ADaily News New York, New York Sunday, December 26, 1971 - Page 116
Chess Master Backs Fischer
Moscow, Dec. 25 (UPI) — American chess grandmaster Robert Byrne said today that he thinks Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn will defeat Boris Spassky in the world chess title match next year.
Byrne told the newspaper Sovetsky Sport that Spassky, a Russian who is now world champion, “played much below par” in the recent Alekhine Memorial Chess Tournament in Moscow. Spassky was not among the top finishers.
“I am sure Spassky will play more forcefully by the time the world chess title match begins,” Byrne said.
“Fischer is a pure classic player who can count versions quickly and accurately and who can sort out any, even the most puzzling positions,” Byrne said.
“He surpasses Spassky in the ability to derive positional advantage from opening, to built it up, increase, transform and bring it home.”
