1971 Index Continues

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October 10, 1971

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 10, 1971 - Page 108 — Fischer Wins, Loses In Petrosian Match — U.S. chess genius Bobby Fischer and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union were tied with one win each after two games of their match in the Teatro San Martin in Buenos Aires. The big news was the second game, which Fischer lost. This broke his record winning streak, which had reached 20 straight games without allowing so much as a draw. For the first time in the series of matches to determine the challenger for the world chess championship, Fischer was not ahead. He had previously eliminated Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union and Bent Larsen of Sweden, each by perfect scores of 6-0. The first game contained a number of surprises, particularly for the experts who expected the players to follow their usual styles. Petrosian, particularly with the black pieces, would try to equalize in the opening and play conservatively. A draw would be a psychological advantage, breaking Fischer's winning streak at the very start of the match. Fischer, as always, would go for the win. He would try to complicate the game, in the belief that he could outplay his opponent, or force him to take so much time that he would have problems toward the end of the session. Read More

• The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Sunday, October 10, 1971 - Page 13 — Result of the Fischer-Petrosian Chess Match — What was the result of the Bobby Fischer-Tigran Petrosian chess match? - Bart Lewis, Lincoln. ACTION LINE: This column is a pawn for the public interest, someone says. Up to their break Friday, the score was 1½ points each for Fischer from the U.S. and Petrosian from the U.S.S.R. Play resumes Tuesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the 12-game match which began Sept. 30 and continues through October. Fischer, 28, who recently astonished the chess world with several 6-0 wins over chess masters around the world, played his first national chess tournament in Lincoln in 1955. He did not win and, according to chess experts, did very badly. ACTION LINE learned the writer of the above inquiry defeated Fischer in that U.S. Junior Chess Championship. Fischer was 12 years old at the time. ★ Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, October 10, 1971 - Page 103 — The World's Greatest Chess Battle from Richard Beattie in New York — Bobby Fischer has been saying that he is the best chess player in the world for more than 10 years now, but he has never got around to meeting the world champion to prove his point. The 28-year-old American who spends his whole life playing, writing and dreaming about chess, has at long last set off on the grueling path that most likely will see him crowned as champion of the world: the many who took the title away from the Russians. In Buenos Aires this week Fischer has continued his formidable winning streak by beating Tigran Petrosian in the first of a 12-game series that will determine who plays Boris Spassky, the current world champion. Despite the long periods of utter inactivity when chess grandmasters face each other in public auditoriums, the Argentinians have flocked to the San Martin Theatre in their thousands to watch the play through opera glasses or see the moves projected on a giant screen placed in the lobby outside the theatre. The American is an aggressive and determined player who is always at his best when on the offensive, while his Russian opponent thrives on defensive play, but has an uncanny knack of spotting offensive mistakes which open up the board for a decisive killing. Fischer and Petrosian make perfect opponents, but the betting in Buenos Aires is overwhelmingly in the American's favor.
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• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, October 10, 1971 - Page 53 — Petrosian Calls Bobby Fischer 'Disappointing' — Belgrade, Yugoslavia (AP) — Tigran Petrosian, the Soviet former world chess champion, was reported yesterday to be disappointed in the playing ability of U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer. Fischer and Petrosian are meeting in Buenos Aires in a 12-game series for the right to play Russia's Boris Spassky for the world championship. They stand at one win apiece, with one draw match. “I had been expecting more from Bobby,” Petrosian was quoted as saying. “He had clamorously announced big accomplishments. He forgot that in chess not everything is rosy,” he told the correspondent of the Belgrade daily Broba. “Fischer had claimed he had a theory. But—at least so far—he has not demonstrated it. To win the title of the world champion one should display greater knowledge,” Petrosian said. If Fischer wins in Buenos Airs, Petrosian said the odds would be five to one in favor of Spassky in the world championship final. The Soviet grandmaster noted, “Fischer came to Buenos Aires expecting to win 7-0. His first defeat, as a result, threw him off balance. Self-assurance in chess may prove to be very expensive.” Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, October 10, 1971 - Page 34 — Chess: It's the Win That Counts by Al Horowitz — It is a basic tenet of every chess critic's faith that match play is vastly different, in all manner of subtle ways, from tournament play. It is also to judge by what he has said in recent interviews, a basic tenet of Bobby Fischer's, although his recent results do a good deal to belie it. It is too obvious a fact to be an article of faith that if one simply wins every game one cannot lose, no matter what the form of competition. Ex-world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, Fischer's rival in the final match of the current Candidate's series, is, everybody agrees, a very different kind of play from Bobby. An analysis of his recent results might, on the surface, appear to comprise in itself a little essay on the differences between match and tournament play. He started off his quarter-final match against the relatively unknown West German player Robert Hubner with six straight draws before winning the one game he needed to take the match. In the semi-final round, against compatriot Viktor Korchnoi, he drew eight in a row before winning. In a tournament, to win one game and draw the rest usually places one just about in the middle of the score table; in a match, it is, of course, amply sufficient to win. Read More

October 11, 1971

• The Courier Waterloo, Iowa Monday, October 11, 1971 - Page 17 — Retarded View — As one who has a retarded view of chess, I have found additional reason never to go near it. Here's a passage from an account of the defeat of Bobby Fischer by one Tigran Petrosian in the second game of their 12-game semi-final in Buenos Aires … Oh, rats! The defeat stopped a growing dissident movement in U.S. chess circles. It's slogan is “Break Up Fischer!” ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, October 11, 1971 - Page 32 — Chess: French Defense Is Not Timid, as Petrosian Shows Fischer by Al Horowitz —The third game of the Bobby Fischer-Tigran Petrosian qualifying match was a French Defense—an opening that derives its name from the London-Paris correspondence match of 1834, when it was adopted by the French players. It was also mentioned by Lucena in 1497 and at one time was called the King Pawn One opening. Its disciples have been called pusillanimous, a breed of players who indicate they want to play chess but who contain themselves in the very first move with a diffident 1. … P-K3. But Petrosian's 6. … PxB was anything but cowardly; his acceptance of doubled pawns on the kingside took courage. With 10. P-Q5, however, White expressed contempt for Black's pawn contour, and after 11. NxP, Black's pawn skeleton—with the doubled, isolated king bishop pawn—was vulnerable. White's 12. B-N2, defying Black to capture the rook, had elements of poke bluffing, though the attempt to draw Petrosian into a speculation was based on comparatively good judgment. Not unexpectedly, Petrosian did not oblige. The move 12. R-QN1, followed by 12. … B-K4; 13. B-N2 and then 14. 0-0, 15. R-K1—and possibly KN-B4-R5—would have established a powerful attack. Moreover, Black's queen bishop would have been pinned down to the defense of his queen knight pawn.
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October 12, 1971

• The Argus Fremont, California Tuesday, October 12, 1971 - Page 5 — Chess by Richard Shorman — The Final Candidates' Match; An Unstoppable Pawn by International Grandmaster Salo Flohr (translated from “Sovesky Sport,” October 2, 1971) How anxious we all were to hear the news from far-off Argentina. To our great disappointment the first word was not very pleasant. No less than Fischer, Petrosian sought a sharp fight and played for a win. Our grandmaster displayed his fine theoretical preparation by obtaining to my mind, a fully satisfactory position. During the fifth hour of play and in time trouble, Petrosian began to make errors. Robert Fischer, on the contrary, had played with his usual quickness, leaving him almost half an hour to spare on his clock. Here, then, are the moves comprising this exciting encounter in Buenos Aires. Read More

October 13, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 52 — Fischer and Petrosian Play a Draw — Buenos Aires, Oct. 12 — A draw in 20 moves was the result tonight of the fourth game of the match between the United States chess ace, Bobby Fischer, and a former world chess champion, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, in the Teatro San Martin here. The match is tied at 2 points each. Fischer won the first game, Petrosian the second, and the third game was draw. The winner will play the present world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, for the title. Petrosian, with the white pieces, started with 1. P-QB4, to establish his favorite opening, the English. Fischer transported into what is known as the Maroczy bind variation of the Sicilian Defense. Years ago this was considered advantageous to White, who obtains a strong center pawn formation and better posts for his pieces. Recent analysis has shown that Black has nothing to fear from the bind, with ample opportunity to exchange with any of the White's pieces that may become threatening. Each side developed normally and exchanges soon started. The queens were off the board on the 15th move and the knights and rooks soon followed. The resulting ending with bishops and pawns was quite equal in material and position. The experts expected Fischer to continue, as he practically never agrees to an early draw if any chances for a win exist. However, the position had simplified too much and Fischer was content. He offered the draw when making his 20th move, and Petrosian immediately accepted. The fifth game will be played Thursday afternoon and the match will continue until one player scores 6½ points. Read More

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 52 — Fischer Is Tied In Chess Match — Buenos Aires — (UPI) — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union drew for the second game in a row last night to remain tied in their candidate's elimination tournament. The match, the fourth, was the shortest played so far. It lasted only 20 moves made in 61 minutes. The draw gave Petrosian and Fischer a total of two points each, one for a match won and one for the two draws. Fischer won the opening game Sept. 30, Petrosian the second Oct. 5 and the third match Thursday finished in a draw. Winner of the tournament, scheduled for 12 matches, will challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. The next game will be held Thursday. Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany declared last night's match a draw after both players reached a mutual accord. Each only had their Bishops and seven pawns left on the board. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 289 — Fischer & Foe Call It a Draw In 4th Contest by Robert Byrne — Buenos Aires, Oct. 12 — Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and Bobby Fischer of the United States agreed to a quick draw in the fourth contest of their 12-game match tonight in the Teatro General San Martin. They now stand all even at 2-2. Six and a half points will take the match and catapult the winner into the final match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, who is required by international chess rules to defend his world championship title every three years. Petrosian, a former world champion, began with the solid, positional English opening—long-time favorite of his. And, just as in game two of the Bent Larsen match, Fischer chose to defend the Maroczy Bind position. The strong king's and queen's bishop pawns, restraining the black queen's pawn, gave him no qualms.
  Proves Too Cautious The game followed well-known channels, with black exchanging knights early to preclude any cramping which could result from being held to three ranks' maneuvering space. Unlike Larsen, who went all out for attack, Petrosian carefully guarded his queen's wing against counterattack. But he carried caution too far in offering the exchange of Queens at his 14th move, for the resulting endgame is barren of real winning chances. Even the aggressive Fischer, who is always out for one point, could find no good reason to refuse the draw. The question puzzling all the chess fans here is why Petrosian squandered his chance with the white pieces. The usual strategy is to go all out with white and cover up with black. Game five will be played Thursday night. Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 10 — Fischer And Russian Tied In Chess Match — Buenos Aires (AP) — The fourth game between chess grand masters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union ended Tuesday in a draw with the players absolutely even and both apparently satisfied. The game went down to an ending with two bishops and pawns on each side. For Fischer it was a minor victory, having completely equalized the game with the black pieces. This was the first time in the match that a relatively simple game developed so quickly. Both players now have won one game and there have been two draws in the 12-game match. A total of 6½ points is needed to win the series, with a win counting one point and a draw a half point. The victor will meet Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world's championship. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 36 — Fischer, Petrosian Come to Quick Draw — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union drew for the second game in a row Tuesday to remain tied in their candidate's elimination match. The game, the fourth, was the shortest played so far. It lasted only 20 moves and 61 minutes. The draw gave Petrosian and Fischer a total of two points each. Fischer won the opening game Sept. 30, Petrosian the second Oct. 5 and the third match Thursday finished in a draw. Winner of the 12-game matches will challenge world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. The next game will be held Thursday. Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany declared Tuesday night's match a draw after both players reached a mutual accord. Each only had their bishops and seven pawns left on the board. Petrosian, playing white, used an English opening, one of his favorites. The 28-year-old Fischer countered with the Dragon variation of the Sicilian defense. During the next 13 moves Fischer could not find a gap to break through white's solid position. At the same time, Petrosian was not able to launch an attack of his own. First indication the 42-year-old Petrosian was looking for a draw, even though playing white, was on move 14, which led to a queen exchange. The next five moves saw simplification, with the exchange of rooks and the remaining knights. ★ Read More

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 4 — Fischer, Petrosian Tied After Second Deadlock — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union drew for the second game in a row last night to remain tied in their candidate's elimination tournament. The match, the fourth, was the shortest played so far. Its 20 moves were made in 61 minutes. Fischer won the opening game Sept. 30, Petrosian the second Oct. 5, and the third match last Thursday finished in a draw—giving each man two points. Whoever reaches 6½ points in the match, scheduled for 12 games, will challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The next game will be tomorrow in the same site, the downtown San Martin Theatre. Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany declared last night's a draw after both players agreed. Each had only their bishop and seven pawns left. Petrosian, playing white, used an English opening, one of his favorites, with pawn to queen bishop four. The 28-year-old Fischer, from New York City, countered with a Sicilian defense—pawn to queen bishop four. His second move, pawn to king knight three, paved the way for a Dragon variant—a fianchettoed bishop. During the next 13 moves Fischer could not find a gap to break through white's solid position. At the same time, the cautious Petrosian was not able to launch an attack of his own. First indication the 42-year old Petrosian was looking for a draw, even though playing white, was on move 14, white knight to queen five which led to an exchange of queens. The next five moves were simplification, with the exchange of rooks and knights. Both Fischer and Petrosian, world champion from 1963 to 1969 when he lost the title to Spassky, stood up, shook hands, and left the theatre rapidly. ★ Read More

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 44 — Another Draw for Bobby — Buenos Aires (AP) — The fourth game of the 12-game chess match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union ended yesterday in a draw after 20 moves and slightly over one hour of play. The final position was exactly even in material after a series of exchanges. Petrosian, leading with white, tried for an English opening, but at the fifth move the game veered into the Maroczy variation of the Sicilian defense by a transposition of moves. White has an advantage in space in this variation, but the opening has been thoroughly analyzed and chances for both sides are considered equal. As played, the queens were exchanged early and a few moves later on the rooks and knights also disappeared. Based on Fischer's past record of playing every game to a finish if there is any chance of victory, the American expected to continue. But he offered a draw and Petrosian immediately accepted. But chess experts were generally satisfied at the brief display of technique by the two contenders for the world title. “We saw today a good fight, along with profound chess concentration, the game came to a draw according to chess theory, and both grandmasters realized it,” international grandmaster Marcos Luckis said. They will play the fifth game tomorrow afternoon here in the San Martin Theatre. The game leaves the players with two points apiece in the tournament that will determine who will challenge Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for world championship next spring. Both players have won one game apiece and there have been two draws. A win counts one point and a draw a half point, with a total of 6½ points needed to win the match. Lothar Schmidt, referee of yesterday's match, said that if at the end of their 12-game match the score stands even, they will play additional games until one of them emerges winner, up to a 20th game. If the score is then still even, the result will be drawn by lot. For Fischer, yesterday's draw was a minor victory, having completely equalized the game with the black pieces. This was the first time in the match that a relatively simple game developed so quickly. Read More

• The Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 1 — Chess Lessons — The Longwood YMCA at Macedonia has scheduled a myriad of activities this Fall ranging from beginning judo to advanced chess lessons. Carl Steckle, teach at Nordonia Junior High School, who has competed with national chess whiz Bobby Fischer, will be adviser of the chess classes, which are open to both new and experienced players. Read More

October 14, 1971

• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Thursday, October 14, 1971 - Page 11 — Fischer Scornful of Red Chess Champ — Newsweek Feature Service — For nearly two decades, Robert James Fischer's world has consisted of 64 little squares, and his closest companions have been the 32 characters — the bishops, kings, queens, knights, pawns and rooks — of the game of chess. Now, at age 28, Bobby Fischer is on the verge of reaping the rewards of those years of solitude and dedication. He is vying for a chance to meet world champion Boris Spassky of Russia next year in a match that, if Fischer wins, will finally establish him as the greatest chess player in the world. To Fischer, a victory against Spassky will merely add official cachet to the status he claims unabashedly. “I am the best player in the world,” he says bluntly. “The Russians have known that for years. But they're afraid of me, and so they say lots of scornful things about me.” IF THE TALL, lanky incredibly intense young American is hardly guilty of false modesty, he could hardly be accused of vain braggadocio, either. For among chess experts, the only real controversy is about how great Fischer is—merely one of the best of this era or, as some experts insist, the best player who ever lived. In this highly competitive, infinitely complex world of international-class chess, such accolades are not granted cheaply. On a championship level, the game requires staggering feats of memory, almost mystical foresight, steel nerves and powers of concentration that would overwhelm the normal mind. In every 45-move game, for example, a player can choose among 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible alternatives. So when Fischer recently won 20 consecutive games in the world championship playoffs, the feat was considered roughly equal to a baseball player hitting home runs in 20 consecutive times at bat. Contrary to the image of sedentary lassitude, chess also requires considerable physical stamina. A bio-kinetic survey taken at Temple university in Philadelphia last year showed that a tough game of chess drains as much energy from a player as a boxing match or a football game. SO WHEN HE is in competition, Fischer tries to make sure he plays tennis, swims or at least takes long walks between matches. “Your body has to be in top condition,” he says. “Your chess deteriorates as your body does. You can't separate body from mind.” Through the years, this single-mindedness has cost him dearly in terms of a normal personal life. He is often described as friendless, which annoys him. “I have friends,” he says, “but my friends don't talk about me.” He is not verbally facile and he bores easily — a combination that has led to dozens of rude and thoughtless outbursts. Read More

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 14, 1971 - Page 21 — Fischer Draws in 4th Match — Buenos Aires (AP) — Chess grand masters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union battled to a draw Tuesday night in their fourth and briefest encounter of a 12-game tournament match. The game in the jam-packed San Martin Theatre ended in 20 moves after little more than an hour. There was no advantage for either player at any time. Fischer, 28-year-old New Yorker, and his 43-year-old opponent now have two points each in the series scheduled to end Oct. 31. They have won one game apiece and struck two draws in the match that will determine who will challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. A total of 6½ points is required to win, with a victory counting one point and a draw a half-point. For this game Petrosian had the white pieces and used the English opening. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Thursday, October 14, 1971 - Page 5 — Quick Draw In World Chess — (AAP-Reuter) Buenos Aires, Wednesday. — Bobby Fischer (United States) and Tigran Petrosian (Soviet Union) last night drew the fourth game of their 12-game match to decide who will challenge Boris Spassky for the world championship. The game lasted only 20 moves and 80 minutes. The score is now 2-2 — one win each, two games drawn. Protests were heard from the audience at the San Martin Theatre, as fans voiced their disappointment against an apparent lack of fighting spirit by both grandmasters. The next game will be on Thursday. Read More

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Thursday, October 14, 1971 - Page 9 — Score Tied In Fifth — Buenos Aires (AP) — Pressure mounts Thursday night for 28-year-old American Bobby Fischer and 43-year-old Russian Tigran Petrosian as they start their fifth chess match in a 12-game series. The winner of the first six and a half point will play World Champion Boris Spassky next spring in the Soviet Union. It is the first time an American has moved so close to the world title. The score is 2-2, with Fischer winning the first game, Petrosian the second and the last two being drawn. A 20-game draw Tuesday night did not gain favor with the packed audience but was called technically correct by analysts. Fischer, normally aggressive, had the black pieces and elected to play conservatively, apparently saving himself for the white side Thursday night. Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, October 14, 1971 - Page 4 — Fischer's Barren Tactic by Leonard Barden — Petrosian and Fischer took a breather in the fourth game of their world chess championship final eliminator in Buenos Aires. Their draw in 20 moves, the shortest game of the match, followed a well known variation which opening experts have abandoned as sterile for some years. Petrosian began with the English Opening—P-QR4—but Fischer's defensive formation switched into a variation of the Sicilian Defense. Petrosian's fourteenth move set in train wholesale piece exchanges and when the position simplified into an ending of kings, two bishops, and seven pawns each of the players stopped the clocks and shook hands. The game, concluded in just more than one hour's play compared with a normal session of five hours, leaves the score in the 12-game series deadlocked at 2-2. The next game is scheduled for tonight. Read More

October 15, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 71 — Fischer, Petrosian Draw in 5th Game; Tied at 2½ Each — Buenos Aires, Oct. 14 — Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union drew after 38 moves of the fifth game of their match here today. The draw, the third in a row, left the score still tied at 2½ points each. Petrosian, a former world champion, varied by using the Petroff Defense after Fischer's almost inevitable 1. P-K4. The opening is rarely seen in modern grandmaster practice, though well suited to Petrosian's defensive style. Fischer played more forcefully in the opening, building up a strong center with mobility for his pieces. Instead of directly challenging the center, Petrosian advanced his queen-side pawns with the objective of opening lines for his men in the area. Tactical complications started with Fischer's 18th move. He offered a pawn, which Petrosian could have gained by 19. … P-Q4. Fischer would have got compensation by advancing his queen and rook on the queen side. Petrosian avoided this possibility, playing to equalize in the center. By doing so he allowed Fischer to establish a passed pawn. On his 24th move Fischer should have exchanged pawns rather than advancing his knight pawn. The pawn appeared strong, but Petrosian quickly surrounded it. Fischer had to let it go, taking another pawn as compensation. In the process, queens and a pair of rooks were exchanged and the game was equalized. Petrosian offered a draw on his 34th move. Fischer refused, but four moves later, seeing no winning prospects, he offered a draw in turn, which Petrosian accepted. The sixth game will be played Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Teatro San Martin. The player who first scores 6½ points will play a title match next year with the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 279 — Fischer Ties 5th Game of Chess Series by Robert Byrne — Buenos Aires, Oct. 14—The United States' Bobby Fischer and Russia's Tigran Petrosian fought to a draw in the fifth game of their 12-game match in the Teatro General San Martin tonight. The score is now 2½ to 2½. The winner will vie with Boris Spassky of Russia for the world chess championship in April. Petrosian opened with the sound, cautious Petroff defense, which he had adopted with success in his match with Spassky three years ago. But Fischer was quick to seize an advantage in space, exerting sharp pressure. But he lost time with his 13th move, when he would have done better with Q-B2 or perhaps even the two-edged P-Q5. Still, he pressed Petrosian hard with the advance of his queen's knight pawn at move 18, threatening to chose the queen side and bury the queen's bishop. Although the situation was very difficult, Petrosian fought back ingeniously, counterattacking the binding queen's knight pawn by his 21st and 22d moves. Allowing the doubling of his queen's pawns, while permitting Fischer a passed queen's knight pawn was an extraordinary stroke, giving him a terrific grip on the center squares. And he quickly showed, by his moves 24-27, that the white queen side pawns were nothing but a headache to his opponent. For it took everything Fischer could muster to avoid parting with one of them. By the 34th move, when the complexities of the sharp position had been resolved into a level end game, Petrosian offered a draw. But it took four moves more before Fischer was persuaded to agree. Game six is scheduled for Sunday. Read More

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 67 — Fischer, Petrosian Fifth Game a Draw —Buenos Aires, Oct. 14 (AP)—Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of Russia agreed tonight to a draw of the fifth chess match in their 12-game grand master series. The draw gave each man two and one half points. The winner of the series at Buenos Aires' 1,000-seat San Martin Municipal Theatre will meet Russia's Boris Spassky next spring for the world chess championship which the Russians have held since 1948.
  Comes From Behind Petrosian, playing well, came from behind to equalize the game in the final moves. The 42-yar-old Russian offered Fischer a draw on the 34th move, but Fischer refused until the 38th move. Petrosian used the Petroff defense with the black pieces, an old defense system rarely seen in modern grand master chess. The 28-year-old Fischer established a center position and had his pieces more favorably posted. However, he could find no weaknesses in Petrosian's defense.
  Offers a Pawn A critical situation developed after Fischer's 18th move. He offered a pawn to try to break thru on the Queen side. Petrosian did not take the pawn, but allowed Fischer to establish what looked like a dangerous passed pawn. Petrosian evidently had seen far ahead and attacked the pawn with all his forces. Fischer gained another pawn in return, but the major pieces were exchanged and the game was completely equalized. Fischer, who is considered the best bet in years to take the world title away from the Russians, won the first game in this series, but lost the second. The third and fourth were draws. The sixth game will be played Sunday afternoon. Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 49 — Fischer, Russian Tie — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of Russia agreed Thursday night to a draw of the fifth chess match in their 12-game grand masters series. The draw gave each man 2½ points. The winner of the series at Buenos Aires' 1,000-seat San Martin Municipal Theatre will meet Russia's Boris Spassky next spring for the world chess championship which the Russians have held since 1948. Petrosian, playing well, came from behind to equalize the game in the final moves. The 42-year-old Russian offered Fischer a draw on the 34th move, but Fischer refused until the 38th move. Fischer, who is considered the best bet in years to take the world title away from the Russians, won the first game in this series, but lost the second. The third and fourth were draws. The sixth game will be played Sunday afternoon. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 18 — School Chess Series Set — The B.C. Chess Federation's junior program for schools gets under way Sunday with the North Vancouver Junior Open tournament. …

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 22 — Chess Report — Chicago—THE TRIBUNE is to be congratulated on its coverage of the Fischer-Petrosian chess match held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. You not only gave a write up but also included the game score, a service much appreciated by the thousands of chess players in the Chicago area. Frank Skoff, President, Chicago Chess Foundation. Read More

• The York Dispatch York, Pennsylvania Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 1 — Chess Stalemate: Fischer, Petrosian Battle to 3rd Straight Tie — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Bobby Fischer of the United States failed again to crack former world champion Tigran Petrosian's defensive game. The two drew the fifth contest of their candidate's elimination match here. The game ended in a draw at the 38th move when the Russian grandmaster accepted Fischer's offer. They now are tied at 2½ points apiece after five games. Fischer won the opening game, Petrosian the second, and the next three ended in draws. The next confrontation is Sunday. Winner of the 12-game series will play Russian world champion Boris Spassky for the crown next spring. Fischer, playing white, launched his customary attack but Petrosian, world champion from 1963 to 1969, answered with a rarely-used Petroff defense—which seemed to stymie the American. Fischer was not able to break through and by the 27th move the initiative had passed to the Russian. However, four moves later, Petrosian offered a queen swap, taken by Fischer and the match headed for a draw, although the 42-year-old Russian had a pawn advantage. On the 34th move, the Russian offered the draw but the 28-year-old Fischer, from New York City, refused. However, Fischer reversed himself and offered the draw four moves later. The Armenian-born Russian immediately accepted. By this time, they had exchanged every piece on the board except for their bishops and four pawns. Petrosian at the end had only five minutes showing on his clock to reach the 40 moves required in 2½ hours. Read More

• The Minneapolis Star Minneapolis, Minnesota Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 30 — Fischer v. Petrosian — Chess masters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of Russia, Thursday in Buenos Aires played to their third straight draw in a grueling match that lasted 38 moves and nearly five hours. The result left them tied at 2½ points each in their 12-game series. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 188 — Bobby Fischer Ties 5th Game — Buenos Aires, Oct. 14 (Reuter) — Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union tonight drew the fifth of their 12-game world chess semifinals here. With tonight's game, which ended at move 38, each grandmaster has 2½ points of the 6½ points needed to win the contest to find a player to meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. ★ Read More

October 16, 1971

• Hattiesburg American Hattiesburg, Mississippi Saturday, October 16, 1971 - Page 13 — Fifth Game: Fischer, Soviet Grandmaster Stalemate with Second Draw — Buenos Aires, Argentina (AP) — Neither Bobby Fischer of the United States nor Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union could make any headway Thursday night in the fifth game of their chess match in the Teatro San Martin. The result was a draw in 38 moves and nearly five hours of play. The players remain tied, with 2½ points each in the best-in-12 series of games. Fischer had white and was clearly trying to win after having drawn the previous two games. He started with his usual king pawn opening. Petrosian countered with the Petroff defense, which was popular earlier in the century, but rarely is played today in grandmaster chess. It is considered a safe opening for black, and quite suitable for Petrosian's generally defensive style. The pawn formation remains balanced although white often obtains a lasting initiative. Fischer advanced his center pawns, with more space at his command. His pieces had more activity than those of Petrosian. The 42-year-old Petrosian, who had held the world title for six years, seemed more relaxed than his 28-year-old rival. He did not try to equalize matters in the center, but advanced on the queen side, to open lines on that side.
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• Star-Phoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Saturday, October 16, 1971 - Page 21 — Chess: Fischer Playing Like A Champion by Harry Mather — Whether Tigran Petrosian can stop the triumphant march of Bobby Fischer to world championship honors is still somewhat doubtful, but at least he has broken the winning streak of the almost invincible Bobby and evened the score after four games with a win, one loss, and two draws for an even 2-2 score. Fischer's record so far in the playdown has been a 6-0 victory over Taimanov, and another amazing shutout over Larsen by the same score, but the veteran ex-champion Petrosian seems to be another matter. Read More

• The Lompoc Record Lompoc, California Saturday, October 16, 1971 - Page 11 — Chess by Vaughn Proctor, Chess Editor — Those who have followed the Fischer-Petrosian semi-final match in South America, may have noticed that Fischer won the first game against Petrosian's Sicilian Defense. On his sixth move as indicated from the game notation in Isaac Kashdan's chess column, Fischer played B-KB4. That was the move some experts said was Fischer's pet, until he discarded it in recent years. Obviously he hasn't discarded it as evidenced in the game noted above and if I'm not mistaken he played the same move in one of the match games with Bent Larsen in Denver. Read More

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Saturday, October 16, 1971 - Page 28 — Draw Partner — Buenos Aires (UPI) — International grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Russia's Tigran Petrosian drew the fifth contest of the final candidate's chess match being held here tonight. It was the third straight game the two have drawn and left them still tied after the five games with two and one-half points each. Fischer offered the draw at the 38th move and it was accepted immediately by Petrosian, world chess champion from 1963 to 1969. At the time, Petrosian still had five minutes left to make two moves to reach the 40 required in two and one-half hours. Fischer still had 27 minutes left. Petrosian had offered the draw at the 34th move but it was refused by the North American. At the end, the two players were evenly matched in number and value of pieces still on the board. Fischer, playing whites, had four pawns and both his bishops. The Russian had four pawns, a bishop and a knight. Fischer opened the game with his favorite opening, pawn to king four and Petrosian, a defensive stalwart, used a Petroff defense, rarely used in international matches. Up until the 18 move, Fischer assumed the attack but the initiative passed to the Russian grandmaster by move 27, although playing blacks. But on move 31, Petrosian offered a queen swap which Fischer accepted and the draw became a foregone conclusion. The two had gone into the fifth match tied with two points each, one for a single victory and one for the two previous draws. ★ Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Saturday, October 16, 1971 - Page 3 — Chess Stars Again Share Honours by Leonard Barden — Another draw, the third in a row, left Fischer and Petrosian deadlocked at 2½ points each after five of the 12 games in their world chess championship final eliminator in Buenos Aires. Petrosian chose the Petroff Defence, which he had used twice in his 1969 title match with Spassky when aiming for a draw with the black pieces. So far, Petrosian's technique of building up the tension before trying to win one of the later games in the match is having marked success. Although Fischer secured a space advantage on the queen's side of the board his pressure was easily contained by the Russian, and Petrosian simplified into a level endgame of bishops and pawns. Read More

October 17, 1971

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 123 — Fischer In 2-2 Tie With Petrosian — The score was tied at two points each after the first four games of the match in Buenos Aires between Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. It was a far cry from the drubbings Fischer had administered to Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union and Bent Larsen of Denmark, who had succumbed by 6-0 scores to the relentless drive of the 28-year-old American chess genius. It was clear from the first game that Petrosian had thoroughly prepared for the match and that Fischer was in for a rough battle. Fischer won the first game although he had the worst of it in the early part. In the second game Petrosian played perhaps his finest chess in years, gaining a victory that broke Fischer's record streak after 20 straight wins. In the third game Fischer had the white pieces and started with his usual 1. P-K4. Petrosian used the French defense, varying from the Sicilian defense of the first game. With his 10th and 11th moves Fischer showed that he was ready for an enterprising fight. He gave up a pawn and also offered a rook for a bishop. Petrosian decided not to accept the sacrifice, which would put Fischer's queen on a powerful diagonal and started threats against the black king. The white knights would also have come into play very quickly.
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• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 14 — Chess Masters Don't Seem to Fit Shaw's 'Idle' Mold by Steve Harvey — George Bernard Shaw once wrote that chess is “a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something very clever when they are only wasting their time.” However, he would have a difficult time convincing the spectators who have been jamming a 1,000-seat theatre in Buenos Aires to watch Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union battle each other in their 12-game grandmaster series. The winner of the series, which is tied after five games, will meet Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in spring for the world chess championship. The Russians have held the title since 1948. Fischer and Petrosian play the sixth match this afternoon.
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• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 52 — The Chessboard: Fischer's Streak Unequaled — Bobby Fischer of the United States extended his winning streak to 20 games by winning the first game of his match against Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, but saw his skein end there as he was defeated in the second game by the former world's champion. Nonetheless, Fischer could look back with satisfaction on a record extending back to the final rounds of the interzonal tournament in Spain last year, in which he won his last seven games. His streak continued as he defeated Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union 6-0 in their candidates' match, and won over Bent Larsen of Denmark by the same score. Fischer's feat is unequaled in the long history of chess and there is little doubt that it will stand for years to come. Here is the score of Fischer first victory over Petrosian in the Buenos Aires match to determine who will meet Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title. Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 205 — Chess: Petrosian Giving Fischer Hard Fight by Harold Dondis — Present score of the Petrosian-Fischer match: 2½-2½ Early news of each game has been appearing in the Globe on the Sports page or under “Names in the News.” The match is hard fought. Petrosian, the underdog, abandoned his passive style and has produced fighting games. Fischer won the first only after weathering a tough position from a prepared variation by Petrosian. The second game snapped Fischer's winning streak at 20 and showed signs of overconfidence on Fischer's part. But Petrosian did not flinch in pressing a counterattack. In the third game, Petrosian gained the upper hand after Fischer faltered in a strong attack, but Petrosian, in time trouble, repeated the position three times in error. The match was located in Argentina by the flip of a coin, American politicking had favored Argentina, but Petrosian wanted Greece, and for a while it looked as if the dispute might split F.I.D.E. To mollify the iron-curtain countries, the Americans agreed to decide by lot and Fischer won. It is a shame that the rivalry is so fierce that both Russians and Americans are denied the sight of these great players in contention. Fischer won another victory when F.I.D.E. voted that draws won't count in future world's championship matches. Meanwhile, Spassky awaiting his challenger, has been playing in Canada, showing mediocre form, coming in first on tie-break and third in two tournaments there. Read More

