchanged pawns on the 29th move, at which point Fischer offered the world champion a draw.
With 5.5 points in the first nine games, Fischer, 29, can win the title simply by drawing 14 more games. He can even afford to lose once. Spassky on the other hand must win at least twice and draw 13 times in the remaining 15 games.
SINCE HIS victory in their first game three weeks ago, Spassky has yet to defeat Fischer again at the chess board. The Russian was awarded another victory by default in the second game when Fischer refused to appear because of the presence of television cameras in the auditorium. Fischer has since won four times and drawn three games.
As champion, Spassky needs only 12 match points to retain his title and Fischer needs 12.5 to take it away from him. One match point is awarded to the winner of a game, one-half point to each player in case of a draw.
Fischer's domination of Spassky through the first eight games produced some criticism of the 35-year old Russian in the Soviet press. Spassky's aides denied reports Tuesday that one of his advisers, grandmaster Eyfrem Geller, had been recalled to Moscow to discuss the champion's flight and devise a plan to stop Fischer.
BUT RUSSIAN sources said the telephone to Moscow had been used as a “hot line” for chess strategy during the seventh game last week. They said Geller conferred with former world champion Tigran Petrosian and another master, Mikhail Tal, in a conference call during the overnight adjournment of the game. The contest ended as a draw in 49 moves the following day.
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Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Wednesday, August 02, 1972 - Page 20 — Ninth Game - Play by Play — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) —The moves in the ninth game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship. Spassky (W), Fischer (B)…
The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday, August 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Bobby Makes 'Shady' Move —New York (UPI)—The midnight sun of Iceland is getting to Bobby Fischer and interfering with his sleep. Yesterday he ordered an eyeshade from Hammacher Schlemmer, the New York gift shop which specializes in everything from kayaks to crystal mugs. The black rayon-and-cotton shades, held in place by an elastic string, cost $5.
Hammacher Schlemmer said it had airmailed two in case Fischer wanted to give one to his opponent, Boris Spassky.
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The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday, August 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Hypnotist Offers To Play Boris, Bobby Jointly —Reykjavik (UPI)—A British hypnotist has offered to play world chess champion Boris Spassky of Russia and challenger Bobby Fischer jointly for $300,000, a U.S. official said yesterday. Fred Cramer, vice-president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Fischer aide in the current world championship match, said the challenge from Ronald Markham had been received. “We will not disturb Bobby during the match, but that's the kind of money we like to talk about,” Cramer said. “We would like, however, to check his credit rating. It could be a publicity stunt.”
Markham said in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, that he was willing to play “blindfolded, with brass bands playing in the background and television cameras two inches from my nose.”
He said his challenge was prompted by the “prima donna atmosphere of the world championship game.”
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The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday, August 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Chess Moves Listed For 10th Title Game — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The moves in the 10th game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship: Fischer white; Spassky black.
The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday, August 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Boris Bopped By Bobby; Russ Staggering On Ropes —Rekyjavik, Iceland (AP) — American challenger Bobby Fischer has battered his way past the halfway mark in his drive for the world chess title. He forced champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union to toss in the sponge after 56 moves of the 10th game yesterday.
For the Russian it was a humiliating defeat that grand masters say has likely cost him his crown. He now trails the American by a score of 6½ to 3½. Fischer needs to win 12½ points to take the championship. Spassky needs 12 wins to retain it. A victory is worth one point, a draw half a point.
THE 11TH game of the match is set for tomorrow with Spassky playing the white. But Spassky has lost twice, drawn twice and won only once with the white pieces. Thus far, he has beaten Fischer only once. One of Spassky's wins was a forfeit.
Fischer exploited a classic-style Ruy Lopez opening into a systematic dismantlement of the Russian's defense until the champion conceded that checkmate was inevitable and resigned. The two shook hands. Fischer took a quick gulp of fruit juice and left the stage.
The game had been adjourned Thursday after 40 moves, and even then it had appeared to onlooking grand masters that the Russian was in deep trouble. As the game resumed yesterday, David Levy, an international master, commented that if Spassky should lose it, “the whole match becomes a farce.”
THE 29-YEAR-OLD challenger from Brooklyn, N.Y., took fullest advantage of an edge in position, pushing his pawns relentlessly while picking off those of the champion. Spassky put up a two-hour fight but it was clear in the end game that he was looking at disaster. He had only one rook, a bishop and a pawn to Fischer's two rooks and two pawns.
Spassky showed up five minutes late, his appearance seeming to reflect his state of mind. He looked wan and for the first time the dapper Russian wore no necktie. The challenger had been pacing the stage, impatient to get on with the game.
AS THE TWO seated themselves, referee Lothar Schmid opened the sealed envelope containing Fischer's 41st move, decided upon the night before. Spassky, as a master, could have expected no other than Fischer's K-K2.
“That's the one,” exclaimed Jack Collins, Fischer's first chess teacher.
The move forced Spassky to move his threatened rook to his Q-4 and from then on for the Russia it was a hopeless, uphill defensive struggle. At the moment he had a forward pair of pawns on his queen's side, but Fischer gave him no opportunity to exploit them.
“This is terrible,” commented a Fischer aide. “Spassky is making a fool of himself. He should have resigned when they opened the sealed move.”
THERE had been little question of the outcome after the move was opened. Spassky had lost even the chance of a draw.
“Spassky is massacred,” cried grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric. “It is terrible that the world champion cannot even manage a draw.”
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The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, August 07, 1972 - Page 16 — Nixon Sends Invitation To Fischer — New York (UPI)—President Nixon, the nation's No. 1 sports fan, is rooting for Bobby Fischer in the World Chess Championships and has invited the U.S. challenger to visit him in the White House—win or lose. Life Magazine said yesterday Nixon relayed his invitation to Fischer through Life photographer Harry Benson, who went from a White House assignment to Reykjavik, Iceland, where the chess match is under way.
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The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, August 07, 1972 - Page 16 — Fischer Yields On 31st Move —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Boris Spassky won the 11th game of the world chess championship yesterday by forcing American challenger Bobby Fischer to resign on the 31st move, a victory that put the Russian back into contention to retain his title.
Spassky's triumph was his first at the chess board since the opening game of the 24-game championship, and it cut Fischer's lead in match points to two—6.5 to 4.5
THE RUSSIAN all but assured his victory by capturing Fischer's Queen on the 25th move, but the challenger refused to resign at that point and played six more moves before giving up his effort to salvage the game.
The victory in the 11th game took considerable pressure off the defending champion, but he still must win at least two more games and draw 11 in the remaining 13 games of the 24-game match in order to retain his title. Fischer on the other hand can win the championship merely by drawing 12 of the remaining games. The American can afford to lose one more game.
“If ever Spassky needed a good win to recover his confidence, it was today (Sunday). And what a game he played!” said Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen.
“It still has to be Bobby for the match, but it is very much alive again,” Larsen said. Other experts, who were writing off Spassky as a loser prior to yesterday's game, agreed with Larsen's analysis.
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The Morning Herald Hagerstown, Maryland Monday, August 07, 1972 - Page 2 — Nixon Invites Fischer To Visit White House —New York (UPI)—President Nixon, the nation's no. 1 sports fan, is rooting for Bobby Fischer in the world chess championships and has invited the U.S. challenger to visit him in the White House— win or lose. Life magazine said Sunday Nixon relayed his invitation to Fischer through Life photographer Harry Benson, who went from a White House assignment to Reykjavik, Iceland, where the chess match is under way.
Nixon, an avid sports fan, likes to call locker rooms to congratulate winning teams, once offered a football play to the Washington Redskins and recently drew up a list of his all-time, all-star baseball teams.
“Fischer listened with growing delight as Benson reported what Nixon had said, that he wanted Fischer to come visit him, even if he loses, that he liked him because he is a fighter,” Life said.
The magazine said Fischer, who has a “a high and earned respect” for the President, was “wowed” by the invitation.
The magazine also said that after almost torpedoing his title match against Russian World Champion Boris Spassky by his demands for more money, Fischer was ready to relinquish any share in the prize money “and play the match for nothing but the love of chess.”
Writer Brad Darrach, who said he has been seeing Fischer frequently for almost a year and a half, reported that Fischer showed him the first draft of the letter of apology he wrote to Spassky in which he “renounced any share in the prize money associated with the match.”
When Fischer asked Darrach what he thought of the letter, Darrach advised him to talk to his lawyer.
“Two hours later, his lawyer had talked him out of giving up the money. I often wonder if I said the right thing,” Darrach said.
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The Morning Herald Hagerstown, Maryland Monday, August 07, 1972 - Page 2 — Spassky Defeats Bobby —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Boris Spassky won the 11th game of the world chess championship Sunday by forcing American challenger Bobby Fischer to resign on the 31st move, a victory grandmasters said put the Russian back into contention to retain his title.
Spassky's triumph, his first at the chess board since the opening game of the match, cut Fischer's lead in match points to 6.5 to 4.5 and kept the Russian from falling back into an almost unrecoverable position in the 24-game championship contest.
