Daily World Opelousas, Louisiana Wednesday, October 20, 1971 - Page 22
Fischer Leads World Championship Match
Buenos Aires (AP) — Bobby Fischer of the United States outplayed former world chess champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union Tuesday night to win the seventh game of their match in 34 moves at the San Martin theater.
It was Fischer's second win in succession and his third in the 12-game match against one defeat. Three of the games resulted in draws.
Leading now by 4½ points to 2½, Fischer was strongly favored to clinch the match. He needs a total of 6½ points, with victories counting one point and draws a half point.
The game was a classic example of how a chess grandmaster, after attaining a seeming minor advantage, can gradually extend it, gain additional space or material, and finally score the full point.
The opening was a Sicilian defense, played by Petrosian with the black pieces. He varied on his fourth move from his play in the first game.
The variation actually chosen has been played by Fischer on previous occasions, which Petrosian must have known. It has generally favored the whites player.
If Petrosian had something new in mind, he did not show it. After several center pawns were exchanged he left two isolated pawns which needed constant protection.
Fischer, meanwhile, gradually improved the position of his pieces while Petrosian's men had to remain on the defensive.
The first break-through came when Fischer moved one of his rooks to the seventh rank, hampering Petrosian's forces.
Trying for a demonstration on the king's side, Petrosian advanced the pawns in front of his king but this only hastened the end.
When Fischer later moved his second rook to the seventh, in coordination with its mate, the black king was in danger for the first time.
Petrosian had relied on his knight for defense, but smart tactics by Fischer forced a quick finish. The Knight took a pawn, but could not return safely, nor could Petrosian find any other resource and he resigned.
The eighth game will start Thursday afternoon and others following on Sunday and Tuesday.
