AChicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, October 15, 1971 - Page 67
Fischer, Petrosian Fifth Game a Draw
Buenos Aires, Oct. 14 (AP)—Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of Russia agreed tonight to a draw of the fifth chess match in their 12-game grand master series.
The draw gave each man two and one half points.
The winner of the series at Buenos Aires' 1,000-seat San Martin Municipal Theatre will meet Russia's Boris Spassky next spring for the world chess championship which the Russians have held since 1948.
Comes From Behind
Petrosian, playing well, came from behind to equalize the game in the final moves. The 42-yar-old Russian offered Fischer a draw on the 34th move, but Fischer refused until the 38th move.
Petrosian used the Petroff defense with the black pieces, an old defense system rarely seen in modern grand master chess. The 28-year-old Fischer established a center position and had his pieces more favorably posted.
However, he could find no weaknesses in Petrosian's defense.
Offers a Pawn
A critical situation developed after Fischer's 18th move. He offered a pawn to try to break thru on the Queen side. Petrosian did not take the pawn, but allowed Fischer to establish what looked like a dangerous passed pawn. Petrosian evidently had seen far ahead and attacked the pawn with all his forces. Fischer gained another pawn in return, but the major pieces were exchanged and the game was completely equalized.
Fischer, who is considered the best bet in years to take the world title away from the Russians, won the first game in this series, but lost the second. The third and fourth were draws.
The sixth game will be played Sunday afternoon.
