The Chessboard 01 Jun 1969, Sun Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
The Chessboard: Title Game Marked by Blunder by Harry T. Conover
An early blunder—unprecedented in world championship play—marked the eighth game of the title match between world champion Tigran Petrosian and Boris Spassky, both of the Soviet Union.
Whether at his 14th turn, Petrosian touched the wrong piece (his king's bishop) and was compelled to move it, or whether he overlooked Spassky's counterstroke which won the exchange, is not clear. Possibly an explanation will be forthcoming from observers at the scene.
Suffice to say, Petrosian never recovered from this setback and Spassky won the game after 44 moves to lead 5-3. As this is written, Petrosian has come back to tie the score at 7½-7½ with nine games remaining in the protracted struggle.
Here is the score of the eighth game:
Tigran V Petrosian vs Boris Spassky
Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Match (1969), Moscow URS, rd 8, May-02
Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack (D37) 0-1
1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 c5
Against Bogoljubov at Carlsbad, 1929, Maroczy continued 5. … O-O; 6. P-K3 P-B4; 7. PxBP BxP; 8. PxP NxP; 9. NxN PxN; 10. B-Q3 B-Q3; 11. BxB QxB; 12. O-O N-B3; with equality.
6. dxc5 Na6 7. e3 Nxc5 8. cxd5 exd5
Thus, as in the Tarrasch Defense which has stood Spassky in good stead in this match, Black trades an isolated pawn for a measure of freedom.
9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. Be5 Rc8 12. Rc1 a6 13. h3 b5 14. Bd3
Since there is no apparent reason for this move, it must be assumed Petrosian touched this bishop in error and was obliged to move it.
Position After White's 14th Move14. … d4!
Now a simple sequence of moves nets Black the exchange.
15. Bxd4 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Bc4 17. Qb1 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 Nd5 19. Ne2 Bf6 20. Rd1 Qc7 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Nfd4 Qe5 23. Qd3 Rfd8 24. a4 bxa4 25. Ra1 Ne4 26. Qxa6 Ra8 27. Qd3
White has achieved a gain of sorts as the Black queen rook's pawn may be hard to maintain.
27. … Re8 28. Nf4 g6 29. Qa3 Qf6 30. Nd3 Rec8 31. Rd1 Rc4
Preparing to double rooks on the QB file. In such positions, the player who is ahead in material frequently must wait for an opportune moment to get the full benefit of his advantage. This is the case here.
32. b4 Rac8 33. b5 Rc3 34. Qa1 Rxd3!
The quickest path to victory. By returning the exchange, Black breaks open the kingside and the White king soon is on the run.
35. Rxd3 Qxf2+ 36. Kh2 Qg3+ 37. Kg1 Qf2+ 38. Kh2 Qg3+ 39. Kg1 Nf2 40. Nc6
White still is fighting back, but his king's position is too precarious.
40. … Nxh3+ 41. Kh1 Nf2+ 42. Kg1 Nxd3 43. Ne7+ Kf8 44. Nxc8 Qxe3+ White Resigns
Chess Problem No. 107 by E. Gize, Arbejder-Skak, July 1947. White mates in 2 moves.
FEN 8/8/8/3p3p/BnrN3B/Rr3QKP/N2kP2R/2b5 w - - 0 1
Key: K-B4/Kf4
Spassky Ahead 05 Jun 1969, Thu Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
