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Chess by Al Horowitz Fri, Jun 23, 1972 – 48 · The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Speculation Continues to Stir About the Spassky-Fischer Match
Speculation and discussion continue to be stirred about the 24-game match scheduled between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the world chess championship. The match, slated to begin on July 2, will go to Fischer if he scores 12½ points. For Spassky to retain his title, however the Soviet star needs only 12 points.
A friend of Fischer's recently was asked. “Who is going to win and by what scores?” The answer was: “Fischer will win by three to one.”
Registering disdain when told of this comment. Fischer said. “the odds should be 20 to 1.”
Without a doubt, Fischer has amassed much confidence. All other things being equal, confidence wins games. Allied to the will to win, it sparks the mental ignition, brings forth ideas, dispels doubts and promotes clear thinking.
In contrast, timidity befuddles, inhibits and defeats itself. By all means, be confident … use that intangible point, the psychological weapon. Move with alacrity, capture with impunity and play with dignity.
Aside from this verbal barrage, a look at the record will disclose emphatic differences. First, Fischer won seven serious clock games in a row, then he defeated Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union, 6-0 in Vancouver. After that he defeated Grandmaster Bent Larsen of Denmark, 6-0. After his winning streak was halted, he defeated a former world champion, Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, 5½-2½.
Over-the-board, Fischer has met Spassky five times. He drew twice and lost three times.
This result is peculiar. According to Prof. Arpad Elo, a teacher at Marquette University who has placed all of Fischer's games on a computer. Fischer should win the Spassky match 12½-8½.
Spassky's chess has not been the strongest in the last several years. He has failed to take the lead in many tournaments.
In the Sicilian Reversed from the game against Larsen in Yugoslavia in 1964, Spassky, as Black, gains a small initiative as a result of his opening pattern.
With move 14 N-N5, White inveigled Black into a tactical morass, from which White could not recover. On the face of it, White got into trouble, and a careful count will disclose that White was always behind.
With 24 … NxP many of White's men are en prise and White can barely manage to hold. After 30 … Q-K4, Black has netted a couple of pawns. With 34 … N-K3, Black has laid open a vulnerable kingside. With 39 … RxB, White is finished.
In a short King's Indian defense, Spassky defeated Larry Evans, a former American champion and United States Open champion, who has acted as Fischer's second a number of times. The game is from the 1962 Olympics in Stalin, Bulgaria.
Oddly enough, the defense is one that is favored by Fischer. But a move made
by Fischer and Evans in the same position is not the same.
White takes the initiative and move by move built up his potential forces to their utmost. On the other hand, in the first dozen or so odd moves, Black played almost all pawn moves. In the preface, White initiates a kingside attack and the campaign is mapped out.
With 12 … P-R5, White accelerates the attack, and before long, White breaks through and his attack is irresistible.