• The Argus Fremont, California Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 5 — Chess: The Final Candidates' Match by Richard Shorman —White: Tigran Petrosian. Black: Robert Fischer. Buenos Aires, October 5, 1971, 2nd Match Game. Gruenfeld Defense. (Annotations by grandmaster Ratmir Kholmov, translated from “64,” No. 41, Oct. 8-14, 1971. pg. 16) Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 26 — Tense Chess Match — Buenos Aires, Saturday, (AAP).— U.S. chess ace Bobby Fischer (pictured) and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union go into the sixth game of their match here tomorrow tied with 2½ points each. Yesterday's fifth game of the series to decide a challenger for the world championship ended in a draw, the third of the series. The victor — the first player to get 6½ points — will meet Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in April and May next year. Petrosian varied by using the Petroff defense after Fischer's almost inevitable 1. P-K4 yesterday. The opening is rare seen in modern grandmaster practice, though well suited to Petrosian's defensive style. Fischer played more forcefully in the opening, building up a strong center, with more mobility for his pieces. Instead of directly challenging the center, Petrosian advanced his queen side pawns, with the objective of opening lines for his men in that area. Petrosian offered a draw on his 34th move. Fischer refused, but four moves later, seeing no winning prospects, he offered a draw in turn, which Petrosian immediately accepted. Read More

October 18, 1971

• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 44 — Chess Amid Smoke — Buenos Aires (UPI) — International chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union began the sixth game of their candidates' elimination playoff here yesterday. They played amidst the odor of a stink bomb hurled from the balcony audience at the downtown San Martin Theatre where the match is being held. The two men ignored the smell. Winner of the 12-game series will challenge Russia's Boris Spassky for the title next spring. Thus far, Fischer, 28, from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Petrosian, 42, world chess champion from 1963 to 1969, are tied after five contests with two and one-half points each. Each has won one game and three have ended in a draw. Read More

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 55 — Fischer-Petrosian Match: Chess Game Adjourned — Buenos Aires — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union played five hours and 42 moves last night before adjourning their sixth game. The grandmasters are to resume the game at 7 p.m. today. They remain tied in their 12-game series. A small sulfuric acid stink bomb was thrown into the crowded San Martin Theater after the game had been under way for about an hour. Fischer, 28, and Petrosian, 42, apparently didn't know anything had happened and continued the game without interruption. When the game adjourned at 10 p.m. Fischer with black had completed his 41st move. At the time of the adjournment, Petrosian, world champion from 1963 to 1969, had five pawns, a knight and a rook left. Fischer, a chess genius from Brooklyn, N.Y., had five pawns, a bishop and a rook. However, Fischer was threatening to capture an isolated pawn on the Russian's queen's rook file. Petrosian, with the white, opened with the queen's fianchetto game. This meant he was playing defensively, holding his center back and permitting the black a firmer center. Petrosian deliberately went into a backward defense although he had the white pieces, apparently to see if Fischer would overextend himself. The two men are battling to determine who will challenge the world's champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, next spring. They are even so far with two and a half points each. The 1,000 available seats in the downtown San Martin Theater were filled before the game began and scores of other fans followed the play on demonstration boards set up in the lobby of the modern glass and cement building. Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 19 — Fischer's 6th Chess Game Is Adjourned — Buenos Aires—Bobby Fischer of the United States and Russia's Tigran Petrosian adjourned their sixth game in the candidate's chess playoff last night after 41 moves. The game continues today, with Fischer holding what appeared to be a slight advantage. Referee Lothar Schmidt of West Germany suspended the contest after 41 moves, with Petrosian's next move already in a sealed envelope. Each player seeking the right to play world title-holder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union—has accumulated two and one-half points in the first five matches. Each has one game won and three draws. The tournament is scheduled to last 12 games and the first to accumulate 6½ points will meet Spassky for the crown next spring. The sixth game was the first to be adjourned since the match began. Read More

• Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fort Worth, Texas Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 7 — U.S. - Soviet Chess Tilt Adjourned — Buenos Aires (AP)— For the first time in their 12-game series, a game was adjourned yesterday in the grand master chess match between U.S. ace Bobby Fischer and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Play in the sixth game was stopped after 41 moves were made by each contestant in the five-hour session at the San Martin Theatre. Fischer, 28, had considerable advantage in the position at adjournment and was likely to win when the game is resumed today. Fischer and Petrosian, 42, are meeting to determine who will challenge the world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title next spring. They are exactly even now, with each man having won one game and with three games ending in draws. Read More

• Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 12 — Chess Giants Adjourn Sixth Game in Playoffs — Buenos Aires (UPI) — The sixth game of the final candidate's chess playoffs between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union was adjourned here Sunday night after 41 moves. The game will be resumed this afternoon. Petrosian left his 42nd move in a sealed envelope with referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany. The two chess masters played amidst the odor of a stink bomb hurled from the balcony audience at the downtown San Martin Theatre where the match was held. The two men ignored the smell. At the time of the adjournment. Petrosian, former world champion from 1963 to 1969, had five pawns, a knight and a rook left. Fischer, 28-year-old chess genius from Brooklyn, N.Y., had five pawns, a bishop and a rook. However, Fischer was threatening to capture an isolated pawn on the Russian's queen's rook file. Winner of the 12-game series will challenge Russia's current reigning world champion, Boris Spassky, for the title next spring. The match marked the first time a game had been adjourned. No victories have been notched by either player since the second game. Petrosian won the second contest after Fischer took the opening game. The next three games ended in draws, giving each player two and one-half points. Petrosian started the game with a Nimzovich opening and was countered by Fischer's choice of a system similar to the Steinitz. During the opening game, Fischer, although playing blacks, went on the offensive with his pawns forming a pyramid in the center with Petrosian lying in wait to ensnare his opponent. The first wholesale exchange of pieces occurred on the 24th move, sparked by Petrosian. Both castled king side on the ninth move. Read More

• Hattiesburg American Hattiesburg, Mississippi Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 19 — Play-off Series: Fischer Favored Over Soviet in Adjourned Sixth Chess Game — Buenos Aires (AP) — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union resume their adjourned sixth game this afternoon, still tied in their 12-game series. When the game adjourned at 10 p.m. Sunday night, Fischer had completed his 41st move with the black pieces. When play resumes today he will win a pawn but it was not clear if he could win the game. Fischer and Petrosian played five hours Sunday night before adjourning. A small sulfuric acid stink bomb was thrown into the crowded San Martin Theater after the game had been underway for about an hour. Fischer and Petrosian apparently did not know anything had happend and continued to play. The bomber escaped and his motive was unknown. Fischer and Petrosian are battling to determine who will challenge the present world's champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. They are even so far with two and one-half points each. Fischer, 28, is believed to have the best chance in years to take the championship from the Russians who have held it for 23 years. He won the first game but Petrosian, 42, took the second. The last three ended in draws. The remaining games will be played Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays through Oct. 31 with six and one-half points required for victory. If they are tied 6-6 at the end of the regulation matches, they will go into sudden death single games in groups of four with a new draw for colors before each group. ★ Read More

• Calgary Herald Calgary, Alberta, Canada Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 6 — Chess Match Sixth Game Adjourned — Buenos Aires (CP) — The sixth chess match in the 12-game world semi-final series between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union was suspended Sunday night after 41 moves. The two grandmasters will resume play at 7 p.m. tonight. They drew the fifth game in the series three days ago and now have 2½ points each. The winner of the series will play world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in Moscow next spring. When the game adjourned at 10 p.m. Fischer with the blacks had completed his 41st move. When play resumes he will win a pawn but it was not clear whether he could go ahead and win the game. Petrosian, with the white, opened the queen's fianchetto game. This meant he was playing defensively, holding his center back and permitting the black a firmer center. Petrosian deliberately went into a backward defence although he had the white pieces, apparently to see if Fischer would overextend himself. Fischer won the first game and Petrosian the second. The last three ended in draws. Remaining games will be played Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays through October 31, with 6½ points required for victory. Read More

• The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Monday, October 18, 1971 - Page 31 — Fischer Ties Chess Series — Buenos Aires (AP)—Grand masters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union reached the half-way mark yesterday in their 12-game chess series with the score tied. They started the sixth game last night in downtown San Martin Theater, where the 1,000 available seats were filled. Petrosian, a former world champion, had the white pieces and the first move. Fischer and Petrosian, battling to determine who will challenge the present world's champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, are even so far with two and a half points each. Read More

October 19, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 50 — Fischer Is Victor In Buenos Aires: Petrosian Loses 6th Game in Chess After 66 Moves — Buenos Aires, Oct. 18—Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in 66 moves tonight to take a 3½-2½ lead in the chess match at the San Martin Theater. This was the second victory in the 12-game series for the 28-year-old American chess genius, against one defeat and three draws. The winner of the match will qualify to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the world champion, for the title next spring. The game, the sixth of the match, was adjourned after a five-hour session yesterday when 41 moves were made, three additional hours were needed today. At adjournment, Fischer had the advantage. He had forced the capture of a pawn, which he took on his 23d turn. At that stage, Fischer had a rook, bishop and five pawns opposed to Petrosian's rook, knight and four pawns. The bishop was ineffective, however, and Fischer's major task was to get his rook into better action. This was difficult as Petrosian, a former world champion, had set up a blockade in the center. He has no peer in defensive tactics, and was determined to hold the position. Fischer, who had spent the night analyzing the game, was ready with the answers. When Petrosian moved his rook to the seventh rank, Fischer was ready to cede one or two pawns to get his own rook behind Petrosian's pawns. Fischer succeeded on his 59th move. This established threats against the king and knight as well as the advance of the queen pawn. As a last resort, Petrosian sacrificed his knight for two pawns, hoping to exchange Fischer's remaining pawns for a possible drawn ending. Fischer easily foiled this idea, and proceeded with a direct mating attack. Petrosian resigned when he saw no defense. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 33 — Fischer Takes Chess Lead — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer of the United States won the sixth game of his challengers' chess match with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union Monday night. Fischer gained his victory after 66 moves and eight hours of play that saw Petrosian, former world champion, put up tremendous resistance. The victory gave Fischer a one-point lead in the 12-game series that will decide who will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next year for the title. Fischer now has 3½ points and Petrosian 2½ points. Three games ended in draws that gave each player a half point. A total of 6½ points is needed to win the match. Petrosian and Fischer opened play in their session, which was adjourned Sunday night after five hours of play and 41 moves, with Fischer, as expected, capturing one of his opponent's five remaining pawns. Petrosian was on the defense to try to prevent Fischer's black pieces from forcing through his extra pawn. At the point of adjournment Sunday, Fischer was attacking but from a relatively weak position with his bishop on the same color as his pawns. Petrosian, with the whites and first move, started with the queen's Fianchetto game but did not advance in the center of the board. Fischer dominated the central squares and attacked on both sides. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 42 — Fischer Wins and Takes Lead In Chess Duel by Robert Byrne — Buenos Aires, Oct. 18—America's Bobby Fischer defeated the Soviet Union's Tigran Petrosian here in the Teatro General San Martin tonight to take the lead in their match by 3½ to 2½ points. The winner of the 12-game series will be recognized as official challenger for Russian Boris Spassky's world title. Against Petrosian's careful Nimzovitch opening, Fischer shot his center pawns forward ambitiously, cramping the white queen's bishop. While he held the enemy minor pieces to inactivity, he got in the beginning of an outflanking maneuver on the queen's side with his 11th move. Then, still keeping Petrosian off balance, his 18.—P-KN3 envisaged a king-side attack by means of the advance of the king's bishop pawn. In response to this threat, Petrosian panicked, exchanging pawns on the following move, thus mobilizing black's queen side pawns for attack. Fischer did not keep him waiting, either, breaking into queen's flank territory by the positionally decisive 25. — P-B5. The series of exchanges, which unavoidably followed, gave Petrosian no relief, only revealing the power of Fischer's protected passed queen's pawn and the weakness of the white isolated rook pawn. There was still some speculation that Petrosian, an ex-world champion, might be able to set up a defensive knight blockade of his position when the game was adjourned last night at the 42d move. But Fischer returned tonight to play brilliantly in the second session, worming in with his king to stage a sharp finish. Petrosian's capture of the rook pawn on the 59th move was sheer desperation, but the seemingly plausible defense, 59. N-B1ch K-N7; 60. N-K2 would have been wiped out by — R-R6ch, 61. K-B4 P-Q6; 62. RxBch K-B7 when nothing can stop the pawn from queening. Game seven will be played tomorrow night. ★ · ★ Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 27 — World Chess Title — Bobby Fischer, the American chess genius, and Tigran Petrosian, the former world champion, are playing a match of 12 games to decide who will meet the present world champion, Boris Spassky (USSR), for the world title. The match is being played on neutral ground in Buenos Aires, and among chess players throughout the world interest is at fever pitch. The results of individual games are being published in the “Herald” together with a record of the moves. From these, chess players are able to following detail the game as played by the champions. The notation used is known as the English system. It is one of several codes used for recording moves and positions. For players unfamiliar with the system, here is a description which will allow them to follow the championship games. The chess board is set so that each player has a white square in the bottom right-hand corner. The lines of squares running horizontally across the board are known as ranks, and the lines running vertically, between the players, are known as files. Each file is named after the piece set there at the beginning of the game. Thus, the file where the queen's rook is set is known as the queen's rook file — and similarly with other pieces and files, as the diagram shows. The ranks, in turn, are numbered from 1 to 8, as illustrated. It is important to note that each player counts the ranks from his own side of the board. Consider now the opening moves in the sixth game of the current match. White (Petrosian) begins with N-KB3 — that is, he moves a knight out to the third square of the king's bishop file. Black (Fischer) replies with P-QB4 — that is, he moves a pawn to the fourth square of the queen's bishop file. This simply means moving the pawn forward two squares. When then plays P-QN3 — that is, he moves his queen's knights' pawn to the third square; in short, forward one. Black plays P-Q4 — he moves his queen's pawn forward two squares. And so the game continues. A capture is shown thus; BxB, meaning bishop takes bishop. You will find the full score on page 4 of the “Herald” today. There are a few abbreviations to be learned to make the code complete. They include: O-O, which means that a player castles on the king's side; O-O-O, which means that he castles on the queen's side. Ch is short for check; dis ch means discovered check; PxPep means pawn takes pawn en passant. Read More

• The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 20 — Fischer Takes Lead in Chess Play — Buenos Aires (AP)—U.S. Chess expert Bobby Fischer is leading by a score of three and a half to two and half in his match with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union after his victory in the sixth game Monday night. The game was the longest of the 12-game series to date, going to 66 moves and a total of eight hours before the former world's chess champion resigned. This was the second win for Fischer, who also scored in the opening game. Petrosian was the victor in the second game and three draws then followed. The game completed Monday had been played for five hours Sunday without a decision after 41 moves. Fischer had gained a practically decisive advantage during the first session Sunday. Petrosian succeeded in blocking Fischer's central pawn formation, making it very difficult to advance. Fischer finally forced the break-through and on his 59th move planted his rook on the eighth rank. Realizing that normal defense was no longer adequate, Petrosian gave up his knight for two pawns with the possibility of exchanging off Fischer's remaining pawns. That would have led to a draw. But a few moves later, faced with mating threats, Petrosian resigned. Read More

• Ukiah Daily Journal Ukiah, California Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 6 — Fischer Gains Chess Edge — Buenos Aires (UPI)—America's Bobby Fischer took a one-point advantage at the halfway mark of his chess candidate's elimination match against Tigran Petrosian beating the Russian in 67 moves in their sixth of 12 games. The seventh game was being held today. Fischer, 28, from New York City, overcame a tenacious endgame defense by Petrosian Monday night and forced him to resign. The game, played over two days, lasted seven hours and 50 minutes. The game, longest of the six played so far, was suspended on Sunday after 41 moves and resumed Monday afternoon. Winner of the series will play Russia's Boris Spassky, world champion, for the title next spring. For Fischer, the victory was the first since the opening game. It gave him a one-point advantage 3½ to 2½ for Petrosian. Petrosian won the second game and the next three ended in draws. Petrosian resigned in the face of a relentless combined attack by Fischer's bishop and a rook — working in conjunction with his king. After the 43rd move, when Fischer took a pawn advantage and patiently hammered it home, Petrosian put up a magnificent defense. But the tall, blond American finally managed to infiltrate his rook behind Petrosian's pawn defense and the checkmate was only a matter of moves when the Russian resigned. At the end, Fischer had two pawns, a rook and his bishop remaining. Petrosian had four pawns and a rook. A capacity crowd of 1,200 in the San Martin Theatre roared approval of the game when the two grandmasters stood up and shook hands. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 4 — Fischer Has Edge In Chess — Buenos Aires, Monday. — Chess fans fled as two stink bombs exploded during the sixth game of the 12-game world title semi-final between Bobby Fischer (US) and Tigran Petrosian (USSR) last night. The two grandmasters did not appear to notice the incident. They played on until the 41st move, when the game was adjourned until today, with Fischer holding virtually a one-pawn advantage — rook, bishop and five pawns, against rook, knight and five pawns, but with Petrosian's queen rook pawn hopelessly lost. “Fischer may win,” grandmaster Miguel Najdorf told AAP-Reuter. Read More

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 19 — Fischer Takes 6th in Chess Contest — Buenos Aires (AP)—Bobby Fischer of the United States won the sixth game of his 12-game chess series with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last night. Petrosian and Fischer opened play in their session, which was adjourned Sunday night after five hours of play and 41 moves, with Fischer capturing one of his opponent's five remaining pawns as expected. The game had adjourned with the 28-year-old American and the 42-year-old Russian nearly even in material. Fischer had a rook, bishop and five pawns and Petrosian a rook, knight and five pawns. Fischer attacked an exposed pawn and seized it on the 43rd move. Petrosian was on the defense to try and prevent Fischer's black pieces from forcing through the extra pawn. The winner of the series will meet world's champion Boris Spassky next spring in a battle for the title. Fischer now has two wins to Petrosian's one. Both have three draws. Wins count one point and draws a half point, with 6½ points needed for victory. If neither player can score a win within the 12-game match sudden-death single games will be played. At the point of adjournment Sunday, Fischer was attacking but from a relatively weak position with his bishop on the same color as his pawns. Petrosian, with the whites and first move, started with the queen's Fianchetto game but did not advance in the center of the board. Fischer dominated the central squares and attacked on both sides. In the 27th move, Fischer had a well-supported passed pawn in the center and Petrosian had a passed pawn also on the queen-rook file but it was exposed. Additional police were on duty at the San Martin theater to guard against further incidents like the stink bomb Sunday. A prankster tossed a sulfuric acid bomb into the rear of the crowded theater, forcing some spectators to leave for a few minutes. Fischer and Petrosian were unaware of the incident and continued to play. Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 26 — Fischer Has Edge In Delayed Match — Buenos Aires — (UPI) — Bobby Fischer of the United States and Russia's Tigran Petrosian adjourned their sixth game in the Candidate's chess play-off after 41 moves. Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany suspended the contest after 41 moves, with Petrosian's next move already in a sealed envelope. Each player — seeking the right to play world titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union — has accumulated 2½ points in the first five matches. Each has one game won and three draws. The tournament is scheduled to last 12 games and the first to accumulate 6½ points will meet Spassky for the crown next spring. The sixth game Sunday was the first to be adjourned since the match began. Fischer, of New York City, appeared to have a slight advantage over Petrosian, 42, the world champion from 1963 to 1969, with his pawns linked defensively and his king supporting the attack. The players were even on pieces when the match was called. Petrosian, playing white, had a rook, a knight, and five pawns. Fischer, 28, had a rook, a bishop and five pawns. Fischer appeared to be in a position to capture an isolated white pawn without Petrosian being able to prevent the loss. As Sunday's match started, some stink bombs were thrown in the downtown theater where they are being held. Both players ignored the smell and went ahead with play. Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 1 — Fischer On The Offensive by Leonard Barden — Bobby Fischer had winning chances when the sixth game of his world chess championship final eliminator was adjourned in Buenos Aires after 41 moves and five hours' play. Material was level with Fischer's king, rook, bishop, and five pawns against Petrosian's king, rook, knight and five pawns, but in the unfinished position Fischer was about to win a pawn. The game was a contrast in styles. Petrosian believes in waiting tactics, hoping that the opponent will overreach, while Fischer follows the classical strategy of controlling the center of the board with pawns and pieces. Petrosian's plan won him the decisive game in his quarter-final match against Victor Korchnoi, but Fischer's more active play gave him the initiative throughout the first session of the sixth game. Fischer has tempered his notorious concern for perfect playing conditions and is clearly absorbed in the match to the exclusion of all else. After a light failure in the first match game (which Fischer won), two stink bombs were tossed into the auditorium after the ninth move of the sixth game, but Fischer did not even notice. Read More

• Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fort Worth, Texas Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 7 — Fischer Beats Petrosian — Bobby Fischer of the United States beat Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union Monday in the sixth of their 12-game world chess semi-final in Buenos Aires. The victory gave him 3½ points in the series — one more than Petrosian. ★ · ★ · ★

• Independent Long Beach, California Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 2 — Check — Bobby Fischer of the United States took a one-point lead over Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union at the halfway point of the final chess elimination match Monday when the Russian surrendered on the 67th move. The game, suspended Sunday night on the 42nd move, was the longest of the six contests played thus far and gave Fischer three and one-half points to Petrosian's two and one-half. Winner of the tournament in Buenos Aires, scheduled for 12 games, will challenge world champion Boris Spassky of Russia for the crown. ★ Read More

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Tuesday, October 19, 1971 - Page 11 — Fischer Takes Chess Lead Over Red Master — Buenos Aires (Reuter) Bobby Fischer of the United States Monday night beat Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in the sixth of their 12-game world chess semi-final. The U.S. grandmaster's victory gave him three and a half points in the series — one point more than Petrosian. The winner of the contest will play current world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in Moscow next spring. Read More

October 20, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 39 — Fischer Is Victor 2d Straight Time — Buenos Aires, Oct. 19—Bobby Fischer of the United States scored his second victory in succession today when he outplayed Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in the seventh game of their match in the San Martin Theater. Fischer leads, 4½-2½, and is heavily favored to win the match. The first player to reach 6½ points—a point is scored for a victory and half a point for a draw—wins the match and the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the world champion, in a title match next year. Petrosian used the Sicilian Defense, as he had in the first game. He varied on the fourth move, leading into a variation that Fischer has favored with the white pieces. After two pawns were exchanged, Petrosian had isolated pawns that caused problems for him throughout the game. Fischer's continuing threats against these pawns were the dominant feature of the middle game and ending. Petrosian tried to create complications by sacrifices at two early points. The first was with 12. … Q-Q2; had Fischer played 13. B-QN5, the moves 13. … PxB; 14. QxR, O-O might have followed. Fischer would have gained a rook for a bishop, but at a serious loss of time with his queen, which would have been in danger of being trapped. The second chance was after 15. … O-O. Here the reply 16. N-N6 could have led to 16. … QR-N1, 17. BxP N-N5. This would have netted a pawn for Fischer, but with ample counter play for Petrosian. On both occasions Fischer turned down the offers in favor of continuing his development and increasing the pressure on the weak points. The patient and accurate play paid off. Fischer increased his advantage when he exchanged his knight for the black bishop. On his 24th move, Fischer established a rook on the seventh rank. Realizing his growing problems, Petrosian tried to play on the king side, but his led nowhere. When Fischer planted his second rook on the seventh, the game was about over. Petrosian recognized the hopelessness of his situation and resigned on the 34th move. The eighth game will be played on Thursday, and following games will be on Sunday and Tuesday. Read More

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 37 — Championing Chess — Bob Considine, a hearty old athletics supporter, passed a couple of sarcastic remarks the other day about our hero, Bobby Fischer, the chess virtuoso. Robert let it be known he was less than thrilled that Bobby had sacrificed a rook for a bishop in order to launch a furious attack on Petrosian's king's side. “Ho hum,” he said. Or words to that effect. He did have the grace to admit he didn't know what he was talking about, however, so I have desisted from cancelling my subscription to the paper. Considine is on probation. It is the earnest hop of all of us coffee house chess players that in the meantime he will learn the rudiments of the game. It is a curiosity, especially to old jockos, that chess is physically demanding, as well as requiring unique mental attributes, when you are competing at Fischer's level. At long last Fischer is going for World Champeen, as they say in Considine's circles. He'll never make it unless he maintains the physique of a top tennis star, the nerves of a race driver, and of course a fully functional set of brains…
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• The Californian Salinas, California Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 31 — Fischer Increases Chess Lead — Buenos Aires (UPI)—America's Bobby Fischer appeared well on the way today to challenging the stranglehold Russian grandmasters have held in the world chess championship for nearly a quarter century. The 28 year old New Yorker won for the second day in a row Tuesday, forcing former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union to resign on the 34th move. It was the seventh of a scheduled 12-match series, with Fischer now well in the lead with 4-1-2 points to Petrosian's 2-1-2. With 6-1-2 points needed to win, Fischer's lead was considered to be almost insurmountable. The winner of the series earns the right to challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. The world crown has been in Russian hands since 1948 when it was won by Mikhail Botvinnik. Petrosian held the title from 1963 to 1969, when he lost to Spassky. Fischer, U.S. champion at 14 and the youngest international grandmaster at 15, now has won three games. Petrosian, 42, has one victory. Three of the matches ended in draws. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 42 — Fischer Increases Chess Match Lead — Buenos Aires (CP)— U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeated Soviet Union grandmaster Tigran Petrosian Tuesday night for his second straight win in their world chess challengers' final match. Petrosian resigned on the 34th move after nearly four hours of play. The game was in Fischer's favor all the way through but not by a large margin. At the end he was able to get both his rooks on the seventh rank and start a mating attack. Petrosian had no defence. The victory gave Fischer a commanding lead in the 12-game match. He now has 4½ points to 2½ points for Petrosian. The first player to reach 6½ points wins the right to play world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. Wins counts for one point and draws one-half. Fischer now has won three games and Petrosian one while the other three ended in draws. The 28-year-old American had won the sixth game, but it took eight hours, 66 moves and two sessions — played Sunday and Monday nights in the San Martin Theatre. This gave him a psychological edge on his 42-year-old opponent and he also had the white pieces which entitled him to the first move. Fischer had the better position from the opening, which was a Sicilian defense chosen by Petrosian. The latter varied on the fourth move from his play in the first match game. Petrosian allowed his pawns to be weakened and suffered from this disability throughout the game. Trying for a counter-play, Petrosian allowed one of Fischer's rooks to enter the seventh rank. A few moves later, Fischer's second rook also advanced to the seventh, establishing mating threats. Petrosian's pieces were not coordinated and he had no defense when he resigned. The eighth game will be played Thursday. Read More

• The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 24 — Fischer Ups Chess Lead Over Russian — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Russia's Tigran Petrosian for the second consecutive time Tuesday to take an almost insurmountable two point lead in their candidate's chess playoff. Petrosian gave up at the 34th move in the face of an attack by Fischer's two rooks and a bishop. The victory, coming on the heels of Monday's triumph, gave Fischer 4½ points to 2½ for Petrosian. Winner of the tournament will challenge Russia's current world champion, Boris Spassky, for the title. Fischer, playing whites, still had four pawns, his two rooks, and a bishop. Petrosian had one more pawn than Fischer, his rooks and a knight. However, Fischer had placed his two rooks on Petrosian's second rank wit the Russian's king resting on its original position. The game, seventh in a series of 12, was characterized by a strong attack by Fischer throughout and began with a violent exchange of pieces early in the opening phase of the game. Read More

• Daily World Opelousas, Louisiana Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 22 — Fischer Leads World Championship Match — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer of the United States outplayed former world chess champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union Tuesday night to win the seventh game of their match in 34 moves at the San Martin theater. It was Fischer's second win in succession and his third in the 12-game match against one defeat. Three of the games resulted in draws. Leading now by 4½ points to 2½, Fischer was strongly favored to clinch the match. He needs a total of 6½ points, with victories counting one point and draws a half point. The game was a classic example of how a chess grandmaster, after attaining a seeming minor advantage, can gradually extend it, gain additional space or material, and finally score the full point. The opening was a Sicilian defense, played by Petrosian with the black pieces. He varied on his fourth move from his play in the first game. The variation actually chosen has been played by Fischer on previous occasions, which Petrosian must have known. It has generally favored the whites player. If Petrosian had something new in mind, he did not show it. After several center pawns were exchanged he left two isolated pawns which needed constant protection. Fischer, meanwhile, gradually improved the position of his pieces while Petrosian's men had to remain on the defensive. The first break-through came when Fischer moved one of his rooks to the seventh rank, hampering Petrosian's forces. Trying for a demonstration on the king's side, Petrosian advanced the pawns in front of his king but this only hastened the end. When Fischer later moved his second rook to the seventh, in coordination with its mate, the black king was in danger for the first time. Petrosian had relied on his knight for defense, but smart tactics by Fischer forced a quick finish. The Knight took a pawn, but could not return safely, nor could Petrosian find any other resource and he resigned. The eighth game will start Thursday afternoon and others following on Sunday and Tuesday. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 219 — Fischer Wins Again, Widens Chess Margin — Buenos Aires, Oct. 19 (AP)— U.S. Grand Master Bobby Fischer scored his second victory in a row tonight, winning the seventh game in a 12-game chess tournament against former world's champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Petrosian resigned on the 34th move after nearly four hours of play. The game was in Fischer's favor all the way but not by a large margin. At the end he was able to get both his rooks on the seventh rank and start a mating. Fischer now has won three games and Petrosian one. The other three ended in draws. With a win counting one point and a draw ½ point, Fischer now has 4½ points to Petrosian's 2½. To win the tournament, 6½ points are needed. The winner will play world champion Boris Spassky of Russia next spring for the title. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 5 — Fischer Takes Lead in Chess — Buenos Aires, Tuesday. — Bobby Fischer (US) recaptured the lead in the 12-game world chess semi-final when he beat Tigran Petrosian (USSR) last night in their resumed sixth game. The American Grand master's victory put him ahead 3½-2½ — two wins to one, with three draws. The game had adjourned on Sunday with Fischer, the 28-year-old New Yorker, about to win a pawn in a tricky end-game. After the resumption, Petrosian, 42, a former world champion, sacrificed a knight at move 60 for two pawns, but resigned six moves later when faced with checkmate or further loss of material. The seventh game of the match will be played today. Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 14 — Fischer Stops Petrosian Again — Reuter —Buenos Aires—Bobby Fischer of the United States won the seventh game of his 12-game chess match against Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last night when Petrosian resigned on the 34th move. The victory gave Fischer a two-point lead in the match to decide which of the two will challenge Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world chess championship next year. Fischer now has won three games, Petrosian one, and there have been three draws for a score of 4½-2½. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 282 — Fischer Wins Again, Widens Chess Margin by Robert Byrne —Buenos Aires, Oct. 19—Bobby Fischer ripped through Tigran Petrosian's Sicilian defense for his second straight victory and a two-point lead in their match tonight in the Teatro General San Martin. Fischer now has 4½ points and needs only two points more to take the 12-game tournament and assure himself of the chance to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world chess championship. The brilliant 28-year-old American, following one of his favorite stratagems, isolated Petrosian's queen's pawn and penetrated on both adjacent files with his rooks. Refusing to be sidetracked by the lure of winning the exchange by 13. B-QN5 PxB, QxR O-O, which would have yielded attacking chances to the wily Soviet grandmaster. Fischer meticulously tied the enemy forces down to the onerous defense of the weak queen's and queen's rook pawns.
  Brings Up His King By advancing his king at the 28th move, he threatened to grab Petrosian's loose king's rook pawn, thus forcing—P-B4, which meant a horrendous weakening of both the sixth and seventh ranks. Having accomplished that, he at once turned his attention to the queen's pawn, bringing up his king at the 29th move. The choice facing Petrosian was grim. He knew the pressure would be impossible if the king were to reach the Q4 square. So he advanced his center pawn. That was all Bobby needed. Taking the seventh rank with both rooks, backed up by his powerful bishop raking the white squares, he ended all resistance, quickly setting up the mating net Petrosian found himself in at the 34th move. Game eight is scheduled for Thursday night. Read More

• Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 2 — The Pawnbrokers — America is narrowing the Chess Gap. Since 1948, the world chess crown has been on a Red head. A reading of the list of recent chess kings sounds like a page from a Russian novel . . . Botvinnik, Petrosian, Spassky . . . But now America may be able to make the great leap forward off of the red square. Bobby Fischer, onetime U.S. boy wonder of the board room is in the process of beating the babushka off Russian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires. The 28-year-old New Yorker now holds an almost insurmountable lead in the 12-match series whose winner will cross pawns with world champ Boris Spassky. Go, Bobby, go! Read More

• The Leader-Post Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 19 — Kosygin's Daughter Visits University — During the supper, Premiere Kosygin asked to know the results of a chess game between U.S. Grand Master Bobby Fischer and former world's champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Fischer won the seventh game of a 12-game tournament. Read More

• Times Colonist Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 37 — Now Fischer Can Coast — Buenos Aires — With two wins in a row Bobby Fischer is within two points of victory in his tussle with Tigran Petrosian for the right to meet world chess champion Boris Spassky next spring. Fischer won his match against Petrosian Tuesday night in convincing style. He can now coast to victory in the tournament by playing for draws in the remaining games to get him the required 6½ points. Fischer now has 4½ points to Petrosian's 2½. A win scores a point, a draw half a point. Of course there is no indication he will take this safe course. Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 2 — Fischer Takes The Lead by Leonard Barden — Bobby Fischer (United States) took a one-point lead in the world chess championship final eliminator in Buenos Aires when his Russian opponent, Tigran Petrosian, resigned on move 67. Fischer played the ending with impeccable technique as his rook penetrated the heart of Petrosian's position. At the end Petrosian gave up when Fischer's king, rook, and bishop combined in a checkmating attack on Petrosian's king. This could well prove the decisive encounter in a tight match. Fischer's lead of 3½-2½ with only six games left may force Petrosian to abandon his tortoise-like defensive style and opt for a more open game. The unfinished position was: White (Petrosian, to move) king at Q3, rook at QR2, knight at KN1, pawns at QR6, K4, KB2, KN4 and KR2, bishop at QB6, pawns at Q5, K4, KB3, KN4 and KR2. Read More