“If ever Spassky needed a good win to recover his confidence, it was today. And what a game he played.” said Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen.
“It still has to be Bobby for the match, but it is very much alive again,” Larsen said. Other experts, who were writing off Spassky as a loser prior to Sunday's game, agreed with Larsen's analysis.
The Russian all but assured his victory by capturing Fischer's queen on the 25th move, but the challenger refused to resign at that point and played six more moves before giving up his effort to salvage the game.
The victory in the 11th game took considerable pressure off the defending champion, but he still must win at least two more games and draw 11 in the remaining games. The American can afford to lose one more merely by drawing 12 of the games.
Spassky was not at the chess board when Fischer resign having left the stage after his 31st move to get a glass of water. Fischer sat for about three minutes studying the board and rubbing his temples after Spassky left. He whipped angrily out of his chair at one point to complain to referee Lothar Schmid about noise in the auditorium then returned to his chair and looked at the board again.
Finally, he slapped a hand on his time clock to stop it, signed his game protocol signifying resignation, got up and stalked out of the auditorium.
The audience of about 1,500 exploded in applause when Fischer stopped his clock, some spectators standing on their chairs and shouting “Bravo! Bravo Boris!”
Spassky sauntered slowly back onto the stage, looked around and appeared surprised that Fischer had departed.
The victory was Spassky's third in 11 games of the match but only his second at the chess board. He defeated Fischer in 56 moves in the opening game of the match July 11 and won the second time by default when Fischer did not show up for the game to protest the presence of television cameras in the auditorium. Fischer then went on to win five and draw three of the next eight games.
As challenger, the American must accumulate 12.5 match points in order to win the championship and take the victor's $150,000 share of the $250,000 purse. As defending champion, Spassky needs only 12 points to retain the title. One point is awarded to the winner of each game, and each player receives one-half point on draws. Spassky, whose play so far has been the subject of criticism in the Soviet press, used Fischer's own favorite king's pawn opening Sunday and then corrected an old mistake en route to his victory.
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Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Monday, August 07, 1972 - Page 3 — Nixon Invites Fischer to Visit —New York (UPI) — President Nixon, an avid sports fan, is rooting for Bobby Fischer in the world chess championships and has invited the United States challenger to visit him in the White House — win or lose. Life magazine said Sunday Nixon relayed his invitation to Fischer through Life photographer Harry Benson, who went from a White House assignment to Reykjavik, Iceland, where the chess match is under way.
Nixon likes to call locker rooms to congratulate winning teams, once offered a football play to the Washington Redskins, and recently drew up a list of his all-time, all-star baseball teams.
“Fischer listened with growing delight as Benson reported what Nixon had said, that he wanted Fischer to come visit him, even if he loses, that he liked him ‘because he is a fighter,’ Life said.
The magazine said Fischer, who has “a high and earnest respect” for the President, was “wowed” by the invitation.
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Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Monday, August 07, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer Keeps Lead: Spassky Back in Match by Winning 11th Game —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) —Boris Spassky won the 11th game of the world chess championship Sunday by forcing American challenger Bobby Fischer to resign on the 31st move, a victory grand masters said put the Russian back into contention to retain his title.
Spassky's triumph, his first at the chess board since the opening game of the match, cut Fischer's lead in match points to 6½ to 4½ and kept the Russian from falling back into an almost unrecoverable position in the 24-game championship contest.
“IF EVER Spassky needed a good win to recover his confidence, it was today. And what a game he played” said Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen.
“It still has to be Bobby for the match, but it is very much alive again,” Larsen said. Other experts, who were writing off Spassky as a loser prior to Sunday's game, agreed with Larsen's analysis.
The Russian all but assured his victory by capturing Fischer's queen on the 25th move, but the challenger refused to resign at that point and played six more moves before resigning.
THE VICTORY in the 11th game took considerable pressure off the defending champion, but he still must win at least two more games and draw 11 in the remaining 13 games of the 24-game match in order to retain his title. Fischer on the other hand can win the championship merely by drawing 12 of the remaining games. The American can afford to lose one more game.
Spassky was not at the chess board when Fischer resigned, having left the stage after his 31st move to get a glass of water. Fischer sat for about three minutes studying the board and rubbing his temples after Spassky left. He whipped angrily out of his chair at one point to complain to referee Lothar Schmid about noise in the auditorium, then returned to his chair and looked at the board again.
Finally, he slapped a hand on his time clock to stop it, signed his game protocol signifying resignation, got up and stalked out of the auditorium.
THE AUDIENCE of about 1,500 exploded in applause when Fischer stopped his clock, some spectators standing on their chairs and shouting “Bravo! Bravo Boris!”
Spassky sauntered slowly back onto the stage, looked around and appeared surprised that Fischer had departed.
The victory was Spassky's third in 11 games of the match but only his second at the chess board. He defeated Fischer in 56 moves in the opening game of the match July 11 and won the second time by default when Fischer did not show up for the game to protest the presence of television cameras in the auditorium. Fischer then went on to win five and draw three of the next eight games.
AS CHALLENGER, the American must accumulate 12½ match points in order to win the championship and take the victor's $140,000 share of the $250,000 purse. As defending champion, Spassky needs only 12 points to retain the title. One point is awarded to the winner of each game, and each player received one-half point on draws.
The playing hall was packed. Crowds had been pouring in since the doors opened three hours before the start of the game.
The sympathy of the record crowd was with the flagging Russian champion.
Sunday morning Spassky was back on the tennis court, smiling and apparently recovered from last week's nerves.
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The Austin American Austin, Texas Thursday, August 10, 1972 - Page 47 — Men Remain Kings In World of Chess —Women's liberation has been checkmated on the chess board and the women themselves are the first to admit it. “The fact is, that women are definitely not as good at chess as men,” said Marilyn Braun of Milwaukee, Wis., co-winner of the 1972 U.S. Women's National Championship. “Women have always been in a minority and they've never done as well,” said Pearle Mann, a regional vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. “And I think it's the way we're built. It's the way I'm built anyway.” “Just like in tennis, the strongest women competitors in chess are not as strong as the strongest men,” said Kathryn Slater, U.S. representative to the Ladies Commission of the World Chess Federation.
The world championship match between American challenger Bobby Fischer and Russian defender Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland, has sparked an interest in chess among both men and women, but the females lag far behind.
Eva Aronson of St. Petersburg, Fla., who shares this years women's title with Mrs. Braun, estimated that there are about 200 rated women's players, compared to 1,200 men. There are 88 men and 2 women in the chess club she belongs to.
Mrs. Aronson, who's been playing chess for 30 years, said she believes that chess is “too strenuous for some women. There's too much pressure.”
Other factors in the lack of women players, she said, are “childbearing and childbearing responsibilities” and a shortage of willing male competitors.
“Men usually don't like to be defeated by women,” Mrs. Aronson said.
Col. E.B. Edmondson, president of the American Chess Federation, agreed. He said that far from showing any gallantry when they are playing against women, men usually are “more vicious” because it would hurt their ego to lose to a female.
Mrs. Mann, who also directs tournaments in Milwaukee, said “I don't think chess is predominantly a women's game because women aren't predominantly the sort of people that are aggressive and I think it takes a certain amount of aggressiveness to play well.”
Mrs. Braun said chess is “just a hobby…I have better things to do than study chess eight hours a day.”
Both Mrs. Braun and Miss Mann agree that women's liberation could bring more women into chess. “You're coming into new times as far as chess and women are concerned. Women are more free to express themselves in any way they want,” Miss Mann said.
Mrs. Braun said she met Fischer in New York in 1969 and went to lunch with him. He was “very polite, friendly and sociable,” she said, but she wouldn't want to play against him, adding, “I don't want to humiliate myself.”
Asked why there aren't more women players. Edmondson said: “I've never really given it that much thought…I don't think there's a different in native ability. Women just don't want to spend that much time.”
Edmondson said he himself has played against women. Did he win or lose? “I won most of the time,” he said, “but then, I usually win.”
He said he would encourage more women to take up the game, particularly because of its sudden popularity. “I would like to see some young gal with the talent and drive come along. She could make a fortune.” Edmondson added, discussing the possibility of a Fischer-type female champion.
Mrs. Slater, who also is secretary of the Marshall Chess Club in New York, said “the interest in chess recently “has been absolutely tremendous. It used to be that wives were chess widows. Now they're becoming involved and they're tremendously interested.” ★
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The Austin American Austin, Texas Thursday, August 10, 1972 - Page 47 — World Chess Championship: Chess Moves Game 12 — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Here are the moves in the 12th game of the world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky ★
The Austin American, Austin, Texas Thursday, August 10, 1972 - Page 47 — Overnight Analysis Failed To Give Fischer Answers —By Isaac Kashdan, International Grandmaster, Los Angeles (AP) — Evidently Bobby Fischer found no forceful continuation in the overnight analysis of his adjourned 12th game with world chess champion Boris Spassky, and a peaceful ending was soon reached. The draw in 55 moves was in accordance with the conclusion reached by the experts when the game was adjourned Tuesday. However, it was expected that Fischer would make more of a battle for the full point.
