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The King's Men Sun, Nov 28, 1971 – Page 7 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Newspapers.com
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.
