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Chess Chats Sun, Jun 4, 1972 – 30 · The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) · Newspapers.com
The Greatest Chess Event Ever
Despite other national and international matches this spring, the chess world is concentrating on a match, starting in late June, which has created more international interest than any other in the entire 500 year history of the world's most universal game. This, of course, is the Robert Fischer-Boris Spassky match for the World Championship.
Some experts say that Fischer has it in the bag. They point out that Spassky has not been playing like the World Champion he is, that Bobby has been rated No. 1 by the International Union of Chess Reporters (Spassky placed sixth). But no one should forget that the two have met five times across the board and that Bobby lost three times and drew twice. The American champ has yet to win a game from the Russian.
1970 Chess Olympics
In 1970, they met in the Chess Olympics in Siegen, Germany. It was a match never to be forgotten by the chess addicts who were there, some 5000 of them, and it indicated the kind of interest that the World Championship will engender. I was there and only someone who was could 'believe the excited fascination of the crowds, few of whom could even see the contestants.
When Spassky finally won, after Fischer had avoided a deep, well-calculated plot, the shouts and hand-clapping made a roar Siegen will recall for years to come. But both players had played so well that one had the impression the applause was for both of them - and for chess.
Boris Spassky vs Robert James Fischer
Siegen Olympiad Final-A (1970), Siegen FRG, rd 6, Sep-20
Gruenfeld Defense: Exchange. Classical Variation (D86) 1-0
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. h3 b6 13. f4 e6 14. Qe1 Na5 15. Bd3 f5 16. g4 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Bb7 18. Ng3 Nc4 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Bf2 Qc6 21. Qe2 cxd4 22. cxd4 b5 23. Ne4 Bxd4(a)
24. Ng5 Bxf2+(b)
25. Rxf2 Rd6(c)
26. Re1 Qb6(d)
27. Ne4 Rd4 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. Qxe6 Rd6(e)
30. Qe4 Rf8(f)
31. g5 Rd2 32. Rf1 Qc7(g)
33. Rxd2 Nxd2 34. Qd4 Rd8 35. Nd5+ Kg8 36. Rf2 Nc4 37. Re2(h) Rd6
38. Re8+ Kf7 39. Rf8+ 1-0
(a) Everybody considered this a mistake suggesting 23 … R-K1 and 24 … QR-Ql.
(b) It is difficult to guess at Fischer's reason for this exchange. Perhaps he had hoped to retain the extra pawn. Spassky's assessment was deeper and more realistic.
(c) Here 25 R-K1 was forced. If 25 … R-Q7; 26.QxR, etc.
(d) If now 26 … R-Q7; 27.QxPch, and after general exchanges White's Rook will invade Black's position.
(e) Why not 29 … R-Q8? It looks as if he wins a Rook. But it would not save Black as he runs out of checks after 30. Q-B7, RxRch; 31. K-N2, Q-B3ch, 32. K-N3, R-K6ch; 33. KR4, RxPch; 34. KxR, QR8ch; 35. R-R2, Q-Bch; 36. K-R4.
(f) 30 … QR-Q1 should have been tried.
(g) Only 32 … N-Q3 gave chances of survival; 33.Q-K7,R-B2; or 33. Q-K5,Q-Q5.
(h) Spassky conducts the decisive attack with engaging simplicity.