On his sealed 41st move Fischer might have played B-24. The immediate threat would have been BxRP, and if PxB then QxKt. If Spassky replied with K-R2 to protect the pawn, then Fischer could advance P-Kt4 with attacking chances on the king's side.
Instead, Fischer exchanged his bishop for the black knight. This weakened Spassky's pawns to some extent, but led to opposite colored bishops. Fischer's remaining bishop had little mobility, and his winning chances had vanished.
The finish came after a little combination by Spassky that forced the exchange of queens and rooks. Spassky gained a pawn, but with the forces reduced, the draw was the only reasonable conclusion.
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The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Friday, August 11, 1972 - Page 3 — 13th Chess Game Adjourned —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)— Bobby Fischer's devastating chess attack shoved champion Boris Spassky into what experts called a hopeless position Thursday night and Spassky adjourned the 13th game in the world title chess series. “It is finished for Spassky,” said Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric. “He has only crazy chances tomorrow.” The game resumes Friday with Spassky's 42nd move, already decided and handed to chief referee Lothar Schmid in a sealed envelope. Converting his dominating position into a win would give Fischer a commanding eight points to the Russian champion's five.
Fischer, a chess wizard from Brooklyn, N.Y., needs 12½ points in the 24-game series to wrest the crown from Spassky. The Russian needs 12 points to retain it, with a win worth one point and a draw worth half a point.
Fischer could now take the title with a run of draws. Spassky's wife, en route to Iceland to be with her husband, said in Copenhagen: “Of course Boris will win.”
Spassky took a full half-hour to decide his 42nd move. He left his seat, walked behind the curtains at the back of the stage, and—away from Fischer's eyes—wrote down the move. He sealed it, handed it to Schmid, and left.
Spassky's delay means that he has only 23 minutes for 14 moves Friday.
Under match rules, each player 2½ hours to complete 40 moves, and one hour for the next 16 moves.
Spassky also is under pressure from a Fischer pawn, one square from the last row and being converted into a queen—the most powerful piece. Both players lost their queens in an exchange on the 30th move.
Spassky inspired no confidence in his followers when he spent 20 minutes pondering his seventh move, a lot of time at that early stage.
After six moves, he had used 20 of the 150 minutes allotted for 40 moves. Fischer had used only five minutes, having prepared his line in advance in an attempt to seize the initiative.
Experts doubted that Spassky had played the Alekhine recently.
As Fischer moved out his kingside bishop to attack Spassky's central pawn structure from the flank—the typical Alekhine setup—the champion deviated with a totally new seventh move, bringing his queenside knight in front of his queen.
Spassky sealed his 42nd move and handed it to the referee. It will be played first when the game resumes Friday.
Fischer leads the series 7-5. Spassky, 35, opened the 13th game with the same move he used in winning the 11th game last Sunday—pawn to king four.
Fischer, 29, responded with the Alekhine defense, one he has used only give times in his career, instead of the Sicilian defense that Spassky cracked Sunday.
Spassky charged into the Alekhine defense with a kingside attack, but Fischer broke into the champion's lines and forced a queen exchange that left Spassky in a weak position.
Spassky's pawns continued to advance. Then a mistake on the 29th move drove him further into trouble. Here are the moves…
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The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, August 11, 1972 - Page 3 — Touring Master Predicts Chess Boom on Way — It was not a Chess Boom. It was a Fischer Boom. And it was not “on the way”. It was present, happening, current. When Bobby abandoned Chess, the throngs of adoring fans and curiosity spectators, exited as well. Did Kasparov and Acers really believe the “Chess Boom” would survive without the magnetic & charismatic personality of Fischer keeping the flame alive? or that either of them could compete to fill the shoes of the greatest chess player, who ever lived? The majority of Bobby's fans were NON-CHESS players, and Fischer's charisma inspired many to try their ability at chess!
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The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Saturday, August 12, 1972 - Page 12 — Your Move - Fischer Fever — “While Bobby Fischer prepares to claim the world championship chess title in Iceland, future challengers bone up on the game at the fair.”
The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Saturday, August 12, 1972 - Page 5 — Bobby Turns 13 Into Lucky Number —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Bobby Fischer boosted his prospects for the world chess championship by winning the 13th game yesterday and leaving the champion Boris Spassky defeated, dejected and alone at the chessboard with a sagging 5-8 deficit.
As Fischer left the stage, Spassky sat down and gingerly reset the pieces to the position at the 69th move, when grand masters said he had made a terrible blunder.
The champion reached out a hand and changed his play.
Referee Lothar Schmid, himself a grand master, lowered himself into the opposite chair. The two sat quite still until Schmid got up, and slowly Spassky followed.
The American challenger forged to a three-point lead over the Soviet titleholder by forcing him to resign after 74 moves and 9½ hours of play over two days. Fischer needs 4½ more points to wrest the title from Spassky, while the Russian must amass 7 points to retain his crown.
Play resumed after Thursday's adjournment with Spassky, playing the white pieces, in a seemingly hopeless position.
He made a poor rook maneuver on the 69th move and experts termed it a “terrible mistake” which lost him the chance for a draw.
Fischer pounced on the mistake pressing the champion relentlessly, until Spassky resigned.
“Bobby poured more into this end game than he ever did in his life,” said his second, William Lombardy. “It was exquisite.”
With a maximum of 11 games remaining in the 24-game chess series, Fischer could win with a run of draws. The Brooklyn, N.Y., chess wizard needs a total of 12½ points to capture the title while the Russian needs 12 points to retain it. A win counts one point and a draw one-half point.
Spassky had somewhat of an advantage in the game because the white pieces allowed him to open. But Fischer's unremitting attacks left him in a bad position at the end of play Thursday and he took half an hour to decide his sealed 42nd move.
When play resumed yesterday Spassky was punctual as usual but Fischer was a record 25 minutes late. He strode to his seat without acknowledging the Russian's presence.
The first 10 moves were lightning fast, but play gradually slowed through a long afternoon. At one point Fischer complained about noise and called for coffee.
Before the fateful 69th move, Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric said of Spassky:
“He sealed the best move and he defended like a genius. He has a draw now.”
Minutes later, however, the champion blundered. On his 68th move, he slid his rook to the queen's bishop square threatening to pick off a black pawn and give check.
But on the 69th move, he shunted the rook along horizontally again, to the queen square.
“This is tragic,” Gligoric said.
Spassky's final moves bore the mark of desperation. He moved his bishop down, letting his pawn fall to Fischer's freed rook, in a bid to stop Fischer from queening a kingside pawn.
Fischer closed in with his rook.
Spassky ran his fingers through his hair, clutching his face. Finally, he switched his clock off, defeated.
After signing his scoresheet and watching Fischer walk away, Spassky sat down for the replay. Instead of moving his rook horizontally to the queen square, he pushed it up, giving check.
That move might have given him a draw.
The next game is scheduled for tomorrow.
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Additional story, Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, August 14, 1972
Bobby and Sammy the Cop Best of Pals in...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Thursday, November 14, 2019
Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, August 14, 1972 - Page 4 — Bobby and Sammy the Cop Best of Pals in Reykjavik — By Jim Ward, Reykjavik, (UPI) — It was past midnight and outside the suburban villa all was still. Police officer Saemon “Sammy” Paalson was ready to go off duty when a first-floor window opened and a voice asked: “Any journalists around?” “No sir,” he replied. Two minutes later, U.S. chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer peeped out, then slammed the front door and came up to Paalson's police jeep.
Started to Walk
“Which direction towards the town,” he asked. The officer pointed and Fischer started to walk. Paalson called the police headquarters and was ordered to follow Fischer.
“He was already off-line,” Sammy recalled, “so I drove up and asked him if he knew the number of his house and the name of the street.”
“No indeed.” Bobby replied. “But I'm cold, so please take me back to get a sweater.”
That was the start of the friendship between Bobby the chess genius and Sammy the cop.
Three Days Late
Fischer had arrived three days late for the $250,000 “match of the century” against world chess champion Boris Spassky, but he refused to leave his villa until all his conditions had been accepted.
Standing in the crowded corridor outside the dark hall where Bobby rocked back and forth over the wooden board in deep concentration, Paalsson smiled when he recalled that first night.
“When Bobby came out again with his sweater I asked him, just as a joke, if he wanted to go for a drive. You could have knocked me down when he climbed into the seat and said, ‘Let's go.’ After all, I was an ordinary cop on duty and he the greatest chess player in the world.
Drove Inland
“First we drove inland and watched horses graze. Then I took him to a salmon river and told him about the fish. Finally, he pointed to the mountains and we went there. We didn't get back until 4 a.m. and I had to go on duty three hours later,” Paalsson said.
For two weeks, Sammy doubled as guard during the day and as nightly companion for the erratic and temperamental American, who fought Spassky, the organizers, television cameras and arbiters before the match finally got under way.
“It was great but I started to feel the strain. I never got more than a few hours of sleep and only said hello and goodbye to my wife and kids,” Sammy recalled.
Flight from Calif.
