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The Chess Column Sun, Apr 9, 1972 – 30 · The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California) · Newspapers.com
The Chess Column: Yugoslav Master Predicts Close Win For Fischer
“Fischer will beat Spassky, but it will be close,” is the prediction of Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric on the forthcoming world championship chess match between America's Bobby Fischer and the Soviet's Boris Spassky.
“They have equal talent for the game,” Gligoric said last week while appearing in Sacramento and Davis for exhibition games. “Fischer works harder at it, and that is his advantage.
“Fischer appears to be getting nervous about the match. Why else would he make extra demands after everything had been agreed upon? Perhaps his preparations are not going so well. Later, when he gets some ideas, perhaps he will change his mind.”
Gligoric discounts the importance of the team of Soviet grandmasters Spassky has at his disposal to prepare against Fischer's weaknesses.
“When you are as good as Fischer and work as hard, it may be better to work alone,” Gligoric said.
Gligoric thinks the Yugoslavs and, for that matter, the rest of the world wants Fischer to win. “Fischer represents a new order in chess. For Spassky to win is to have the same old thing we've had for the past 25 years. If Fischer wins, it will be very interesting for chess. People want a change.”
Within the next 10 years Gligoric expects a new generation to reach the top in world competition. “The players who have dominated so long will be reaching 60. They cannot keep it up.”