October 21, 1971

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Thursday, October 21, 1971 - Page 23 — World Title Chess Playoff Is Postponed Until Sunday — Buenos Aires (UPI)— The eighth game of the Candidate's World Championship chess playoff between America's Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, scheduled for today, was postponed until Sunday because Petrosian was suffering from a stomach ache. Fischer holds a solid two-point lead in the 12-game tournament, with the winner to meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring. Dr. Cecilio Skliar, official physician of the tournament said Petrosian “needed some rest.” He said the Russian was suffering from “stomach pains.” Fischer, a 28-year-old New Yorker, has won three games, while Petrosian has won one. The other three have been tied. Read More

• The Crowley Post Herald Crowley, Louisiana Thursday, October 21, 1971 - Page 10 — Russian Chess Master Suffers Frayed Nerves — Buenos Aires (AP) — The eighth game of the final chess match between grand masters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union has been postponed until Sunday. Officials of the Argentine Chess Federation said they made the decision on the basis of medical advice that Petrosian was suffering from nervous exhaustion and was in no condition to play Thursday. Petrosian, who has lost the last two games, was examined by Dr. Cecilio Skliar, the chess federation's physician. The conditions of the match state that each contestant can request up to three postponements for reasons of health. Fischer leads in the match 4½ points to 2½. The winner gains the right to play the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, for the title. Read More

• Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Thursday, October 21, 1971 - Page 2 — Chess Playoffs Resume Today — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union meet again today in the eighth game of the final candidate's world championship chess elimination playoff. Petrosian, former world chess champion, will play white and is expected to go all out to try to halt Fischer's rush to win the series. Fischer, 28-year-old native of Brooklyn, N.Y., has won three games to the Russian's one and has drawn three times to take an almost decisive two-point lead after seven games. Winner of the 12-game match, which can end when one player reaches 6½ points, will play Russian world champion Boris Spassky for the title next spring. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, October 21, 1971 - Page 44 — Chess: In 5th Game at Buenos Aires Ancient Strategies Employed by Al Horowitz — Bobby Fischer is off on another streak. The American star, who posted his 20th straight victory in the opener of his present 12-game series against Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union has gone unbeaten after dropping the second contest. Fischer played three straight draws with the Soviet ace, then defeated Petrosian, a former world champion, in the last two games at Buenos Aires. As a result, Fischer holds a 4½-2½-point lead in the competition to determine a challenger for the world title held by Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The eighth game, scheduled for tonight, was postponed until Sunday because Petrosian was suffering from nervous exhaustion. In the fifth game, Petrosian employed the Petroff Defense, whose origin and background dates to before 1850, but was closely investigated by two Russian masters, Petroff and Jaenisch, before them. Two American grandmasters, Harry Nelson Pillsbury and Frank J. Marshall, contributed substantially to the knowledge of this debut. From the standpoint of strategy, Black's 2. … N-KB3, a median counteraction may seem premature. Yet, no refutation appears when Black does not exaggerate his aggressive attitude.
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October 22, 1971

• The Province Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 45 — Fischer Overcomes Stubborn Defense — Although former world champion Tigran Petrosian's defensive prowess was generally recognized before the start of his current battle against U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer, few chess followers expected him to trip up the adventuresome Fischer. Fischer entered the world championship elimination final with an historic 20-0 record, having dumped grandmaster after grandmaster in elimination play. Petrosian, on the other hand, had barely made it into the Buenos Aires, Argentina, final by defeating fellow Soviet grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi 5½ to ?½. The two had drawn their first nine games in a row and it was only the last game that Petrosian won.
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• The Province Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 45 — Chess by Al Horowitz — Bobby Fischer once described the kind of scheme White adopted in this game as “P-KR4-5, sac, sac, mate!” ★

• The Sedalia Democrat Sedalia, Missouri Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 6 — Personal Slants by Doug Kneibert — Bobby Fischer's impressive chess victories over Tigran Petrosian of Russia in the current tournament play in Buenos Aires have brought out the latent chess master in me. So I challenged my 12-year-old son to a game the other night …

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 54 — Fischer-Petrosian 8th Game Postponed —NY Times News Service — Buenos Aires, Oct. 21—The eighth game of the chess match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, scheduled for tonight in Buenos Aires, was postponed to Sunday at 5 p.m. Petrosian asked for the postponement. He said he felt exhausted after suffering his second straight defeat at the hands of Fischer on Tuesday night. The previous game had started on Sunday and continued Monday for a total of eight hours over the board. In addition, Petrosian had spent many hours in analysis of the adjourned position.
  Examined By Physician Petrosian was examined late Wednesday by Dr. Cecilio Skliar, the official physician of the Argentine Chess Federation. Dr. Skliar said that the 48-year-old ex-world champion was suffering from low blood circulation, and ordered him to rest for at least 48 hours. Curiously, each of Fischer's previous match opponents had postponed a game in similar circumstances. Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union asked for time off after losing three straight games in Vancouver last May. The reason given was high blood pressure. Bent Larsen of Denmark also was diagnosed as having high blood pressure after Fischer had won four games in a row in Denver in July.
  Wins Both Matches The rest was of benefit to both players as far as the chess proceedings were concerned. Fischer continued his devastating tactics to score a perfect 6-0 in each match. Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam, former world chess champion and president of the International Chess Federation, arrived in Buenos Aires Thursday afternoon to observe the match. A reception in his honor was held in the evening in the home of grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, champion of Argentina for many years. Fischer was present, as were many of the Argentine chess officials and visiting chess dignitaries from many other countries. Read More

• Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 60 — 8th Chess Game Postponed — Buenos Aires (AP) — The chess game scheduled Thursday afternoon between Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and Bobby Fischer of the United States has been postponed until Sunday because of Petrosian's exhausted condition. The Argentine Chess Federation said a doctor examined the 42-year-old Soviet grandmaster and said he should rest for at least 48 hours. It would have been the eighth game in the 12-game match to decide who will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the title. Fischer, 28, has won three games, including the last two, while Petrosian has only one victory. The other three games ended in draws. Fischer's victories in the last two games left Petrosian visibly depressed and gave the American a commanding lead of four and a half points to two and a half. A total of six and a half points are needed to win the match, with a win counting one point and draws a half point each. The games had been scheduled for Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 31, but the postponement of the eighth game could now extend the match to Tuesday, Nov. 2. Fischer, in an interview some time ago, was asked by a Soviet Journalist to comment on a report that as a youngster he used to cry after a defeat. “That is not true,” replied Fischer. “But one thing I can say. When a Russian loses, he does not cry. He gets sick.” Read More

• The Crowley Post Herald Crowley, Louisiana Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 8 — Fischer Strategy Makes Russian Chessmen Sick After Eight Games — Buenos Aires (AP)—The chess game scheduled Thursday afternoon between Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and Bobby Fischer of the United States has been postponed until Sunday because of Petrosian's exhausted condition. The Argentine Chess Federation said a Doctor examined the 42-year-old Soviet grand master and said he should rest for at least 48 hours. It would have been the eighth game in the 12-game match to decide who will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the title. Fischer, 28, has won three games, including the last two, while Petrosian has only one victory. The other three games ended in draws. Fischer's victories in the last two games left Petrosian visibly depressed and gave the American a commanding lead of four and a half. A total of six and a half points are needed to win the match, with a win counting one point and draws a half point each. The games had been scheduled for Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursday through Oct. 31, but the postponement of the eighth game could now extend the match to Tuesday, Nov. 2. The postponement was no novelty for the brilliant young American. Each of Fischer's previous opponents in the current series of matches had postponed a game after several defeats. Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union had lost three games in a row to Fischer in Vancouver lat May when he asked for time off. He was examined by a physician who stated he had high blood pressure. The identical symptom was detected in Bent Larsen of Denmark after losing four games in succession in Denver in July. In each case, Fischer moved right ahead after the postponement, ending each engagement with a perfect 6-0 score, part of his fantastic winning streak which finally reached 20 straight games. Fischer, in an interview some time ago, was asked by a Soviet journalist to comment on a report that as a youngster he used to cry after a defeat. “That is not true,” replied Fischer. “But one thing I can say. When a Russian loses, he does not cry. He gets sick.” Read More

• The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 4 — Checkmate — If there is one thing the Russians are really good at, it's chess. They've dominated international tournaments in this most intellectually challenging of games since World War II. American has had its grand masters, but compared with Russians they have been something less than grand. Until Bobby Fischer, the chess genius from Brooklyn, entered the scene, that is. “Genius” is a word took often and too easily tossed around. Not in Fischer's case. A young man, he has already built up a reputation as one of the outstanding players in the history of the game. Now Fischer has taken a commanding lead over Russia's great Tigran Petrosian in a play-off series. Hooray for our side. We may not be much at Ping Pong in China, but it looks as if we are about to checkmate the Russians in Chess. Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 2 — Chess Match Is Postponed — Buenos Aires (Reuter)—The Soviet chess grand master, Tigran Petrosian, was recommended to rest by doctors yesterday and the eighth game of his world championship elimination series against Bobby Fischer of the United States was postponed from last night to Sunday. After Mr. Petrosian complained of stomach pains Wednesday, he was examined by doctors, including the official match physician, Cecilio Skliar, who advised him to rest. Mr. Petrosian trails by two points 2½ to 4½, to Mr. Fischer in their 12-game series to decide who will challenge Boris Spassky, also of the Soviet Union, for the world title next spring. ★ · ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 23 — Notes on People — Ticket-scalping for a chess match? Yes, when the players are Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, who is a former world champion. In Buenos Aires, where the two are pitted against each other in a 12-game match, whose winner will compete for the world championship next spring, tickets to each game have been rationed at two to a customer. But minutes after they're sold, they are being resold at almost double the official price of three pesos (60 cents). ★ Read More

October 23, 1971

• Statesman Journal Salem, Oregon Saturday, October 23, 1971 - Page 4 — Fischer Grows Up — For 15 years or more, Bobby Fischer has been the “child prodigy” of chess, a lonely boy huddled over a chess table opposite gray haired men. Fischer is a Brooklyn-born genius with an ego to match his capabilities. He went through an “adolescent” period for a number of years during which he would abruptly leave in mid-tournament if he felt offended in any way. But in the last year or so, he has settled down, concentrating his great talent and daring style of play on proving he is the champion he believes himself to be. Currently, he holds an unassailable lead over Tigran Petrosian in the “semi-finals” of the world championship of chess. A win sends him against World Champion Boris Spassky. Russia dominates chess. Russians have held the world crown for 25 years. For an American to win the title would be comparable to a Russian baseball team winning the world series. But a determined, lonely American named Bobby Fischer just might do it. Read More

• Star-Phoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Saturday, October 23, 1971 - Page 25 — Fischer Leads Petrosian after seven games in a 12-game world match, Fischer leads Petrosian by a 4½ to 2½ point score. With only five games remaining, Petrosian will certainly be hard pressed to equalize against a player of Fischer's calibre, but of course the match is not won (or lost) yet. Of the remaining five games Petrosian will have the white pieces three times against Fischer's two. Regardless of the final outcome Petrosian has certainly put up a firm defense against his opponent and has broken Fischer's long winning streak. Prior to meeting Petrosian, Fischer won 20 games without giving up even a draw, but so far in the present match he has given up one loss and three draws. Read More

October 24, 1971

• The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Sunday, October 24, 1971 - Page 97 — World Chess Duel -- Tensions in the Hush — Buenos Aires (AP) — The battle lines are drawn, lights flood the stage and the hum of the audience dies until the auditorium is in muffled silence. Two opponents advance, seat themselves at a small table, exchange courtesies, and then attack in a joust once reserved for royalty. It has the excitement of a Broadway opening and the drama of a duel, but its chess. Read More

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, October 24, 1971 - Page 86 — The Chessboard: Fischer Loses in Gruenfeld — In the second game of his candidates' match against Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, United States Grandmaster Bobby Fischer set up his favorite defense — the Gruenfeld — to the Russian's 1. P-Q4, but at a critical point failed to find the best continuation and lost in 32 moves. The line selected by Fischer has Black giving up a pawn—in effect making gambit of the Gruenfeld—with promising attacking chances. Fischer has played the defense with good results over the years, but in this case he allowed a simplification that turned quickly to White's advantage. Petrosian's victory in this game evened the score of the match at 1-1.
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 24, 1971 - Page 134 — Fischer Wins Two In Petrosian Match — Winning the sixth and seventh games in succession, U.S. chess ace Bobby Fischer took a commanding lead of 4½ to 2½ in his match with former world chess champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Fischer clearly outplayed his rival in both games, showing for the first time in the match the devastating force and accuracy that had previously given him a record 20 straight victories. The fifth game had been drawn, leaving the score even. At this stage, however, it seems virtually certain that Fischer will clinch the match within the 12 games scheduled. He needs a total of 6½ points. The fifth game was a disappointment to Fischer's adherents. The 28-year-old American had the better of the opening, and seemed to be making progress when he established a passed pawn. Petrosian was well prepared for the maneuver, however, and soon showed that the pawn was vulnerable. After some exchanges, the game simplified into an even ending, with no prospects for either side. This was the third draw in succession, and it seemed that Petrosian was in control of the match. In previous encounters the Armenian had also drawn most of his games, waiting for the chance to score one big point.
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• The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Sunday, October 24, 1971 - Page 40 — Reporter Checkmated: Tournament Chess (Check) By the Book... The End — After reading a dozen books in 10 days and memorizing some secrets (“Play Like Nimzovich!”) I sat down Saturday for round 1 of the Southeastern Intercollegiate Chess Tournament at George Tech. Forty-two students from the Southeast gathered in one room amid time clocks, chess pieces and copies of the Chess Review. Before their own games got started there was much talk about the playoffs for the world championship in Argentina. “Bobby Fischer's IQ is 184!” one student said.
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• Daily News New York, New York Sunday, October 24, 1971 - Page 203 — Block That Rook! — Question: Who is the world's most famous chess tournament physician? Answer: Dr. Cecilio Skliar. Don't feel too bad if you missed that one. Even in the somewhat sparsely populated chess world, there were few fans who even suspected that the tournament now under way in Buenos Aires might have medical problems, much less a doctor standing by to cope with them. But last Wednesday, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union complained of nervous exhaustion and up popped Dr. Skliar to officially verify the complaint, thus delaying Thursday's scheduled game until today. Besides nerves, Tigran—or Tiger as he's known to his friends—is suffering from a losing streak: 2½ points to 4½ for Bobby Fischer of the United States. Winner of the Argentine playoff earns the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world championship. And for that biggie, who knows what will emerge on the sidelines? More doctors? Water boys? How about cheerleaders? Block that rook! Block that rook! —E.G.K. Read More

October 25, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 36 — 3D Victory In Row Scored By Fischer — He Leads Petrosian by 3 in World Chess Playoff — Buenos Aires, Oct. 24—Bobby Fischer of the United States on for the third time in succession tonight, scoring in 40 moves in the eighth game of his match with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. With the score now 5½-2½, Fischer is almost certain to win the match, being played in the Teatro San Martin, and the right to challenge Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title next spring. Four more games are scheduled, with a total of 6½ points required for victory or two draws to achieve his goal.
  Back in Form After a shaky start, Fischer is evidently back in the amazing form he displayed for months when he was mowing down his opponents in a streak that reached 20 straight victories in match and tournament play. [Soviet Grand Master Yuri Averbach, one of Petrosian's analysts for the match, admitted that the series was now practically over, according to Reuters. “In fact, Petrosian's spirit was broken after his defeat last Tuesday. You can't play chess when you are over 40 [Petrosian is 42 years old.] Spassky, a younger man with solid spirit, will perform better against Fischer,” he said.]
  The opening tonight was the Queen's Gambit Declined. Fischer used the variation recommended by Tarrasch of Germany more than 60 years ago. It still leads to relatively even play. Petrosian had the normal slight advantage of the first move, and for a time Fischer's queen bishop was locked in. When he finally developed it, the game was equalized. It was up to Petrosian to make progress, in view of his deficit in the match, rather than proceed with his development, which could have led to gradual exchanges and, probably, a draw. He started an advance on the king side with 18. P-KB4. This gave Fischer chances as well, and he quickly opened lines on the queen side for counterplay. After 20. … P-N5, the black pieces became very active.
  Move Misfires Petrosian's 22. P-Q5 turned out badly when his white bishop was attacked and forced back. He decided to give up a pawn to maintain some attacking chances. Fischer quickly proved that the sacrifice was in vain. He forced the exchange of the second set of bishops, leaving only the queens and rooks on the board. The extra pawn, passed and in the center, now became a major weapon. When it advanced to the sixth rank, Petrosian was completely on the defensive. Fischer then had many methods of winning. He chose to go after white king, after forcing the pawns on that side to move forward. When the attack erupted in force, Petrosian had no defense. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 30 — Petrosian's Indisposition Common to Fischer Rivals by Al Horowitz — There is something about Bobby Fischer's winning ways that makes his opponents sick. The “nervous exhaustion” suffered by Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last week that interrupted the original schedule of his match with Fischer for the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union marked the third straight time that one of the American's rivals in the eliminations had been taken ill. Dr. Cecilio Skliar, the official physician of the Argentine Chess Federation, disclosed that the 48-year-old Petrosian was suffering from low blood circulation after having dropped his second straight game in the 12-game series to Fischer. In the opening of the eliminations, Fischer found another Soviet opponent, Mark Taimanov, suffering from similar troubles after losing the first three matches of a 6-0 rout at Vancouver in May. The American's next 6-0 victim, Bent Larsen of Denmark, didn't become exhausted until he had lost four in a row at Denver.
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• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 8 — U.S. Chess King Opens Big Lead — Buenos Aires — (UPI) — Chess master Bobby Fischer of the United States moved closer to clinching the final candidate's match Sunday by defeating former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union for the third consecutive time. Petrosian conceded the game, the eighth played so far in the match, on the 41st move. The victory, the fourth in eighth games, gave the American a lead of 5½ points to 2½ for Petrosian, with 6½ needed to win the match. Winner of the match, scheduled for 12 games, will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title next spring. Fischer needs only one more victory or two draws to clinch the match. Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 3 — Fischer Win Leaves Only Point To Go — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer, of the United States, defeated Tigran Petrosian, of the Soviet Union, last night in their eighth chess game, giving the American a virtually insurmountable lead in the 12-game series. Mr. Fischer now has won four games, including the last three, and Mr. Petrosian only one. The victory gives Mr. Fischer 5½ points to Mr. Petrosian's 2½, with 6½ points needed to win the tournament. The victor will meet the world champion, Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union, next spring for the title. Read More

• The York Dispatch York, Pennsylvania Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 1 — Fischer Chess Hero: Virtually Assured Chance at World Championship — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Playing brilliant chess, America's Bobby Fischer virtually assured himself of a chance at the world championship by defeating former titleholder Tigran Petrosian in the eighth game of their candidate's match. Fischer, 28, forced the 42-year-old Russian into concession at the 41st move and took a 5-1-2 to 2-1-2 point lead after eight games. He needs 6½ points—one more win or two draws—to beat Petrosian and earn the right to meet current world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. The ninth game is scheduled Tuesday. The match originally was scheduled for 12 games but can end when one player amasses 6½ points. Fischer, playing black, turned a variated Tarrasch defense into a vigorous attack after the middle exchanges. Petrosian, world champion from 1963 until 1969 when Spassky won the title from him, was practically helpless in the face of black's attack. The American-born Russian was not able to launch a single attack at his opponent's king during the entire game. Petrosian finally resigned with the American's queen and rook bearing down on his king, which was being defended by similar pieces. Fischer, who has played flawless chess the last three games, had Petrosian in an indefensible position and mate was a matter of time. At the end, Fischer had four pawns in addition to his queen and rook, one in a position to eventually promote. Petrosian had his queen, a rook and three pawns left. Petrosian left the theatre looking downcast. Fischer smiled at the ovation given him by the crowd. Read More

• El Paso Times El Paso, Texas Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 17 — Bobby Fischer Defeats Russian In Eighth Game — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union Sunday night in their eighth chess game, giving the American a virtually insurmountable lead in the 12-game series. Fischer now has won four games, including the last three, and Petrosian only one. The victory gives Fischer 5½ points to Petrosian's 2½, with 6½ points needed to win the tournament. The victor will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the title. Petrosian resigned after the 40th move when Fischer mounted a strong mating attack. The critical point came when on the 24th point when Petrosian gave up a pawn to go on the attack. Fischer rebuffed the attack and had a strong passed pawn ahead. With final tactical thrusts he pushed the pawn forward and created the mating threat. The 28-year-old American appeared to be back in the form that gave him 20 straight victories until he was defeated by Petrosian in the second game of this series. He now needs only one point in the remaining four games still scheduled. A victory counts one point and a draw a half point. Match victory could come for the American in the ninth game this Tuesday, when Fischer will have the whites and first move advantage. If it does not, succeeding games will be on Thursday and Sunday. ★ Read More

• Corvallis Gazette-Times Corvallis, Oregon Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 14 — Fischer Leading Russian In Important Chess Match — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer of the United States won another impressive victory last night with 40 moves to capture the eighth game of his 12-game match with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. For the third time in a row, Fischer outplayed his opponent and now leads by a score of 5½ points to 2½. The 28-year-old American has won four games and lost one. Three ended in draws, with draws counting a half point and victories a full point. Needing one more point to take the match, he is considered almost certain to clinch it this week. Games are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at the San Martin Theatre. The cash prizes in the tournament are $7,500 to the winners and $4,500 to the loser, but the major incentive is the chance to challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. That title match is set for next spring. Should Fischer be the challenger, it would be the first time since 1949 that a non-Russian has gotten that far. No American has been world chess champion since the title was first recognized in the 1880's. The eight game started with the Tarrasch defense to the Queen's Gambit. Fischer rarely adopts this line as it generally leads to relatively even positions. In view of the score and the fact that he had the black pieces, Fischer may have started out with the idea that a draw would be to his advantage. At any rate he was quite content to gain equality. Fischer achieved this on his 15th move when the late minor piece was developed on a good line. The players might then have gradually exchanged off the men with a peaceful outcome. Petrosian had other ideas. He started an advance on the king's side, planning to open lines for his rooks and bishops. Fischer promptly countered by a maneuver on the other side of the board. It was the type of game that Fischer plays to perfection. He gained time by exchanging one of Petrosian's bishops. Petrosian decided to give up a pawn to maintain attacking chances rather than allow further reduction of the forces. This proved to be poor strategy. Fischer forced the exchange of the second set of bishops, ending any serious threat. The extra pawn then became the major advantage. Fischer advanced it to the sixth rank where it tied up Petrosian's pieces. From that point Fischer was in complete control. He forced a weakening of Petrosian's king position, then moved a rook to the eighth rank. An invasion of the seventh rank followed, further exposing the white king. The final attack would have led to either mate or ruinous loss of material. Petrosian resigned when this became evident. Read More

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 56 — A Fourth Win for Bobby Fischer — Buenos Aires —(AP)— Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last night in their eighth chess game, giving the American a virtually insurmountable lead in the 12-game- series. Fischer now has won four games, including the last three, and Petrosian only one. The victory gives Fischer 5½ points to Petrosian's 2½, with 6½ points needed to win the tournament. The victor will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the title. Petrosian resigned after the 40th move when Fischer mounted a strong mating attack. The critical point came on the 24th move when Petrosian gave up a pawn to go on the attack and had a strong passed pawn ahead. With fine tactical thrusts he pushed the pawn forward and created the mating threat. The 28-year-old American appeared to be back in the form that gave him 20 straight victories until he was defeated by Petrosian in the second game of this series. He now needs only one point in the remaining four games still scheduled. A victory counts one point and a draw a half point. Match victory could come for the American in the ninth game tomorrow, when Fischer will have the whites and the first move advantage. If it does not, succeeding games will be on Thursday and Sunday. Petrosian, 42, appeared rested for the game. He had asked for a postponement of Thursday's game until today because of exhaustion. The game started as a quiet queen's gambit declined with even chances in the early play. Fischer generally avoids such openings, but my not have minded a draw with the black pieces in view of his plus score. Not satisfied with equality, Petrosian tried for a king-side advance with his 18th move. This set up tactical chances for both sides, and in this area Fischer proved superior. He started threats on the queen side as a counter. Petrosian gave up a pawn to continue his attack on the king. Fischer forced an exchange of bishops which soon stopped any such advance. Using his extra pawns as an offensive weapon, Fischer dominated the game in a few moves. He diverted his queen and rooks to build mating attacks and Petrosian had no good defense when he resigned. Nearly 1,200 fans filled every available seat in the San Martin Theater in downtown Buenos Aires. Every game so far has been a sellout. An overflow crowd of more than a thousand persons packed the lobby to follow the game on two large demonstration boards. Games were scheduled to be played every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday thru Oct. 31, but Petrosian asked last Wednesday that Thursday's game be postponed. Following the rules of tournament play, a doctor appointed by the Argentine Chess Federation examined the Armenian grandmaster and then said he should have at least 48 hours rest. If the series does go to full schedule now it will run thru Nov. 2. In the first seven games, Fischer won the first and Petrosian the second. The next three were draws and then Fischer charged back to win the next two, including the double-session eight-hour sixth game played last Sunday and Monday when Petrosian had the white pieces and the first move advantage. ★ Read More

• The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 33 — Bobby Fischer Defeats Russian In Chess Match — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Chess Master Bobby Fischer of the United States virtually clinched the final candidate's match yesterday by defeating former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union for the third consecutive time. Petrosian conceded the game, the eight played so far in the match, on the 41st move. The victory, the fourth in eight games, gave the American an almost unbeatable lead of 5½ points to 2½ for Petrosian. Winner of the match, scheduled for 12 games, will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, for the title next spring. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 293 — Fischer Wins Third in Row, Needs 1 More by Robert Byrne — Buenos Aires, Oct. 24— Bobby Fischer rammed home a terrific counterattack to take his third straight win from the Soviet Union's Tigran Petrosian here in the Teatro San Martin tonight. The brilliant American Grandmaster now has 5½ points to his opponent's 2½, and can clinch their 12-game series by one win or two more draws. The match victor will play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world chess championship in April. Against Fischer's Tarrasch defense, Petrosian made an all-out attack in the futile attempt to get himself back into contention in the match. For a moment it looked as though he might succeed. His 18th move carried the ominous threat of P-B5, opening the king's bishop file, down which he intended to bring both rooks, backed by his king's bishop. But Fischer never gave him a chance. His beautifully timed breakthrough, 20. … P-N5, blasted open the queen's wing and staggered Petrosian, putting him on the defensive. With no hesitation, Bobby snapped up the sacrificed queen's pawn and swarmed in so fast with both rooks and the queen that Petrosian had no time to breathe. Black's sharp 33d move forced the critical exposure of the enemy king's position, thus readying the final attack beginning at move 37. Petrosian had no recourse but to capture the advanced pawn offered him and submit to the infiltration of his king's side by the queen and rook. But there was nothing to do about Fischer's smashing 40th move, for 41. Q-KB2 Q-K5ch, 43. K-R2 R-KB6, 44. Q-KN2 Q-B5ch wins the queen no matter how white replies. Game nine is scheduled Tuesday night. Read More

• The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 18 — Scalped — Ticket-scalping is officially discouraged but practically a fact of American life for major sporting and entertainment events. A pair of tickets to an important professional football game might bring as much as $100, and the going rate from scalpers for two on the aisle at “Jesus Christ Superstar” is reported to be $75. According to reports from Argentina, ticket-scalpers there are active too—selling seats to the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. The price? Twice the official rate—or $1.20 a seat. Read More

• Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 5 — U.S. Chess Player Ahead in World Match — Buenos Aires (UPI) — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union opened their game of the final candidate's elimination match Sunday. The game originally was scheduled to be played last Thursday, but Petrosian complained of stomach disorders and it was postponed. Winner of the series, scheduled for 12 games, will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the the title next spring. Fischer had a two-point advantage over the 42-year-old former world chess champion going into the eighth game. Fischer, 28, from Brooklyn, N.Y. won three of the first seven contests. The Russian won one. Three games ended in draws, giving the American 4½ points to 2½ for Petrosian. Although the match is scheduled for 12 games, it can end when one of the players accumulates 6½ points. The match is being held in the modern San Martin Threater. Read More

October 26, 1971

• The Mercury Pottstown, Pennsylvania Tuesday, October 26, 1971 - Page 8 — Fischer Has Chance to Win Chess Tournament Tonight — Buenos Aires (AP) — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian meet again Tuesday night in the ninth and most crucial game of their elimination tournament. For Petrosian, 42, of the Soviet Union, it is do-or-die. He must win or at least hold Fischer to a draw or it is all over. If Fischer wins he will have won the tournament and the right to challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title next spring. It would be the first time since 1949 that a non-Russian has come so close to the international chess crown. Fischer has won four games—three in a row including his swift victory Sunday night. Petrosian has won only one, with the other three ending in draws. Fischer, 28, and a native of New York City, has five and a half points and needs one more to clinch the victory. Petrosian is far behind with two and a half points. A win counts one point and a draw a half point.
  Shakey Start Fischer entered the scheduled 12-game tournament as the favorite and after a shaky start dominated play. Fischer will have the white pieces, and thus the first move and a small advantage, for the ninth game in the San Martin Theatre. However, he has scored two of his victories when Petrosian had the whites. Yuri Averbach of the Soviet Union, one of Petrosian's analysts, was pessimistic. He told a Buenos Aires newspaper “Petrosian's spirit was broken—you can't play chess when you are over 40. Spassky, a younger man with solid spirit, will perform better against Fischer.” The game that discouraged Petrosian was the double-session sixth. It was played a week ago Sunday and Petrosian had the white pieces. Fischer succeeded in equalizing and at the end of the five-hour Sunday session he had gained a slight advantage. Play was resumed at 5 p.m. Monday and in three hours Fischer forced a win. The next day, Fischer was very aggressive and won the seventh game in just under four hours with 34 moves. Petrosian, depressed said he was exhausted. A doctor examined him and reported he needed at least 48 hours rest and Thursday's game was postponed. Both men used the time to relax. Fischer, who either swims or plays tennis daily, showed up at a reception Thursday night for Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam, president of the World Chess Federation.
  Studies At Dinner As is usual, Fischer had tucked under one arm a chess magazine that he studied even at the dinner. Petrosian, an Armenian, was the guest at a party given by the Argentine Armenian community, with several hundred persons attending. He appeared to be in good spirits for the eighth game but soon was in trouble when he gave up a pawn to try to maintain his attack. Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Tuesday, October 26, 1971 - Page 4 — Fischer Poised To Win — Bobby Fischer, of the United States, virtually clinched his final world chess championship eliminator against former champion, Tigran Petrosian, when he won for the third game in a row to establish a 5½-2½ lead in the match. He now requires only the formality of two draws or one win from the last four games to guarantee a title match against Boris Spassky, of Russia, next spring. Fischer has added yet another page to the chess record books, for Petrosian has built his entire playing career on his ability to avoid defeats while squeezing out the odd win. Fischer won by launching a late middle game attack with Queen and Rooks, which opened up Petrosian's King. At the end, Petrosian would have had to sacrifice his Queen, and checkmate was only a matter of time. The ninth game will be played today. Read More

• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Tuesday, October 26, 1971 - Page 20 — Chess Fine — Congratulations to The Daily News for the excellent coverage of U.S. Grandmaster Robert Fischer's match with former World Chess Champion Tigran Petrosian of the U.S.S.R. being held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I'm sure I can speak for the 150 active and inactive members of the Dayton Chess club at present in the Dayton area, as well as the countless casual chess players, noon-time chess players in various industries and commercial establishments in the Miami valley, and others who are becoming interested in the rapidly growing “sport of kings,” when I say we greatly appreciate your accurate and timely coverage of the next-most-important chess event of this decade, topped only by the forthcoming world championship, which we all fully expect to take place between Fischer and Boris Spassky, the present world champion, a citizen of U.S.S.R. Our local Dayton Chess Club is very active. Average attendance is about 50 to 55 each Friday night at the Dayton & Montgomery County Public Library Third & St. Clair Sts. . . . David G. Wolford. New Carlisle ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, October 26, 1971 - Page 32 — Fischer Is Talk of Manhattan Chess Club By Harold C. Schonberg — At the Manhattan Chess Club these days, the talk is all of Bobby Fischer. At the moment, Fischer is happily beating up Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires, and needs only one more point to win the match and the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world championship. All of the Fischer-Petrosian games are posted on the bulletin board of the Manhattan Chess Club. Not an hour passes but that those games are taken down and replayed. The analysis, including such experts as Al Horowitz, William Lombardy, Reuben Fine and other grandmasters and masters whose habitat is the chess club spend hours going over the games. What did Fischer have in his mind at this move? Petrosian at that? How could so careful a player as Petrosian leave himself open in this position? Analysis continues far into the night, and the air is full of cigarette smoke and such expressions as Sicilian, Nimzo-Indian, sack, bind, threat, rooks on the seventh, enfilade, blockage, concealed check, pawn push and prepared variation. “That Bobby!” everybody says admiringly.
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October 27, 1971

• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 49 — Concentration — Bobby Fischer (left), United States chess champion, watched as Tigran Petrosian, of the Soviet Union, contemplated a move yesterday in the ninth game of the series, October 26, 1971, in Buenos Aires. Fischer went on to win the game and the series and will face Boris Spassky next spring. Spassky, also of the Soviet Union, is the world champion.
  (Wirephoto by radio from Buenos Aires). Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 01 — Fischer Beats Petrosian to Gain Right to Play Spassky for Title — Buenos Aires, Oct. 26—Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union for the fourth straight time tonight, winning their chess match and the right to play the world champion for the title. The victory gave Fischer 6½ points, the minimum needed in the 12-game series. The remaining games scheduled for the Teatro San Martin here will not be played. Petrosian, a former world champion, will receive $4,500 and Fischer $7,500. With his victory over Petrosian, the 28-year-old becomes the first American to reach the final step in the elimination series for the world championship. That final hurdle is the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The two will meet in a 24-game title match next spring. The procedure for picking the site will probably be the same as that for the Fischer-Petrosian match: the highest bidder among neutral countries will win, with the consent of the United States Chess Federation and the Soviet Chess Federation. For 10 years, Fischer, a lanky bachelor with time for little else than chess, has considered himself the best player in the world. But until recently he had refused to prove it in the long and grinding rounds of elimination tournaments. During the elimination matches he maintained a winning streak that reached 20 games and included two 6-to-0 victories over grandmasters—a record that had never before been recorded in modern high-level match and tournament play. The daring and flash of his game—he often goes all out to win with the black pieces, which usually are handled in a cautious and more defensive way — gained him idolizing fans among the approximately 60 million chess players in the…
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• The York Dispatch York, Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 4 — A New Honor — This time of year the cheers are usually for the heroes of the gridiron — Saturday afternoon collegians and their big-brother pros on Sunday. On a broader scale, another American is making waves with brain rather than brawn. Bobby Fischer is his name, and he's dismantling Russian opposition in quest for the international chess championship. Fischer needs just one more victory or two draws to win the right to challenge Russian Boris Spassky for the world crown. A chess game isn't exactly TV fare. It isn't a gigantic spectator sport. But it is significant, both for Fischer and the honor he brings his country in international competition. Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 7 — Officials Gather Around U.S. Chess Champion Robert Fischer (left) after he defeated Russian opponent Tigran Petrosian (seated) in ninth game. (UPI)

• Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 9 — U.S. Chess Whiz Victor; World Title Bout Next — Buenos Aires (AP) Bobby Fischer, a 28-year-old high school dropout from Brooklyn and the kingpin of American chess for half his life, has won the right to play the world chess champion for the title—the first American ever to reach that level in competition. In Moscow, a commentator for the Soviet news agency Tass praised the young American's fourth consecutive victory over Russian Tigran Petrosian, which set the stage for a meeting with champion Boris Spassky. Fischer won the finals of the challenger tournament through “powerful play … high technique and quick estimate of the position.” wrote Yakov Rokhlin, the Tass chess commentator. The game gave Fischer 6½ points and the victory in a scheduled 12-game match with Petrosian, a former world champion. Fischer will get $7,500 in prize money and his opponent $4,500. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 49 — Fischer Wins Tourney, Will Face Spassky by Robert Byrne —Buenos Aires, Oct. 26 — The United States' Bobby Fischer took game nine for a smashing 6½ to 2½ match triumph over Russia's Tigran Petrosian in the Teatro General San Martin here tonight. Fischer now becomes the official challenger for the world chess championship and winner of the $7,500 purse. After getting off to a rocky start in the best-of-12-game series, Bobby caught fire in game six and brilliantly swept the last four in a row. Petrosian, a former world champion, who is used to counting his career losses on his fingers, had never been beaten in such a one-sided manner before.
  It's Been a Long Time No American has ever held the world title and this is the first time in 23 years that anyone except a Soviet grandmaster has even been a challenger. Petrosian, 42, was world champion from 1962 to 1969. Fischer next spring will challenge current world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. The playoff site will be determined by the International Chess Federation. The brilliant, Brooklyn-born Fischer, 28, started off the ninth game in a deceptively quiet way, startling the fans by his exchange of pawns on the fifth move. Was he about to back into the match victory by drawing this and the next game?
  Winningest Player That was all he had to do, but it was not enough for the winningest player in chess history. In short order, he doubled the queen's bishop pawn and grabbed the king's file with both rooks. When Petrosian succeeded in getting rid of the bishops on his 18th move and the queens two moves later, it looked as though he had avoided all difficulty. But Bobby sprang into action at once, shifting the theater of operations to the queen's bishop file by his sharp moves 21 to 23, which resulted in crippling the black position with doubled, isolated queen's pawns. Petrosian, despairing of holding such a game together by passive defense, went over to counterattack by bringing his knight to the king's side at his 24th move, sacrificing three pawns in the process. Although the mating threats from the rooks and knight were dangerous, Fischer coolly repulsed them, ending all hopes for his opponent by the knight sacrifice at move 40, and taking game and match. Read More

• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 26 — The American Style — The United States, unable to impose its will upon member after fellow-member of the United Nations, is low in international prestige? Not so—Bobby Fischer is from the United States. The Americans, retreating into economic nationalism, are no longer noted for verve, and daring, and the attack-attack-attack instinct? On the contrary, with young Mr. Fischer as its foremost exponent, the American style—in chess, at least—is to destroy the opposition and to win, now. To the throngs in Buenos Aires, where the latest elimination tournament's finale has now produced the first American ever for the challenge round in chess's world championship, rooks and knights seemed to matter more than armies and missiles. Next spring, when Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky sit down across a board from each other, it is quite likely that Americans will work up more interest in the thinking person's game than ever happened heretofore in this nation's history. While Mr. Fischer relaxes from the strenuous match play so far, while he plans yet new aggressions and still further audacities, Americans can await the oncoming High Noon with genuine self-esteem. Read More

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 10 — Chess News — Westmont—I would like to express my appreciation for your excellent coverage of the chess match presently being held between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. I look forward to the complete game scores which you are publishing, and am glad to see that chess [the royal game] is finally starting to get the attention it so richly deserves. -James A. Scherer Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 24 — Fischer Will Challenge World Chess Champion — Buenos Aires (AP)— U.S. chess genius Bobby Fischer defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in the ninth game of their match Tuesday night, thus winning the tournament, $7,500 and the right to challenge world champion Boris Spassky. Fischer was triumphant in 46 moves, scoring his fourth victory in a row and his fifth in the match. The demoralized Petrosian, who won only one game and could find no way to block the onrushing American, received $4,500 as the loser. Three games ended in draws. The biggest prize for Fischer was the opportunity to match his skill against Spassky, also of the Soviet Union, in a tournament next spring for the world's championship. No American has ever held the world title and this is the first time in 23 years that anyone except a Soviet grand master has even been a challenger. It was a bitter defeat for the 42-year-old Petrosian, who was world champion from 1962 to 1969. He made the bid despite his age, which is considered old for the exhausting demands of tournament play. Fischer, 28, is at the peak of his powers, according to most chess experts. The tournament was scheduled to run through 12 games, but Fischer's charge in the last four made the three final games unnecessary. His victory in the ninth gave him the 6½ points required for tournament victory. Petrosian had 2½ points. A win scored one point and a draw a half point. When Petrosian resigned cheers and tremendous applause broke out from more than 1,000 spectators in the auditorium of the San Martin theater. It was followed by more cheers from nearly 2,000 fans in the lobby who were unable to obtain seats in the crowded theater. Reporters and photographers rushed onto the stage but Fischer fled, trying to go out one door and then another. Finally he told newsmen, “It's over,” and added “I had a very good opening and that's how I won.” The crowd in the lobby swelled to more than 5,000 persons, calling for Fischer to appear, but he refused. Petrosian, tired and despondent, stood up and walked dejectedly toward his dressing room. His wife, who had sat in the fourth row throughout the tournament with Soviet and Argentine analysts, came on stage, picked up Petrosian's coffee container and followed her husband to the dressing room. Read More

• The Daily Advertiser Lafayette, Louisiana Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 7 — First American Reaches Chess Championship Round — Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer, a lanky New York bachelor, has won the right to play the world chess champion for the title—the first American ever to reach this level in chess competition. He gained the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union by defeating Tigran Petrosian for the fourth consecutive time Tuesday night.
  Gets Victory The game gave Fischer 6½ points and the victory in a scheduled 12-game match with Petrosian, also of the Soviet Union and a former world champion. Fischer will receive $7,500 prize money and Petrosian $4,500. The 28-year-old high school dropout from Brooklyn, kingpin of American chess for half his life, was once considered the enfant terrible of chess. But he has put aside temperament and quarrels with officials in his bid to be the first non-Russian champion in 25 years. His 24-game match with Spassky will be held next April and May at a neutral site yet to be chosen.
  Slow Start Fischer got off to a slow start in the elimination match with 42-year-old Petrosian. He won the first game, lost the second and the next three were draws. Then he took command with his aggressive play and won the next four games, giving him the points needed for victory without the final three games of the series having to be played. During elimination matches he won 20 straight games, before his one defeat by Petrosian, and defeated two grandmasters 6-0, a record never before recorded in modern high-level match and tournament play. Fischer lounged in a swivel chair during his games with Petrosian, occasionally leaning forward after a move as if he might lunge at the board. At times, he would tap his foot or hold the side of his head. He always had a glass of orange juice at his side and at times would break for something to eat.
  Youngest Grandmaster Fischer, who became the youngest-ranking international grandmaster at age 15, has a long-time reputation as one of the most brilliant, daring players the game has seen. However, Fischer has known disappointment and controversy in earlier tournament play. In 1961, after declaring at age 19 that he would be world champion, he beat an impressive number of Russian players and then went down to a resounding defeat at the Candidates' Tournament in 1962. He would not compete in the next round of qualifying matches for the triennial world champion and in the following round walked out after a dispute with officials. Read More

• Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 8 — Fischer Wins Chess Match, Gets Crack at World Title — Buenos Aires (UPI)— Bobby Fischer, a Brooklyn high school dropout who long has claimed to be the best chess player in the world, earned the chance to prove it last night by beating Tigran Petrosian in the final challenge round. Fischer's win brought him $7,500 while Petrosian received $4,500, tournament officials said. Fischer's win over Petrosian, himself a former world champion, gives him the right to challenge the reigning chess king, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The championship series will be played next spring at a site and time to be decided on.
  The Climax Came in the ninth game of their scheduled 12-game series. Playing white, Fischer, 28, forced Petrosian, a 42-year-old Russian, to resign in the 46th move. With that, Fischer had the necessary 6½ points to win the tournament. Fischer, at 14 U.S. chess champion and at 15 a grandmaster, dropped out of high school to devote his life to chess — and since has had time for little else. He becomes the first American to win the challenge round, which began in 1948 following the death of then champion Alexander Alekhine of the Soviet Union. Since then the title has been in the grip of the Russians, with Petrosian losing it to Spassky in 1969. Read More

• The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 38 — Fischer Earns Chance For World Chess Title — Buenos Aires (UPI)—Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union yesterday to win the final candidate's play-off. The victory gave Fischer, the 28-year-old chess wizard from Brooklyn, N.Y., $7,500 and the right to challenge current world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. The playoff will be held next spring at a site to be determined by the International Chess Federation. PETROSIAN, world champion from 1963 to 1969, resigned at the 46th move to give Fischer an unbeatable lead of 6½ points to 2½ with only three contests remaining. It was Fischer's fourth consecutive victory in nine games. The 42-year-old Russian mounted an all-out-attack during the end game but Fischer was able to solve it and practically wiped out all of Petrosian's pieces. Petrosian at the end had only a knight and a pawn remaining after Fischer destroyed his attack. The American had five pawns, with one heading for promotion (queen). FISCHER won the first, the sixth, seventh, eighth and the ninth games. Petrosian only won one, the second. Three ended in draws. Fischer, playing whites, opened the game with his favorite opening, pawn-to-queen-four. Petrosian responded with a French defense. After the middle game exchanges, Petrosian gambled on an all-out attack by his two rooks, a knight and his king-side pawns, but Fischer deftly managed to evade the trap. Read More

• The Berkshire Eagle Pittsfield, Massachusetts Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 24 — Fischer To Contest World Chess Title —From News Services — Buenos Aires —Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last night in the ninth game to take their 12-game chess match to determine a challenger for the world title. The victory, Fischer's fourth straight, came after 46 moves of a French Defense. It brought him $7,500. With his victory over Petrosian, the 28-year-old Brooklyn high school dropout becomes the first American to reach the final step in the elimination series for the world championship. That final hurdle is the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The two will meet in a 24-game title match next spring. The procedure for picking the site will probably be the same as that for the Fischer-Petrosian match: the highest bidder among neutral countries will win, with the consent of the United States Chess Foundation and the Soviet Chess Federation. For 10 years, Fischer, a lanky bachelor with time for little else than chess, has considered himself the best player in the world. But until recently he had refused to prove it in the long and grinding rounds of elimination tournaments. During the elimination matches he maintained a winning streak that reached 20 games and included two 6-to-0 victories over grandmasters — a record that had never before been recorded in modern high-level match and tournament play. The daring and flash of his board game — he often attempts to win with the black, or defensive, pieces — gained him idolizing fans among the approximately 60 million chess players in the world. Even in the Soviet Union, where he once was regarded as overly brash, he has become a hero. The elimination series was established in 1948 to sort out a scramble for the title following the death of the then world champion, Alexander Alekhine of the Soviet Union.
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• The Austin American Austin, Texas Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 9 — U.S. Champ Fischer Earns Bout for World Chess Title —Washington Post — Buenos Aires, Argentina — American chess champion Bobby Fischer won his run-off match with Soviet Tigran Petrosian Tuesday night and reached the goal he set 15 years ago as a child prodigy in Brooklyn — a shot at the world title. The 28-year-old Fischer, who was national champion at 14, easily accumulated the necessary six and a half game points to defeat Petrosian, who had two and a half. Final victory game in this ninth game of a match that could have gone to 12 games. Petrosian, 43, is a former world champion. Fischer will play the present title holder, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union as soon as next April. Spassky, 34, plays a balanced game, somewhere between Fischer's prowess on offense and Petrosian's dogged defense. The world chess championship has been in Soviet hands since 1948. Should Fischer beat Spassky, he would be the first champion from the United States, which until recent years was a pawn to the greats of the old world and outposts in South America. Read More

• The Lowell Sun Lowell, Massachusetts Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 3 — U.S. Chess Grandmaster to Vie For World Title —(c) New York Times, Buenos Aires. Playing in his best form, U.S. chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer has defeated former world chess champion Tigran Petrosian for the fourth straight time to clinch the match at the San Martin theater here. The victory gave Fischer 6½ points, the amount needed to win in the best out of 12 series. Petrosian's total was 2½ points. The remaining games scheduled will not be played. It was again a classic example of obtaining a small advantage and building it up into a winning formula. The opening was the French Defense, played by Petrosian in reply to Fischer's 1. P-K4. Petrosian had tried the same defense in the third game. He varied on his fourth move by developing the queen knight, one of the unusual variations. It led to a symmetrical game in the center, but Fischer had the edge in development. In addition Petrosian was saddled with a set of doubled pawns. In view of the score, Petrosian might have been expected to adopt a more aggressive line, even with the black pieces. He seemed satisfied to equalize, and offered an exchange of queens. Fischer made the exchange, which, as it turned out, further exposed the black pawns. Fischer immediately moved to open the Queen Bishop file, which his rook then commanded. A pawn exchange left Petrosian with a doubled pawn which would be difficult to hold. Giving up defensive tactics, Petrosian embarked on a seemingly desperate sally against the white king. Fischer's king march to R4, some distance from the menacing black rooks. While Petrosian was preparing, Fischer picked up two more pawns. He seemed safe enough, especially with the queens off the board. With his back to the wall, Petrosian made his last game effort. Using his king and pawns, he set up a surprising mating threat which might have saved the game against a lesser opponent. Fischer was forced to give up his knight for two pawns, but he had been prepared for this. In the resulting position all the pieces were off with the exception of Petrosian's knight. The mating danger was gone. Petrosian would have had to contend with five passed pawns, which could not be stopped. He might have adjourned the hopeless game, but decided to resign. The match was worth $7,600 to Fischer and $4,500 to Petrosian. The victory earned Fischer the right to meet Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world chess championship. The two will meet in a 24-game match next spring. Fischer has become the first American to reach the final step in the elimination series for the championship. Read More

• Freeport Journal-Standard Freeport, Illinois Wednesday, October 27, 1971 - Page 16 — Girl Loses Spot On Chess Team Files Court Suit — Chicago (AP) - A Chicago teenager said today she will file suit in an attempt to get reinstated to her high school chess team after being dropped from competition because she is a girl. Susan Solomon, a 15-year-old junior at Von Steuben High School, said the Chicago Board of Education ordered her dropped from the team after two matches. She had been victorious in one and lost the other. A spokesman for the board said under rules governing interscholastic athletics women are not eligible. Both matches in which she participated were declared forfeits. “Participating in a chess game may seem like a small thing,” Susan said, “but this ruling that excludes women (from interscholastic competition) is typical of many written and unwritten rules that thrust an inferior status on women.” The American Civil Liberties Union said it will take Susan's case, but wants to expand the suit to challenge the right of women to compete in all interscholastic sports. Susan agrees but added: “That probably would lessen my own personal chances to get reinstated to the chess team because it would be more difficult to open all sports to the girls, rather than just chess and checkers.” ★ Read More

October 28, 1971

• Spokane Daily Chronicle Spokane, Washington Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 21 — Move Pondered — Susan Solomon, 15, considers her next move after being dropped from Chicago's Von Steuben High School chess team because rules forbid women in interscholastic competition. Susan is taking her case to court. (AP wirephoto).

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 37 — Fischer Victory Dazzles Fans of Chess in Soviet by Theodore Shabad —Moscow, Oct. 27—The atmosphere in Moscow's Central Chess Club was subdued tonight as fans, hunched over boards, went over the moves in the game in Buenos Aires that gave Bobby Fischer of the United States the final victory over Tigran Petrosian and a chance to challenge Boris Spassky for the world title. Commenting on Fischer's four straight victories, which gave him a decisive 6½-to-2½ edge over Petrosian, a kibitzer waiting to join in a game said: “Four games in a row, that's a little hard to take.” Then, after pausing for a moment, he added hopefully, “But we've still got Spassky.” Throughout the round of games at the Argentine capital, Moscow chess fans have been debating moves and have been listening to the authoritative analyses of Soviet grandmasters in the blue stucco chess club building on Gogol Boulevard. …
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 37 — Chess: Drama of Opposing Wills Evident in Fischer Finale by Al Horowitz — There was more than a little drama in the ninth and final game of Bobby Fischer's triumph over Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. The American, who had blanked two previous opponents in the elimination trials leading to the world challenge match, was determined to make his triumph over the former world champion as convincing as possible. Petrosian, on the other hand, was determined to halt Fischer's string of victories at three, even though he was playing the black pieces. Trailing by 5½-2½, the Soviet player had little hopes of ultimate victory, but he was interested in preventing what many chess experts considered to be another rout in the making. The outcome testifies not only to the hopelessness of Petrosian's position, but also to the brilliance of Fischer. By scoring 6½ points in the scheduled 12-game series, the American qualified to face Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the world champion for the title in the spring. Under international chess rules, the title match will be scheduled for 24 games. The first player scoring 12½ points will be the winner, with the competition scheduled for some neutral site, which, like Buenos Aires will have to bid for the event.
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• Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 18 — He Deserves A Call — To the small but growing coterie of chess fanatics, the name of Bobby Fischer deserves a place in the Pantheon of great Americans. Fischer at the age of 28 has just won the semifinals of the world chess challengers tournament in Buenos Aires. WITH TIGRAN Petrosian of the Soviet Union out of the way, Fischer will go into training for the showdown next March in which he will challenge world champion Boris Spassky, another Russian, for the world title. It has been a Soviet monopoly since 1948. Chess players have been described as people who are “completely cloudy, completely blind — madmen of a certain quality.” Bobby Fischer's life style is sufficiently bizarre to meet this standard. He lives out of a succession of hotel rooms; goes to bed at 5 a.m.; dines often at the Automat in Manhattan on watermelon and tomato juice; and thinks about little but chess. Naturally, he is not married. FISCHER DROPPED OUT of high school and never went to college, but there;s nothing wrong with his mind. Before tackling Petrosian, Fischer had won his last 19 games in matches against grandmasters. That's like hitting 19 home runs in 19 at bats. George Bernard Shaw once called chess “a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something clever, when they are only wasting their time.” But not even Shaw's put-down can detract from the sublime quality of Fischer's chess victory over Petrosian. He deserves a phone call from the President. Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 13 — Prince Pawn: Leonard Barden on Bobby Fischer — Chess in Russia is more popular than any other game bar soccer; so for an American to win the world title will be for many Russians a moment of truth. Bobby Fischer's resounding win over Tigran Petrosian in their final eliminator in Buenos Aires has left Boris Spassky, the reigning champion who won the title from Petrosian in 1969, as the last line of defence of a Soviet monopoly which began with Botvinnik in 1948. Fischer won his first U.S. Open title at 14 and was already a world championship contender at 15. His D grades in high school (Error, contemporary teachers remarked on Bobby as a average student with average grades -- and he was even awarded a gold medal before the infamous withdrawal from Erasmus), where he was a dropout at 16, reflected an obsession with chess rather than lack of ability; one class mate recalls Bobby's IQ as 184. (Fact Check: Bobby Fischer says they never gave him the IQ score and contemporary 1950 era teachers acknowledge Bobby had an IQ in the "generally superior intelligence" range. See https://fischer-notes.blogspot.com/2019/04/bobby-fischers-iq-of-123-tested-by.html) He could already be world champion but for a prima donna (Fact Check: The Soviets were cheating, and they admitted this long ago) history of quarrels with opponents and organizers which put him into virtual retirement for most of the 1960s. (Fact check, it's called Boycott, and was suggested more than once, that perhaps Samuel Reshevsky would sit out the tournaments as well as non-Russians didn't stand a chance at fairly winning the crown.) In private, Bobby is more restrained and cautious: he regards himself as the best chess player living or dead but reckons Spassky as a tough and worthy opponent.
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• Lancaster New Era Lancaster, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 20 — Chess Player a 1971 Hero — Bobby Fischer, of New York, is a new kind of hero in this year of 1971, a chess player who holds as much attraction for many young and old Americans as do stars in the more active games of football and baseball. Fischer is now on the threshold of the summit in chess—a 24-game match against Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union, present world champion. If he beats Spassky, he will bring the global chess diadem to the U.S. for the first time ever. Chess players hold deep respect for Fischer, since he is one of them, but he has caught the imagination of many others who do not know a pawn from a queen. His personal story is fascinating — a grandmaster at 15, youngest to hold that ranking; vowing at 19 to become world champion and failing; a person of brilliance but of hot temper, now trying to keep his temper under control. At 28, he is closer to the title than at any time prior to this. Will he emerge triumphant in the matches next April-May? Or will he be denied victory? It's a real chess cliffhanger, and as is usually the case with chess, it will take quite a while to find out. Read More

• The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 84 — American to Become Champ, Atlanta Chess Fans by Gene Ray — Atlanta area chess enthusiasts are elated over the victory by Bobby Fischer over Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and are predicting the American will be the next world champion. Fischer, a lanky New York bachelor, gained the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and current world champion, by defeating Petrosian for the fourth consecutive time Tuesday night. The game gave Fischer 6½ points and the victory in a scheduled 12-game match. The 28-year-old high school dropout will play Spassky in April or May of next year at a neutral site yet to be chosen. Steve Smith, president of the Atlanta Chess Club, said Wednesday the 100 members of the club were “very enthusiastic” about the victory and that he believes Fischer will win in the spring championship. “We all feel Bobby Fischer is the best and won't have any trouble with Spassky,” Smith said. “I look for the championship match to go about like the Petrosian match did.” Read More

• Chillicothe Gazette Chillicothe, Ohio Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 1 — Reds Admire Chess Champ — Moscow (AP) — Bobby Fischer has won the open admiration of many Soviet chess fans with his impressive 6.5 to 2.5 victory over former world champion Tigran Petrosyan in Buenos Aires. “That Fischer is a fine fellow. He will give us a very interesting championship battle,” said one ardent fan in commenting on the U.S. grand master's Wednesday night victory over his Soviet opponent. Individual Moscow chess enthusiasts seemed too intrigued with the forthcoming match next spring with Fischer and world champion Boris Spassky to show much regret over their countryman's defeat in Argentina. Read More

• The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 56 — Wants More on Fischer — To the Editor: You made a brief mention in a recent editorial of the fact that there is a chess match going on between Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and Tigran Petrosian of the U.S.S.R. If, as seems likely, Fischer wins this tournament (Fischer has fulfilled this prediction. The Editor.) he will play for the world chess championship. If he wins that, he would be the first U.S. world champion in over 100 years and perhaps the youngest of all time. You find room for “Nancy”, daily horoscopes, Joseph Alsop's column and other trivia. Could you please devote just a little more space to Fischer's progress? Sidney Toby, Piscataway Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 4 — Fischer Through To Final — A fourth successive win against a demoralized opponent ensured Bobby Fischer of the United States the right to challenge Boris Spassky (Soviet Union) for the world chess championship next spring. Tigran Petrosian (Soviet Union), the 1963-9 champion, resigned the ninth game and the match series to Fischer in 46 moves when faced with a fast running queen's rook's pawn which Petrosian's knight could not stop. The final score was Fischer 6½, Petrosian 2½. Petrosian has done a little better than Fischer's earlier opponents in the world title eliminators. Fischer beat both Mark Taimanov (Soviet Union) and Bent Larsen (Denmark) by 6-0 scores. The quality of Fischer's games and their freedom from error, combined with the single-mindedness and drive which he has shown since he first came to international prominence in 1957 at the age of 14, makes him a clear favorite to win the championship from Spassky. Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 30 — The Chess Match — I would like to express appreciation for your reporting of the chess match between Fischer and Petrosian with reference to results either in “Name and Faces in the News” or when the score of a game is available elsewhere in the paper. Chess players in and around Boston are glad to find this reporting. F. Gregg Bemis, Concord Read More

• Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 4 — Chess Supremacy — Congratulations to Bobby Fischer, who will get a chance to prove he is the best chess player in the world. Fischer, 28, defeated Tigran Petrosian in the final challenge round, to win a chance to challenge the reigning chess king, Boris Spassky, also of the Soviet Union. ★ Read More

• Orlando Evening Star Orlando, Florida Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 38 — You Begin to Wonder if there's any hope for us older ones. Just the other day when the United States' Bobby Fischer trimmed Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in a Buenos Aires chess game, one of the Russian's analysts complained: “Petrosian's spirit was broken. You can't play chess when you are over 40.” Evidently the last outpost for a man with gray in his hair is the Washington Redskins. ★ Read More

• Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 26 — Fischer Wins Praise — A Soviet chess commentator said Wednesday in Moscow, U.S.S.R., that energetic play and advanced technique had brought victory to Bobby Fischer of the United States in his 12-game world semifinal match against Soviet grand master Tigran Petrosian. Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 38 — Fischer Says He's Best; Most of His Critics Agree — (UPI) Robert J. (Bobby) Fischer told a questioner in March that he “would be stupid” not to say that the best chess player in the world “is Fischer.” He gets his chance to prove next spring when he meets the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Born in Chicago March 9, 1943, Robert James Fischer began playing chess at 6 years old and won his first tournament at the Manhattan Chess Club in New York at 10. He became the U.S. champion at 14, a grandmaster at 15, and left Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School at 16 to devote his life to the game. He was U.S. champion from 1957 to 1960, did not in 1961, and retained the title from 1962 to 1967. Last spring, after winning eight straight games in elimination rounds, Fischer systematically wiped out two top contenders for the world title, Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union and Bent Larsen of Denmark, both by incredible 6-0 scores — a fear likened to pitching consecutive no-hitters in baseball. His victories earned him the chance to play former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union for the right to challenge Spassky. He beat Petrosian in Buenos Aires Tuesday night by winning the ninth match of a scheduled 12-game series and the necessary 6½ points for victory. Fischer's short career has been embroiled in controversy. He said he hates noise, flashbulbs, movement of spectators and adjourned games.
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• The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 19 — Fischer Plays For Title: No American This Close — Buenos Aires (AP) — American Chess ace Bobby Fischer, who defeated Tigran Petrosian to gain a shot at a world championship match against Russian Boris Spassky, is the first American ever to have a chance for the championship. Fischer downed the Soviet grandmaster 6½ to 2½, winning the ninth and final game in their scheduled 12-game match Tuesday night. Fischer won five of the games played, lost one and drew three. He won the last four in succession. For anyone else in the world this would rank as a major success. For Fischer it does not compare with his previous two matches in the series to determine a challenger for the world title.
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• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Thursday, October 28, 1971 - Page 36 — This confusing world: Bobby Fischer now can challenge for the world's chess championship. Meanwhile, the Russians are threatening us in basketball.

October 29, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 43 — Fischer Is Honored; He Hails Petrosian As ‘a Good Sport’ — NYTimes — Buenos Aires, Oct. 28 — The American chess phenomenon, Bobby Fischer, stayed long enough here tonight to receive a medal, make a short but gracious speed and sign a few autographs before fleeing an adoring multitude. Fischer and Tigran Petrosian made a joint appearance on the stage of the San Martin Theatre, the scene of their grueling chess match for the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title next spring. Fischer won the ninth game on Tuesday night to secure the necessary 6½ points for victory. The match could have gone to the scheduled 12 games. The duel between the 28-year-old American and the quiet, undemonstrative Armenian captured the imagination of the people of Buenos Aires, who have followed the match through extensive press coverage and on radio and television, usually with a board to follow all the moves in this chess-conscious country. In recognition of their services in furthering interest in chess in Argentina, Social Welfare Minister Francisco Manrique presented the two grandmasters with the Order of May. Fischer responded with a short speech, thanking the Argentine Government for the medal and saying he was grateful that Petrosian was “a good sport and a good opponent.” Fischer spoke in English and Petrosian in Armenian. Petrosian, saying that despite his defeat he was “a soldier of chess, and I will battle to the end,” added that for now, “I want to go back to being a normal person again.” Fischer skipped out by the same back entrance he has used to evade chess fans since he arrived here. He got away easily tonight. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 10 — Boris 'Not Impressed' by Fischer Victory — Belgrade (AP) — Boris Spassky, the Soviet Union's world chess champion, says he was neither impressed nor surprised by the victory of U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer over Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires. In an interview in Sochi, Crimea, Spassky said Petrosian “defeated himself alone, with his own hands.” Spassky is preparing for a meeting with Fischer next spring. He praised Fischer as “a chess genius of the 20th century, along with Mikhail Tal,” Soviet former world champion who had a meteoric career. Fischer defeated Petrosian, a Soviet former world champion, in the ninth game of a scheduled 12-game match. He won the right to challenge Spassky for the world championship, the first time an American has ever been in that position. Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, Fischer devour huge beef steaks and played tennis Thursday between marathon sleeping sessions as he recovered from the tension of the match. “I wouldn't mind playing again in Buenos Aires,” he told reporters. “But the final decision on the site will have to wait for some time.” The Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Chile and Greece already have made firm offers to hold the final, and 16 other countries have expressed interest in it. Under an unofficial agreement reached in Vancouver in September during the World Chess Federation congress, the Soviet Union has the right to pick the site. The 34-year-old Spassky is known to prefer to play outside the Soviet Union where bigger prizes are at stake. The minimum prize for the winner of the world final will be about $3,750 but this could go much higher. The loser will take home a minimum of $2,250. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 4 — Knight in 64-Square World: Fischer's Magic Will Challenge King by Robert Byrne — Buenos Aires, Oct. 28—After Bobby Fischer won the ninth game of his 12-game match with Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires' Teatro General San Martin Tuesday night, finishing their series with a blazing 6½-2½ score, the chess world buzzed with the question: How did Fischer do it? What magic did Fischer use to become the first non-Russian in 23 years to win the right to challenge the world chess champion? To win five games outright, with only one loss and three draws against Petrosian, a Soviet superstar, a former world champion, and acclaimed by many as the greatest defensive player of our era, takes some doing. Pre-match opening analysis doesn't come close to telling the story. Fischer had a small opening advantage in games five, six, seven and nine, while Petrosian started off with a considerable edge in the first three games.
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• Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 34 — Will Fischer Add His Name? by Harold Lundstrom — As the world well knows now, Robert (Bobby) Fischer has earned the right to challenge Boris Spassky for the world chess title, Bobby defeated Tigran Petrosian, former world champion, in the challengers match, 6½ to 2½ His 24 game match with Spassky will be held next April and May at a neutral site yet to be chosen by FIDE, the international chess federation that will direct the tournament. If Bobby should defeat Spassky — as we all hope — he will become the first American to be a world champion. … continues with a FALSE narrative of how the world championship came to be… Read More

• El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 10 — Bobby From Brooklyn — His fame may not yet compare with that of Willie Mays or Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, but the man of the hour in the eyes of 60 million chess players around the world is a 28-year-old high school dropout from Brooklyn named Bobby Fischer. Fischer, who won his first American title at 14, has earned the right to challenge Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the world championship of chess. He did it by disposing of grandmasters like Denmark's Bent Larsen and Russia's Mark Taimanov and Tigran Petrosian as though they were helpless black pawns trapped in an onslaught of angry white knights. It may come as a surprise to those who consider chess a pastime for monks and hermits, but there is no game played with such fierce determination and growing popularity in so many countries of the world. In the Soviet Union, for example, there are four million registered chess players. Even in the United States there now are 25,000 chess federation members, many of them youngsters attracted by the exploits of Bobby Fischer. Too long dominated by Russians, it is a game (as played by experts) that requires the kind of nerve and stamina associated with brain surgery or tournament golf. No American has won—or even been in the finals—since world championship matches first began on an organized basis in 1948. But there are those who say that 1972 will be different, that no one, not even a Boris Spassky, can beat Bobby Fischer at chess. Read More

• The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 34 — Fischer's Unnoticed Triumph — In almost any other country, Bobby Fischer would be a genuine sports hero on a part with Joe Namath, Wilt Chamberlain, or Muhammad Ali. But his current sweep toward the world's chess championship, which has made him a headline name in even the Soviet Union, has attracted about as much attention here as a rousing game of skittles. There is little doubt that Mr. Fischer is one of the best players in the history of chess, one of the world's oldest games. Before meeting Tigran Petrosian for a match that ended this week, Mr. Fischer had won 20 straight games, mos of them against fellow grandmasters. That is an incredible feat; it is the equivalent of pitching 20 consecutive no-hitters, or bowling 20 straight 300 games. From his series against Mr. Petrosian, Mr. Fischer will now go to meet Boris Spassky, the world champion from the Soviet Union. A mark of the esteem in which the Russians hold Mr. Fischer is that he is now called “Robert” in the newspapers; once they merely regarded him as an overly brash pretender to the throne. The Russians take chess seriously. A grandmaster is paid by the state to play chess. Mr. Spassky is provided with an automobile and a country home. Mr. Fischer, by comparison, makes a living from tournament prizes and exhibition games, earning less than the average middle linebacker. Perhaps chess does not fit the American temperament. In Argentina, where the Petrosian-Fischer match was held, fans lined up for tickets 12 hours before game time. But a chess match, which may run five hours, does not lend itself to instant replays or trite analysis. It is unlikely that Mr. Fischer's successes, even if he should win the championship, will bring him fame and fortune at home. But in the Soviet Union, ah — there he would be more popular on a state visit than President Nixon. Read More

• Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 16 — A U.S. Chess Master Aims at the Top — There are probably not many more competent chess players in the civilized world than there are Americans who watch professional football or the World Series on television on a Sunday afternoon. And the common or garden chess player who plays a friendly game now and then for relaxation and entertainment, is to be compared with those intense, chess-living grandmasters who rule the world of chess only as a pre-World War I Model T is to be compared with a model Rolls Royce just off the manufacturer's final test stand. There are only a handful of them in the world of modern chess, most of them—and all of the postwar world champions—have been Russians. So the news that Bobby Fischer of the United States has defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union 6½ to 2½ in a nine-game match—the last four games being straight wins—is top headline news in the chess world. Petrosian is a former world champion, and Fischer's victory gives him the right to challenge the current champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, next year. The details of the play, which took place in Buenos Aires, will be eagerly awaited by the students of the game. Fischer has been known internationally for years as a brilliant, if sometimes unpredictable player. He has been playing since he was a small boy—he is now only 28—and has never been noted for his modesty or his personal charm. He has made no bones about claiming to be the best chess player in the world, but until now he has refused to put up or shut up by entering the grueling international elimination tournaments. For winning the international chess semi-finals, Fischer will take home approximately $7,500 which is about what a topflight professional football player could expect to earn in an afternoon. But in the elegant world of top-flight chess, the rewards are in the exhausting play itself and the classic games are as familiar to every buff as are the various backfield formations to those who follow professional football. Read More

• Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 14 — World Series Of Chess — Practically every American knows what the world series of baseball is. But how many have heard of the world series of chess? By the same token, few realize what a unique chance the U.S. has of scoring a major psychological victory in the upcoming match between 28-year-old Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and world chess champion Boris Spassky, the Russian grandmaster. Russia takes its chess seriously and will go to great lengths to insure victory. That's evident from the Russian support team that accompanied Tigran Petrosian, another Soviet grandmaster, when he played Fischer in Argentina this month for the right to meet Spassky next spring for the world title. Chess matches are not called because of darkness — but the chess players do adjourn a game for the night. And their “seconds” carefully study the board, making careful calculations of the best possible moves to take advantage of any enemy weaknesses. Compared to the Russians, Fischer — the only American ever to challenge for the world title — will be going to the world tournament as a relative beggar. His only means of support will be from contributions — and whatever he can set aside from the $7,000 he received for winning the challenge position. Considering that for 23 years no one but a Russian player has reached the challenge round, some official recognition and support should be coming from the U.S. After all, young Fischer is in an enviable position to make a valuable contribution to U.S. prestige, even in Russian eyes. Supplying him with a traveling team of expert advisers seems the least we could do to show our appreciation. Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 6 — Creeping Up On Chessmasters — POWER, says Bobby Fischer, is the only thing the Russians understand. This week, Mr. Fischer and the Russians came to the most clear understanding reached between this country and their's in some years. Bobby Fischer, the irrepressible, restless U.S. chess champion, eliminated Russian stalwart Tigran Petrosian, in a Buenos Aires match and thus became the first American to qualify as final challenger to the world championship. Next spring there will be a 24-game match with Boris Spassky to determine whether one of the Russians' most prized baubles will come to the United States. In a sense, Mr. Fischer has been preparing for this match since he was six, when chess took over his life. In the last 22 years he has almost taken over chess. The Russians made the mistake of angering him. They called him lucky. In past matches, they have tried psychological harassment of him. Mr. Fischer's reaction: “The creeps.” George Bernard Shaw said that chess is “a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something very clever.” The Russians today probably would disagree. Neither a lazy nor a slow man could teach those old chessmasters new tricks. Read More

• The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 14 — Bobby Fischer Beats Russian by George Koltanowski — After a wobbly start, Robert Fischer of Brooklyn went ahead and won four games straight from the ex-world chess champion, Tigran Petrosian, 42, from Armenia, Russia. The final score was 6½-2½. Now the 28-year-old American will meet the World Champion, Boris Spassky, 34, of Russia in a 24-game match in March and April, 1972. Robert Fischer, called Bobby by his friends and chess fans, was 14 when he won the U.S. Championship, 16 when he became a Grandmaster, and maintains that at the age of 29 he will be champion of the world. He has said he will swallow the Russians and is not afraid of Spassky, who made a similar statement about Bobby. The result of beating Petrosian was forecast by most grandmasters, but all wonder at the way Fischer's opponent went under. Mark Taimanov, USSR lost six in a row. The great Dane, Bent Larsen, did likewise, and hasn't been heard of since, and now Petrosian. In the ninth and final game of the match, Petrosian mounted an all-out attack in the ending, only to find Fischer wiping out all of his pieces. When Petrosian got up to congratulate Fischer on winning the match, the tightly-packed hall of fans started to chant “Bobby, Bobby” for five-minutes, and police had to battle over-enthusiasts from jumping on to the stage. Bobby was smiling but nervous and disappeared backstage as soon as he could. Fischer received $7,500 for winning this match, plus $4,000 from the American Chess Foundation. Petrosian won $4,500. All their expenses were paid for by the Argentinean government. The match for the title next year should be a humdinger. Both players play to win. The complications will come long before the match actually takes place. First, where will the match be played? In the past 45 years the final match has always been in Moscow because both the challenger and the champion were Russians. I expect the compromise will be 12 games in Moscow and 12 games in New York, and if they cannot agree on that idea, then neutral territory in Europe. Then comes the question of financing this great event. Fischer is rumored to want $100,000 to play this match. The official recognition of World Champion dates back to 1890 — in 1972 the United States should have a World Chess Champion for the first time! ★ Read More

• The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 13 — The World — Chess grand masters Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian collide in best-of-twelve match to decide who may challenge for the world championship next spring, with __________ emerging as the winner. Fill in black. ★

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 30 — Ninth Game Chess Notations — Descriptive move-by-move notation, of the ninth Bobby Fischer-Tigran Petrosian game. White (Fischer) listed first, Black's (Petrosian) second. ★

• The Charlotte News Charlotte, North Carolina Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 7 — Chess Player Gets Argentine Award — Buenos Aires (AP) — Chess master Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union have been awarded the May Merit Order by the Argentine government for “unite the world around your chessboard.” The insignia was presented yesterday in the San Martin Municipal Theater where Fischer defeated Petrosian in a semifinal match for the world chess title. Fischer won five games, drew three and lost one in defeating Petrosian for the right to meet Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title this spring. Read More

October 30, 1971

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Saturday, October 30, 1971 - Page 30 — A Chance to Be Champion — WHEN a reporter recently asked Bobby Fischer if it would be proper to call him the best chess player in the world, Fischer replied, “You would be stupid not to.” Fischer, a Chicagoan by birth [1943], will get his chance to prove it next spring when he challenges champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world chess title. Fischer will be the first American ever to be in that position. On his part, Spassky laconically says he was “neither impressed nor surprised” when Fischer won the right to challenge him by defeating another Soviet and former world champion, Tigran Petrosian, last week in Buenos Aires. “Petrosian defeated himself alone,” Spassky says, “with his own hands.” The Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Chile, and Greece have already made firm offers to stage the 24-match championship, and 16 other countries have expressed interest in it, according to International Chess Federation president Max Euwe. The 34-year-old Spassky is known to prefer playing outside the Soviet Union where bigger prizes are at stake. The minimum prize for the winner of the World Final will be about $3,750, but this could go much higher, Euwe said. The loser will taken home a minimum of about $2,250. Fischer earned a huge following at the San Martin Theater in Buenos Aires, where he showed remarkable coolness and confidence in brushing aside Petrosian's challenge. His visit intensified a long-standing chess craze in Argentina. Bookstores are displaying in their front windows collections of technical chess manuals, and chess sets seem available in almost every store. On Thursday, Fischer and Petrosian were awarded the May Merit Order by the Argentine government for “uniting the world around your chess board.” Fischer has won the open admiration of many Soviet chess fans with his impressive victory over Petrosian. “This will be the most interesting title match in many years” was the almost unanimous reaction in a sampling of fans in Russia, where chess players are numbered in the millions and the game ranks as a major sport. FISCHER has been concentrating on changing his image. He became the United States champion at 14, a grand master at 15, and won the American championship eight times. Despite efforts to control his temper, Fischer still hates noise, flashbulbs, movement of spectators, and adjourned games. But he undeniably is a master chessman. Even Spassky calls him “a chess genius of the 20th century, along with Mikhail Tal,” Soviet former world champion whose own career was meteoric. Spassky and Fischer have played each other on one occasion, one game in the world chess Olympics in 1970. Spassky won. In fact, Spassky said before the Buenos Aires battle that he would rather play Fischer than Petrosian. “Fischer's competition results are better,” Spassky said, “but a competition is one thing and a challenger's match is another.” Millions of chess fans will have to wait and see if Fischer finally reaches the pinnacle toward which his stormy climb has been directed. His opponent is a formidable one, to say the least. Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Saturday, October 30, 1971 - Page 105 — Dream Street: The Added Lines by Bob Sylvester — Would go to Argentina to watch Bobby Fischer play chess but my mate checked me . . . ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★

• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Saturday, October 30, 1971 - Page 14 — Fischer's Feats — No cheerleaders. No bands. No strutting majorettes. But nevertheless an outstanding victory for Bobby Fischer over Russian Tigran Petrosian — and a chance to become world champion in a competitive game that spans the centuries. After a close match in the final challenge round with Petrosian in Buenos Aires, the Brooklyn High School dropout shoved his castles and bishops, his pawns and knights, to a four-game sweep. Now America's Bobby Fischer, a national champ since age 14, will meet next spring with the reigning world chess king. Boris Spassky. Bobby Fischer's feats in chess are comparable to all the heroics of a George Blanda, all the polish of a Brooks Robinson, all the flash of a Jerry West. He has been saying that he is the world's greatest chess player. He has convinced us and most of the world. Now all he has to do is convince Boris Spassky in 1972. Bobby Fischer is conducting a one-man, people-to-people program for his country. He has earned respect and recognition. His success is our prestige. And even if there are no cheerleaders — he must know the hurrahs are there. Read More

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Saturday, October 30, 1971 - Page 3 — Another Hero Near Pinnacle — One more giant step and you can add Bobby Fischer's name to the roster of kings of competition, along with such as Gordie Howe, John Unitas, Muhammad Ali and Arnold Palmer. If you haven't been following, Fischer just fought his way to a chance at the world heavyweight chess title by defeating Tigran Petrosian of Russia, the former top dog, after a tough match in Buenos Aires. Next, this 28 year-old American gets a crack at the present potentate, Boris Spassky, also of Russia, in a 24-game marathon. Sacrilege to include a cerebral giant in a list of sports figures? Not a bit. There is a physical as well as mental drain on a chess master that is as demanding as anything an athlete does on the field. I first watched Fischer in action many years ago at the Chess Mate on Livernois just off the University of Detroit campus. Fischer was the Boy Wonder then, and some detractors felt he would be burned out before long. He came to Our Town to play a simultaneous match against several combatants who paid a fee for the privilege and provided their own pieces, boards and tables. Fischer was dressed in the uniform of the trade, a tuxedo that seemed incongruous in the Sunday afternoon sun, and was charged with an almost overpowering vitality. He has broad shoulders and the quick sure motions of a highly trained athlete as he made his swing past the tables, giving only a few seconds of attention to each of some 20 opponents before moving on to the next. The master's sure touch is the key to the attraction of such a contest. Most of his adversaries were excellent players themselves, and had much more time to study their moves, sweating with concentration and the awareness of the kibitzers peering over their shoulders. The Boy Wonder lost not a single game. It wasn't long before Fischer would charge up to a board to see the king turned flat on his side, indicating surrender. But there were three people who are recalling to their friends on this day: “Let me tell you about the time I drew with Fischer.” And they remember the game move for move. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Saturday, October 30, 1971 - Page 7 — Chess Has Its Day from Derryn Hinch, “Herald” reporter in New York — FORGET BASEBALL, football, ice-hockey and all those other body-contact sports that Americans lust after at this time of year. The sport that's occupying most of the headlines here is one involving two men sitting head-to-head across a table. There are no shoulder pads, no batting helmets, no home runs, no girls in short skirts and pom-poms acting as cheerleaders. Just two men trying to humiliate each other with 32 carved ornaments on a chequered board. The game of course is chess, the centuries-old version of non-physical warfare which — thanks to a young whiz kid from Brooklyn — has produced chess-mania in the United States. The Brooklyn genius is Bobby Fischer, 28, who defeated the Russian grandmaster Tigran “Tiger” Petrosian (6½ to 2½) in Buenos Aires last week to win the right to challenge the world champion, Boris Spassky, next year. Obviously it is an exaggeration to say that the daredevil Fischer popularized chess; there are an estimated 60 million chess buffs in the world. But the young American has emerged as the Cassius Clay of the chess world — egotistical, supremely confident, colourful, and victorious. Subsequently the progress of the young chess player — with the gaunt, fanatical dedication of Ralph Nader — became big news in America. Instead of game results appearing in the chess columns they popped up on page one. As the battle for supremacy raged between the veteran Russian grandmaster and the young American, the story made the news bulletins on national television. Never before, however, had the public been given so many details about two chess-players. We learned how Fischer always kept a glass of orange juice at his elbow, how his favourite mid-game snack was a grilled kidney sandwich, how he perpetually lounged in his swivel chair. We discovered that when under pressure “Tiger” Petrosian would step behind a screen to sip coffee from a vacuum flask prepared by his wife, “a small round woman who watched her husband from the fourth row, which is actually the first row because of Fischer's request that the first three be kept empty.” Sparked by Fischer's successful “Tiger Hunt” thousands of people are dusting off their chess-boards. Read More

• Star-Phoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Saturday, October 30, 1971 - Page 4 — Chess: Fischer Moves Up by Harry Mather — By winning the ninth game in the 12-game challengers' match, Bobby Fischer of the U.S.A. won the match by a 6½-2½ score and gained the right to play world champion Boris Spassky of the U.S.S.R. for the world title next March. Play in the first games of the match was even, with Fischer winning the first, Petrosian winning the second, and then a series of three consecutive draws. However, the next four games were won by Fischer to end the deadlock in convincing manner. The final game is given below, and shows Petrosian's last ditch effort to squeeze out a win. A draw at this late stage was, of course, no use to the former champion, but Fischer's defense was quite adequate and his pawn superiority ensured his win.
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October 31, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 43 — Finalist at Last — Fifteen years ago Bobby Fischer, sometimes called “enfant terrible” of American chess, set himself the goal of playing for the world title. Since those prodigy days in Brooklyn, Bobby, now a 28-year-old bachelor, has devoted virtually all his time to chess. He has risen to the top echelons of the game and is considered a hero in chess-conscious countries—if not his own. Last week, Bobby finally achieved his goal: He defeated Tigran Petrosian of Russia in a runoff match, earning the right to play the world champion, Boris Spassky of Russia. Bobby is the first American to reach the final step in the elimination series for the world championship. Of Bobby's victory, Mr. Spassky said he was “neither impressed nor surprised.” Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 122 — Fischer Defeats Petrosian by 6½-2½ — Playing in his greatest form, U.S. chess ace Bobby Fischer won four straight games to clinch the match with former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union by a score of 6½-2½. The start of the match did not indicate any such triumph. Fischer won the first game, but lost the second. The next three were drawn, with the score at that stage, tied, 2½-2½. Then something happened. Either Petrosian weakened, losing his positional judgment, which was one of his greatest assets, or Fischer rounded into the super form that brought him 20 straight wins in grandmaster events. From the sixth through the ninth games, it was all Fischer. Petrosian would fall a bit behind in development or allow a minor weakening of his pawn formation. Such lapses occur in most games, and are rarely punished. Fischer needed nothing more to build up a superior game and relentlessly nurse it to victory. He knew when to exert pressure, when to hold the line. He outplayed Petrosian in both simple and complicated positions, with apparent equal ease. In the eighth game Fischer, with black, played the Tarrasch defense. This is designed to equalize fairly readily. In many variations pieces are exchanged early, with a draw to be expected. In view of the score this was hardly suitable for Petrosian. With his development completed, Petrosian started an advance on the king side, looking for open lines for his rooks and bishops. Fischer countered with a maneuver on the other wing. Fischer's tactics soon proved more accurate. He gained time by exchanging a pair of bishops, and was the first to get a rook into action. Petrosian gave up a pawn to keep his advance going, but this proved to be poor strategy. Fischer ended any possible danger by exchanging off the remaining bishops. The result was that Fischer had a strong passed pawn ahead.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 73 — Chess: Fischer-Spassky to be Match of Millennium by Harold Dondis — Tigran Petrosian, the Armenian tiger, the unbeatable Soviet titan, cunning, subtle, diabolical in style and strategy, has fallen to the computer mind of Bobby Fischer by a score of 6½, 2½. Fischer won the last four games. If American baseball or football champions were to lose to teams of Russian players, we might realize what a blow Bobby Fischer is now in a position to deal to the Russian spirit. World chess dominance has been the private preserve of the Russians for the last 25 years. Chess is a national game for the Soviets, cultivated in their schools, and prowess in chess has been held up high by Soviet writers as a symbol of the Soviet intellectual competence. Boris Spassky alone remains between Fischer and the world title, Spassky is the only person in the world today who conceivably has the ability to stop Fischer. Brilliant, lackadaisical, good-natured, popular Boris Spassky, is versatile, enduring and nerveless. The fantastic success of Fischer has made Spassky the most besieged champion ever to hold the crown. Spassky's Elo rating must now be far below Fischer's. Chess is a few centuries older than a thousand years. This being so, the Spassky-Fischer match in the spring surely will, indeed must, be known as the Match of the Millennium. Read More

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 9 — Another Checkmate — Writes Dr. John C. Crenshaw of 521 Dunmoreland, Shreveport … “Dear Mr. McIntyre, I enjoyed the reports on the chess win by Bobby Fischer over Tigran Petrosian, former Russian world's champion. In the last writeup, I would like to call attention to a stalemate which, while technically correct in one sense, does not do justice to American or Louisiana. “The writeup states, ‘No American has ever held the world title.’ The Encyclopedia Britannica in the 1959 edition page 428 of volume 5, lists as World Champion 1858-1859 Paul Morphy — United States (born in New Orleans, La.) By many, Paul Morphy is considered the most brilliant player of all time. “Enclosed is a copy of the writeup on Paul Morphy in the book ‘The World's Great Chess Game,’ edited by Reuben Fine. He considers him the world champion of that time but states that many consider him the ‘Champion of Champions’ and ‘most brilliant master of all times.’ Let's give Louisiana and the U.S. full credit. “For non chess player there is an excellent historical novel by Francis Parkinson Keyes titled ‘The Chess Players’ which is a fairly accurate account of Paul Morphy's life and his spectacular rise to recognition as the best player in the world. “Let us hope that Bobby Fischer can eclipse or equal the record of Paul Morphy.” ★ Read More

• Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Lubbock, Texas Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 35 — U.S. Can Lead at Chess, Maybe — A GREAT victory by Bobby Fischer, U.S. chess genius, over another grand master, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, at Buenos Aires somehow failed to attract world-shaking attention. Perhaps that was because of the competition with news that the United Nations had voted to accept Communist China and expel Taiwan. Or, perhaps, it was because the game of chess is not exactly known for its pulsating excitement. Such two-man “tournaments” require up to 12 games, which may extend over several weeks, depending on such matters as stomach aches or nervousness which might affect one of both of the contestants. A hardened old American sports writer is alleged to have said that covering a yacht race is “like watching grass grow.” Chess, except to its relatively few real aficionados, bears some resemblance to yachting. However, Fischer's feats are not without worldwide significance. The 28-year-old native of Brooklyn is on a slow march toward a showdown for the world championship with the title-holder, Boris Spassky of the USSR. The latter succeeded Petrosian. The showdown will take place next Spring, since nothing in chess ever is done in a hurry. Fischer now is so good that he probably will defeat Spassky. We hope so. These days, the Soviet Union is achieving nuclear missile superiority and is on the way to naval superiority. It has more spies abroad than any other country. So, it will be comforting if the U.S. shows em up at chess, even if it takes until next Spring. Go get 'im, Bobby! Read More

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 70 — The King's Men: Fischer Deflates Petrosian, Will Play Spassky for Title by Merrill Dowden — Thanks to the New York Times News Service, I am able to present today the score of the seventh game in the world challenge series finals between American grandmaster Bobby Fischer and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Fischer's victory at this point gave him an almost insurmountable lead of two full games. He went on, of course, to humiliate Petrosian 6½ to 2½, leaving only one man between him and the world championship. He will meet that man, Boris Spassky of Moscow, in a title match next spring. Fischer, as White, opened with his invariable 1. P-K4, and Petrosian answered with the Sicilian. After Pawn exchanges in the center, Petrosian was saddled with an isolated Pawn, the defense of which caused him problems throughout the contest.
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• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 105 — Chess Challenge Here? by G. Koshnitsky, Chess Editor — After a shaky start and steady middle the American genius, Bobby Fischer, crashed home with four straight wins to defeat former world champion, Tigran Petrosian, 6½-2½. Fischer is the first non-Soviet player to become the challenger for the world title since the World Chess Federation (FIDE) took control of the contest in 1948. He went through the quarter finals and semi-finals of the Candidates' matches with two 6-0 scores against such renowned grandmasters as Mark Taimanov of USSR and Bent Larsen of Denmark. His only loss was in the second game of the final to Petrosian, which was followed by three drawn games. Fischer final and the most difficult hurdle on the road to the world chess crown will be the 24 game match against the reigning champion, Boris Spassky of USSR scheduled for April-May next year. This will be not only a match between two great players, but also a test between two cultures. It will create greater interest than any chess contest in the history of chess. According to FIDE regulations, the challenger has the right to have the first part of the match played in his country and the second part in the country of the holder, but it is unlikely that this arrangement will be agreed to and it is almost certain that a neutral venue will be chosen. Because of interest in the unique contest many countries will make offers to stage the match which will carry a substantial purse, probably $50,000. The tremendous publicity value of the world championship makes a commercial sponsorship of the match a distinct possibility and approaches to prospective sponsors are being made in Australia. The successful country will become the centre of the chess world for the duration of the match which may last two months. Read More

November 01, 1971

• The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Monday, November 01, 1971 - Page 34 — Yvette Mimeux — “…Miss Mimieux, born in Los Angeles of a French father and Mexican mother, has become a successful puzzler. She plays chess for money on sets while other actresses knit or gossip and raves about chess champs like Russia's Boris Spassky and America's Bobby Fischer. …” ★ · ★ · ★ Read More

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Monday, November 01, 1971 - Page 13 — Country's Top 200 — With the charasmatic press being given to Bobby Fischer, I'm sure we could find people to argue with what George Bernard Shaw once said: “Chess is a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something very clever, when they are only wasting their time.” While Fischer won't be at Somerset Mall in Troy, some of the area's chess experts will be competing this week at Mike Feldman's “Crown House of Gifts” on the 5-foot-tall, $25,000 chess set sculpted by Nita Sunderland. One of the top matches pits Bob Siaffone, of the University of Detroit chess club and rated in country's top 200, against 19-year-old Steve Feldman of Oak Park, considered one of the country's brightest young players. Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Monday, November 01, 1971 - Page 51 — Fischer 'Ready' By May or June — Belgrade (UPI) — Bobby Fischer, the American chess wizard, said Sunday he will be ready to face Boris Spassky, the world chess champion, from Russia, next May or June. Fischer, 28, from Brooklyn, N.Y., became the first American to reach the final step in the elimination series for the world chess championship when he beat Russia's Tigran Petrosian last week in Buenos Aires. Fischer, interviewed by Belgrade Radio, said Spassky “may be” his toughest opponent yet. He said he would like their meeting to take place next May or June, preferably in the United States. Spassky, interviewed by the Yugoslav newspaper Vus in Moscow, said he “was neither impressed nor surprised” by Fischer's win over Petrosian because the Russian played “a petty game.” When asked to list the world's five best chess players, Spassky placed Fischer first and himself fourth. Read More

• The Signal Santa Clarita, California Monday, November 01, 1971 - Page 1 — Next Move For Challenger — Bobby Fischer, International Grandmaster and America's top chess player, became the first serious threat to end the Soviet Union's domination of the sport when he defeated Tigran Petrosian of the U.S.S.R. in Argentina last week in a challenge match. In the spring of next year, Fischer will face Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in the 24-game world championship match. In the qualifying matches, Fischer, the youngest to be named grandmaster at 16, won 24 games and lost only one. Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Monday, November 01, 1971 - Page 19 — Chess: Training for Fischer — The 1972 world championship match is still six months away, but Spassky has already begun to train for the difficult job of keeping the Russian monopoly of the title against the American challenge from Fischer. Any published games by Spassky from now on will be dissected under the microscope of Fischer and his analytical team, while the Russians will be looking for weaknesses in the challenger's play against Taimanov, Larsen, and Petrosian. This week's game, won by Spassky in the recent Russian team championship, is particularly interesting in the ccontext of the 1972 match. Spassky plays White in a variation known to be a favourite of Fischer with Black, and Spassky's opponent Stein (deliberately?) chooses an inferior move. The commentators, and Fischer himself, are left to speculate whether Spassky will adopt the same system with White next spring, or whether the game, and Spassky's rather easy win, is just a card in a sophisticated exercise in long range chess poker. Read More

November 02, 1971

• The Argus Rock Island, Illinois Tuesday, November 02, 1971 - Page 4 — Other Editors Say — King of Chess? (Chicago Daily News) — Bobby Fischer, considered by many (including himself) to be the world's best chess player, has earned a chance to become champion in fact. Overturning his grand-master opponents like so many pawns in the elimination rounds, Fischer totted up an unprecedented number of victories in his relentless march toward a confrontation with the world title-holder, Boris Spassky of Russia, next spring. The 28-year-old Fischer's daring play has won him worldwide acclaim, even in the Soviet Union, which has held a lock on the world championship for years and where Fischer had been regarded as a brash, sometimes barbaric, chess prodigy who never quite grew up. If it were anyone else but Bobby Fischer bearing this challenge to Soviet superiority, we might caution him not to let all this adulation go to his head. But Bobby seems to have room to spare for it in there. We're also tempted to wish him luck in his matches with Spassky, but there's little margin for the whims of fortune in world tournament chess. So we bid him peace — distraction-free, concentration-filled peace. Read More

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Tuesday, November 02, 1971 - Page 16 — Fischer-Petrosian Chess Match Coverage Appreciated — Editor: Thank you for the coverage given the chess match between Bobby Fischer and Petrosian. It has been a double delight because not only is our American star doing well, I am learning about the results on a current basis. Haskel Sikes Read More

• The Corpus Christi Caller-Times Corpus Christi, Texas Tuesday, November 02, 1971 - Page 14 — High Drama — While the United Nations General Assembly was busy ousting the Republic of China from the membership it has held for more than two decades, Bobby Fischer was busy changing a situation that has lasted almost as long. For 23 years, no one but a Soviet grand master has been a challenger for the world chess title. Fischer has now, by defeating Tigran Petrosian, placed himself in line to challenge world champion Boris Spassky next spring. The parallel may seem a bit far-fetched. Still, in the world of chess this outcome is a matter of high drama. Petrosian, who was world champion from 1962 to 1969, is a formidable opponent. In chess as in most sports, however, age is a significant factor. It may have been the decisive factor in this case: Spassky, at 46, [(Correction: six years difference, born 1937 vs. Fischer, 1943 putting Spassky, 34 years age approximately)] is considered already rather old for the pressures of top-level tournament play, whereas the 28-year-old American prodigy is at his peak. [(They're talking about Petrosian, I think.)] His coming match with Spassky will be a dramatic battle of skill that should interest even those who scarcely know a pawn from a king. Read More

November 03, 1971

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Wednesday, November 03, 1971 - Page 22 — Fischer Does His Country Proud — America's Bobby Fischer, the whiz-kid of chess and one of the most exciting players the game has produced in years, has scored a resounding triumph in preliminary matches with earned him the right to challenge the Soviet world champion, Boris Spassky, for the title next Spring. Admittedly chess is not widely popular in the United States. Most Americans have little idea of Fischer's high esteem in other parts of the world where chess is more common than checkers. It is the national pastime of the Soviet Union, for example, which is why Russians have held the world title since 1948. Yet Fischer has come to be regarded, even in the Soviet Union, as perhaps the most imaginative, powerful player of this century. If he wins the title from Spassky, it would be a U.S. coup of immense psychological import. His most recent victory was the match against the former world titleholder, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, known as a tough, stubborn defensive player able to salvage at least a draw from nearly any opponent. Fischer trounced him by a score of 6½ to 2½. The 28-year-old wonder from Brooklyn won five games from Petrosian, the last four of them in succession. Before that he had achieved the unprecedented feat of winning six straight games in each of two matches against players considered among the top five or six in the world — Mark Taimanov of Russia and Bent Larsen of Denmark. Chess experts have likened this to a baseball pitcher running up a string of 12 successive no-hit games. Whatever the outcome of the Spassky match — and even many a Russian feels Fischer will win it — the young genius has captured the admiration of the entire chess world and deserves the warm congratulations of his own countrymen. Read More

• The Jackson Sun Jackson, Tennessee Wednesday, November 03, 1971 - Page 19 — Professor at Lane Gains 'Music City' Chess Title — “…I am by no means, the highest-rated player in the country,” Baker says. That honor belongs to our American champion, Bobby Fischer, who's currently playing for the World's Title. I suppose I'm the third or fourth highest player in Tennessee. Although, I don't have much time to work on chess; it's just a hobby. …” Read More

• The Decatur Herald Decatur, Illinois Wednesday, November 03, 1971 - Page 6 — The Champion's Reward: Muscle Pays the Most by David Felts — Bobby Fischer's victory over the Russian master, Tigran Petrosian, in the world chess semi-finals at Buenos Aires was worth $7,500 and the right to challenge the champion, Russia's Boris Spassky. Fischer won the scheduled 12-game series when he beat Petrosian in the ninth game. Fischer's prize money was less than half the World Series share of each Pittsburgh Pirate, and only a fourth of the purse a golfer can pick up for four days tour. Chess is big in Buenos Aires and each match in the series was a sell-out. Tickets were sold by scalpers for almost double the official price — three pesos. At current exchange the Argentine peso is quoted at not quite 15 cents, U.S. So much for mind over matter, or muscle. ★ Read More

November 04, 1971

• The Hearne Democrat Hearne, Texas Thursday, November 04, 1971 - Page 3 — Brazos River Philosopher — “…I'll tell you, when a man is past his prime at 30 and old at 35, the world is moving too fast for me and probably you. But its getting even worse. Another article in the same paper reported on a chess match between Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. The Russian, former world champion, lost and the article said: “It was a bitter defeat for the 42-year-old Petrosian. He made the bid despite his age, which is considered old for the exhausting demands of tournament play.” And it added: “Fischer, 28, is at the peak of his powers, according to most chess experts.” You mean chess is even worse than football? You're at your peak at 28 and over the hill at 42? What's a man supposed to do when he's past 40? …” ★ · ★ Read More

• Rio Grande Sun Espanola, New Mexico Thursday, November 04, 1971 - Page 2 — National Prestige — Don't despair. All is not lost! Bobby Fischer, the U.S. Chess Champ will restore our national prestige at the playoff of the International Chess Tournament

November 05, 1971

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, November 05, 1971 - Page 20 — The Big Chess Match — Western Springs—The thousands of chess enthusiasts in the Chicago area appreciate THE TRIBUNE'S excellent and timely coverage of the Fischer-Petrosian world semi-final chess match. Particularly enjoyable was the inclusion of the move-by-move summary, the next best thing to a ring-side seat at the match in Buenos Aires. — James E. Warren, Director, U.S. Chess Federation.
  Evanston—Congratulations on your splendid coverage of the Fischer-Petrosian Chess Match in Buenos Aires. Yours was a better job, even to the quality of newsprint, than that of the New York Times. I look forward to reading your account, next spring, of the Fischer-Spassky match. That match, like the Ping-pong match in China, might even beget international repercussions; in which case I shall be consulting your editorials rather than those of the Times which will be too busy smearing Richard Nixon to waste time on anything else. — T.O. Mott-Smith Read More

• The Ithaca Journal Ithaca, New York Friday, November 05, 1971 - Page 18 — Fischer-Spassky: Chess Passion in Russia; Title Match in Spring by Harry Trimborn — (Los Angeles Times Service) Moscow — The park was silent and cold under a gray sky. The only sound came from crows scavenging for food in the snow. A half-dozen men in dark overcoats stood like black silhouettes in the ankle-deep snow, watching two men move small carved figures on a board resting between them on a park bench. They were playing chess. In their concentration, the two players and the onlookers ignored the cold and snow to surrender themselves to a Russian national passion succeeded in popularity only by soccer. It is a passion, assisted both morally and materially by the government, that has enabled the Soviet Union to dominate the game among the estimated 60 million chess players around the world. Russia has held the world chess championship since 1948 with the crown won by five Soviet players in succession. In fact, such dominance worries some Soviet players. They are concerned that the game is becoming “stagnant” in the Soviet Union. As one avid player put it. “We have been dominant so long in chess, and have gotten so used to winning that I think it has made us complacent. There are no great named these days. No young players are coming up. “It would be a good thing if Fischer takes the title from Spassky.” The reference was to the world championship match to be held next spring between the imperious 28-year-old American challenger, Robert J. “Bobby” Fischer and world title holder Boris Spassky, 34, of the Soviet Union.
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November 06, 1971

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Saturday, November 06, 1971 - Page 29 — Icelandic Chess Union Offer — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—The Iceland Chess Union has made an offer to the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for Reykjavik as the site for the World Chess championship between Bobby Fischer, U.S. and the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky. FIDE asked all member unions to submit offers for the venue as Fischer has categorically refused to play in the Soviet Union. Read More

