ANew York Times, New York, New York, Friday, October 29, 1971 - Page 43
Fischer Is Honored; He Hails Petrosian As ‘a Good Sport’
NYTimes — Buenos Aires, Oct. 28 — The American chess phenomenon, Bobby Fischer, stayed long enough here tonight to receive a medal, make a short but gracious speed and sign a few autographs before fleeing an adoring multitude.
Fischer and Tigran Petrosian made a joint appearance on the stage of the San Martin Theatre, the scene of their grueling chess match for the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title next spring.
Fischer won the ninth game on Tuesday night to secure the necessary 6½ points for victory. The match could have gone to the scheduled 12 games.
The duel between the 28-year-old American and the quiet, undemonstrative Armenian captured the imagination of the people of Buenos Aires, who have followed the match through extensive press coverage and on radio and television, usually with a board to follow all the moves in this chess-conscious country.
In recognition of their services in furthering interest in chess in Argentina, Social Welfare Minister Francisco Manrique presented the two grandmasters with the Order of May.
Fischer responded with a short speech, thanking the Argentine Government for the medal and saying he was grateful that Petrosian was “a good sport and a good opponent.” Fischer spoke in English and Petrosian in Armenian.
Petrosian, saying that despite his defeat he was “a soldier of chess, and I will battle to the end,” added that for now, “I want to go back to being a normal person again.”
Fischer skipped out by the same back entrance he has used to evade chess fans since he arrived here.
He got away easily tonight.
