AArizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Friday, October 22, 1971 - Page 60
8th Chess Game Postponed
Buenos Aires (AP) — The chess game scheduled Thursday afternoon between Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union and Bobby Fischer of the United States has been postponed until Sunday because of Petrosian's exhausted condition.
The Argentine Chess Federation said a doctor examined the 42-year-old Soviet grandmaster and said he should rest for at least 48 hours.
It would have been the eighth game in the 12-game match to decide who will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the title.
Fischer, 28, has won three games, including the last two, while Petrosian has only one victory. The other three games ended in draws.
Fischer's victories in the last two games left Petrosian visibly depressed and gave the American a commanding lead of four and a half points to two and a half. A total of six and a half points are needed to win the match, with a win counting one point and draws a half point each.
The games had been scheduled for Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 31, but the postponement of the eighth game could now extend the match to Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Fischer, in an interview some time ago, was asked by a Soviet Journalist to comment on a report that as a youngster he used to cry after a defeat.
“That is not true,” replied Fischer. “But one thing I can say. When a Russian loses, he does not cry. He gets sick.”
