AAustin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Friday, October 08, 1971 - Page 7
Chess Contest Score at a Tie by Lewis H. Diuguid, Washington Post
Buenos Aires — Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union played to a tie Thursday night in the third contest of the 12-game set that will determine who will challenge the current world chess champion.
Boris Spassky is the latest Russian to hold the world title, which Fischer has vowed to bring to the United States after its stay of over 20 years in the Soviet Union.
With the tie, each player gains half a point. As Fischer won the first game last Thursday and Petrosian won on Tuesday, each now has 1½ points. The first to win 6½ points is the grand winner and challenger of Spassky. The will play again Tuesday.
It was the first tie in 22 games for Fischer, who is known for his unorthodox and aggressive chess. After a tie a year ago in Majorca, he went on to win 20 consecutive games.
Larry Evans, co-holder of the U.S. Open Title and Fischer's alter ego here, compared the 20-game streak to hitting 20 consecutive home-runs in World Series baseball.
The absence of ties in Fischer's chess is almost as remarkable. In masters' chess, about 55 per cent of the games end in ties. In the case of the 28-year-old Fischer, the percentage is closer to 20.
On the other hand, Petrosian, 43, plays a cautious game and is content with ties most of the time. It has served him well. He is a former world champion.
In their third match, Fischer had the slight edge of opening the play. Petrosian countered with a French defense and rejected Fischer's efforts to take the initiative.
This is how international master Evans analyzed the play:
Fischer surrendered a pawn to mount the pressure of play, but Petrosian returned the pawn to diminish it. Fischer made a weak move on the 25th play and Petrosian took the initiative.
The Armenia was pressed by the clock. Each player must compete 40 moves within 2½ hours. With 10 plays to go, Petrosian had only 4 minutes.
At the end, Petrosian had a slightly stronger position, as Fischer's pawns were splintered, but Petrosian followed Fischer's thrice repetition of moves. By the rules, that forms a draw. Fischer formally claimed the standoff.