“Then one day, Bobby's sister Joan (who flew in from California with her husband and three children) phoned and said she and Bobby were worried over the amount of sleep I missed. Would my police chief accept to assign me permanently as Bobby's guard?”
The answer was yes, and since then, the 36-year-old athlete has been Fischer's constant companion. Once the uncrowned rock king of Iceland, who toured with a dance band to Elvis Presley hits, Sammy settled down as carpenter only to join the police force three years ago.
He narrowly missed winning the Icelandic judo title last year “because I underestimated the opposition and stayed up all night, a bad habit of mine even before Bobby came along,” he said.
Made Fischer Laugh
His English is good and Sammy picked up enough American expressions during a New York visit some years ago to make Fischer laugh.
Whenever the challenger is in the mood, the two will go bowling after midnight at the U.S. Keflavik airbase, 25 miles west of Reykjavik. Paalson is also there when Fischer plays tennis, ping-pong or goes swimming in the hotel Loftleider's indoor pool.
Bobby is also a welcome visitor in the Paalsson home next to the indoor tennis court.
“Bobby will spend hours playing with my kids. I've got five of them, and he likes whatever the missus come up with…herring, lamb chops and big steaks—not to mention his favorite dish, Skyr” (an Icelandic milk specialty a la yogurt).
“My house is on the coast towards Keflavik and we pick up the American television programs with no trouble. The other night Bobby watched ‘Perry Mason,’ a favorite of his. Then he'll switch on my radio and sit listening to shortwave broadcasts from Russia and Germany—but best of all BBC's foreign service,” said Sammy.
“It's so funny listening to him mimic the (British) broadcaster's perfect accent,” he said.
“Bobby is the nicest guy once he comes out of his shell. I have never heard him speak one bad word of Spassky, whom he admires and calls the friendliest Russian he ever met. He said Spassky had always gone out of his way to be friendly and Bobby thinks he is a great player,” said Paalsson.
“I've got an old chess board and Bobby will explain the basic rules for me and try me out with small puzzles, laughing when I make a mash of the things,” Sammy said. “He also found a 1941 edition of Al Horowitz's book on chess and played several of the games listed there.”
Suddenly a burst of applause came from the dark hall. This time Spassky had demolished the challenger in 31 moves, but Sammy was already back-stage waiting for Bobby.
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The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Friday, August 18, 1972 - Page 7 — Bobby Squarely In Driver's Seat At Adjournment —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer adjourned the 15th game in their world title chess match yesterday and experts said the American challenger was in a good position to win and push to within three points of Spassky's crown.
“Fischer has a draw whenever he wants,” Yugoslav grand master Svetozar Gligoric said at the end of the five-hour session. “But he has a strong initiative at the moment.”
A LOSS FOR the Russian when the game resumes today on the 41st move would put him behind 9.5-5.5 in the 24 game championship series. Visiting chess enthusiasts could not recall anyone piling up such an overwhelming lead in the history of world title play.
Spassky needs 12 points to keep the championship in the Soviet Union, where it has remained since 1948. Fischer, a 29-year-old chess wizard from Brooklyn, N.Y., needs 12.5 points to take it to America. A win counts one point and a draw counts one-half for each player.
EXPERTS SAID only a win could keep Spassky in real contention. But they added that unless Fischer blunders badly today, the best the Russian could hope for in this game is a draw.
In New York, filmmaker Chester Fox filed a $1.75 million suit against Fischer, alleging that he broke a contract when he refused to permit cameras at the match.
FOX CONTENDED that Fischer, by agreeing to play Spassky, agreed to the terms of a contract between the International Chess Federation and the Icelandic Chess Federation. The pact gave the Icelandic Federation the authority to sell exclusive filming rights, which Fox's company bought, the suit said.
It said Fischer's veto on move coverage was made with “deliberate intent to inflict grave financial harm” on Fox. Fischer said at the match's outset that Fox's move cameras bothered him.
JUDE CONSTANCE B. Motley signed a write authorizing attachment of Fischer's assets anywhere in the United States. Fox's company posted a $25,000 bond to cover legal costs and damages should the suit fail.
Fischer's complaints about audience noise contributed to tension in the auditorium yesterday. Before the match started, chief referee Lothar Schmid appealed to spectators for absolute quiet. During play, he punched the switch on a big “silence” sign and held his fingers to his lips at the slightest murmur in the packed house.
YESTERDAY'S session ended after 40 moves when Spassky sealed his next play and handed the envelope to Schmid. The adjournment followed a series of exchanges in which the players maneuvered for dominance by sacrificing pieces to take others.
When Spassky appeared to have the best of Fischer's favored Sicilian defense at one point, an American player said: “That's what 36 Russian grand masters and eight months of preparation against Fischer's Sicilian can do.”
THE CHAMPION had forced the challenger into difficulties, capturing pawns in the early stage.
After Spassky captured a pawn on the 14th move, a spokesman for Tass, the official news agency of the Soviet Union, said: “One wonders now whether this is enough to further consolidate white's supremacy.”
But experts said Spassky's appetite for pawns was perhaps too great and his queen was left out of play.
As the game progressed, Fischer seemed to relax with confidence He no longer gripped his hands to his temples, but learned eagerly over the board.
IN THE FINAL series of plays, Spassky's king was constantly threatened. On his 30th play, he opened up his king's defenses, taking a menacing Fischer bishop with a pawn.
Fischer put the king in check with his queen, then his knight. Spassky was forced to take the knight and in return lost his bishop.
Fischer moved his queen to give check again and left the stage. Spassky shifted his king, and Fischer came back to give check twice more.
WITH LESS than five minutes left on his clock, Spassky made his 40th move. Each player has 2½ hours for his first 40 moves and an hour for every 16 moves after that.
The Russian was behind 8.5-5.5 in the series when he opened the 15th game with the white pieces and a slight advantage. He started by advancing the king's pawn two squares, the same opening he used in his losing 13th game.
THE 29-YEAR-OLD American arrived almost punctually and went into the Sicilian defense, the line he used in the 11th game. Spassky, 35, won that one with a brilliant offense.
Chess Game-15 Moves
Reykjavik (UPI) — The moves of the 15th game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship:
Spassky (W) Fischer (B)
Adjourned
(In Anglo-Saxon chess notations each file on the playing board is listed according to the first initial of the piece originally posted on it, while ranks are numbered from 1-8 away from the player. A rank is a row of eight squares parallel to the white and black sides. Files are perpendicular to the ranks.
(An example of a move in descriptive notation would be “P-QB4.” or pawn to queen's bishop four, with the initial of the moving piece followed by the designation of the square moved to.
(The symbol “x” indicates a capture. The symbol “O-O” indicates a castling maneuver. “Ch” means a move has placed an opponent's king in check (danger). The symbol “M” or mate means checkmate and the game is over. The symbol “Kt” is used for knight.
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The Times and Democrat Orangeburg, South Carolina Saturday, August 19, 1972 - Page 10 — Fischer Nearer The Title —By Julie Flint, Associated Press Writer, Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer edged half a point nearer the world chess title he has eyed for nearly 20 years with a draw Friday in the resumed 15th game against Boris Spassky, the world champion. The draw came less than 30 seconds after play resumed in the game that was adjourned Thursday after 40 moves. The U.S. challenger now leads the Soviet champion, 9-6, and needs only 3½ more points to take the title. As champion, Spassky needs six more points to keep his crown.
Fischer played for a draw, which is a half point, instead of the point for a win. Some experts expressed belief he might have found a way to win the match.
Spassky was in check when the game adjourned Thursday. His next move, sealed and opened Friday by referee Lothar Schmid, moved him out of check. Fischer twice more gave check.
After his 43rd move, Fischer gave Spassky his hand. The champion, though badly in need of a win to bolster his sagging chances, accepted it.
Fischer raced away, Spassky remained seated at the board, fiddling with the pieces, his eight white ones and the six black ones of Fischer.
Schmid walked across and escorted the crestfallen champion away.
Spassky, whose last win was in the the 11th game, had high hopes in the early stages of Thursday's play of crushing Fischer in the 15th.
Opening aggressively with his king's pawn, he thrust back the challenger's Sicilian Defense convincingly. But Fischer weaved a cunning web of counterplay.
Seeking a win, Spassky played recklessly, in an effort to avoid a draw.
He gobbled a pawn, and lost position. Fischer gave him check, time and again.
In Sunday's 16th game, Fischer will have the advantage of the white pieces.
Spassky told the Associated Press the crucial point of the 24-game match would come for him at the 16th game. But no world title series has seen a three-point game deficit made up in only nine games.
Chess fans who had paid 200 kroner each, about $2.25, to see the resumption of the 15th game, were doubly disappointed. They not only saw less than 30 seconds of play, but they watched Fischer choose perpetual check rather than play for a win.
Fischer appeared quit unruffled by the news that filmmaker Chest Fox had filed a $1.75 million suit against him in New York, charging Fischer broke a contract when he refused to permit filming of the match. Fischer had complained the cameras bothered him.
“He didn't show even mild concern,” said Fred Cramer, an aide, after Fischer heard about the suit.
