AThe 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 grandmasters 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 grandmasters 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.”