• The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Saturday, November 06, 1971 - Page 50 — Game of Kings: Russians Dazed by Defeat by D.M. LeDain — Russians were stunned at the rout of their favorite, Tigran Petrosian, by Bobby Fischer. “Four games in a row. That is a little hard to take. But we've still got Spassky,” was the comment of one fan in the Moscow Central Chess Club. Aleksandr Roshal, a prominent chess coach, remarked, “It can be said that the mood of the former world champion was affected more than anything else by the sixth game. It's impact was felt through the remainder of the match.” “But” Mr. Roshal continued, “we have to admit that we cannot blame just that fateful game. Fischer is a great chess phenomenon. He possesses that rare combination of qualities that are essential for the struggle over the board. The extraordinary nature of his possibilities is demonstrated alone by the fact that he is the only foreign chess player, after a quarter of a century of domination by the Soviet grandmasters, who has really come to grips with them in the fight for the world chess crown.” The Argentine grandmaster, Miguel Najdorf, is quoted as saying, “Petrosian is a great chess player, but I think his nerves let him down. He played below his potential. Whatever happened to him?” Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Saturday, November 06, 1971 - Page 6 — Fischer's Gambit Outdid Nixon's — A 28-year-old American, Bobby Fischer, has jolted the Russian world of chess supremacy. His aggressive play annihilated Tigran Petrosian in their just completed match in Buenos Aires. Fischer told the Russians ahead of time that he was the best and he would win. Nixon and Kissinger tell Red China, ahead of time, that we would lose. This country could get by better with more Bobby Fischers and fewer Nixons and Kissingers. Barry Paul Vaughn ★ · ★ Read More

• The Evening Review East Liverpool, Ohio Saturday, November 06, 1971 - Page 8 — How's Your Nose For News? — A Quiz of the top ten contemporary headlines… ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★

November 07, 1971

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 184 — Precedent Set by City Chess Champ — Susan Solomon, 15, is fighting the Board of Education to keep her high school chess career from going to the boards. Susan Solomon, 15, former Von Steuben High School chess player who is trying to check mate the Board of Education, is not the first girl to play on a Chicago high school chess team. Virginia Waller [formerly Virginia Sheffield] was president of the Hyde Park High School Chess Club in 1929, a team that won all its matches and took the city championship. In 1933 she was the Chicago World's Fair woman chess champion. Miss Solomon, 6226 N. Harding St., was eased off the school's chess team after the Chicago Public High School Athletic Association rules girls cannot compete with boys in interscholastic competition. Miss Solomon says she and the American Civil Liberties Union plan to take the case to court. “I think the Board of Education already has set a precedent in my case,” said Mrs. Waller, who loves at 2562 Fontana Dr., Glenview. “I think she has enough ammunition.” Mrs. Waller played against World Chess Champion Dr. Alexander Alekhine, when he played 32 simultaneous games blindfolded at the 1933 World's fair. Mrs. Waller and another student once demonstrated their ability by playing blindfold chess in Marshall Field's game section. “In all the games I played, I never met another girl in competition,” said Mrs. Waller, who said she may be the first female to play high school chess in Chicago. “And I never met with any of the discrimination that Miss Solomon has run into,” she said. Read More

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 19 — Brazil Considered For Chess Match — Rio De Janeiro (UPI) — Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said Saturday the final world championship match between the United States Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky may be held in Brazil. Euwe left for Buenos Aires later in the day after spending several days hearing the case of the Brazilian Chess Federation, which asked to have the championship held there. The country hosting the championship will have to put up $30,000 in prize money. Fischer is expected in Brazil Nov. 15 to play simultaneously against 20 Brazilian chess players. Euwe said Fischer's choice of the site for the championship match would also be taken into consideration. ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 244 — What Has Bobby Fischer to Do With Music? by Harold C. Schonberg — So Bobby Fischer has done it again. The young genius of American chess has eaten up Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. That now out of the way, he will play Boris Spassky for the world's championship in the spring. There must be a lot of dithering at the Moscow Chess Club. It was not so much that Bobby beat Petrosian; it was the way he did it. Petrosian, one of the great chess technicians in history, draws more and loses less than any grandmaster. The morning line on the Fischer-Petrosian match had Fischer only a slight favorite. The betting had only a one-point spread, and the handicappers figured on a 6½-5½ finish in the 12-game match (the first player to reach 6½ points being declared the winner). But Bobby finished with a four-game winning streak, and the final score was 6½-2½. [...] No music student in history has spent more time on his art than the young Bobby Fischer spent on chess; it occupied every waking minute of his life (and still does, to the exclusion of everything else).
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• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 107 — Bowling: Game for Intellectuals by Hardy Price — Who says bowling isn't a game for intellectuals? American chess whiz Bobby Fischer had just finished a near month long match with the Russian chess master Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires. It had been a grueling month for Fischer, who in winning won the right to challenge Russian Boris Spassky for the world championship of chess next spring. So what does Fischer do after clinching the win over Petrosian? He takes off with a friend, shunning the wild victory celebration that was planned in his honor; slips out a back door and goes to a Buenos Aires bowling center where he bowls steadily until 3:30 in the a.m. Read More

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 38 — The Chessboard: Match Game a Short Draw by Harry T. Conover — An oddity in Bobby Fischer's career was the 20-move draw he played against Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in the fourth game of their match in Buenos Aires. Since it is a well known fact that the United States grandmaster always plays to win, suffice to say that early exchanges had bled the position white so that there was no play left in it. The English Opening, 1. P-QB4, selected by Petrosian, was soon turned into a Sicilian Defense by Fischer who advanced his queen bishop's pawn two squares on his first move. A position evolved in which neither side could show any advantage. After the disappearance of the heavy pieces, there was nothing left to continue the fight, so the draw was fully justified.
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• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 134 — Bobby — Featured

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 134 — Beats Dieting, Too — It isn't unusual for a football player to shed a few pounds during an afternoon of strenuous play but we're surprised to learn that American chess champion Bobby Fischer loses as much as five pounds in a single game when facing rugged competition such as he encountered in the recent semi-finals of the world title tourney in Buenos Aires. Most chess players we know have a tendency to put it on rather than take it off--attributable, no doubt, to those frequent trips to the refrigerator for refreshments while waiting for the opponent to make his move. If that problem could be solved, chess might become a new reducing fad. With winter approaching, vigorous mental exercise over a chess board should be an attractive substitute for jogging. Read More

• Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 6 — Chess Site Speculated — Rio De Janeiro (UPI) — Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said Saturday the final world championship match between the United States' Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky may be held in Brazil. Read More

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 62 — How come the 'World's Greatest Newspaper' does not have a chess column? — The interest in chess is rapidly increasing in the United States, especially with the spectacular success of Bobby Fischer, which I note gets page 1 coverage. - C. Norton Owen, Glencoe … I think the time is ripe for a chess column. - Armin Kusswurm [We agree. Keep watching.] Read More

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, November 07, 1971 - Page 59 — The King's Men: Fischer's Opening Game With Taimanov Analyzed by Merrill Dowden — When American grandmaster Bobby Fischer qualified for the quarter-finals of the world challenge series, he was favored by most observers to defeat his Soviet antagonist, Mark Taimanov. But even his most optimistic supporters were hardly prepared for his amazing 6-0 sweep against the Russian grandmaster. Fischer went on, of course, to another sweep against Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen, and in the finals defeated former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the USSR. His convincing win (6½-2½) gives Fischer a shot at the world championship now held by Boris Spassky of Moscow. Today's game was Fischer's first against Taimanov in the challenge match played at Vancouver, Canada. Taimanov drew White and opened with his beloved 1. P-Q4, and Fischer's answer to that was 1. … N-KB3, setting the stage for the King's Indian Defense.
  Fischer Offers a Sacrifice The game proceeded along book lines until Taimanov played 9. B-Q2, rather than N-K1 or N-Q2, the idea being, presumably, to exploit a weakness at K6 with N-KN5 later on. With 24. … N-N3, Fischer offered the sacrifice of the exchange, which Taimanov declined. The Russian's 25. N-Q4 (see diagram) has been questioned by no less an authority than American grandmaster Robert Byrne, who points out that this move allows Black to diminish pressure on his game. Byrne suggests 25. Q-KN3 would have developed far harder problems for Fischer to solve. Read More

November 08, 1971

• Sports Illustrated, November 08, 1971 - Page 30 — Bobby Clears The Board For The Title — The young U.S. master, after Tigran Petrosian smashed his 20-game streak, closed strong to earn a shot at the world's chess champion by Robert Cantwell — The audience in the Teatro General San Martin in Buenos Aires seemed mesmerized as Bobby Fischer took his seat in a leather desk chair and pushed his king's pawn forward two squares. P-K4. The first game of the scheduled 12-game chess match between Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and Fischer of the United States had begun as expected. Fischer, playing the white pieces, made his usual, almost inevitable first move. He pressed a lever stopping his time clock and starting Petrosian', then jotted down his move on the score sheet beside him. Two young men hurried forward from the obscurity of stage rear—one checking the move Fischer had made, the other duplicating it on a large red-and-white chessboard set against the backdrop behind the players. Twenty-seven days later, after eight games, 42 hours on the stage and a total of nearly 350 moves each, Fischer and Petrosian had come to the brink. Or rather, Petrosian had. After a four-game lapse in which he had played listlessly or ineptly, Fischer had regained his summer form and had reduced the former world champion to a pawn, a knight and a king in the ninth and, as it turned out, last game. For all that, the scene appeared much as it had when the matches began.
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• The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Monday, November 08, 1971 - Page 26 — Chess Coverage Wins Approval — I want to thank you and commend you for the splendid coverage you gave Bobby Fischer's chess match with Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, and Bassett's editorial page cartoon (I suggest he send the original to Fischer). You also wrote an editorial and had several feature articles during the match. Congratulations again. Chess needs all the publicity and encouragement it can get. It is really a tremendously interesting game, and we need several million more players in this country. John E. Herzog, Castle Shannon Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Monday, November 08, 1971 - Page 607 — Lauds Our Move — Manhattan: Your special correspondent, Mr. Byrne, is a splended writer and did a magnificent job in analyzing the Fischer-Petrosian chess match. THe article have given THE NEWS new prestige. Lillie C. ★ · ★ · ★ · ★

• The Journal Herald Dayton, Ohio Monday, November 08, 1971 - Page 21 — Chess Is A Man's Game, Computer Learns at UD — This fellow Sneaky Pete is one mediocre chess player. Sneaky Pete is a computer that had the gall to enter the third annual University of Dayton Open Tournament over the weekend. […] “At their best, computers someday will be able to reproduce the style of the great chess masters,” McBride said, but they will never replace, say, a Bobby Fischer.” ★ Read More

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Monday, November 08, 1971 - Page 14 — Brazil May Host Chess Tourney — Rio De Janeiro (UPI)—Max Euwe, President of the International Chess Federation, said today the final world championship game between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky may be held in Brazil. Euwe left for Buenos Aires today after spending several days hearing the case of the Brazilian Chess Federation, which asked to have the championship held here. The country in which the championship is held will have to offer 30 thousand dollars in prize money. Bobby Fischer is expected in Brazil Nov. 15 to play simultaneously against 20 Brazilian chess players. Euwe told reporters that Fischer's choice of where the championship should be held would be taken into consideration by the committee making the decision. Euwe himself said he was in favor of holding the championship in Brazil. ★ Read More

• Statesman Journal Salem, Oregon Monday, November 08, 1971 - Page 4 — Mark My Words: Bobby Fischer Fans To Face Checkmate by Jim Fiebig — Los Angeles — In a society that criticizes baseball for moving too slowly, it is mystery why the face of chess champion Bobby Fischer isn't popping up on sweatshirts and wristwatches. (Many Americans think a “checkmate” is someone you share a checking account with.) But Bobby Fischer has earned the opportunity to do something so extraordinary for the U.S. image abroad that his success would warrant a ticker-tape parade or even a phone call from President Nixon: In the spring — thanks to a brilliant series of play-off victories — Fischer will meet global chess king Boris Spassky of Russia for the world title. The match must be viewed in perspective: Since chess is the national pastime in the Soviet Union, a loss to Bobby by “Moscow Fats” would be akin to the Baltimore Colts dropping their title to 11 ladies from Leningrad.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, November 08, 1971 - Page 36 — Chess by Al Horowitz — Grandmaster Robert Byrne, back from Buenos Aires, will talk on the highlights of the Bobby Fischer-Tigran Petrosian match on Friday at 8 P.M. at the Marshall Chess Club, 23 West 10th Street, Admission is $3.

November 09, 1971

• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Tuesday, November 09, 1971 - Page 18 — Checkmate — Bobby Fischer's chess play is attracting attention in Russia. Speculation has it that Fischer will give Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union a real contest for the world championship when the two meet in Moscow. But naturally, the Soviets say they are not worried. Meantime, somebody ought to be worried about Susan Solomon. Susan, for those who haven't heard, is the 15-year-old high school junior who was dropped from her school's chess team by the Chicago board of education. It seems that there is a rule which makes women ineligible for interscholastic competition. Susan has been checkmated — even though she knows how to play by the game rules. It's the extra man-made rules that often snag female ambition. Really, rulesmakers. You can't say there is a locker room problem for a chess match. ★ Read More

November 10, 1971

• Kenosha News Kenosha, Wisconsin Wednesday, November 10, 1971 - Page 6 — Bobby's Name in Lights — Who comes to mind when you think of sports personalities? Vida Blue, Kareem (Lew Alcindor) Jabbar, Joe Namath, Bobby Fischer. Bobby who? Fischer's name may not be on the lips of the average American now, but it soon may be. Fischer's sport is that unathletic but mind exhausting game of chess. What is putting Fischer's name in lights is the fact that he is the best chess player the U.S. has produced and there is a good chance that he could wrest the world championship from its traditional domicile—the Soviet Union. Fischer just soundly trounced a Russian former world champion in a tournament in Buenos Aires and will meet the current world champion—also a Russian—next spring. If this doesn't make the average American sports fan's blood run quicker, it does stir people outside their borders. An overflow crowd of 3,000 was on hand to observe Fischer working over the Russian in his latest victory. And visitors to the Soviet Union say that Fischer already is a household word there. If Fischer comes home a world champion next year, don't be surprised as parents when your offspring demand a chess set instead of a baseball glove, and then only a set endorsed by the master. Read More

November 11, 1971

• The Daily Notes Canonsburg, Pennsylvania Thursday, November 11, 1971 - Page 4 — Bobby Wins — Bobby Fischer recently decisively defeated the last man who stood between him and the world chess champion, Russia's Boris Spassky. Fischer won over Tigran Petrosian in the ninth of twelve programmed games, his fourth straight elimination series triumph. Thus the 28-year-old high school dropout became the first American ever to reach the final battle in world championship eliminations. Next spring he and Spassky will meet in the most closely watched chess match in the history of the game. Whether he wins or not, Fischer has electrified the chess world, and like Winston Churchill before him, has proved that an unimposing school record need not be a permanent handicap in life. Interest and learning concentration, as many teacher know, are often the roads to achievement, regardless of academic grades. ★ Read More

• The Independent-Record Helena, Montana Thursday, November 11, 1971 - Page 4 — Victories of a Genius — The Times (London) — Bobby Fischer's victory over Tigran Petrosian in the candidates' tournament in preparation for the world chess championship was a thrilling encounter. Certainly, the result was expected. The American is not a champion who lets his admirers down. He is enjoying a run of breathtaking successes, which has never been paralleled in the annals of chess. Bent Larsen, the Danish master, who had the temerity to claim that he should rightfully occupy number one board, over Fischer in second place, in the recent match between the Rest of the World and Russia, was trounced 6-0 in the semifinals of the present championship. . . Chess, sometimes described as too serious for a game and too slight for an art, has one peculiar advantage over other kinds of contest. All the games of the past hundred years can be played out, move by move, by each new generation of players. Many of Fischer's games are destined for such immortality. Though Fischer has no doubt of his own ability he has yet to attain the highest rung in the chess world. This is what makes his match against Boris Spassky next spring so absorbing a prospect. Spassky is certainly the best chess player in the Soviet Union, which has for so long had a monopoly of the world championship. He, like Fischer, has powers which no opponent for some time has been strong enough to test to the full . . . Fischer on this occasion must beware of overconfidence. Whatever the outcome, chess stands to be greatly enriched. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, November 11, 1971 - Page 44 — Chess: Soviet Team Tournament Casts Its Shadow Before by Al Horowitz — The annual Soviet team championship tournament, held this year at Rostov-on-Don, is of special interest to chess fans. The winner was a team of students, which triumphed on tie-breaking points over a team representing the Army. Actually, however, the categories by which the teams were designated were sufficiently vague so that all of the top players available took part one way or another, and nearly every team had a grandmaster on the first board. Thus, the event is of interest because the play among the top boards of the various teams constituted a strong tournament in itself. The winner this year was the former world champion Mikhail Tal, who scored 4½ points out of 6. The current world champion, Boris Spassky taking time out from preparation for his forthcoming match for the title against Bobby Fischer, won three games, two of which are presented below.
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November 12, 1971

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Friday, November 12, 1971 - Page 34 — Fischer Takes On 20 At Once — Rio De Janeiro (AP) — U.S. Chess Master Bobby Fischer is expected to play 20 simultaneous games against some of Brazil's best players next week, officials of the Rio De Janeiro Chess Federation reported here Wednesday. Fischer is still in Buenos Aires where he outplayed Soviet Master Tigran Petrosian, and won the right to play a series of games for the world title against present champion Boris Spassky, also of the Soviet Union. Fischer was expected to arrive here some time next week. The Federation wants to include Brazil's 18-year-old Master Henrique Mecking among those who will face Fischer. It was not confirmed whether Mecking will be able to participate. Read More

November 13, 1971

• The Decatur Herald Decatur, Illinois Saturday, November 13, 1971 - Page 4 — Robert — Now that Bobby Fischer is beating the Russian masters at chess, and may be champion of the world within a year, isn't it about time to start calling him Robert? ★ · ★

• The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina Saturday, November 13, 1971 - Page 4 — Sports Fans Differ — As an example of the strangeness of the world of sports, Bobby Fischer's name is well known in the Soviet Union, while the majority of Russians would look blank at the mention of George Blanda and ask Vida who? On the other hand, a good many sports fans in the United States might have trouble spelling out Mr. Fischer's exploits, even if he is an American and a world chess champion. The difference is just one of those little quirks in national tastes, whether it's sports or politics. Read More

• The San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California Saturday, November 13, 1971 - Page 22 — More Chess News Urged — You probably know better than I the interests of the newspaper-reading public, but I would like to speak for myself. I was disappointed in the meager coverage given to the recent Fischer-Petrosian chess match. If you think it is newsworthy, I would like to see a blow-by-blow account of the upcoming world championship match between Fischer and Spassky. Another suggestion — have you considered the possibility of a “chess column” as you do with bridge? Chess has no superior as an intellectually stimulating, exciting pastime. Maybe the reason for Russia's supremacy in this field is that governmental and news-media bodies there wholeheartedly support it. Harold K. Kirchner, Redlands. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, November 13, 1971 - Page 5 — He moves . . . he checkmates! — Chess is far from being the most publicized of games, but there are few that are so widely played or have such devoted fans. The extent of this interest was reflected in the world-wide attention paid to the semi-final contest for the international championship which concluded recently in Buenos Aires. It was a highly dramatic battle, in which the rising young American star Bobby Fischer finally defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Next year Mr. Fischer will play Boris Spassky, also of the Soviet Union, for the world championship. The battle between Fischer and Spassky should be a notable chapter in the history of the game, as well as one of the safest ways to sublimate the cold war. In view of the widespread interest in Canada, we wonder if the CBC couldn't televise some of the games for the benefit of Canadian chess buffs — who are just as devoted to watching the moves and arguing about them afterwards as any “hot stove league” hockey fans. Read More

• The Corpus Christi Caller-Times Corpus Christi, Texas Saturday, November 13, 1971 - Page 58 — Matching Wits Royally: It's Your Move, Mate! — “…W.F. Weaver, who has been active in the club since moving here in 1942, said increased publicity is a main reason for the games' increasing popularity. He added that American chess champion Bobby Fischer also has a lot to do with it. “Fischer will be meeting the Russian champion next spring for the world championship. Increased coverage will occur as the championship match nears.” Fischer is in his late 20s. ★ Read More

November 14, 1971

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 56 — The King's Men: Fischer-Larsen Series Is Annotated by Byrne by Merrill Dowden — The chess world has not yet recovered from Bobby Fischer's incredible 6-0 sweep over Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen in the semifinals of the Candidates' Matches. Since then, of course, Fischer has gone on to defeat former world champion Tigran Petrosian to qualify for a shot at the title now held by Petrosian's compatriot, Boris Spassky. The championship match will take place next spring. Writing in Chess Life and Review, American grandmaster Robert Byrne says that in the Fischer-Larsen match, “the Fischer play is at once creative and virtually free from errors. Scarcely less impressive is the consistent success he has had with his openings repertoire. He seems to avoid any real trouble with Black and almost always has something going for him with White.” Fischer opened the first game with the inevitable 1. P-K4 and Larsen replied with 1. … P-K3, setting up the French Defense. Byrne, who annotated the series, called the French “an excellent choice of defense against Fischer, since he does not handle the close game with quite the same peak of brilliance that he gives to wide open games.” On the other hand, Byrne points out, Larsen had not employed the French for several years and could hardly acquire a perfect feel for it, even considering the intensive months of analysis he must have spent preparing for the match. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 32 — The Strange Malady Called 'Fischer-Fear' by Harold C. Schonberg — Robert J. Fischer, the scourge of international chess, the terror of four continents (only because he has not yet played in the global provinces), the man with the computer mind, the flawless intellect of chess, the machine, the crusher of egos who likes to watch them wriggle when impaled on the gang hooks of a profound combination, is a young giant of a man going on 29 who acts and talks like an adolescent and has the appetite of a growing boy (recent breakfast:extra-large orange juice, four eggs sunny-side, toasted bagels, melon, milk, fruit salad). He is a growing boy famous enough to be invited to appear on the Dick Cavett and Mike Douglas shows, to be the subject of numerous in-depth interviews, and who most likely will be the next chess champion of the world. Single-handed, he has made the ancient game of chess glamorous enough to have the man in the street talking about it, and to evoke editorials and front-page stories in The New York Times. Whoever heard of chess before Bobby Fischer came along?
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• St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 46 — 'But That's Chess' — What is the most grueling sport? Auto racing, boxing, football, bicycle riding . . .? Of course not, it's chess. Aficionados of the sport of kingmakers have been telling us this for a long time. One more example has been provided by the titanic struggle between America's Bobby Fischer and Russia's Tigran Petrosian. Mr. Fischer, the winner will have a chance to become the first American world champion in his upcoming tournament with the present title-holder, Boris Spassky, also of Russia. The massive concentration on thousands of delicate alternatives, the nerve-shattering quiet, the protracted agony of uncertainty over a crucial move, the queasiness as the match begins to turn in the opponent's favor—these are the traumas that demoralize strong, proud men, that twist the intellect into knots of manic depression. In the contact sports, a player can relieve his tension but in chess the loser sits in a spotlight of knowing smiles while his vanity drips upon the checkered field like life's blood. Mr. Petrosian, we are told by news reports, “made the bid despite his age (42), which is considered old for the exhausting demands of tournament play. Fischer, 28, is at his peak.” Even boxers, who in 10 rounds may use their legs more than a baseball player does in a season, have won world championships at more advanced ages. It's sad to be over the hill at 42. But that's chess. Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 48 — Chess Champion Bowls To Checkmate Tensions — Bobby Fischer, the young U.S. master who won a shot at the world's chess championship, topped off his hectic tournament in Buenos Aires by bowling steadily until 3:30 in the morning, according to a story in Sports Illustrated. ★ · ★ Read More

• Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 79 — Mills-Touche' — Chess (if you'd like to emulate Bobby Fischer) . . .

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 233 — Chess: Fischer Never Fails To Astound by Al Horowitz — In a way, it is much easier to write retrospectively of Bobby Fischer's 5½-2½ triumph over former world champion Tigran Petrosian than it was to write of his consecutive 6-0 victories against Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov, or his Danish semi-final opponent Bent Larsen. After the Taimanov match, everybody was simply astounded that one of the candidates to challenge the world champion could beat another so decisively. After he did the same to Larsen, however, it began to appear as if Fischer's opponents were like the poor knights in some fairy-tale who, arriving sometime before the hero, ride out to slay the dragon and are devoured instead. Petrosian, however, scored 2½ points. While that doesn't exactly make him St. George, he was no mere dragon-fodder either, and so one can write about his defeat not as if it were a fairy-tale, but as if it were a chess match; it becomes somehow meaningful again to say that the better player won. At the beginning, though, it was well-nigh irresistible to look on Petrosian as a mere mortal setting out to do battle against a somewhat superhuman foe. How else explain the spontaneous outburst of the audience, the impassioned cries of “Tigran! Tigran!” that greeted the ex-world champ after he won the second game? Fischer, it is reported, was suffering from a cold that was, during that game, so severe that he could hardly see the board. Now a cold is a pretty good sign of human fallibility, all things considered. Even more so was Fischer's decision‐as bad an error as leaving one's queen en prise, and as costly — to play when he was physically indisposed: he did have a right to postpone the game. It is almost as if he refused to admit that he is human after all. After the disaster of the second game, Fischer looked very mortal indeed. He was also lost in the third game, but somehow managed to draw. After the fourth and fifth games also resulted in draws, it began to look as if Petrosian was applying, successfully, the same squeeze tactics with which he had vanquished his two previous opponents: he would, by relying on better nerves and greater staying power, wear Fischer down until he collapsed under the strain. But by the sixth game Fischer's cold was better and soon it was Petrosian's turn to be sick. Petrosian, in an interview he gave sometime before the match, reportedly remarked that he did not think Fischer's play of sufficiently high caliber to rank him among the top grandmasters and that if Bobby somehow got past him, he would lay 5-1 odds on world champion Spassky when Fischer came to play for the title. Now Petrosian is not a stupid man, and there is no use mailing bets to him care of the Russian embassy; he was simply striking a shrewd psychological blow that did, indeed, have some of the effect he desired; Fischer was infuriated. Unfortunately for Petrosian's calculations, however, he was infuriated not to rashness, but to greater and greater accuracy, and thus won the last four games of the match in a way that conveys the impression that he is off on a new streak of victories that may well break his old record. Whether world champion Boris Spassky is suited to the role of St. George, only time will tell. Read More

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 2 — New Column — Bobby Fischer, a New York bachelor who may become the first American to be world chess champion, has brought a new national interest in the ancient game. The interest is reflected in a new feature. “The Chess Column,” which is on page P8 of today's Bee. “The Chess Column” is written by two Sacramento-area experts, Richard E. Fauber who has a national rating of 2173, and Frank J. Garosi who is a B player rated at 1727. Read More

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, November 14, 1971 - Page 102 — The Chess Column: Bobby Fischer's Big Victory by Richard E. Fauber and Frank J. Garosi, Special to the Bee. — Robert Fischer has become the first American in 64 years to earn the right to challenge the world champion of chess. In the matches completed last month, Fischer did not just defeat his rivals, he crushed them. Against three of the very best of the world's grandmasters, he won 17 games, drew three and lost only one. Such a feat has never occurred in chess before. Sports analogies are treacherous but the closest we can come would be Vince Lombardi winning every football title from 1960-1967. Boris Spassky, the world champion, defeated his collective opponents by 18½-10½ (draws count ½ in chess competition) in 1965 and by 17½-8½ in 1968. Spassky won convincingly, but allowed frequent draws among his victories; Fischer swept through 13 straight victories before he suffered a setback. The U.S. chess-rating system, now adopted by the International Chess Federation, rates Fischer the strongest player of all time. Yet Spassky has won three games from Fischer and never lost to him in international competition. Fischer is the lonely genius, self-trained and self-motivated. Spassky is the product of the most rational and organized training program any nation has devised to breed great chess talents. Paradoxically, in their styles Fischer is the master of technique and Spassky the hero of inspired improvisation.
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November 15, 1971

• The Argus Rock Island, Illinois Monday, November 15, 1971 - Page 4 — The Lighter View — A Brooklyn high school dropout Bobby Fischer, has beaten the ex-champion of chess and is favored to dethrone the present champion, Russia's Boris Spassky, in the spring. Now to put the Chinese Reds in their place we will have to develop a Ping Pong champion.

• Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz, California Monday, November 15, 1971 - Page 19 — A Thank-You — Editor: Thank you for running the stories about the recent chess match between Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian. We enjoyed them very much, and look forward to reading about the match next spring between Fischer and Boris Spassky for the world championship. Karl Marhenke and H.P. Zieler Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Monday, November 15, 1971 - Page 8 — Speeding up chess by Leonard Barden — The fever in Buenos Aires during Bobby Fischer's world championship eliminator against Petrosian, was, paradoxically, a case of enthusiasm for a brand of chess which in many countries now attracts only a minority of active players. The world title qualifiers were times at the standard international rate where each opponent has two and a half hours on his clock to make 40 moves. Tournaments held on this basis may take several weeks to complete and, because of spiraling costs, they are less and less practical for the ordinary player outside the small circuit of European professionals.
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• The Times-News Twin Falls, Idaho Monday, November 15, 1971 - Page 4 — Presidential Phone Call — Presidential telephone calls of congratulation or condolence to football and baseball locker rooms are almost commonplace, but somehow we have the feeling there is no need for Bobby Fischer to sit by his telephone.

November 16, 1971

• The News and Observer Raleigh, North Carolina Tuesday, November 16, 1971 - Page 4 — Chess Fan Wants More Chess News — To the Editor: Thanks, anyhow, for your Sunday printing of Harold Schonberg's fine essay on chess and music, which obviously was inspired by Bobby Fischer's victory over former world chess champion Petrosian in the finals of the world elimination matches to determine the next challenger for the world's championship. Unfortunately, The News and Observer completely ignored this internationally significant event while it was going on. For almost the whole month of October, I looked in vain for some report on the progress of the match in your news columns. Although the TV networks reported the final outcome on at least four news programs, you still failed to bestow your recognition. Just what news do you consider important enough to print? If Fischer were a Russian, he would be regarded as a national hero, but in America, to which he has brought more honor than the Olympic games, he is treated as a nobody by the press. In Buenos Aires, where the match was held, his feat drew headlines, and Fischer himself ruefully observed: “Around the world I am better known than Joe Namath, but at home hardly anyone except chess players knows who I am.” For shame! It is certainly to be hoped that you try to make amends next spring, when Fischer attempts to bring the world chess title to America for the first time in [*recent recollectable, aka Paul Morphy, 1859] history. W.M. Hobson, Dunn. Read More

November 17, 1971

• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, November 17, 1971 - 121 — Tark: Tucker Number 1—And Still Catching On — Tarkenton is not an altogether disinterested observer. Tucker is not only his teammate and favorite target (twice as many catches as any other Giant), but also his roomie on the road where they while away the hours playing either a juvenile game called Battleship, or chess. Tucker is the chess master known for his non-stop series with Ron Johnson and he's initiating Tarkenton into the game. “YOUR MIND'S really got to be flying to play that game and I'm learning there is a correlation to football,” Tarkenton pointed out, adding that he's become an avid Bobby Fischer fan the last few months. Chess also requires concentration, a necessity in pass receiving, as well as other phases of football. Read More

• The Kingston Daily Freeman Kingston, New York Wednesday, November 17, 1971 - Page 32 — Clear Path For Giants' New Home — Hackensack, N.J. (UPI)— A superior court judge ruled Tuesday that the act creating the New Jersey Sports Authority is constitutional, removing a major obstacle in bringing a stadium, a racetrack and the New York football Giants to the Garden State. Judge Morris Pashman issued his 114-page ruling on four suits, including one by the state, testing the constitutionality of the authority and the act that created it. The complex, housing a stadium and race track, will be built on 750 acres of the Hackensack Meadowlands at a cost estimated between $150 million and $250 million. Pashman's decision featured quotes from notables ranging from Plato to Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub of the New Jersey Supreme Court and referred to Bobby Fischer, the chess player. Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin's visit to a hockey team in Canada and several athletes … ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ Read More

• The News Paterson, New Jersey Wednesday, November 17, 1971 - Page 8 — Sports Plan Ruled Legal — The judge mentioned a standing ovation given Russian Premier Alexei Kosygin in Canada at a hockey game on Oct. 23, Bobby Fischer who is on his way to winning the international chess championship, as examples that, “sport is truly an international language; through it we read the minds and hearts of the fellow members of our community, state and nation — yes, even the world community.” “The exposure of more people to professional sport is of over-riding public importance and for the public welfare,” the judge decided, adding, “I believe that the decision reached is supported by the overwhelming preponderance of principle, philosophy and sounder legal authority.” Read More

• The News Paterson, New Jersey Wednesday, November 17, 1971 - Page 62 — Chess Master Visits, Plays At Ramapo HS — A tournament player for more than 30 years, the grand master was played against Bobby Fischer, whose rise to stardom was traced for the audience.

