New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, July 21, 1971 - Page 33
Fischer Trounces Larsen to Take Series
Denver, July 20— Bobby Fischer defeated Bent Larsen in 40 moves in the sixth game of their chess match in Temple Buell College here today. The final score was 6-0.
Fischer thus clinched the match, the second successive series that he won with the identical score, the previous one being against Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union in Vancouver.
Immediately after the match here, Fischer shook hands with his opponent. They chatted congenially and discussed the match for half an hour as reporters, spectators and television men mingled on the stage.
Fischer appeared pleased and relaxed and even granted a television interview after the game.
Never before in Grandmaster chess has a player shut out his opponent without allowing a draw. Fischer has done it twice.
Larsen played hard for the win. He used the Bird's opening, which was transposed into a form of the Sicilian defense. Fischer adopted a rather backward defensive game.
Larsen took command of the center with his pawns, looking for good spots for his pieces. Fischer was under greater pressure than at any time in the match, and he realized it. Though far ahead in games, he was determined not to lose and played carefully.
On the 19th move, Larsen sacrificed a pawn to keep his attack moving. His queen and bishop advanced toward the black king, setting up menacing threats. He also moved his king rook pawn forward.
Fischer replied calmly, finding adequate defenses. When Larsen offered a second pawn, he took that as well.
This was probably not best for Larsen, as his attack faltered and the extra pawns aided Fischer's defense.
Larsen could have obtained a draw by perpetual check, but he disregarded the possibility since a draw would have won the match for Fischer anyway: He only needed half a point to take the series.
Near the end, Larsen found he had used up almost all of his allotted time. He made the required 40 moves with seconds left on his clock. But he was forced to exchange queens and other pieces, and with two pawns down his game was hopeless. After a long look, Larsen resigned the game and the match.
The next step for Fischer is a match with the winner of the series still being played in Moscow between Tigran Petrosian and Viktor Korchnoi.
Fischer and Larsen had agreed earlier that the games were to be played under ideal conditions. Sponsors spent $1,500 to provide special lighting fixtures for the players, who faced each other across the game board on the stage of an auditorium seating 500.
Spectators were allowed to sit only in the last six or seven rows, to maintain the silence required by the players. A demonstration board in an adjoining hall allowed some 300 chess aficionados who attended the daily matches to follow the games more closely.
