ARedlands Daily Facts Redlands, California Friday, September 01, 1972 - Page 1
Spassky Resigns: Bobby Fischer Wins Chess Championship
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer today fulfilled his childhood dream and became the first American world chess champion winning the title on a telephoned resignation from Russia's Boris Spassky in the 21st game.
Spassky analyzed the game all night looking for a way to save a draw and his title but telephoned arbiter Lothar Schmid shortly after noon to announce his resignation without resuming play.
Spassky emerged from his hotel a short time later and a well-wisher approached him to wish him luck.
“Thank you, but I don't need it,” Spassky said shyly. “I shall not resume the game today. No, it's not sad. It's a sports event and Bobby is the new world champion.”
Schmid and International Chess Federation President Max Euwe, the last non-Russian to hold the title, hastily arranged a coronation ceremony in the playing hall.
They raced to Fischer's hotel to tell him he was the new world champion. Fischer asked for it in writing from Spassky.
With the pieces still on the chessboard from the adjourned 21st game Thursday night, Schmid sat at his desk waiting. Fischer, true to his capricious form, charged in 16 minutes late.
A crowd of several hundred who had come thinking they would see chess, burst into wild applause and shouted “Bobby! Bobby!” The new champion, who learned the game at the age of six and vowed he would be world champion at nine, stood quietly playing with his fountain pen and looking for the first time, shy.
Schmid then came forward to the edge of the stage and announced:
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Spassky resigned game 21 by telephone to me at 12:50 p.m. This is a legal way to resign. Mr. Fischer has won the 21st game and is winner of the world championship match.”
The crowd again went wild, standing in the seats, shouting, cheering, stomping. Fischer looked out at the crowd, then down at his feet, walked over to sign his score-sheet and almost ran out.
Euwe said it was the second time a championship had been decided over the telephone.
“When Jose Raoul Capablanca resigned his last game in Buenos Aires in 1927 to Alexander Alekhine, it was also by telephone.” Euwe said.
First word of the resignation today came from Fischer's aide, Fred Cramer.
The 21st game was adjourned Thursday and Spassky sealed his 41st move in a brown paper envelope that was to have been opened when the game resumed at 10:30 a.m. EDT today. World chess experts said then he had no chance to win.
They said an “incredible blunder” by Spassky on his 30th move Thursday had cost him the game and the championship.
After the telephone call today Schmid sought a ruling from Dr. Max Euwe, the president of the International Chess Federation and the last non-Russian to hold the world title. Euwe said a telephoned resignation was valid and permissible.
Fischer did not even know at the time he was world champion.
Crowds were still buying tickets outside the playing hall and fighting for seats in the
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Redlands Daily Facts Redlands, California Friday, September 01, 1972 - Page 2
Bobby Fischer Wins Chess Championship
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cafeteria when the telephone call came. Cramer and the new champion's second, the Rev. William Lombardy, told Fischer shortly after he awoke, ready to resume the game.
Fischer asked Schmid to get a statement in writing from Spassky that he had resigned, Cramer said.
When Fischer, 29, sat down at the board for the beginning of the 21st game Thursday he had 11.5 points, only one point away from the 12.5 necessary to win. Spassky has 8.5 points.
Five hours later Fischer rushed off the brightly lit stage with every grandmaster and expert predicting victory. An incredible 30th move blunder by Spassky had opened the floodgates.
The Russian, looking gaunt and tired after two months of joy and agony, finally sealed his 41st move and walked slowly through the curtains. The last 45 minutes after the fateful move he had remained seated, running a hand through his tousled hair, watching Fischer leap in and out for glasses of juice.
The game resumes today when German referee Lothar Schmid slits open the brown envelope with Spassky's secret 41st move. The game was put forward two and a half hours to allow Fischer to observe his 24 hours Sabbath starting at sunset, since normally play begins at 1 p.m.
“It's all over,” said grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia. “Why he (Spassky) touched that poisoned pawn I shall never know. Spassky's 30th move was a terrible mistake because it opened the way for Fischer's pawn on a line which otherwise was closed.”
Spassky's three seconds, Eyfim Geller, Nikolai Krogius and Isaac Boleslavsky, waited for the champion in a beige Landrover, looking glum and dejected. Only Boleslavsky held out a glimmer of hope. “All is not lost although the situation is grave. But even if Spassky should lost it's no national tragedy. Chess is sports, not war.”
The Rev. William Lombardy, Fischer's second, smiled and said, “I agree one hundred per cent, but it is nicer being on the winning side.”