Cramer promised the Americans intend to continue their battle for improved playing conditions in the auditorium.
Both the sponsoring Icelandic Chess Federation and Schmid have ruled the U.S. objections are unreasonable.
Fischer's latest complaint was that the crowd distracted him with noise. Schmid said the noise factor was zero.
Cramer said the president of the International Chess Federation, Dr. Max Euwe, had “read the riot act” to Schmid and “chewed him out completely” for not acting on the U.S. demands.
Schmid replied that this was “quite incorrect.” He said Euwe had informed him that Cramer had protested but he had passed no judgment.
“If Cramer writes another letter,” Schmid said, “I will read it carefully again. If necessary we will answer. If not necessary, we will not answer.
“The trouble is my English is not quite good enough for rude words. I must have these letters translated first. That we acted on Cramer's last letter was just to be kind.”
The Iceland sponsors Thursday rejected all Fischer's main demands, ruling that no seats would be removed from the auditorium and that the noise level was “surprisingly low.”
However, the federation said 10 policemen would be available to patrol the hall, guarding against noisy children and noisy candy wrappers.
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The San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California Sunday, August 20, 1972 - Page 15 — For Bobby Fischer, Chess on the Sabbath Is Frivolous —Pasadena — Games, including chess, are considered frivolous pursuits, unworthy of the attention of the followers of the Worldwide Church of God on its Sabbath. That helps to explain why the world chess championship at Reykjavik, Iceland, is interrupted from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
Bobby Fischer, the American challenger, has been a member of the strict fundamentalist church for about six or seven years.
Officials of the 75,000-member church, with headquarters here, are as tight-lipped about Fischer's exact involvement in its teachings as is Fischer himself. He refuses to talk about religion.
“As a practice we don't check up on our members. That would be an invasion of privacy,” said a headquarters official. “Mr. Fischer's relationship to our church is a confidential thing.”
Insiders say, however, that Fischer is almost as serious about his religion as he is about chess.
Fischer's lawyer, Fred Cramer, said in Reykjavik that he did not know the date of Fischer's conversion. He recalled that during the championship chess tournament in Havana in 1966, Fischer had been a devout practitioner of the Worldwide Church of God faith.
Fischer last attended a Saturday afternoon service of about 1,200 people here in June, shortly before he left for Reykjavik.
The worldwide church is headed by Herbert W. Armstrong, a radio preacher-commentator, and his son, Garner Ted Armstrong.
The church, founded in Oregon 40 years ago, is a blend of Old Testament Judaism and fundamental New Testament adventism.
It imposes Hebrew dietary and Sabbath proscriptions and preaches the imminent return of Jesus Christ to set up a superorganized world government.
The worldwide church de-emphasizes the local church. Many of its 300 local congregations meet in rented halls.
“We feel the church is people, not a building — a congregation is a body of people,” explained Les Stocker, a spokesman for the Armstrongs and public relations director of the church.
Each minister is an elder or a bishop. “But we prefer to call them elders in accordance with what the New Testament says,” said Stocker with a chuckle.
Baptism must be by immersion, and converts are dipped in rivers, pools and sometimes in oversize tile bathtubs installed in the homes of Church of God ministers.
Worldwide Church of God members are expected to give the biblical tenth, or tithe of their income — as well as “second” and “third” tithes.
This demand doubtless pads plush appointments in the Pasadena in the Pasadena headquarters and church-related college complex and provides the Armstrongs with elegant clothes, jets and homes, an apparent accommodation to worldliness that has drawn criticism from some ex-members.
All contributions go to the Pasadena headquarters, according to Stocker, and all ministers' salaries are paid from there.
Some say Fischer tithes 20 per center of his income to the worldwide church. The “second tithe,” as it is called, is for personal religious use. Stocker explained that church members are expected to spend eight days each summer at regional church conventions, at their own expense.
Thousands go, but except for individual ministers who may keep track, officials say the church doesn't monitor members' activities or giving.
The third tithe, based on the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 14, verse 28), is collected every three years for “widows, orphans and the destitute.”
The last two verses of the 58th chapter of the prophet Isaiah are the keystone of the worldwide church's Sabbath observance. The emphasis is on turning from one's own pleasures to things believed to “delight the Lord.”
“It's a day set aside for worship and reflection on creation,” said a church official. “It's a weekly memorial set up for people to think on God's ways. But that's not to say worship must be an ugly thing.”
Thus, Armstrong followers are neither to work on the Sabbath nor to indulge in worldly pleasure or sports.
“But we don't carry it to extremes,” said one church official. “We don't tear off and stack toilet paper the day before the Sabbath like one orthodox group does.”
While retaining the Passover and other Jewish feasts, adherents renounce Christmas, Easter and other religious holidays of allegedly pagan origin.
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The San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California Sunday, August 20, 1972 - Page 15 — Bobby, Boris and Boom: Game of Kings For Commoners —By Wilborn Hampton, Brussels (UPI)—From the Philippines to the Suez Canal, from Jakarta to Montmartre, the world chess championship between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer has produced a boom of interests among common men for the game of kings. Men who didn't know a pawn from a hock shop or a knight from an English title find themselves telephoning newspapers and radio stations for the latest moves or playing out the games on newly bought pocket chess sets.
Every time Fischer swivels in his chair, cash registers around the world ring up the sale of a chess book.
The chess boom is no greater anywhere than in the United States.
The latest gift idea for the “man who has everything” in the United States is a chess clock.
The U.S. chess federation reports 50,000 new members in the past three months and they are “swamped with mail” from prospective members. The Chess and Checker Club in New York said they can't get everybody inside who wants to watch the games being played out.
The dart board down at the Brazen Head pub in London collects dust and is almost unused these days. Up the street at the Lisbon Street pub there is a quieter, almost studious atmosphere.
“I've got five chess sets here,” pub manager William Baker said. “Since the Fischer-Spassky match started they're in use every day and every night.”
London's Foyles book stores says sales of chess books have nearly doubled since the match began. Booksellers in Paris, Milan, Rome, Manila, Tokyo, Singapore—in every major capital—say the same thing. Gift shop owners in Italy report a mad dash for chess sets. One shopkeeper in Rome said he purchased 30,000 chess sets for resale.
Italy boasts only two Grandmasters—Serio Marinotti and Stefano Tatai—and the Italian chess federation is so small it does not even list a telephone in Rome.
“Finally, we are discovered because of these two super champions,” federation president Nicola Palladino said. “I've never seen such crowds at our chess clubs.”
In the traditional artists' quarter of Montmartre in Paris, a visitor to a bar is likely to find Frenchmen sitting over a pocket chess set these days, Milinka Merlina, president of a new chess club, said, “I think for the first time since the 18th century high interest in chess is returning to France.”
In Madrid, carved antique reproduction chess sets are the biggest souvenir sellers this year. Spain's international master Roman Toran said the Fischer-Spassky match “started a boom that meant all available sets were bought up and chess set manufacturers could not keep up with the demand.”
At Vienna's Sacher Hotel, chess outranks the famous Sacher tort. A Viennese tabloid newspaper reported that girls in bikinis have started a chess course for beginners.
Chess has come out of the “stuffy, smoke filled coffee houses” of Germany and become recognized as “one of mans most intelligent inventions,” according to Erhardt Koch, a member of the Bad Godesberg chess club.
Sales of chess sets and chess books have jumped 30 to 40 per cent, according to department store buyers in Bonn.
In the Middle East, the rattle of dice on a backgammon board has been replaced in some cases by the movements of figures on chess boards.
Along the Israeli front at the Suez Canal, the latest sport among the troops is to play out the Spassky-Fischer games.
In Asia, they have their own brands of chess and the Western variety has been in the past restricted to the intelligentsia. But in Jakarta, Spassky's defeat of Fischer in the 11th game was the talk of the day in the food stalls and offices and Indonesians pull out pocket chessboards along the side walks during evenings to play over the latest game.
One book store in Manila reported it had sold out of chess sets and books and the Fischer-Spassky match has been the most talked about topic in the Philippines next to the nation's disastrous summer floods.
Chess has long been the Soviet Union's national sport. Every home has a chess set and the capital of Moscow has an estimated 700,000 qualified chess players of a population of eight million.
But this world championship between a great Russian and a capricious American has packed the parks of Moscow with men replaying the games and most criticizing Spassky's errors.
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The Emporia Gazette Emporia, Kansas Wednesday, August 23, 1972 - Page 18 — Russians Imply Chess Cheating — Fischer Team Laughs At Latest Demands —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer's team responded with laughter and derision Tuesday night to Soviet charges of American electronic and chemical warfare at the world chess championship match. But referee Lothar Schmid said he would treat them seriously, just as he did Fischer's beefs.The 17th game in the 24-game series adjourned for the night with champion Boris Spassky in a favorable position after daringly aggressive play. With Fischer leading 9½-6½, the champion abandoned the caution that has characterized much of his play.
The Soviet's delegation circulated a statement during the game asserting it had received letters saying that “some electronic devices and chemical substance which can be in the playing hall are being used to influence Mr. B. Spassky.”
