The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, May 23, 1971 - Page 123
Fischer Wins First In Taimanov Match
American chess ace Bobby Fischer, starting off with the black pieces, defeated Mark Taimanov of the USSR in the first of their 10-game series in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
This was the first serious game for Fischer this year, after a brilliant run of successes that earned him the Chess Oscar for 1971.
Taimanov started complications with a knight maneuver that eventually cost him a pawn. He later gave up the exchange for chances on the king side.
Fischer's position was secure, however, and he started counter measures directed at Taimanov's king. The result was an exchange of pieces which simplified Fischer's task.
The game was adjourned, but resigned by Taimanov without resuming play. In the final position N-K4 wins easily for Fischer.
At this writing the second game was adjourned after two sessions and 73 moves. Fischer had a pawn plus, but in a position with very little play that was likely to result in a draw.
The match came close to being called off before it started. Fischer had specified that there were to be no spectators in the playing area. Only the players and officials were to be present, with the spectators elsewhere watching the game on special wall boards, with closed circuit TV also available.
The Russians objected that this was against the rules for grandmaster chess events, that spectators should be in the same area, with the players on a stage or otherwise separated.
Dr. Max Euwe of Holland, president of the International Chess Federation, ruled that the separate room was approved, provided it was satisfactory in other respects.
On Thursday, May 13, when the match was to start, both Fischer and Taimanov objected to the room which had been prepared. Fischer because it was too small and Taimanov because it was air conditioned and had no windows. This was in the Graduate Center, a modern, completely air-conditioned building.
After much searching and discussion another site was chosen, the auditorium of the Students' Union Building. Here the players were on a stage and spectators in the rows of seats. This time Dr. Euwe overruled Fischer's original objection to spectators. Last Sunday the match began.
