The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, June 06, 1971 - Page 130
Fischer, Korchnoi, Larsen Win Matches
Mark Taimanov of the USSR is a well known concert pianist. He is also a grandmaster at chess who earned the right to compete in the series of matches to determine a challenger for the world chess championship.
His artistry as a pianist did not suffer, but Taimanov's chess status received a cruel blow at the hands of American genius Bobby Fischer.
Fischer won six games in succession to clinch the match at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. No such result was ever before achieved in the history of grandmaster encounters.
The match had been for the best of 10 games, with 5½ points required for victory. The shortest possible number of games was six, and that is all Fischer allowed.
Fischer had a minimal advantage in the first session of the fourth game, but it hardly seemed sufficient to win. The game was adjourned with material even except that Fischer had a bishop for Taimanov's knight.
In a remarkable demonstration of endgame technique, Fischer advanced his king behind the black pawns. The final blow was a sacrifice of the bishop for three pawns. Taimanov was helpless to halt their advance.
The fifth game was the best of the match for 45 of the 46 moves. Taimanov played more aggressively in the opening and had Fischer on the defensive. By adjournment time on the 41st move the game had been equalized, however.
When the players sat down for the second session they moved rapidly, evidently having fully explored the possibilities during the intervening hours.
One of the fast moves was Taimanov's 46th, an incredible blunder which lost a rook. Either his preliminary analysis had been faulty, or he mentally transposed moves. It would have been a tragic occurrence had the match been close.
Fischer needed only a draw in the sixth game to win the match, but this was clearly not his goal. He plays every game to win, no matter what the score, in match or tournament.
This game also went to adjournment, but Fischer had two pawns ahead with a relatively easy task. It was a sad end for the outclassed Taimanov.
Semi-Final Matches
The pairings for the semi-finals among the four remaining potential challengers for the world championship are Fischer vs. Larsen and Korchnoi vs. former title-holder Tigran Petrosian of the USSR. The latter had defeated Robert Huebner of West Germany, as recounted here last week.
The site for Korchnoi-Petrosian is no problem. They are at home in Moscow. Fischer and Larsen must agree, and discussions have already started.
Larsen is willing to play in the U.S. Several cities have been mentioned, including Los Angeles. A decision should be reached soon, with the match to start early next month.
Both Fischer and Larsen have played in Los Angeles, in the Piatigorsky Cup competition in 1966. Fischer took the second prize then and Larsen was third. The winner was world champion Boris Spassky of the USSR, and the man still to be for the title.
The coming matches will be on the same conditions as those just completed, for the best of 10 games. The two winners will meet in a 12-game in September. The ultimate victor will have Spassky to content with next spring.