The statement from grandmaster Efim Geller, Spassky's second, said the letters mentioned in particular Fischer's chair and the special lighting installed at the American challenger's demand.
Geller cited Fischer's refusal to have the games filmed and suggested he didn't want the camera checking on him. “The same could be supposed,” he continue, from Fischer's repeated demands to transfer the game to a private room and to clear the first seven rows of spectators.
Geller also cited the presence of Fischer's aides in the playing hall when the games were not in progress and Fischer's aide Fred Cramer's “demand that Mr. R. Fischer should be given ‘his’ particular chair, though both the chairs look identical and are made by the same American firm.”
The statement said the Russian delegation had asked Schmid and the Icelandic Chess Federation for an examination of the playing hall and the “things in it” and also that “the possibility of the presence of any outsiders in the place allocated to the participants should be excluded.”
Schmid said he would treat the Russian demand “with all seriousness, as I have all the American protests.”
“It sounds a little fantastic,” the referee said, “but there is some truth in it.”
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Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida Wednesday, August 23, 1972 - Page 10 — 17th Chess Game Is Adjourned; Russians Hint At Sabotage Plot —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The Russians hinted Tuesday at a plot by Bobby Fischer's American supporters to sabotage Boris Spassky's chess game with “some electronic devices and chemical substances” in the playing hall.
They issued a bristling statement charging curious goings-on as the Soviet champion and the challenger from Brooklyn played through 50 moves to an adjournment of the 17th game in their world chess title match.
Spassky launched a vigorous attack in Tuesday's play, desperately needing a win when play resumes today to whittle Fischer's 9½-6½ margin as the 24-game match enters its final stage. As the Soviet news agency Tass put it: “Spassky's daring tactics are naturally explained by the fact this his position in the match entered a critical stage…”
SPASSKY'S SECOND, Efim Geller, said the Russian camp had received letters suggesting that electronic and chemical means were being using to influenced Spassky. He asked the match sponsors to have competent experts examine the hall and “the things in it” to see if anything was wrong.
Geller said the champion's failure to play up to his usual standard, and American visits to the playing hall at night, appeared to point to such seemingly fantastic suppositions as the letters suggested.
He said he had known Spassky for years and “it is the first time that I observed such unusual slackening of concentration and display of impulsiveness in his playing…”
Geller said he could not account for this by “exclusively impressive playing on Fischer's part. He said the American had made technical mistakes and sometimes “did not grasp the position.”
The Russian second, himself an international grandmaster, expressed suspicion of Fischer's insistence on his own chair — although both chairs are identical — and of the special lighting installed above the stage at Fischer's demand.
HE ADDED that Fischer's refusal to allow filming and his repeated demands to play in private could indicate anxious aversion to “the constant objective control over the behavior and physical state of the participants.”
The Russians further contended that Fischer's temperamental behavior was “deliberately aimed at exercising pressure on the opponent, unbalancing him and making him lose his fighting spirit.”
Fred Cramer, an aide to the 29-year-old challenger, called the Soviet suggestions “garbage,” an attempt to justify Spassky's three-point deficit in the match. Fischer needs but three more points to win the crown, which has been in Soviet hands since 1948.
Fischer threatened earlier Tuesday to quit the match because of spectator noise in the hall. To placate him, the Icelandic Chess Federation agreed to move out the first five rows of seats in the middle section of the auditorium.
Spassky, 35, had the white pieces Tuesday and made the first move. He played pawn to king four.
FISCHER, who had arrived only four minutes late, responded by moving his pawn to queen three — a move described as quite unusual for him.
Then Fischer bounded up and walked over to Referee Lothar Schmid and motioned toward the auditorium. The referee patted Fischer's arm in a reassuring way and the 29-year-old Brooklynite returned to his chair to resume play.
Fischer went into the 17th game leading 9½ to 6½ points over Spassky. A win counts for one point and a draw a half point.
★ /
★
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The Times and Democrat Orangeburg, South Carolina Thursday, August 24, 1972 - Page 12 — Fischer Takes A Step Closer To Chess Title —By Julie Flint, Associated Press Writer
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) —Bobby Fischer moved nearer to the world chess title Wednesday when by blunder or design champion Boris Spassky repeated a move three times, creating a draw.
Chess experts were bewildered, because Spassky appeared to have an edge to win the 17th game, resumed after being adjourned after the 40th move Tuesday. Spassky himself seemed surprised when Fischer claimed a draw.
Under the rules of chess, repeating the same move three times results in a draw, which counts half a point.
The draw gave Fischer a total of 10 points, putting him four-fifths of the way toward the title and preserving his three point lead. Ten games is 80 percent of the 12½ points he needs.
With only seven points, Spassky had the formidable task of amassing five points in the remaining seven games of the match. He needs 12 points to retain the title.
With each win counting a point, Spassky must defeat Fischer in three games and draw in the other four. Yet so far, he has beaten Fischer only twice in this championship series.
In addition, Fischer forfeited the second game to Spassky in a dispute over the use of television and movie cameras in the playing hall.
Spassky had appeared taken aback by Fischer's 41st move pawn to king's knight four. He thought for more than five minutes before replying. Experts suggested that his Soviet analysts perhaps had not prepared against that line.
Some thought the champion might be play-acting, backing up a Tuesday statement by his second, Efim Geller, that Fischer aides could have concealed electronic devices on the stage to interfere with the champion's play.
Among other charges, Geller suggested that the lighting — a special system installed on U.S. demand — might have been tampered with.
After his 44th move, Spassky looked searchingly up at the lights. Reminiscent of Geller's contention that the champion's “unusual slackening of concentration” might be caused by outside interference, Spassky looked listlessly around him, slumping forward. He normally sits poker-stiff.
Fischer preceded the punctual Spassky on stage Wednesday afternoon for the first time in the series.
Referee Lothar Schmid had asked the challenger's aides to endeavor to get him to the hall on time. He acted on Geller's contention that Fischer's insistent tardiness was ungentlemanly and “deliberately aimed at exercising pressure on the opponent, unbalancing him and making him lose his fighting spirit.”
Schmid said he hoped to satisfy the Russians' demand for a thorough and expert examination of the hall if the organizing Icelandic Chess Federation was able to bring together the necessary experts in gadgetry.
Schmid promised that the examination would be made in the presence of both sides as soon as possible, presumably before the 18th game Thursday.
Security measures were tightened Wednesday to satisfy Geller's complaint that outsiders were allowed into the backstage area reserved for the players.
Chess officials placed a 24 hour guard on the hall, and closed the players' section to everyone, including aides and seconds.
Schmid said that a Fischer aide, Fred Cramer had been reluctant to concede this point. He said Cramer had argued over the exact meaning of Article 16 — the relevant paragraph in the match rules — and had asked that the scene of play be opened when play was not in progress. Schmid refused.
In the 18th game, Fischer will play the white pieces, giving him the advantage of the first move.
Although he has been unable to lessen his three-point deficit, Spassky lately had been playing some of his strongest chess of the championship series. Before Wednesday, he had forced three draws in the last three games.
He started out the 17th game aggressively. When play was adjourned, he held a marginally better position. He was an “exchange ahead” as the masters put it.
Grandmasters thought the champion would fight to the bitter end, possibly beyond the six hours allowed for a resumed game and into a second adjournment.
In the 16th game, Spassky had spun out a hopelessly drawn position for more than 25 moves, giving rise to speculation he was intentionally needling Fischer.
Thus the experts were surprised that Spassky repeated moves forced a draw, because any player of stature is aware of the rule.
The Soviet complaint was released Tuesday during the 17th game. A statement said the Soviet delegation had received letters saying that “some electronic devices and a chemical substance which can be in the playing hall are being used to influence Mr. Spassky.”
The letters mentioned Fischer's chair and the special lighting installed at the insistence of the American challenger. They also cited the presence of Fischer's aides in the playing hall when the games were not in progress. The Russians asked for an examination of the hall.
Many doubted that the titleholder gave his blessings to the statement. Ivo Nei, one of his seconds, said he had not known of the statement in advance.
World Chess Championship Game 17 (Draw)
17th GAME ENDS DRAW — This is how the board looked after the 45th move Wednesday when the game was declared drawn putting the score at 10-7 in Bobby Fischer's favor over Boris Spassky. (AP Wirephoto). ★
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Press and Sun-Bulletin Binghamton, New York Sunday, August 27, 1972 - Page 3 — Your Move — Watch a Zugzwang —By William L. Ryan, AP Special Correspondent, Washington and Moscow have stopped glaring at one another, but the East-West cold war goes on in microcosm across an Italian marble chessboard in Iceland. And if you don't know “fingerfehler” from “fianchetto,” how are you going to understand it? The match of the century for the world championship has had about everything from a cliffhanger beginning to a touch of cloak and dagger, what with Russian charges of sinister American shenanigans.
What Ely Culbertson did to popularize contract bridge 40 years ago, what Arnold Palmer did for gold in terms of big-money purses, Bobby Fischer is doing for chess with his flair for making bizarre headlines.
