AChicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 56
A Fourth Win for Bobby Fischer
Buenos Aires —(AP)— Bobby Fischer of the United States defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last night in their eighth chess game, giving the American a virtually insurmountable lead in the 12-game-series.
Fischer now has won four games, including the last three, and Petrosian only one. The victory gives Fischer 5½ points to Petrosian's 2½, with 6½ points needed to win the tournament.
The victor will meet world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union next spring for the title.
Petrosian resigned after the 40th move when Fischer mounted a strong mating attack.
The critical point came on the 24th move when Petrosian gave up a pawn to go on the attack and had a strong passed pawn ahead. With fine tactical thrusts he pushed the pawn forward and created the mating threat.
The 28-year-old American appeared to be back in the form that gave him 20 straight victories until he was defeated by Petrosian in the second game of this series.
He now needs only one point in the remaining four games still scheduled. A victory counts one point and a draw a half point.
Match victory could come for the American in the ninth game tomorrow, when Fischer will have the whites and the first move advantage.
If it does not, succeeding games will be on Thursday and Sunday.
Petrosian, 42, appeared rested for the game. He had asked for a postponement of Thursday's game until today because of exhaustion.
The game started as a quiet queen's gambit declined with even chances in the early play. Fischer generally avoids such openings, but my not have minded a draw with the black pieces in view of his plus score. Not satisfied with equality, Petrosian tried for a king-side advance with his 18th move.
This set up tactical chances for both sides, and in this area Fischer proved superior. He started threats on the queen side as a counter.
Petrosian gave up a pawn to continue his attack on the king. Fischer forced an exchange of bishops which soon stopped any such advance.
Using his extra pawns as an offensive weapon, Fischer dominated the game in a few moves. He diverted his queen and rooks to build mating attacks and Petrosian had no good defense when he resigned.
Nearly 1,200 fans filled every available seat in the San Martin Theater in downtown Buenos Aires. Every game so far has been a sellout.
An overflow crowd of more than a thousand persons packed the lobby to follow the game on two large demonstration boards.
Games were scheduled to be played every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday thru Oct. 31, but Petrosian asked last Wednesday that Thursday's game be postponed. Following the rules of tournament play, a doctor appointed by the Argentine Chess Federation examined the Armenian grandmaster and then said he should have at least 48 hours rest.
If the series does go to full schedule now it will run thru Nov. 2.
In the first seven games, Fischer won the first and Petrosian the second. The next three were draws and then Fischer charged back to win the next two, including the double-session eight-hour sixth game played last Sunday and Monday when Petrosian had the white pieces and the first move advantage.
