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Chess Sun, Nov 14, 1971 – Page 20 · The Argus (Fremont, California) · Newspapers.com
Loser's Viewpoint
Upon return of the Soviet delegation to Moscow following the Fischer-Petrosian match, chief delegate and director of the USSR Central Chess Club V.D. Baturinsky was asked to share his impressions of the competition with readers of “64” a weekly chess supplement to the sports newspaper “Sovetsky sport” (condensed and translated from “64” No. 45, Nov. 5-11, 1971, pp. 6-7)
The final candidates' match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, marked an outstanding event in the chess world that attracted worldwide attention. Tens of thousands of chess fans attended the contest, which was accorded detailed coverage by press, radio and television. Foreign correspondents were on hand to report the story for their various publications.
AFTER THE MATCH Argentine television broadcast an hour-long program featuring Max Euwe, Carlos Guimard, Oscar Panno, Yuri Averbach, Alexia Suetin, V.D. Baturinsky, Ed Edmundson and others.
FIDE President and former world champion Max Euwe acknowledged the second match game as Petrosian's finest achievement, while, in his opinion, Fischer's best victory occurred in the seventh round.
Investigation of the previous matches convinced us that the first clashes would be of decisive importance. Fischer's winning streak must be checked at the start! And even thought he lost the initial engagement, Petrosian accomplished this task by finding the inner strength to win the second encounter in exceptional style. Later, in an interview, Fischer admitted that after this defeat he felt unsure of himself right up to the sixth match game.
THE FIRST FIVE struggles passed under the indisputable control of our Soviet grandmaster. But fatigue began to take its toll during the fifth hour of play, preventing Petrosian from exploiting all the advantages of his position in the sixth round, which was adjourned in a difficult situation for Petrosian. Analysis was not able to ascertain whether White could save himself. When Fischer was asked after the match when he thought about the adjourned position, he replied that the endgame was as hard for Black to win as it was for White to draw.
Then Petrosian's game fell into a slump, understandable in view of the immense nervous energy and physical tensions poured into the preceding contests. For the remainder of the match Petrosian was unable to display in full measure his renowned coolness in defense and his refined position play.
IN SUCH CASES outside influences are not supposed to be cited as a reason for defeat. All the same, it should be noted that the weather in Buenos Aires shifted drastically during October 12-15, bringing in its wake high temperatures and increased humidity. When Petrosian had his blood pressure tested after the seventh game, the reading was abnormally low.
This match has reconfirmed the observation that an older man must exercise extreme caution in selecting a playing site in order to avoid variable climatic conditions. As is known Petrosian did not command much of a say in the choice of location for this match.
