AThe Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, November 28, 1971 - Page 349
A Footnote For the Chess Set
The Place:Buenos Aires. The event: the finals of the Candidates' Matches leading to the world championship. At the chessboard, Russian Tigran Petrosian, world champion from 1962 to 1969, faced “the boy from Brooklyn,” Bobby Fischer.
Fischer, playing the White pieces, had just made his invariable opening, pawn to king 4, and was lounging in his chair. Petrosian was bent over the board, deep in concentration. His clock was running, and time in such a game is of utmost importance. Yet Petrosian seemed unable to move.
Why did Petrosian, one of the greatest players of all time, hesitate on the very first move in responding to Fischer's standard opening move?
The writer of the preceding story calls it “Fischer fear.” I prefer the term “Fischer phobia.” By whatever name, it seems a deadly malady to all who face Fischer.
What is Fischer-phobia? It is a psychological hangup that reduces even the greatest chess masters to pawns when they confront Fischer. Consider the case of another Russian grandmaster, Mark Taimanov, who played Fischer in the quarter-finals of the challenge series in Vancouver.
After four straight losses to Fischer, Taimanov pleaded illness and was granted a postponement. What happened when Taimanov returned for the fifth game is shown in the accompanying diagram: Taimanov on his 46th move played RxP and Fischer responded with a Q-Q5ch, forcing the Russian's immediate resignation. Taimanov must have seen only 47. R-B2 R-R7, while overlooking 47. … R-R8ch. It was an error of which only a novice should be guilty.
But Taimanov may be forgiven. Four times he had met Fischer, and four times was defeated by the confident American. Fischer went on to sweep the match 6-0.
The next victim of Fischer-phobia was Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen. It was the Taimanov story all over. After losing four games Larsen fell ill and a doctor ordered four days' rest. Larsen returned to lose two more games and the match. Fischer had won an unprecedented 19 consecutive games against the world's top players.
Then came the climactic match with Petrosian. Fischer won the first game, Petrosian the second. The next three were drawn. Then Fischer-phobia set in and the American beat the Russian in a 66-move 8-hour battle. A doctor ordered Petrosian to rest for 48 hours. He did, only to return and lose three more games and the match to Fischer.
Can Fischer win the world title? More than a decade ago I predicted he would. And I think he will do so next spring when he meets Russian Boris Spassky, the current champion. Not all chess prophets agree. Said English Master and analyst C.H.O'D. Alexander in the newspaper, The Guardian: “I would expect Spassky to win.” But Alexander added: “There is one word that may overthrow the most careful balancing of chances—genius. And, if this is so, a match against Spassky could bring out his [Fischer's] powers, and then your columnist will prove to be completely and hopelessly wrong.”
Perhaps Alexander has defined better than most of us Bobby Fischer's secret weapon: It is the mind of the man.
Mark Taimanov vs Robert James Fischer Fischer - Taimanov Candidates Quarterfinal (1971), Vancouver CAN, rd 5, May-27 Gruenfeld Defense: General (D80) 0-1 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044721 45. … Kh6
