AChicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 44
Another Draw for Bobby
Buenos Aires (AP) — The fourth game of the 12-game chess match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union ended yesterday in a draw after 20 moves and slightly over one hour of play.
The final position was exactly even in material after a series of exchanges.
Petrosian, leading with white, tried for an English opening, but at the fifth move the game veered into the Maroczy variation of the Sicilian defense by a transposition of moves. White has an advantage in space in this variation, but the opening has been thoroughly analyzed and chances for both sides are considered equal.
As played, the queens were exchanged early and a few moves later on the rooks and knights also disappeared. Based on Fischer's past record of playing every game to a finish if there is any chance of victory, the American expected to continue. But he offered a draw and Petrosian immediately accepted.
But chess experts were generally satisfied at the brief display of technique by the two contenders for the world title.
“We saw today a good fight, along with profound chess concentration, the game came to a draw according to chess theory, and both grandmasters realized it,” international grandmaster Marcos Luckis said.
They will play the fifth game tomorrow afternoon here in the San Martin Theatre.
The game leaves the players with two points apiece in the tournament that will determine who will challenge Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for world championship next spring.
Both players have won one game apiece and there have been two draws. A win counts one point and a draw a half point, with a total of 6½ points needed to win the match.
Lothar Schmidt, referee of yesterday's match, said that if at the end of their 12-game match the score stands even, they will play additional games until one of them emerges winner, up to a 20th game. If the score is then still even, the result will be drawn by lot.
For Fischer, yesterday's draw was a minor victory, having completely equalized the game with the black pieces. This was the first time in the match that a relatively simple game developed so quickly.
