AGreen Bay Press-Gazette Green Bay, Wisconsin Sunday, August 06, 1972 - Page 2
Spassky: From Clown To The Tragic Figure
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Boris Spassky kept to himself Saturday after losing the 10th game—and possibly his crown—to the American challenger, Bobby Fischer, in the world chess championship match.
In Sunday's 11th game the Russian will be moving first with the white pieces, desperate to win a point. With Friday's victory, Fischer leads 6½ to 3½.
“Before the match I was a clown,” said Spassky, remembering how Fischer kept him waiting here as the American quibbled over money in New York. “Now I am the tragic figure,” Spassky, whom friends say is physically exhausted, had a late breakfast alone in his room. He left the Hotel Saga, where is is staying, shortly after noon and drove away. The normally convivial titleholder has taken to solitary walks by the Atlantic Ocean, spurning the company of his seconds.
Fischer too was alone, confined to his hotel room until sundown, observing the Saturday Sabbath of the Church of God.
“Fischer has success,” Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric said. “And when you win you always feel gorgeous.”
Although seemingly recovered from last weeks nervousness, the world champion is considered whipped. Some experts say he cannot win another game.
“He made a recovery in time for the 10th game,” says Gligoric. “But it didn't help. He isn't safe in any line. To stay in the match he needs a miracle.
“After this he will never be the same man again. He has been humiliated and demoralized. Fischer's behavior influenced him badly, but even without that he would have lost.
“Spassky is a very strong player, no less gifted than Fischer. But this match is like a battle between two men who are equally strong physically, but one is armed and the other is not.
“Spassky had a test which is too hard for a man—an opponent who has never stopped preparing and striving for perfection.
“Spassky has shown no ability to take the initiative, “even when playing white. And he makes mistakes because he is under pressure and because he has no self-confidence.”
A win for Fischer Sunday will give him 7½ points, just five short of the 12.5 he needs to wrest the crown from the champion. A win is a point, a drawn game one-half point.
