AThe Record Hackensack, New Jersey Wednesday, October 13, 1971 - Page 4
Fischer, Petrosian Tied After Second Deadlock
Buenos Aires (UPI) — Chess grandmasters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union drew for the second game in a row last night to remain tied in their candidate's elimination tournament.
The match, the fourth, was the shortest played so far. Its 20 moves were made in 61 minutes.
Fischer won the opening game Sept. 30, Petrosian the second Oct. 5, and the third match last Thursday finished in a draw—giving each man two points.
Whoever reaches 6½ points in the match, scheduled for 12 games, will challenge world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
The next game will be tomorrow in the same site, the downtown San Martin Theatre.
Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany declared last night's a draw after both players agreed. Each had only their bishop and seven pawns left.
Petrosian, playing white, used an English opening, one of his favorites, with pawn to queen bishop four.
The 28-year-old Fischer, from New York City, countered with a Sicilian defense—pawn to queen bishop four. His second move, pawn to king knight three, paved the way for a Dragon variant—a fianchettoed bishop.
During the next 13 moves Fischer could not find a gap to break through white's solid position. At the same time, the cautious Petrosian was not able to launch an attack of his own.
First indication the 42-year old Petrosian was looking for a draw, even though playing white, was on move 14, white knight to queen five which led to an exchange of queens.
The next five moves were simplification, with the exchange of rooks and knights.
Both Fischer and Petrosian, world champion from 1963 to 1969 when he lost the title to Spassky, stood up, shook hands, and left the theatre rapidly.