November 18, 1971

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Thursday, November 18, 1971 - Page 22 — World Chess Title May Be In Brazil — Belgrade (UPI)—World chess champion Boris Spassky described the proposal of the Brazilian Chess Federation to stage the world title fight against Bobby Fischer as “very interesting,” the news agency Tanjug said today. Spassky, in an exclusive interview with Yugoslav grand master Svetozar Gligoric, said that “Europe and South America suit me better than anywhere else.” Gligoric informed Spassky that challenger Fischer wanted to play the match in the United States, and mentioned Canada as a second possibility, Tanjug said. In reply, Spassky said that “the climate would cause him the most serious problem.” He said he wanted the negotiations to be completed to have the site and the time of the match fixed as soon as possible. The world title fight is expected to take place sometime next spring. Read More

November 19, 1971

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, November 19, 1971 - Page 20 — Our Chess Coverage — Chicago—As a member of the board of directors of the Chicago Chess Club, I wish to join the many chess players in the Chicago area who have written to express appreciation for the coverage given in THE TRIBUNE to the recent Bobby Fischer-Tigran Petrosian match in Buenos Aires, Argentina. No other newspaper in this part of the United States covered the match to include the move-by-move summary following result. I would like you to know that this point was a subject of constant comment among members of the Chicago Chess Club. George N. Leighton, Justice, Appellate Court of Illinois Read More

November 20, 1971

• Standard-Speaker Hazleton, Pennsylvania Saturday, November 20, 1971 - Page 3 — Q: Does chess champ Bobby Fischer have any girls in his life? --T.T., Garden City, N.Y. — A: The chess champion is a handsome 28-year-old who lives and breathes chess. This, in spite of the fact that chess purses are skimpy, though officials are hoping eventually to put together a world purse of between $25,000 and $50,000. Bobby's only other outlet is bowling. As for love, he spends his nights staying up playing chess matches with himself. ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ Read More

• The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, November 20, 1971 - Page 48 — He Makes Them Sick — All three of Bobby Fischer's opponents in the recent Knockout Challengers match series (Taimanov, Larsen and Petrosian) became indisposed half way through and had to have their next scheduled game postponed a few days. They all recovered but there was marked listlessness in their further efforts, as if they had given everything earlier and had reached the point of no return.
  Cried All the Way to the Bank The results against Taimanov and Larsen (6-0 in both cases), have been noted in some quarters as unnecessarily brutal. But Fischer, a no nonsense professional doesn't waste time on misplaced sentiment. The idea is to win, and as quickly as possible. In the best of ten games match with Taimanov, the Vancouver organizers asked the principals if they would complete the last four games as 'exhibitions'. The Russian was willing but Fischer refused, unless paid 'pro rata'. In that match he was awarded a $2,000 prize. Each session lasted an approximate five hours, a total of 30 hours for the whole match, for a return of roughly $65.00 per hour. The same applies to his match with Larsen at Denver. At Buenos Aires in his nine game match with Petrosian he did even better. His prize was $7,500 for 45 hours work, a return of $165 per hour. If he could keep this up on a 40 hour per week basis for a year it would put him in the millionaire class (6% interest on a million). But the Croesus of the chess world has other ideas, as he is reported to have said in a public statement after the match that when he becomes champion he will set the prices. Wonder what the controlling body, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) will do about that if he is not satisfied with the bids offered and refuses to play? Read More

• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Saturday, November 20, 1971 - Page 20 — Chess As A Spectator Sport — In the United States, chess as a spectator sport ranks so far below football, basketball, baseball and hockey that it's practically invisible. In Buenos Aires the other day, a crowd of fans gathered outside the huge San Martin Theater to cheer an American, Bobby Fischer, who had just defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in a 12-game match for the right to challenge the world champion, another Russian named Boris Spassky. Bobby modestly slipped out the back door, and most of the fans charitably pretended they didn't recognize Petrosian as he left the theater. Chess is big in Argentina. It was a tough match. Fischer occasionally clutched his head and sipped orange juice to break the tension. Petrosian drank coffee brewed backstage by his wife. Fans follow the action on big electronic chessboards, cheering the success of an audacious pawn sacrifice and groaning when their favorite is out-maneuvered. Yay, Bobby! Right on! Hang in there, man, and good luck to your French Defense (whatever that is)! Read More

November 21, 1971

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, November 21, 1971 - Page 79 — The Chess Column: Fischer's Game Has Matured by R.E. Fauber and Frank J. Garosi —The game of chess has a beauty and seductiveness of universal appeal. A decree of 1255 forbade the clergy of Beziers to play the game lest it detract from their devotion to God. Vladimir Lenin had to eschew chess because it took too much time from his revolutionary activities. The ethereal Marcel Duchamp abandoned his brilliant painting career to devote all his energies to the chessboard. Down-to-earth Humphrey Bogart avidly sought out chess opponents wherever his film career took him. It is our aim to present chess for a wide audience so that they may gain a clearer understanding of the principles that give the game its form and a greater appreciation of the beauties that give it its ages-old attraction. Our primary focus will be on chess as it is played in the Sacramento Valley by publicizing the competitions of its chess clubs and the most hotly contested games of its players. We invite the broadest participation by readers through letters of comment, criticism, or praise, and we urge readers to send us their most interesting games for possible publication. Perhaps the strangest truth about chess is that one's style as a chess player faithfully mirrors the nature of one's character. It quite frequently happens that an improvement in one's personality is accompanied by greater strength at play, while character faults prove also to be chess weaknesses. It may be worthwhile to examine a game by Robert Fischer, the current challenger for the world championship, when he was only 14. At that time he was famous for the violence of his direct attacks against the enemy king. The essence of Fischer's genius was the deeply felt aggression and hostility he felt for a world he thought (rather realistically) had treated him badly.
  Black's last two moves have been rather passive, and this provides sufficient justification for Fischer to decide to open lines for a direct attack on the king. The problem here is that Black's position is not sufficiently compromised to warrant such brusque treatment. Fischer's line-opening maneuver by 11. P-KB4 permits Black a counter thrust in the center which will secure ample piece activity to counter all direct aggression.[...] One of the signs of Fischer's maturity today is that he has successfully curbed such impatience. He still plays aggressively, but he has successfully channeled aggression and hostility into a search for permanent values at the chessboard. This combination of unrelenting aggression and reverence for permanent values makes Fischer at the chessboard what today's youth is, occasionally in the streets, but always in their secret hearts.
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, November 21, 1971 - Page 128 — Chess by Isaac Kashdan: Tournament Books — With the phenomenal recent successes of Bobby Fischer, now the official challenger for the world chess championship, all books by him or about him are in demand. An example is “Fischer 1970” the booklet prepared by this editor which contains all the 73 match and tournament games he played last year. The first edition was sold out, and it has now been reprinted by the U.S. Chess Federation. Fischer was awarded the Chess Oscar for 1970 as player of the year. He scored 80% against top competition, one of the best records ever compiled in grandmaster chess. Included in the 25 pages of the book are comments on each game, tables and introductions to each event, and a general summary of Fischer's activities. The printing is offset from original typed copy. The price is $1.75. Other books in this series, also by this editor, contain all the games of the Buenos Aires Tournament and the Amsterdam Tournament of 1970. Buenos Aires was one of Fischer's greatest triumphs, in which he finished 3½ points ahead of the field. There are 153 games in 36 pages, selling at $2. … Read More

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, November 21, 1971 - Page 34 — The Chessboard: 6th Game a Turning Point — The sixth game of the match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union appears to have been the turning point in their contest to choose a challenger for the world championship. As the two grandmasters sat down to play, each had won a game and drawn three for a score of 2½-2½. The game was adjourned on the 41st move with Fischer as Black holding a slight advantage. The next day the American methodically squeezed out the win in a difficult position after 66 moves. The seventh game was played the following day and Fischer again was the winner. Apparently the strain of the long sixth game struggle had told on Petrosian. The prospect of having to face Fischer again in the eighth game obviously was too much for the Russian who suffered a nervous disorder. When Petrosian was able to resume play Fischer went on to win the next two games, the match, and the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next year for the world title. Read More

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, November 21, 1971 - Page 57 — The King's Men: Larsen Has to Scuttle the French, then Fischer Attacks his Sicilian by Merrill Dowden — Last week this column carried the first game of the Fischer-Larsen match in the world challenge series. In it, Larsen as Black, adopted the French Defense. He is believed to have spent much time attempting to perfect the French in anticipation of Fischer's 1. P-K4. However, Fischer tore the defense to shreds and Larsen, disheartened, abandoned his game plan and turned to the Sicilian in the third game of the match, which is given below. American grandmaster Robert Byrne, who annotated the games, points out that the Danish champion erred seriously on his eleventh turn, when he played Q-B1. “A blunder as serious as this,” Byrne said, “coming so early in the game, can only be explained by the demoralizing effect of his two successive losses.” Otherwise, Byrne continued, “I think anyone would instinctively avoid setting up QN3 as a fork square, especially when a Knight has a quick access to it. His idea, for what it is worth, was to put counter pressure on the K-BP, hoping to compel resolution of the tension in the center.” Read More

November 22, 1971

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Monday, November 22, 1971 - Page 19 — Chess: Opening of the Champions by Leonard Barden — While Dr. Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation conducts a dignified auction venues among Rio de Janeiro, Zurich and Bogota for next spring's world title match, Spassky and Fischer are backed by miniature armies of helpers. Already the respective trainers, seconds, and opening assistants will be delving into dusty and yellowing tournament bulletins for complete details of the opposing contender's style and repertory. The bulging dossiers in both New York and Moscow will surely include thick wads of variations on an opening which has already figured in two of the six previous encounters between Spassky and Fischer. The pawn exchange in the Grunfeld Defence (1. P-Q4, N-KB3; 2. P-QB4 P-KN3; 3. N-QB3 P-Q4; 4. PxP). Fischer's favourite reply to the queen's pawn, is one of the obvious battlefields in the match. Fischer got an equal opening in Santa Monica, 1966, and even the better position in last year's world team championship; but Spassky squeezed out a win from a tiny endgame advantage in California, while in the team event game he notched the full point in spite of a dubious speculative pawn sacrifice. Grandmaster opinion has it that Spassky will hardly dare push his luck a third time. The spice of this situation has already stimulated other players to try to anticipate any possible discovery. Novelty and innovation in chess is, in particular, a challenge to youth. It is no accident that two recent games quoted this week in the 'Spassky v. Fischer Grunfeld' both come from junior internationals—one a tournament in Hungary, the other the world under-20 championship in Athens. Read More

November 23, 1971

• The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Tuesday, November 23, 1971 - Page 44 — Montessori: Learn by Doing — If it looks as though your son is not turning out to be the Clarence Darrow or Bobby Fischer of your dreams, you may be able to rescue some of his brain-drain at home. … If your son is a budding Bobby Fischer, he will show it. If he is a more likely prospect to weld automobile fenders, he'll let you know. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Tuesday, November 23, 1971 - Page 17 — Follow The Champions — Bobby Fischer, the young American chess genius, has won the right to challenge Boris Spassky (Soviet Union) for the world championship. The match is expected to be played during next May or June. Fischer, now 28 years old, is the most remarkable chess player since another American, Paul Morphy, flashed like a comet over the chess world in the mid-nineteenth century. Morphy was so good that Howard Staunton of England, acknowledged until then as world champion, dodged a meeting. Fischer won the right to challenge by trouncing Tigran Petrosian (Soviet Union) in their recent match in Buenos Aires. Here is the historic final game that clinched the match for Fischer. It is specially annotated for Looking Behind the News by John Purdy, former Australian champion.
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November 24, 1971

• Florida Today Cocoa, Florida Wednesday, November 24, 1971 - Page 12C — 'It's Your Move, Boris' — With sales of low-priced chess sets already swollen by Bobby Fischer's victory in the semi-finals of world championship play, chess set makes are looking for bigger sales this Christmas season and a possible boom next spring when Fischer meets Russia's Boris Spassky for the world crown. Read More

November 25, 1971

• The Daily American Somerset, Pennsylvania Thursday, November 25, 1971 - Page 2 — Chess Game Helps Two Prisoners Escape — Pittsburgh (AP) — The game of chess has become an escape for a couple of inmates at Western Penitentiary here. The two were permitted to play in out-of-prison matches and never returned. The prisoners 'won' their freedom during recent tournaments at Carnegie-Mellen University, and have yet to be recaptured.
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• Battle Creek Enquirer Battle Creek, Michigan Thursday, November 25, 1971 - Page 26 — Psychology Dictates Chess Player's Game — Correspondent James E. Britton, a chess enthusiast, has written this article on the psychology of chess in view of the upcoming world chess championship next spring. American Bobby Fischer recently won the right to challenge current champion Boris Spassky of Russian by defeating another Russian, Tigran Petrosian, in a series of matches in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Woodford County Journal Eureka, Illinois Thursday, November 25, 1971 - Page 12 — Varsity Chess Team Places Fourth in Alton Tourney — History repeated itself once against as the RBHS varsity chess team took fourth place in the Alton Chess Tournament for the fourth straight year. Each year the teams missed a trophy by one place. Although Mr. Morrison, chess club sponsor, is somewhat disappointed about missing a trophy so narrowly again, he feels the team did an excellent job …
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• The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Thursday, November 25, 1971 - Page 277 — Fischer, Musician Share Common Goal — New York (NYT) — So Bobby Fischer did it. The young genius of American chess demolished Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and will play Boris Spassky for the world's championship in the spring. It was not so much that Bobby beat Petrosian; it was the way he did it. Petrosian, one of the great chess technicians in history, draws more and loses less than any line on the Fischer-Petrosian grandmaster. But Fischer finished with a four-game winning streak and the final score was 6½-2½. And what has this to do with music? Well, some years ago I wrote a piece pointing out certain analogies between chess and music. The materials may be different, but both are engaging in the creative process, the one with his 16 pieces, the other with his 12 notes. Chess players and composers manipulate their materials to build a structure that will be durable enough to stand the test of time. For a chess game is nothing if not structure. It is, indeed, as formalized as the idea of sonata form. In a sonata, the composer starts out with an idea (exposition), puts that idea through its paces (development) ad brings back the original idea (recapitulation). A full-length chess game has many points in common with the idea of the sonata. The player also starts out with an idea, and that idea is analogous to the so-called “first subject” of sonata form. […] No music student has spent more time on his art than the young Bobby Fischer spent on chess; it occupied every waking minute of his life (and still does, to the exclusion of everything else.)
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• Muncie Evening Press Muncie, Indiana Thursday, November 25, 1971 - Page 43 — Bobby Fischer? He's the Joe Namath in the World of Chess by Bob Loy — Quickly, now, can you tell me who Bobby Fischer is? Never heard of him? Bobby Fischer is an international celebrity. In many quarters around the globe he is lionized. But in the United States, his native land, it is probably safe to assume not one person in 10,000 could identify his name. He has been quoted as saying, “Throughout the world I am a Joe Namath, but at home I am nobody.” So who is Bobby Fischer? Recently the sardonic, politically acute newspaper cartoonist Bill Mauldin published a cartoon depicting a chess board on which were two chess pieces, one standing and the other lying on its side. The standing piece was topped with a youthful-appearing male head and was labeled, “Bobby Fischer's chess victory.” The reclining piece was topped with a head representing that of Secretary of State William Rogers and was labeled “State Dept.'s U.N. defeat.” This referred to the expulsion of nationalist China from the United Nations. You will probably infer from this that Bobby Fischer is a chess player. But he is hardly the ordinary garden variety, pipe smoking, good natured, philosophical hobbyist chess player depicted in fiction. At 28, Fischer may be the greatest chess player in the history of the game. He is certainly the best American player ever developed. From all reports, he attacks chess with systematic ferocity of a hungry tiger shark going after his victuals.
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November 27, 1971

• The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, November 27, 1971 - Page 55 — Game of Kings: Montreal, Chess Capital? — Four countries have already put in a bid for the Fischer-Spassky world championship match, one of which has offered $30,000.00 prize money (winner, $18,000, loser, $12,000.) The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has not disclosed names as other bids are expected. The expenditure is very small compared to other professional sports for world wide publicity that could last six weeks or more (the winner must score 12½ pts. in the best of 24 games series, with three games per week). Money will not be the sole criterion of suitability., and a wrangle can be expected on that point. If agreement as to site cannot be reached amicably between the principals the names will have to go into a hat for a decision, as was the case for the Buenos Aires match. Fortunately they offered the biggest prize and the Argentine government picked up the tab. But why not Montreal? Both players are well-known and well-liked here and as neutral an atmosphere could be expected as anywhere else in the world. The project would still require the support of government and business. Montreal staged the last section of games in the world championship match of 1894, when Emmanuel Lasker, 24, dethroned William Steinitz, 57, ending a reign of 28 years. FIDE has ruled the match must not start before April 28 or later than July 1. Read More

November 28, 1971

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, November 28, 1971 - Page 349 — A Footnote For the Chess Set — The Place: Buenos Aires. The event: the finals of the Candidates' Matches leading to the world championship. At the chessboard, Russian Tigran Petrosian, world champion from 1962 to 1969, faced “the boy from Brooklyn,” Bobby Fischer. Fischer, playing the White pieces, had just made his invariable opening, pawn to king 4, and was lounging in his chair. Petrosian was bent over the board, deep in concentration. His clock was running, and time in such a game is of utmost importance. Yet Petrosian seemed unable to move. Why did Petrosian, one of the greatest players of all time, hesitate on the very first move in responding to Fischer's standard opening move? The writer of the preceding story calls it “Fischer fear.” I prefer the term “Fischer phobia.” By whatever name, it seems a deadly malady to all who face Fischer. What is Fischer-phobia? It is a psychological hangup that reduces even the greatest chess masters to pawns when they confront Fischer. Consider the case of another Russian grandmaster, Mark Taimanov, who played Fischer in the quarter-finals of the challenge series in Vancouver. After four straight losses to Fischer, Taimanov pleaded illness and was granted a postponement. What happened when Taimanov returned for the fifth game is shown in the accompanying diagram: Taimanov on his 46th move played RxP and Fischer responded with a Q-Q5ch, forcing the Russian's immediate resignation. Taimanov must have seen only 47. R-B2 R-R7, while overlooking 47. … R-R8ch. It was an error of which only a novice should be guilty. But Taimanov may be forgiven. Four times he had met Fischer, and four times was defeated by the confident American. Fischer went on to sweep the match 6-0. The next victim of Fischer-phobia was Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen. It was the Taimanov story all over. After losing four games Larsen fell ill and a doctor ordered four days' rest. Larsen returned to lose two more games and the match. Fischer had won an unprecedented 19 consecutive games against the world's top players. Then came the climactic match with Petrosian. Fischer won the first game, Petrosian the second. The next three were drawn. Then Fischer-phobia set in and the American beat the Russian in a 66-move 8-hour battle. A doctor ordered Petrosian to rest for 48 hours. He did, only to return and lose three more games and the match to Fischer. Can Fischer win the world title? More than a decade ago I predicted he would. And I think he will do so next spring when he meets Russian Boris Spassky, the current champion. Not all chess prophets agree. Said English Master and analyst C.H.O'D. Alexander in the newspaper, The Guardian: “I would expect Spassky to win.” But Alexander added: “There is one word that may overthrow the most careful balancing of chances—genius. And, if this is so, a match against Spassky could bring out his [Fischer's] powers, and then your columnist will prove to be completely and hopelessly wrong.” Perhaps Alexander has defined better than most of us Bobby Fischer's secret weapon: It is the mind of the man. Read More

• The Lowell Sun Lowell, Massachusetts Sunday, November 28, 1971 - Page 3 — Majorca May Get Big Chess Match — Palma, Majorca (Reuter)—The long-awaited showdown between chess wizards Robert Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union may be held here next April or May informed sources said Saturday. The sources said the Balearic Islands Chess Federation had submitted to the game's international ruling body a bid to host the championship final between the world's top two players. Read More

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, November 28, 1971 - Page 7 — The King's Men Fischer Favored to Win Title On Basis of Recent Victories by Merrill Dowden — Q.—You have predicted that Bobby Fischer will defeat Boris Spassky in their forthcoming world championship match. How can you justify such a prediction in view of Fischer's dismal showing against Spassky to date? A.—It is true that in five meetings with Spassky, Fischer didn't win a game. He lost twice, drew thrice. Yet, as I gaze into my crystal ball, the image of Bobby looms large and clear. Let's compare their relative results in matches against their most famous common foe, former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the USSR. Spassky's first attempt to take the crown from his fellow countryman failed. That was in 1966. Three years later he tried again, and won, but barely. Fischer, on the other hand, defeated Petrosian with a brutal show of power in their recent match in the finals of the world challenge series. In nine games, the Russian managed to win only once. Fischer won five, with three games drawn. Furthermore, during the Candidates' Matches, Fischer won 19 consecutive games, a feat without precedent in the long history of the royal game. And since the American grandmaster returned to the tournament wars, he won everything in sight. Nobody else was even close. Thus, it would seem that Fischer's genius is now in full flower. I agree with most observers that Fischer will face the sternest opposition ever in his forthcoming title match. Almost certainly Spassky will throw up roadblocks harder to hurdle than any the American has yet encountered. This will be a titanic struggle, fascinating to follow. But when the smoke of battle lifts, the guess here is that Fischer will have given the United States its first official world championship. Read More

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Sunday, November 28, 1971 - Page 101 — Chess Set— Or become another Bobby Fischer. Beat the Russians at their own game. The 'Lucite Chess Set,' bottom right, from HR Designs, Miami, is for all ages -- bring out the prodigy in your child.

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, November 28, 1971 - Section D, Page 24 — Chess by Al Horowitz — New Magazine: 'The Chess Player'; …photographs from Netanya and from the Fischer-Taimanov match at Vancouver…

November 29, 1971

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Monday, November 29, 1971 - Page 10 — Loudest Sound Of A Sunday At Orlando Chess Club is Clock's Noisy Ticking — Part of the reason for a renewed fascination with the game is attributed to Bobby Fischer, the 28-year-old high school dropout from Brooklyn who is now regarded as perhaps the greatest player in the world. Fischer's photographs on a Nov. 12 Life magazine cover, is posted on the club's bulletin board. It shows the chess champion scowling over a board. The scowl is appropriate because Fischer is a dedicated player. He studies constantly and is one of the few great players to come from the United States, thus helping to popularize the game of chess. Chess players win points by beating opponents and Fischer is the highest rated player in the world. He has a United States Chess Federation rating of 2,700 points qualifying him as a grand master. … Read More

November 30, 1971

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Tuesday, November 30, 1971 - Page 1 — Checkmate Can't Be Forced by Two Knights — Q: I read in “Chess for Beginners” by I.A. Horowitz that a checkmate can't be forced by two knights. I think I've proved differently. Who's right—G.R., Battle Creek. A: Three time U.S. Open Chess champion Horowitz. Action Line asked Edmund Edmondson, Executive Director of the U.S. Chess Federation and chess wizard Bobby Fischer's right hand man on the tournament trail, to look over moves you described. Edmondson, who's won his share of tournaments, said you couldn't get away with it unless your opponent was sleeping—and that's not exactly a forced mate. He added that least you could get away with would be two knights and a pawn to block opposing king's escape route, but that's a “very difficult” checkmate. Players in Fischer's class don't play through to a checkmate, Edmondson said. Champs can see 10 or 12 moves ahead, concede game's outcome when an amateur would be just getting started. Read More

December 01, 1971

• Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, December 01, 1971 - Page 2 — Chess Pains — Moscow — (UPI) — Tigran Petrosian upset world champion Boris Spassky in the sixth round of the Alekhine International Chess Tournament Tuesday night, the news agency Tass said. Both men are Russians. Petrosian, playing white, won on the 40th move when Spassky admitted defeat. Spassky played a conventional queen's gambit, Tass said. Petrosian lost to Bobby Fischer of the United States in the world chess semifinal in Buenos Aires last month. Fischer and Spassky meet for the world title next year. Go Bobby! Read More

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Wednesday, December 01, 1971 - Page 17 — Likes Chess Column — Editor of The Bee—Sir: I am very pleased to see you are incorporating a chess column as a regular feature of your Sunday edition. I have felt for years that chess should have more coverage in your paper and am very happy to see the appearance of the column (which, by the way, is being well done.) I also appreciated the good coverage which was given the recent Fischer-Petrosian match in Argentina. Nevell Arroues, Placerville.
  Chess Fan — Editor of The Bee—Sir: The first thing I look for when I pick up a newspaper is the chess column. In this respect, The Bee has been a disappointment to me for many years; but now it is a complete newspaper. Furthermore, it can be said that the Fauber-Garosi chess column is truly a feature of The Sacramento Bee and not merely another space filler. Michael Kosloff, Citrus Heights. Read More

December 02, 1971

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Thursday, December 02, 1971 - Page 6 — A game of chess with grandmaster Arthur Bisguier, provided a thrill recently for 18 Ramapo High School students and teachers. Bisguier, whose appearance was sponsored by the United States Chess Federation, played the 18 simultaneously, moving down long tables at which each player sat at his individual board. The guest expert reacted to each player's strategy with speed and ease. “As much psychology is involved in chess as in sports,” said Bisguier. He explained that chess champions consult their own extensive files about their opponents to prepare for a tournament. A professional may go into retreat to get into shape for a world championship. He will rest and exercise for physical conditioning, then study intensely the game of every contender he is to meet. The grandmaster has played Bobby Fischer, whose rise to chess stardom he traced for his listeners. Read More

• Arizona Silver Belt Globe, Arizona Thursday, December 02, 1971 - Page 9 — Globe Chess Club Takes Seventh in Palo Verde Invitational Games — Globe High School's chess club placed seventh in the Palo Verde Invitational chess Tournament in Tucson recently …

December 03, 1971

• The Dispatch Moline, Illinois Friday, December 03, 1971 - Page 3 — Chess Popular With Youngsters — East Providence, Rhode Island (AP) — Youngsters in a second and third grade class aren't wasting their free periods on childish mischief—they're too busy playing chess. “When they come in, in the morning it's just straight to the floor to the chess board,” says Miss Carter Coates, a teacher in a combined second-third grade class at Gordon School. Miss Coates says three of the 24 pupils came to school this year with knowledge of the game and taught most of the others. All of the boys and many of the girls like the game, she said. ★ Read More

• Hawaii Tribune-Herald Hilo, Hawaii Friday, December 03, 1971 - Page 12 — Fischer Chess Tournament — 12/4/1971— Last two rounds of “Pomaika'i” Fischer Chess Tournament are scheduled. Hilo Library. 1 p.m. No admission is charged.

December 04, 1971

• Iowa City Press-Citizen Iowa City, Iowa Saturday, December 04, 1971 - Page 8 — Foreign Policy Shaped By National Games? — ...The Russians have been, of course—until the wild accident of Bobby Fischer — the chess masters of the world, and their diplomacy from Lenin and Chicherin has shown it, with its feints of cunning and its naked assertion of power. Although they share between them the great power-mass of the Communist world, the game styles of the Russians and Chinese are very different. If the Chinese national passion is for ping-poing rather than chess, the thrust and counterthrust of Chinese diploacy shows it with its action and reaction sequences... ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ Read More

December 05, 1971

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, December 05, 1971 - Page 44 — The Chessboard: Old Defense Proves Worth by Harry T. Conover — In the eighth game of his match against Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires, Bobby Fischer of the United States, as Black, effectively employed an old defense revived in recent years by world champion Boris Spassky. The Tarrasch Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined, long considered of dubious value, has been shown to have amazing vitality by Spassky who used it with good effect against Petrosian in their world title match. Granted the defense has some inherent weaknesses, it nonetheless offers Black sufficient chances for equality with careful play, and a better than average chance of gaining effective mobility for his pieces. Read More

December 06, 1971

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Monday, December 06, 1971 - Page 21 — Chess: Books for Presents by Leonard Barden — The approach of Christmas is a good opportunity to suggest some possibilities for suitable chess gifts. Keen players in general and tournament and postal regulars in particular are likely to be best satisfied by a recently published book […] Many enthusiasts who are new to chess in 1971 will have been attracted by the publicity for Fischer's bid for the world championship. Call him the George Best, the Nicklaus, or the Mohammed Ali of chess—and they all fit—he has become only the third chess name (following Morphy and Capablanca) whose career is widely followed by the non-chess playing public. My 60 Memorable Games, by Bobby Fischer (Faber, £3) is Fischer's career in his own words, with a style akin to his play—terse but very much to the point. With the world title match due to start next spring, there may be other books about Fischer (and his Russian opponent Spassky appearing at that time.) Read More

• Fitchburg Sentinel Fitchburg, Massachusetts Monday, December 06, 1971 - Page 8 — Chess Exhibition Planned Tuesday — …The WCC has staged two other such exhibitions in the past. United States Grandmaster Bobby Fischer, who will play world champion Boris Spassky for the title next spring, the U.S. Grandmaster Sammy Reshevsky, the famous young chess prodigy, have both played in these type exhibitions here. It is normal for the player giving the exhibition to play the white pieces on every board, and it is an unwritten rule that he may not take more than a couple of minutes for each move. Both Fischer and Reshevsky adhered to these procedures. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, December 06, 1971 - Page 36 — Chess: World Rating System Puts Fischer Ahead of Spassky by Al Horowitz — According to the Arpad Elo worldwide rating system, appearing in the most recent issue of Chess Express, the international chess magazine, the top 20 players in the world and their ratings […] Curiously, the system, based on activity and results, confirms to a large degree its academic mathematical accuracy. That the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, should be second in the standings sheds some relative light on the subject. In reviewing games of the past played by Bobby Fischer of the United States, the game against Robert Byrne in the United States championship of 1963-64 had a happy ending. During its course, Fischer “sacked” a piece.
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December 08, 1971

• Hawaii Tribune-Herald Hilo, Hawaii Wednesday, December 08, 1971 - Page 24 — Ebesugawa Cops Pomaika'i Fischer Chess Tourney — (Google translates “Pomaika'i” meaning, “Good luck”.) Carey Ebesugawa Saturday won the Pomaika'i Fischer chess tournament at the County Library. A Hilo High School student, Ebesugawa bettered eight entrants in the event held in two sessions, Nov. 27 and Saturday. Second place was captured by John Narcisi and Curtis Fukuchi, and third by Wayne Taka and Dave Rodriguez. Celeriano Cabel and Bart Shigemura placed fourth and Ted Taka was fifth. Prizes for the tournament were donated by two Hilo merchants. Another tournament will be scheduled in January. Read More

December 10, 1971

• Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, December 10, 1971 - Page 31 — Books Tell Of Fischer's Chess Play by Harold Lundstrom — With the phenomenal recent successes of Robert (Bobby) Fischer, now the official challenger of the world chess championship, all books by him or about him are in demand. An example is “Fischer 1970,” a booklet prepared by Isaac Kashdan which contains all the 73 match and tournament games he played last year. The first edition has been sold out, and it has now been reprinted by the U.S. Chess Federation. Fischer was awarded the “Chess Oscar” for 1970 as player of the year. He scored 80 percent against top competition, one of the best records ever compiled in grandmaster chess. Included in the 25 pages of the book are comments on each game, tables, and introductions to each event and a general summary of Fischer's activities. The printing is offset from original typed copy. The price is $1.75. Other books in this series, also by Mr. Kashdan, chess editor of the Los Angeles Times, contain all the games of the Buenos Aires Tournament and the Amsterdam Tournament of 1970. Buenos Aires was one of Fischer's greatest triumphs, in which he finished points ahead of the field. There are 153 games in 36 pages, selling for $3. The Amsterdam Tournament, sponsored by the IBM Corporation, resulted in a tie between world champion, Boris Spassky, USSR and his compatriot, Lev Polo Polugaevsky. It has 120 games in 24 pages, and is price at $1.75. Anyone wishing autobiographed copies of one or more of these books can send his check to Isaac Kashdan, Chess Editor, Los Angeles Times … Read More

December 11, 1971

• The Montana Standard Butte, Montana Saturday, December 11, 1971 - Page 8 — Winners Told In Chess Meet — Washington School sixth grade pupils of Charles Murray have completed their first chess tournament of the school term. Other tournaments are planned. …

December 12, 1971

• Daily News New York, New York Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 387 — Chess Buffs To Check in For Contests — The chess boom encouraged by the exploits of superstar Bobby Fischer is expected to draw hundreds of youths wanting to push pawns, bishops and queens across boards to the McAlpin Hotel during the seventh annual Greater New York Scholastic Chess championships. Students in all public and private schools are eligible to compete during the Dec. 26-30 event. The Continental Chess Association of Vernon, which sponsors the event, plans competition in five separate categories, from high school through lower elementary. The high school championship, Dec. 26-28, is open to all high school and pre-high school players and is the only of the five events that will include experienced players.
  NOVICE CHAMPS The high school novice championship during the same time period excludes only players with a U.S. Chess Federation rating of 1,400 or more. Junior high school players get their chance Dec. 29-30, elementary students Dec. 29-30 and lower elementary school players on Dec. 30. An association spokesman said the Fischer fad is expected to put attendance well above last year's 608-participant record. Read More

• The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 28 — “Pawn my word! a chess set with table … all my own” — Future Bobby Fischers will really flip when they find this under the tree. A beautifully carved and weighted chess set (3.75 inch king)…

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 273 — Another gift that could have been introduced with the obligatory phrase, but wasn't, is a room-size chess set from Alfred Dunhill. The 'chess board' is a 9-by-9-foot, handmade sculptured wool carpet with brown and white squares, and the chess pieces stand about a foot high. If you're Bobby Fischer's mother and have a spare $1,950 floating around… ★ Read More

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 66 — The King's Men: Spassky Sparkles in Game Against Fischer at Siegen by Merrill Dowden — What are Bobby Fischer's chances to dethrone the Soviet grandmaster, Boris Spassky, in their world championship match next spring? Well, let's face it. Fischer will have the toughest sledding of his brilliant career. These two giants of the chessboard have met before, with the lion's share of victories going to the Russian. In spite of it all, I see Fischer as the next world champion, and I believe most observers will agree. Why? Because Fischer's record since he returned to the tournament wars has been simply unbelievable. His string of victories leading up to the match with Spassky is without precedent. He appears now to have reached the peak of his powers, and to be all but unbeatable. Spassky lost his first title match with Tigran Petrosian, and barely managed to win the second match in 1969. Fischer, on the other hand, beat Petrosian unmercifully in the Candidates' Matches, winning the last four games in a row. This is not to put Spassky down. In his drive toward the title he beat Keres, Geller, Tal, Korchnoi and Larsen, grandmasters all, and then, of course, Petrosian. In view of the tremendous interest building up in the forthcoming match, I am presenting today a game played between Spassky and Fischer at Siegen last year. Fischer, never content to draw, lost the game when he daringly became too aggressive. He is not likely to repeat that mistake. Read More

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 29 — The Chess Column: Russian Start To Play To Win Games by R.E. Fauber and Frank J. Garosi — Russian chess is on the brink of a minor revolution due entirely to the aggressive playing style of the USA's Robert Fischer. The latest issue of a major Russian chess weekly bemoans the number of drawn games in the prestigious Alekhine Memorial Tournament under way in Moscow and urges the contestants to spurn draws and play more like Fischer. Tigran Petrosian, obviously stung by his recent humiliating loss to Fischer, already has abandoned his famous caution. After six complete rounds, he has three wins (including one over world champion Boris Spassky), a loss and only two draws — an astonishing number of decisions for him. In comparison, he qualified for his match with Fischer by defeating two opponents with only two wins and fifteen draws. International grandmaster Robert Byrne, the lone American among the 18 players, is doing very well. He has scored four points in seven rounds and is tied with Petrosian and Spassky, only a half-point behind the leader, Leonid Stein. Read More