Suddenly what once was the exotic pastime of the intellectual elite has seized the imagination of the man-in-the-street in America and around the world. People who once wouldn't have dreamed of doing so hunch over boards and try to follow the mysteries of the struggle in Reykjavik between the American challenger, Fischer, and the world champion, Russia's Boris Spassky.
Not long ago the winner of a world chess championship went away with a $2,500 purse. Now the two contestants will share a $300,000 pot. For Fischer, at least, it's only the beginning. Books about his games can be expected to go like hotcakes, and there will be other fringe benefits.
Chess has been perplexing people for some eight centuries.
The Russians call it shakhmat, or checkmate. And that's the essence of the game—it means the king can't move without being captured, so the jig is up.
The rules for this hobby of eggheads, once called “the royal game,” are both old and relatively new. These days FIDE, French initials for International Chess Federation, supervises the game around the world. FIDE organized the first world championship in London in 1927.
The common checkerboard will do for chess. The board is considered to have eight horizontal “ranks” and eight vertical “files”. Masters refer to the rank of squares by letters “a” through “h” and the file squares by numbers 1 through 8, but ordinary mortals had better forget that and stick to designation by the pieces that command each file.
Once the neophyte masters the moves of the individual pieces, a new world opens up to him. The fascination is in the game's virtually infinite variety of possible moves and combinations of moves and in the military-like strategy and tactics.
From puzzled tyros these days, questions pour into newspaper offices. Some examples:
Q. If White, with first move, has the advantage, who decides which is White?
A. Lots are drawn for the first game. Thereafter, White is alternated.
Q. Fischer and Spassky have seconds. Can they help either player?
A. Only after adjournment. Once the players are at the board, they are on their own.
They can consult all they want on the next moves after adjournment.
Q. Analysts said Fischer erred by taking a “poisoned pawn.” What's that?
A. In essence, a baited trap.
Q. What about touching or picking up pieces?
A. When a piece is askew you can fix it but you must announce your intention. It's good form to do it in French, “j'adoube,” meaning “I adjust.” If a player puts a hand on a piece, he must move it unless he's announced adjusting. A move is complete when the piece goes to another square and the hand is removed.
Q. Now that we've been through this drill, what about “fingerfehler” and “fianchetto,” as mentioned above?
A. If you accidentally knock over a piece, that's a “fingerfehler,” a slip of the finger, but it's good form to say it in German. “Fianchetto” is Italian. It means your bishop is placed in Kt-2 to command the whole diagonal file. But if you get too much of this as a beginner, you'll wind up in a “zugzwang.”
Q. What in blazes is a “zugzwang?”
A. In plain chess language, it means “you're in a jam, bub.”
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The Times Herald Port Huron, Michigan Tuesday, August 29, 1972 - Page 19 — Fischer In Driver's Seat: Question Becomes 'When' - Not 'If' — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer plays Boris Spassky in the 20th game of the world chess championships today with the fans debating not whether but on what day Fischer will take over the Russian's title. With the score at 11-8, Fischer could roll up the 12½ points he needs with a win and a draw or three draws.
With five of the 24 games in the match remaining to be played if necessary, Spassky retains a mathematical chance to amass the 12 points he needs to hold on to his title. But to do this he must win three of the five games and draw the other two, something nobody gives him a chance to do.
One of Fischer's aides estimates that more than $2 million worth of personal appearance offers have been received based on Fischer's almost certain victory. But the aide said it was uncertain whether the American chess genius would accept any. He usually shuns public appearances.
Fischer was reported thinking about playing next in the Chess Olympiad next month at Skopje, Yugoslavia.
“Fischer would like nothing better than to take the individual and team world titles from the Russians,” a member of his camp said.
The Yugoslavs originally had offered to cosponsor the world championship with Iceland but they refused to meet Fischer's money demands.
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The Times Herald Port Huron, Michigan Tuesday, August 29, 1972 - Page 19 — 'Great Chess Match' Ref Man Of Infinite Patience —By Julie Flint, Associated Press Writer, Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The man charged with keeping the peace between Bobby Fischer and chess champion Boris Spassky is a fastidious West German with impeccable manners and patience enough to try the devil. Lothar Schmid, referee of the title match, has been managing the “chess mess of the century” for more than two months—first trying to get the temperamental American to the board, and then fighting to keep him there.
He has been caught in a maelstrom of demands and counter demands ranging from the ridiculous to the ridiculous—from the size of the squares on the chess board to the width of the margin around the squares.
Mild-mannered Schmid is at last showing signs of stress. He talks with longing of returning to his family and publishing house in Germany.
He has begged the Icelandic match organizers to insure him a seat on the first plane out of Reykjavik after the championship is won.
His hardest task was to find a man Fischer claimed was snoring—somewhere in the 2,500 seat auditorium.
“It is not always easy to pick the right man,” he says.
In his anxiety to silent spectators, Schmid has often cut a comic figure, a small man gesticulating frantically from a darkened corner of the huge playing stage, head-high to a potted fir tree.
His motions were interpreted by Fischer aides as recognition of failure to force proper conditions in the hall.
“I was doing it as a favor for Bobby,” Schmid said, angrily.
“I see I must not do so again.”
But he has no bone to pick with Fischer.
“He is like a naughty child but a father loves his children,” he explains. “He says, ‘Give me that or I'm going to take my ball away.’ I say to him, “Look, Bobby, take it easy,’ and he does.”
The person Schmid increasingly takes issue with is Fred Cramer. Fischer's outspoken spokesman, who has deluged him with strongly worded protest notes.
Although rated a grandmaster of chess played by mail as well as over the board, Schmid does not relish the task of scribe.
“I have many duties to attend to,” he says. “This is not the proper way to solve problems. It is normal to talk. Whenever I see Mr. Cramer, he tries to hide behind a big man.”
The Americans have accused Schmid of showing favoritism to Spassky. Cramer attacked him for dining with Ivo Nei, a Spassky second, and for playing bridge with the champion on a rest day.
“He wants to to talk only with him and to answer his letters,” Schmid countered. “But I may talk with both sides.”
Schmid does not attempt to conceal his sympathy for Spassky, who was apparently shaken early in the match by Fischer's behavior.
In the 13th game a blunder at the end of nine hours' play cost the champion a drawn position. As Fischer strode away Spassky sat alone at the board, seeming stunned.
After some minutes, Schmid walked over to him and took Fischer's empty chair. Gently, he suggested an alternative move. Slowly, Spassky reset the pieces and played to the draw.
“I said to him: ‘Boris, is there anything I can do?’” Schmid recalls. “But he just shook his head.”
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The Dispatch Moline, Illinois Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Only Point Away From World Chess Title — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Chess genius Bobby Fischer is a win away from the world title he dreamed of for 20 years. The American challenger, 29, who started playing chess before his teens and dropped out of high school at 16 to devote all his time to it, got a draw in the 20th game against Russian world champion Boris Spassky Wednesday and moved within one point of the magic figure—the 12.5 points necessary to win the title.
Relaxed and smiling, Fischer called over referee Lothar Schmid after the Russian played his 54th move and offered a draw. After a slight hesitation Spassky accepted and put out his hand for the traditional handshake.
The 21st game begins at 1 p.m. EDT today with Spassky playing white and moving first. The 35-year-old Leningrad journalist must win at least three and draw the fourth of the remaining games to retain the title he won in 1969 and which has been in Russian hands for 35 years.
The 600 fans on hand for the 20th game, which had been started Tuesday and adjourned in the 41st move until Wednesday, could hardly believe their eyes at the sight of the gay and smiling Fischer, a far cry from the temperamental and eternally protesting player of previous games.
“Yes it was very pleasant,” said Schmid. “Bobby asked me if I could point out the position for a repeated move because he could not remember. I had to get my own scoresheet as his was unreadable.”
After the challenger left the stage Spassky remained seated. Suddenly he picked up Fischer's king and started moving it round on the wooden squares, going through a number of positions.
“No,” he finally told Schmid, “I cannot find a win anywhere.”
Then he picked up his thermos of coffee and walked slowly off the stage.
Most grand masters agreed with the world champion that there was no alternative to a draw.
But U.S. grandmaster Larry Evans wasn't quite so sure. “I'm not convinced Spassky exhausted all possibilities, but it will take days of careful analyzing to see what he could have done.”
Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia disagreed. “It was a dead draw unless one of them made a blunder and those days are over. Bobby put up a masterly defense and there was nothing Spassky could do about it.”
“With his life-time ambition so near Bobby was not in a mood to take chances and I doubt he'll risk anything in the next games.”
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Austin American-Statesman, Austin, Texas, Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 33 — Tourney May See Chess Foes —San Antonio, Tex. (AP) — Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, the chess kings now vying for the world title, may be the star attractions of an international chess tournament here, organizers say. San Antonio business executive George Church, sponsor of the tournament set for Nov. 18-Dec. 11 said Spassky may appear as a player and Fischer as a narrator for a television network.
Church said Spassky has accepted an invitation to the tournament, but he still must receive official approval from the Soviet Union.
