AThe Daily Reporter Dover, Ohio Friday, September 01, 1972 - Page 1
Bobby Fischer world chess king
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)— American challenger Bobby Fischer won the world chess championship today when Boris Spassky of Russia telephoned his resignation in the 21st game, which had been adjourned overnight.
Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said Spassky had telephoned Lothar Schmid, match referee, shortly before the game was to resume with Spassky in a probable losing position.
It is the first time an American has ever held the title, although Paul Charles Morphy of New Orleans who lived from 1837 to 1884, dominated play in the 1850s and came to be known as unofficial world champion.
The title match here had a limit of 24 games. Today's victory gave Fischer 12½ points to Spassky's 8½. Fischer won seven games, each worth a point. Spassky took three, including a forfeit—thus he actually won only one out of 10 games at the playing board. Each of 11 draws was worth half a point to each contestant.
Fischer, who is 29, is from Brooklyn. He stood to win $156,000 in prize money, counting a bonus put up by a British fan. He will reap further thousands in book royalties and other fees before he has to defend his title in 1976.
Spassky, who is 35, is to receive about $100,000 as runner-up. He had won the title in 1969 from Tigran Petrosian, a fellow Russian—indeed Russians have almost monopolized title play most of this century.