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 48 — The Chessboard: Russian Plan Fails Again by Harry T. Conover — In the ninth, and what ought to be the final game of the match, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union again tried to lead the opening into unexplored lines when, as Black, he essayed a little-played variation of the French Defense against Bobby Fischer of the United States. As in earlier games, however, Petrosian found that well-worn and obscure variants are all the same to Fischer who won in 46 moves. Along with others before him, Petrosian very likely came away with the impression that the most danger in playing Fischer lies not in poor choice of opening, but in sitting down opposite him in the first place.
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• The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 31 —In Buenos Aires, the Candidates' Final — started off with fireworks, Bobby Fischer winning the first game, Tigran Petrosian taking the second. Then the match seemed doomed to settle down to a series of draws, a phenomenon all too common in high level chess. Game No. 3 and Game No. 4 were draws. After the fourth game, critics thought that Petrosian was chicken, that he should have played for a win when he had the White pieces. Someone else said Fischer would have stayed ahead had he not suffered from a bad cold in Games 2 and 3.
  Petroff Defense Used In the fifth, Fischer was really taken aback when his opponent used the Petroff Defense in the opening 1. P-K4 P-K4; 2. N-KB3 N-KB3 rarely played in tournament games. Only the 18th move, Petrosian could have won a pawn that would have given Fischer good attacking chances. But once again, or should we say in his usual style, Petrosian refused to get into complications and offered his opponent a draw on the 34th move. Fischer refused only to counter with a draw offer on the 38th move which the Russian quickly accepted. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, December 12, 1971 - Page 227 — Chess. The Benoni: Old But Still Popular by Al Horowitz — The following miniature masterpiece between Robert Byrne and Bobby Fischer, a Gruenfeld defense in the United States championship of 1963-64, involved the “sack” of a piece. The game took the spectators, who were hoping for a Fischer debacle, unawares. Hence, on White's 22d turn they thought Byrne was coming into his own. And they waited patiently, anticipating a crusher. Came the surprise. “I resign,” said Byrne. Read More

December 13, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, December 13, 1971 - Page 35 — Chess: Spassky Is Seeing Action In Alekhine Memorial Play by Al Horowitz — The Alekhine Memorial Tournament, now in progress in Moscow, brought together the chess champion of the world, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, and his compatriot, Mikhail Tal, a former world titleholder. The antagonists employed a Sicilian Defense, the time of which is a favourite with Bobby Fischer, the American chess genius who is slated for a title match with Spassky some time before June, 1972. Up to move 6 … B-K2, this branch is known as the Scheveningen Variation, after a Dutch city that held a tournament in 1923. Typically, Tal, playing Black, introduced 14. … P-Q5, the sacrifice of a pawn to pen the long diagonal. Immediately thereafter, Black seized the initiative and was able to give vent to his imagination. With 17. … R-B1, Black prepared 18. … R-B2; 19. … R-Q2 with pressure on the queen file. Then it was White's turn. And he dreamed up 23. R-R2. How this move was to further an incursion was a problem. But there was a way. It followed after 25. … BxR; 26. PxB, and the later occupation of the king knight file. In a few more moves, both players put one over on each other. Then they were content with a draw by perpetual check. One of Fischer's greatest victories was over Rene Leterlier of Chile at the Leipzig Olympiad of 1960. Fischer, as Black, employed a hypermodern system, provoking his opponent into taking control of the center. Letelier was stubborn so with 5. P-K5, Letelier rushed in to gain a tempo. And before long, he managed to wrangle a pawn. Soon enough, his entire position was crumbling. Not only did White lose his median control, but his king also was a potential target. With move 15, White's king was still seeking security, and with 19. … RxP, material was in balance. Who would believe that in a few deft moves, the game would be over? With 23. QxPch came the denouncement. For on 24. KxQ B-R3 mate. After 24. K-B2, Black would also give up the ghost. Read More

December 14, 1971

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Tuesday, December 14, 1971 - Page 30 — Spassky Accepts Draw in 13th Chess Round — Moscow (UPI) — World champion Boris Spassky played to a draw with Soviet grandmaster Leonid Stein in the 13th round of the Alekhine chess tournament, and Stein held his tourney lead, the news agency Tass said Monday. Spassky, who has suffered two defeats in the tournament, agreed to a draw on the 30th move of Sunday's game with the tourney leader because he was running out of time, Tass said. The Alekhine Memorial is in effect part of Spassky's early warm-up for the world's championship defence he must make next year against Bobby Fischer of the U.S. “Spassky's 16th move created a position which occurred in the well-known game between Spassky and Fischer at the World Chess Olympiad in Siegen, West Germany, in 1970,” Tass said. “But instead of taking a central pawn, Stein played bishop seven at the 16th move. Spassky launched at once an all-out attack on the king's flank and there was a moment when his victory seemed in sight. “But pressed for time, Spassky agreed to a draw,” it said. Stein's leading point total stands at nine out of a possible 13. Soviet grandmaster Vasily Smyslov has 8½ and former world champion Tigran Petrosian, also a Russian, has eight. Read More

December 16, 1971

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Thursday, December 16, 1971 - Page 63 — Bobby Fischer Girds for Russian Chess Showdown By LESLIE BRAUN L.A. Times-Washington Post Service, Newsday — NEW YORK — Chess is an intellectual feast played on 64 squares. One participant commands the white pieces consisting of eight foot soldiers (Pawns), two horses, two bishops, two castles, the queen, and king. The other participant maneuvers the black counter-parts. Since each player is like a general leading his army into battle according to a specific strategy which may be altered by circumstance, chess has been likened to a bloodless war. The conduct of such wars is as varied as the personalities who engage in these struggles. For example, the aggressive player will sacrifice material for an all-out attack without regard for defense. A defensive player is noted for building a solid defensive wall in the hope that his opponent will dash himself to pieces while attempting to surmount this citadel. Still another player will play defensively or offensively depending on the situation at hand and undoubtedly, this kind of player must be termed the most skillful of the three. It has been found that, generally speaking, an individual proficient in geometry may have more success in chess than the algebra expert, who is probably better suited for bridge. Of course, other factors may undermine this generalization — such as inherent logic, problem solving ability, temperament, and versatility in thinking, and so forth.
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December 17, 1971

• The Lompoc Record Lompoc, California Friday, December 17, 1971 - Page 3 — Christmas Chess Tourney Set — The Record's second annual all-school Christmas Chess Torunament will be staged Monday 9 a.m. at Cabrillo High School. Any student attending school in Lompoc Valley is eligible …

• Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Friday, December 17, 1971 - Page 40 — Let's Play Chess: Petrosian Leads Alekhine Memorial by Harold Lundstrom — Former world champion Tigran Petrosian, USSR, is leading the 13th annual all-grandmaster Alekhine Memorial Tournament in Moscow. After six rounds of play his score is 4-2. At that point he had defeated two of his chief rivals, world champion Boris Spassky, and Victor Korchnoi. In addition, he has drawn four games. Though he recently lost the vital match to Robert (Bobby) Fischer for the right to challenge Spassky, Petrosian seems to be in good form. The tournament is the most prestigious tournament of the year. It will continue through December 20. Playing are 10 Russians, including Spassky, and three former champions, Petrosian, Vasily Smyslov, and Mikhail Tal. Others include Vladimir Savon, current USSR champion; and the brilliant veterans Korchnoi, Leonid Stein, Yuri Balashov, Anatoly Karpov and Vladimir Tukmakov. The non-Russians, all grandmasters, include grandmasters of the highest rank: Robert Byrne, USA; Milko Bobtsov, Bulgaria; Florin Gheorghiu, Romania; Vlastimil Hort, Czechoslovakia; Levente Lengyel, Bruno Parma, Yugoslavia; and Wolfgang Uhlmann, East Germany. The prestige of the event would really have soared had everyone on the original list accepted his invitation. The major name missing is Fischer, USA. He declined without stating a reason. He was at least report still in Argentina, where he defeated Petrosian, 6½-2½ in match play in October. He has been giving a series of exhibitions, and scheduled to return to New York this month. Others who turned down invitations were Svetozar Gligoric, Yugoslavia; Bent Larsen, Denmark; and Lajos Portisch, Hungary. Of most interest will be Spassky's performance. He played in several tournaments earlier this year, including two in Canada, with good though with hardly world championship results. His play in Moscow will be analyzed carefully as an indication of his readiness for the coming match with Fischer. Read More

December 18, 1971

• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Saturday, December 18, 1971 - Page 29 — Chinese Checkers Finally Makes It as Bigtime Sport — “Chinese Checkers,” he explained, “is as American as pizza pie.” The reigning Chinese Checkers champion is a lot more interesting visually than Bobby Fischer. Those who have played against Prof. Jones say he fancies himself as a Napoleon or Stonewall Jackson as he dumps his marbles into the proper slots to the accompaniment of a Mittyesque “ta-pocketa, pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.” He neither asks nor gives quarter. During a match he has been known to hum the “de quello” (the bugle command for no quarter sounded by the Mexicans as they attacked the Alamo). The next move is yours, ABC's “Wide World of Sports.” Read More

• The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Saturday, December 18, 1971 - Page 133 — Echoes From Buenos Aires — Some of the sidelights to the big match between Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian at Buenos Aires are cropping up from various sources. To begin with, considerable difficulty was encountered in securing a match referee with suitable qualifications (international Chess Judge ICJ). Although this was not a soccer match, nobody wanted the job. Finally, a few days before the scheduled start, Lothar Schmid, West German master, was persuaded to leave a tournament in which he had completed two rounds, to fly to Buenos Aires pronto. Dr. Max Euwe, president of FIDE, who helped smooth out some of the difficulties in the earlier match at Vancouver, between Fischer and Taimanov, arrived for the closing session and was astonished to see that a scaffold had been erected on the stage. Mr. Schmid reassured him that it had been placed there by stagehands preparing for a showing of George Bernard's Shaw's “The Devil's Disciple”! After the match Schmid commented, “I didn't have the difficulties I feared to get initially. Both players behaved sportingly and I have no complaints. I believed that I could bring the match to a good end because I am a friend of Petrosian and Fischer considers me as his older brother.” The San Martin Theater could hold only 1,200 spectators and at one session 3,000 more stormed the place breaking the front glass door. They were finally accommodated in the foyer with a large demonstration board and commentator. During the critical sixth game a number of stink-bombs were thrown and the hall had to be cleared. The principals remained undisturbed. Later it was learned that the stink-bomb incident had nothing to do with chess. It was remembrance day for Peron! Journalists from all over the world poured in and Fischer became angry over the insistence for interviews. “Life” for Nov. 12 had a cover picture with a long article. “Time” and “Sports Illustrated” covered it in the issues of Nov. 8, “News Week” also, on Oct. 18. Fischer is just as preeminent at speed chess as in serious play. Here is a five-minute game four a tourney at NY which he won with 21½-½ points ahead of A. Soltis 18; R. Byrne, 17½ A. Feuerstein, 11; E. Mednis and W. Shipman, 10½ each, etc. Read More

December 19, 1971

• Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Sunday, December 19, 1971 - Page 73 — Increased Interest in American Bobby Fischer — Several publishers have rushed to take advantage of the increased interest in chess because of the success of American Bobby Fischer in his quest for the world championship. Collier Books offers …

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Sunday, December 19, 1971 - Page 51 — The Chessboard: Petrosian Uses Old Defense by Harry T. Conover — Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union fell back on an old defense in the fifth game of his match against Bobby Fischer of the United States and managed to secure a draw. The Petroff Defense, named for the Russian who championed it in the last century, was Petrosian's reply to Fischer's king pawn opening. Despite years of analysis and experience in practical play, the defense has yet to be refuted, and indeed, Fischer could make no headway against it. It's only drawback, that it offers Black little chance for counterattack, weighs heavily against its adoption in serious competition today.
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December 20, 1971

• The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa Monday, December 20, 1971 - Page 3 — Chess Honors To Roosevelt — The Roosevelt High School Chess team won the third Annual Iowa High School Chess Tournament last weekend …

December 21, 1971

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Tuesday, December 21, 1971 - Page 22 — Spassky Does Poorly — Moscow (AP)—Russians captured the first seven place sin the 153-game international Alekhine Chess Tournament which ended here Sunday. Soviets players Anatoly Karpov and Leonid Stein took first and second with 11 points each out of a possible 17. World champion Boris Spassky—who faces American Bobby Fischer next year for the crown—was sixth with 9.5 points. Moscow's central chess club was packed this weekend for the tournaments final game between Olafsson and Spassky. The match was adjourned on the 41st move Saturday night with Olafsson in a hopeless position, Tass News Agency said. Sunday, Spassky's material advantage was too great and Olafsson resigned on the 49th move. Despite Olafsson's loss to Spassky, Tass said the Icelander is a player of rate inventiveness, particularly dangerous in combination situations. Robert Byrne of the United States reached eighth place with nine points. Commenting on the tournament, International grandmaster Andrei Lilienthal of the Soviet Union said that all chess events are now studies through the prism of the forthcoming match for the World Chess Crown between Spassky and Fischer. He noted that some people said during the Alekhine Tournament that if Fischer had been playing, the other participants would have found first place closed to them. Read More

December 22, 1971

• The Advocate-Messenger — Danville, Kentucky Wednesday, December 22, 1971 - Page 4 — Bobby Fischer's triumphs have stimulated new interest in chess — and new awareness among the novices that this ancient game is more than fun and games.

December 23, 1971

• The Springfield News-Leader Springfield, Missouri Thursday, December 23, 1971 - Page 24 — Bobby Fischer Gets Credit: Queens and Kings Move Across New Chessboards by Ann Hencken — New York (AP) — Chess, once considered the exclusive pastime of intellectuals unpressed for time, is booming across the United States. Department stores are selling more expensive chess sets and manufacturers report an increase in business. New chess clubs are popping up across the country. Chess tournaments are drawing bigger crowds than ever. Some devotees of the game say its increased popularity is part of a trend that started three years ago and sparked recently by Bobby Fischer's bid for the world chess championship this coming spring. Fischer, the 28-year-old American chess genius, defeated the Soviet Union's Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires last October. His upcoming match is with Russia's Boris Spassky, and the contests have breathed new life into a game which hardly has been considered an all-American pasttime.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, December 23, 1971 - Page 22 — Chess: A Victory by Fischer at 13 Is Called Game of Century by Al Horowitz —Bobby Fischer's victories are legion. Yet his triumph in a Gruenfeld Defense, as Black, against Donald Byrne in the Rosenwald tournament of New York in 1956, was awarded the first brilliancy prize and acclaimed the game of the century. The accolade was that of Hans Kmoch, eminent authority, analyst and historian. This game, a masterpiece of chess combination, was played when Bobby was only 13 years old. And it heralded a new United States champion in a year to come and for eight years afterward. Right from the start, with move 5 … P-Q4, accent was on combination. Black effected a blending that required accuracy and courage. White declined. For after 6. PxP NxP; 7. NxN QxN; 8. BxP N-R3; 9. B-N3 B-B4; 10. P-QR3 QR-B1, with a strong pressure for his pawn.
  Black's Move Deceptive On move 11. … N-R5, Black's move looks like the crassest blunder ever made. It has, however, academic and psychological overtones. And 13. … NxP is another surprise follow-up, continuing to tap Black's resources. Again, after 15. … NxQBP — another beautiful move — the point is, if 16. QxN KR-K1, Black recovers the piece with a pawn to the good. Yet, the best is to come. With 17. … B-K3, Black mounts an irresistible onslaught. It is stunning, charming, and reduces the position to a material success. With two bishops and a rook, White has triumphantly concluded his combination. There were various ways of finishing off. But the mating combination that followed was tempting. Possibly, Fischer might have mated sooner. But the loss of a tempo or so was pardonable. Read More

December 24, 1971

• The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Friday, December 24, 1971 - Page 9 — Day of the Underdog is Nigh — …The Japanese have taken up baseball, previously an American monopoly. Bobby Fischer, a Brooklyn boy, is preparing to take on Spassky for the world chess championship, which the Russians have owned for ever… ★ · ★

December 25, 1971

• The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine Saturday, December 25, 1971 - Page 13 — Chess International events have been exciting too, even if vicariously, for 1971 has been the Year of Fischer. Bobby has held himself aloof from major events for several years, but now he's back, to the joy of Americans and the consternation of Russians, who see in him a serious threat to their long dominion of the World's Championship. Probably everyone knows by now of Bobby's awesome performances, how he ran far ahead of the field in the Interzonal TOurnament and then trounced his opponents in the Candidates' Matches: Taimanov (6-0), Larsen (6-0) and Petrosian (6½-2½). These victories, especially the shutouts, are unprecedented in the history of chess. Fischer is presently preparing himself to meet Champion Boris Spassky for the title. The match will begin in May or June at a still undetermined site, but certainly in a neutral country. Read More

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Saturday, December 25, 1971 - Page 53 — Spassky Ready for Fischer — Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (AP)—Boris Spassky, Chess grandmaster of the Soviet Union and defender of the world championships title, was quoted as saying Thursday that he was ready to play for the title with Robert Fischer of the United States of Yugoslavia. Radio Sarajevo Thursday carried an interview by the well known Yugoslav chess commentator Dimitrije Bjelica with Spassky and Edmond Edmondson, president of the United States Chess Federation. Bjelica said that Sarajevo offered 60,000 dollars for the prize fund to hold the match here. Edmondson said in the interview that he cannot speak for Fischer about the place where the match should be held because the American champion is in Latin America. Read More

December 26, 1971

• Daily News New York, New York Sunday, December 26, 1971 - Page 116 — Chess Master Backs Fischer — Moscow, Dec. 25 (UPI) — American chess grandmaster Robert Byrne said today that he thinks Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn will defeat Boris Spassky in the world chess title match next year. Byrne told the newspaper Sovetsky Sport that Spassky, a Russian who is now world champion, “played much below par” in the recent Alekhine Memorial Chess Tournament in Moscow. Spassky was not among the top finishers. “I am sure Spassky will play more forcefully by the time the world chess title match begins,” Byrne said. “Fischer is a pure classic player who can count versions quickly and accurately and who can sort out any, even the most puzzling positions,” Byrne said. “He surpasses Spassky in the ability to derive positional advantage from opening, to built it up, increase, transform and bring it home.” Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Sunday, December 26, 1971 - Page 211 — Global War Now; Why Not Chess Too? by Bernard Rabin — Chess champions Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union may not know it yet but the grand old game of kings, generals and commoners could be on the threshold of a revolutionary new approach invented by a soft-spoken Queensborough community college student.
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• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Sunday, December 26, 1971 - Page 62 — Norman Mendelson Wants to Bring Bobby Fischer to the Beach — One of Norman Mendelson's goals for the great game is “to bring the youth into the club,” an ambition which has a touch of poetic symmetry because the reason for old man can play chess and plan tournaments is he has four sons in the family business. Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Sunday, December 26, 1971 - Page 14 — Russian Chess Fans Are Quiet, Intellectual--and Hungry for Blood — Moscow Bureau of The Times — Moscow — At the Railroad Workers Club the other day, the crowd moaned and hollered out sarcastic bravoes when Boris Spassky, the world champion, ended still another game in a draw. It was all rather quiet and cerebral, of course, as befits the royal game. But they had the same violence in their hearts as a boxing audience cheated out of most of the main event by a TKO. “Short draws, more short draws he gives u,” muttered the disgruntled spectators at the Alekhine International Memorial Chess Tournament. The Russian chess fan, that most dedicated and quietly fanatical of sports spectators, is getting very hungry for blood—something he sees less and less of these days as the world's best chess players play it conservative. A short draw is a brief series of plays ending with white and black in obvious and hopeless deadlock. Every grandmaster has a few of them now and then if he plays a wise game—a dull quick draw, after all, makes more tournament points than a brilliantly executed loss.
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December 27, 1971

• Austin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Monday, December 27, 1971 - Page 36 — Money Is Issue In Chess Match — Yugoslavia (AP) — Bobby Fischer will play Soviet world chess champion Boris Spassky in Europe only if financial offers from this continent exceed those from America. The U.S. Chess champion made the statement in a three-way radio interview with Spassky and Svetozar Gligoric, Yugoslavia's grand master. The interview was broadcast by Radio Belgrade Sunday. Fischer is scheduled to challenge Spassky next year in an encounter that could end the domination of world chess by the Russians which has lasted more than 30 years. While Spassky said he would prefer to play at a location with a climate similar to Leningrad, his home town, Fischer said: “For me the first and the most important thing is money. Climate comes second. I repeat, money is the most important.” Another issue to be decided is time. Dr. Euwe wants the match to start by May 10. Fischer contends he will not be ready before June 30, and Spassky likewise wants the match to begin around the end of June. Both Fischer and Spassky said they might go to Amsterdam to discuss this issue with the World Chess Federation. Asked to comment on his challenger, Spassky said: “The playing of Fischer impresses me.” Read More

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Monday, December 27, 1971 - Page 41 — Kind Words for Fischer From the Chess Champ — Belgrade (UPI) — World Chess champion Boris Spassky of Russia says he is impressed with American chess wizard Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn who will meet the Russian for the world title next year. In a Yugoslav radio interview during a Moscow-Belgrade-Buenos Aires telephone linkup yesterday, Spassky said, “Fischer's play has impressed me very much.” Of Spassky's play in recent months, Fischer said: “I think he had a mediocre result at the tournaments in Geteborg and Moscow … what can I say?” Fischer, speaking from Buenos Aires, said before the site of the world tournament could be decided money matters had to be worked out. “For me the first and most important thing is money,” Fischer said. “And only after that comes the climate. I repeat—the money is the most important thing.” The American grand master said he is willing to play the match with Spassky in Yugoslavia, provided the biggest financial effect is reached. Spassky said he considered Scandinavian countries ideal for the match because of a similar climate to that in his native Leningrad. On the duration of the match, Fischer said: “I do not think that the match will last all 24 rounds. But who knows? I intend to prepare the best I can. My responsibility is great. The public expects much from me.” Both grand masters agreed the match should start in late June. But, Fischer said, June 31 should be the earliest date. He added: “Spassky had three years to prepare for this match, and up to now I had only two months. It's possible, therefore, that he has a certain advantage.” Read More

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Monday, December 27, 1971 - Page 3 — Fischer Imposes Match Condition — Belgrade, Yugoslavia (AP) — Bobby Fischer will play Soviet world chess champion Boris Spassky in Europe only if financial offers from this continent exceed those from America. The U.S. chess champion made the statement in a three-way radio interview with Spassky and Svetozar Gligoric, Yugoslavian grandmaster. The interview was broadcast by Radio Belgrade yesterday. Fischer is scheduled to challenge Spassky next year in an encounter that could end the domination of world chess by the Russians which has lasted more than 30 years. While Spassky said he would prefer to play at a location with a climate similar to Leningrad, his home town, Fischer said: “For me the first and the most important thing is money. Climate comes second. I repeat, money is the most important.” According to Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation and a former world chess champion, Yugoslavia and the Netherlands now stand the best chance to stage what is billed as “the chess match of the century.” Four cities in Yugoslavia offered to play host to the match to start next summer — Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo and Bled. The top offers from Yugoslavia are about $60,000. Another issue to be decided is time. Dr. Euwe wants the match to start by May 10. Fischer contends he will not be ready before June 30, and Spassky likewise wants the match to begin around the end of June. Both Fischer and Spassky said they might go to Amsterdam to discuss this issue with the World Chess Federation. Asked to comment on his challenger, Spassky said: “The playing of Fischer impresses me.” But Fischer was less enthusiastic about Spassky: “I believe he has had a moderate success in Goteborg. In Moscow he shared sixth place … What can I say?” Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, December 27, 1971 - Page 5 — Bobby vs. Boris For King of Chess by Dean Mills, Moscow Bureau of The Sun — Moscow — “Who can guess,” said the amiable coat check woman [Pause. Smile.] “But Fischer is a strong contender.” “Fischer is an exceptionally dangerous rival,” says Tigran Petrosian, one of the Soviet Union's 30 odd grand-masters. In the colonnaded pre-revolutionary palace which serves as the USSR's central chess club, the unthinkable has suddenly become cruelly possible; the world chess title, for nearly a quarter century a Soviet fixture, may slip away. Since 1948 the internationality of the title had been purely theoretical: even the challengers were all Soviet citizens. Robert Fischer, the child prodigy who became American champion at the age of 14 finally changed that this year by defeating Tigran Petrosian, the Soviet Armenian who was runner-up and former champion.
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December 28, 1971

• Des Moines Tribune Des Moines, Iowa Tuesday, December 28, 1971 - Page 10 — Chess For Money — We hope the youngsters who are turning to chess out of admiration for Bobby Fischer aren't turned off by Fischer's single-minded pursuit of money. Commenting on the locale of his pending match for the world's championship, Fischer said he would play in whatever city produced the biggest payoff. “For me the first and foremost thing is money,” declared Fischer. “I repeat, money is the most important.” That has an overly-materialist ring for a game whose chief attraction is supposed to be its intellectual challenge. But there has never been hypocrisy about money in tournament chess. Money is the standard prize in tournaments. The distinction between amateur and professional found in most contests — and honored more in the breach than the observance—does not exist in chess. The youngster who enters his first chess tournament is as much a “professional” as the seasoned grand master. The chief problem for American chess players is the lack of money. Relatively few Americans play tournament chess, and the prize money — made up for the most part from entry fees — usually is modest. Few Americans make a living playing chess. Bobby Fischer's success in reaching the finals for the world's championship gives him a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime shot at big money. He can be pardoned for acting like other champions and trying to cash in while he can. ★ Read More

December 29, 1971

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Wednesday, December 29, 1971 - Page 21 — Fischer Won't Play In Russia — New York (AP)—America's Bobby Fischer, who plays Russian defender Boris Spassky for the World Chess Championship in 1972, said Monday he would not play in Russia for fear of harassment and other unfair tactics. The title match will probably be played in Amsterdam or in Yugoslavia. Fischer, who will be 29 next March, has previously charged publicly that the Russians have blocked him and other non-Russians from reaching a title challenge. He told in a television interview on the Columbia network why he barred a Russian site. “The Russians wants to keep the world championship so badly they don't care how they win,” the challenger declared. As an example of harassing tactics he suggested: “Well, they might have a chambermaid barge into my hotel room and wake me up at 6 a.m. saying she wanted to collect my laundry.” “And there are lots of other things they can do—like bullying. “They can promise me a certain kind of lighting, but when I get there I don't get it.” Fischer, whose major characteristic is self-confidence, won his crack at the championship by defeating Russian Tigran Petrosian this year in Buenos Aires. ★ · ★ Read More

• The Courier-News Bridgewater, New Jersey Wednesday, December 29, 1971 - Page 21 — Hungry Players Did All Right — Plainfield — Although they meticulously observed an orthodox Jewish fast day and played the last of three grueling days of a chess championship contest on empty stomachs, the Elizabeth Jewish Education Center team, captained by 16-year-old Ira Wilkow of 972 Central Ave., finished eighth among 40 teams in the first tournament the team had ever entered… Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, December 29, 1971 - Page 240 — In Chess, Queen Can Rule Kings — “…Interest in chess among youngsters and grownups is higher now than ever before,' said organizer Bill Goichberg, who looked more than a little harassed after dealing with more than 400 brainy high school students. 'A lot of it is due to the success of our own Brooklyn-bred Bobby Fischer. When he plays Russia's Boris Spassky for the world champion in the spring, I'm sure even more people will take it up.' […] 'The publicity given to Bobby Fischer is part of it. At school, we analyze his games and some of the players try to copy his style.” ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ · ★ Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, December 29, 1971 - Page 11 — No Sparks From Spassky — The young man with penetrating green eyes and long neatly-trimmed, reddish-brown sideburns sat in the back row of contestants as an official announced the result of the Alekhine Memorial Chess Tournament. He seemed annoyed at the knot of spectators, staring at him with a mixture of curiosity and awe. Some spectators seemed as disappointed as he. Small wonder. The young man shared sixth place with another player in a field of 18 of the world's best chess players — all grandmasters — who had competed in the tournament named after the late world chess champion Alexander Alekhine. Sixth place, even if shared with another player, in such illustrious company is no mean feat. Yet it was an obvious disappointment for Boris Spassky. The handsome man from Leningrad who will be 35 on January 30, is, after all, the official world champion chess player — the man who will have to defend, not only his own title, but also the Soviet Union's reputation of world supremacy in chess when he meets a volatile and imperious challenger, Bobby Fischer, in a title match next spring. The 28-year-old American challenger is the first non-Russian contender for the world chess crown since 1948, and the coming match — the exact date and location hasn't been decided — obviously weighs heavily on Spassky's mind. “I'm still king, you know,” he said in an interview. The remark seemed to lack conviction, and the inflection made it seem almost as an attempt at self-assurance, rather than a statement of fact. He added, “I have very much work to do. I have many problems at the moment.” Perhaps because of his black mood, he declined to spell out the problems, or even assess his performance in the Alekhine. “This is a question I cannot answer at the moment,” he said. “I was not feeling very well.” Russian chess experts are clearly worried about his chances against Fischer. They grumbled at what they considered his dull performance and seeming lack of enthusiasm. In the Alekhine tournament Spassky displayed none of the brilliant strokes of tactics and strategy that so delight Soviet chess fans.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, December 29, 1971 - Page 7 — Hastings Hopes to Regain Lost Prestige in Chess by Leonard Barden — The chess congress which opens at Hastings this afternoon is the 47th in an annual series, but very much the first in a drive to regain the tournament's lost prestige as the major traditional event … Read More

December 30, 1971

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, December 30, 1971 - Page 22 — 8 Nations In Bidding For Fischer Match — The deadline for bids for the world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer of New York and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the world champion, is midnight tomorrow. The following nations are among eight that have submitted bids: Canada, France, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia will be submitting two bids. While the bidding is secret, it seems that the antagonists will share a prize of $100,000, or more, with 62½ per cent for the winner and 37½ per cent for the loser. A last-minute bid was received from the Borough President of Brooklyn, Sebastian Leone, who offered $75,000, with $25,000 additional from Walter Goldwater, president of the Marshall Chess Club. The bid was announced yesterday by E.B. Edmondson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation. Read More

December 31, 1971

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, December 31, 1971 - Page 30 — Chess Title to Columbia — Toronto (CP) — Columbia University of New York City has won the Pan-American chess championship after five days of competition at the University of Toronto. Columbia scored seven match points, winning six matches and drawing two others in the championships which ended Thursday. The University of Western Ontario finished second with 6½ points while the University of Chicago, City College of New York and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology tied for third with six points each. The University of Toronto scored 5½ points to finish sixth, after placing in the top five for the last six years. Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, December 31, 1971 - Page 30 — Canada Jumps Into Bidding Race for Fischer-Spassky Chess Match by Bill Rayner — Canada has entered into the bidding to host the world chess championship, it was learned today. Phil Haley, president of the Canadian Chess Federation, confirmed in a telephone interview from Sarnia, Ontario., that the CFC is one of seven known national federations seeking the 24-game match between U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer and world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Haley said Canada's bid was submitted on behalf of Montreal. He felt Canada had a good chance, but would not reveal the amount of money guaranteed. It is believed, however, that a minimum bid of $75,000 is needed, with the probable winning bid to exceed $100,000. The winner of the match would receive 62½ per cent of the purse, with 37½ per cent going to the loser. Other countries known to have submitted bids are France, Iceland, Israel, Switzerland, Yugoslavia and The Netherlands. Others believed to be interested are Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Greece. Deadline for bids is midnight tonight. If the highest bid is accepted by both Fischer and Spassky, France would be the probably winner. New York chess sources indicated that France has offered the two players a percentage of the gross income generated by a match in Paris. This would include world TV, souvenir and publishing revenue, and could reach $1 million. While Fischer has often stated that he is in chess for the money, his appearance in Vancouver last May could give Canada an edge. Fischer defeated Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov, 6-0, here in the opening challengers' competition match and has since shown a fondness for Canada. He said in New York Thursday that he'd love to return to Canada and picks it as his second choice. His first choice is the U.S., but that country has not submitted a bid. If it did, however, it is certain Spassky would veto it. The bidding competition works this way: Interested countries submit bids to Amsterdam, headquarters of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), with copies to Fischer and Spassky. The two players list their preferences. If the number one choice is the same, then the problem is solved. If the players can't get together by Feb. 1, then FIDE president Dr. Max Euwe will decide. Each player would have one veto over Euwe's selection, but after that veto is cast, Euwe's decision would be final. Fischer earned the right to meet Spassky with an elimination match victory over former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. Spassky defeated Petrosian for the title in 1969. The championship match is expected to begin in late June, 1972. Read More

• The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Friday, December 31, 1971 - Page 12 — Brooklyn Eyes Chess Playoff — New York (AP) — Brooklyn Borough President Sebastian Leone wants chess whiz Bobby Fischer to come home. He has asked Secretary of State William P. Rogers to formally invite Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky to defend his title in Brooklyn where Robert J. Fischer was born 28 years ago.) [Correction: Born in Chicago!] Leone said in his letter to Rogers released Thursday, that Brooklynites would post a $100,000 bid—and more if need be—to get the world's two great chess players at a mutually acceptable site in Brooklyn. The borough president suggested that the event would signify good-will between The Soviet Union and the United States. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, December 31, 1971 - Page 21 — On Bobby Fischer's Mind: The Match Site, Spassky and Money by Alden Whitman — Bobby Fischer, the 28-year-old American chess wizard, said yesterday that he would like it best if an American city was the high bidder for next spring's world title match with Boris Spassky, 34, of the Soviet Union. Mr. Fischer, who made the statement in an interview, said his second choice would be Canada. He is expected to find out over the weekend. So far, eight bids for the match have been received, with midnight tonight as the deadline for offers to put up $100,000 or more for the purse, the biggest chess prize ever. Bids have been submitted by Canada, France, Iceland, Israel, Switzerland and Yugoslavia (which sent in two offers), and a last-minute bid came from Brooklyn on Wednesday. The winner of the match is to get 62.5 per cent of the purse and the loser 37.5 per cent. After the bids are unsealed, both the United States Chess Federation and its Soviet counterpart must agree formally on the match site, but presumably the highest bidder will get the match.
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