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Evans On Chess Sat, Jun 3, 1972 – Page 5 · Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, Nevada) · Newspapers.com
Spassky Speaks
“I'm still king,” declared Boris Spassky, 35, in a recent Moscow interview after posting a dismal tie for 6th in a field of 18 grandmasters at the Alekhine Memorial Tournament, one of his rare appearances. But if his performance was any indication of his form, the chain-smoking world champion stands a slim chance of defending his title against America's Bobby Fischer, 29, this summer.
“It's hard for me to say who will win this match. I would not care to make any prediction. I like Fischer's style very much. I like the purity of his play — very logical. His personality is very explosive, but he is very interesting. I like him.
“I'm a lazy Russian bear, I don't take months to prepare for a tournament the way the old masters did. But I make up for it by working much harder while the game is in progress.”
Spassky's drive has faltered since he won the title from a countryman in 1969. Gone is the panache and daring of his early days which so delighted Soviet chess buffs.
His chief assets are iron discipline and rock-steady nerves. He holds a healthy plus score (3 wins, 2 draws) against his challenger, stemming from their first encounter where Fischer was surprised by a dashing gambit rarely seen in modern competition.
Spassky vs. Fischer, Mar Del Plata, 1960
Boris Spassky vs Robert James Fischer
Mar del Plata (1960), Mar del Plata ARG, rd 2, Mar-30
King's Gambit: Accepted. Kieseritsky Gambit Rubinstein Variation (C39) 1-0
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. d4 d6 7. Nd3 Nxe4 8. Bxf4 Bg7 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 c5 11. Be2 cxd4 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bxg4 O-O 14. Bxc8 Rxc8 15. Qg4 f5 16. Qg3 dxc3 17. Rae1 Kh8 18. Kh1 Rg8 19. Bxd6 Bf8 20. Be5+ Nxe5 21. Qxe5+ Rg7 22. Rxf5 Qxh4+ 23. Kg1 Qg4(a) 24. Rf2 Be7 25. Re4 Qg5(b) 26. Qd4(c) Rf8 27. Re5 Rd8 28. Qe4 Qh4 29. Rf4 Resigns(d) 1-0
a) Missing 23 … Q-N6! 24. QxQ RxQ with a promising endgame.
b) 25 … Q-Q8ch 26. R-K1 Q-N5 forces a draw by repetition.
c) The losing move. Imperative is 26 … B-B1! 27. QxRP, B-Q3 with equal chances.
d) On 29. … Q-N6 30. RxB wins.