Russia has promised to send two grand masters here, he said.
Church also confirmed an announcement from New York that negotiations are under way for Fischer to narrate the competition.
According to the announcement, Spanish International Network of New York has acquired world rights to the San Antonio tournament, and network president Rene Anselmo is conducting talks with Fischer's representatives.
The network said it will televise the tournament live and will videotape it for future distribution world-wide. It said this will be the first time an international chess tournament will be telecast in its entirety.
Sixteen players, including two Russians are to compete in the tournament.
Among the U.S. players expected are Larry Evans, Lubomir Kavalek, Dr. Anthony Saidy, Kenneth Smith and Robert Byrne.
Foreign players scheduled to compete include Walter Browne of Australia, Mario Compos Lopez of Mexico, Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia, Zlostmil Hort of Czechoslovakia, Julio Caplan of Puerto Rico, Enrique Mecking of Brazil, Bent Larsen of Denmark, Lajos Portisch of Hungary and Duncan Suttles of Canada.
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Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 8 — Henry to Bobby: Go Play Chess —Honolulu (UPI) — Presidential Adviser Henry A. Kissinger, who calls himself a “reasonably good” chess player, said yesterday he urged Bobby Fischer to fly to Iceland for the championship match with Boris Spassky. “I just called him to say a lot of people were rooting for him and it wasn't just a personal thing,” Kissinger told newsmen aboard the presidential jet en route to Honolulu.
Kissinger said he called the American chess genius in New York just hours before Fischer finally boarded a flight for the tournament after threatening not to show for a variety of reasons, including money. ★
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Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 8 — After 54 Moves, It's Another Draw — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The moves in the 20th game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer chess championship…
Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 8 — Fischer, Spassky Sit Down to 21st —(Caption: POSITION of chess pieces after Bobby Fischer climbed to within one point of the world title.) Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer, needing only one more point to take the world chess championship from Boris Spassky, set up a Sicilian defense in the 21st game today against the Russian champion's king pawn opening. Fischer arrived four minutes late butt might have been on time had he not had to detour en route to the playing hall from his hotel because of a traffic accident.
Spassky, on stage for what could be his last game as champion when arbiter Lothar Schmid started the clock, moved his pawn to king four—Fischer's favorite opening. Spassky waited for Fischer to arrive, shook hands with him, and left the stage while Fischer pondered his move.
The American challenger, 29, who started playing chess before his teens and dropped out of high school at 16 to devote all his time to it, got a draw in the 20th game against Russian world champion Boris Spassky yesterday and moved within one point of the magic figure—the 12.5 points necessary to win the title.
Relaxed and smiling, Fischer called over referee Lothar Schmid after the Russian played his 54th move and offered a draw. After a slight hesitation Spassky accepted and put out his hand for the traditional handshake.
The 600 fans on hand for the 20th game, which had been started Tuesday and adjourned in the 41st move yesterday, could hardly believe their eyes at the sight of the gay and smiling Fischer, a far cry from the temperamental and eternally protesting player of previous games.
“Yes, it was very pleasant,” said Schmid. “Bobby asked me if I could point out the position for a repeated move because he could not remember. I had to get my own scoresheet as his was unreadable.”
After the challenger left the stage Spassky remained seated. Suddenly he picked up Fischer's king and started moving it round on the wooden squares, going through a number of positions.
Walked Off Stage
“No,” he finally told Schmid, “I cannot find a win anywhere.”
Then he picked up his thermos of coffee and walked slowly off stage.
Most grand masters agreed with the world champion that there was no alternative to a draw.
But U.S. grandmaster Larry Evans wasn't quite so sure. “I'm not convinced Spassky exhausted all possibilities, but it will take days of careful analyzing to see what he could have done.”
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The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 65 — Moves of Drawn 20th Chess Game —Reykjavik (UPI) — The moves in the 20th game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer chess championship. Fischer Nears Title as 20th Chess Game is Another Draw, Reykjavik—Bobby Fischer drew the 20th game of his match with Boris Spassky yesterday and was one point from becoming the first American chess champion of the world. Fischer was delighted with the draw reached after more than 6½ hours of play over two days. He walked off grinning. Spassky sat staring glumly at the board for several minutes after referee Lothar Schmid had cleared away the pieces. Fischer has 11½ points in the match, one short of the 12½ he needs to take the crown the Russian has held for three years. The American challenger can wind it up with a win today or two half-point draws today and Sunday.
SPASSKY with 8½ points has to win three and draw one of the maximum of four remaining games to continue as champion.
The draw came after 54 moves of a Sicilian defense adjourned Tuesday in a position considered level or slightly favoring Spassky. At the end, the Russian controlled more space on the board than Fischer and had a strong center pawn.
But the material was even—two pieces and five pawns on each side—and Spassky failed to find a way to break into Fischer's defense.
FINALLY Fischer, apparently believing the position on the board had been repeated three times, beckoned to referee Lothar Schmid. Under chess rules, a triple repetition of the position means a draw may be claimed, and Fischer appeared eager to claim it. Schmid announced the draw and said it resulted from the repetition. But later he said the final position was still being discussed when the players just agreed to halve the point.
“They were only going around the mulberry bush anyway,” he said.
Spassky was obviously going for a win and expected a short game. When the Russian champion arrived he brought only one Thermos bottle and one chess expert said it was evident Spassky did not expect to stay a long time.
But—close to the world title—the American chess genius was not in a mood to take chances.
IT was the seventh draw in a row in a series that began with fireworks—a Spassky win and a Fischer forfeit giving the Russian a two-point lead. Fischer gained the lead in the sixth game and has held a three-point edge since the 13th game.
Considerable interest is being given to today's game, in which Fischer will have the black pieces. He has the reputation of doing anything to avoid draws, though the last seven games have tarnished that reputation. Many feel, however, that Fischer would not wish to sidle into the championship, draw by draw, half point by half point. Perhaps, then, he will expand some extra effort today in an attempt to win the match by a knockout. Of the six games he has won, three have been with the black pieces.
Icelandic scientists delayed their final report on an examination of Spassky's chair, prompted by a Soviet complaint that the Americans might have tampered with it. Icelandic chess officials said it was a foregone conclusion that the report would show nothing to back up the Russian claim.
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The Circleville Herald Circleville, Ohio Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 4 — Points To Ponder — World Chess Champion Boris Spassky, left, and American Challenger Bobby Fischer study the chess board during world chess championship match at Reykjavik, Iceland. It was Fischer's move. The game ended in a draw with Fischer needing 1 point to reach 12½ points winning total needed to take the title away from Spassky.
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Austin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 6 — Fischer Victory A Point Away — By Andrew Torchia, Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer was only one point from the world chess championship today, and the big question was whether he would try to wrap it up in today's game or cautiously coast to victory on two half-point draws. Fischer and champion Boris Spassky drew their 20th game Wednesday, giving the American challenger 11½ points to Spassky's 8½. A victory counts one point, a draw half a point for each player. Fischer needs 12½ points to win the title and Spassky needs 12 to keep it. Victory for Fischer would take the championship away from the Soviet Union for the first time since 1946.
“I think Bobby will play to win — but he is being very careful now,” said Miguel Quinteros, an Argentinian master who recently joined the American entourage.
Some observers say the last seven games were draws because Spassky was playing sound chess and not because Fischer's appetite for a win had diminished. Others believed that having racked up six wins to Spassky's three in the first 13 games, and one of those Russian three a forfeit, Fischer felt he would prove nothing by taking risks.
If this match was being played according to the rules already adopted for the 1976 championship, Spassky would have lost his crown to Fischer on the 13th game. Under the new rules not yet in effect, draws will not count, and the match goes to the first player to win six games.
The young American appeared delighted as he walked off the stage after Wednesday's draw on the 54th moves. Spassky sat glumly staring at the board for several minutes after the referee cleared away the pieces.
The game had begun Tuesday and was adjourned with Spassky in a position some experts thought might give him a victory. But after the game resumed, the champion could not find a line of play to capitalize on his placement.
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Here are the remaining moves in the adjourned 20th game of the world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky: Fischer-white Spassky-black.
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Austin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 6 — Chess Master Takes On Multiple Challenges In Chicago — Chicago (AP) — More than 2,000 persons put up with near 90-degree heat in Civic Center Plaza here to match wits with masters from the Chicago Chess Club. Few were successful. The three winning “amateurs,” however, were typical of the general quality of play that was even more surprising than the large turnout Wednesday.
[…]
“We had the best chess players in the area out there today,” Verber said. “They came to play. Before we even had our signs up to attract passersby, there must have been 900 people waiting…”
Verber, who said the surging interest in chess is certainly due to the current chess championship match in Iceland between American challenger Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky, said he expected about 2,000 games to be played.
But he estimated near the day's end that as many as 3,000 were played and that hundreds of persons waited up to three hours to compete.
(Caption: Paul Tautvaises, left, former Lithuanian champ plays simultaneous games.)
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The Dispatch Moline, Illinois Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 2 — The Moves — The moves in the 20th game of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer chess championship.
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