The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, October 07, 1971 - Page 7
Fischer's Victory Run Ends by Leonard Barden
Bobby Fischer's record series of victories in international chess ended on Tuesday night when he lost the second game of his world title final eliminator against Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in 32 moves. Before this game, Fischer had won 13 games in succession in the world candidates matches and 21 in a row against international opponents.
Petrosian beat his American opponent by world champion Spassky's recommended formula of aiming for obscure complications unsuited to Fischer's classical style. The Russian gambitted a queen's side pawn in a sharply played Grunfeld Defense, but in return secured a powerful center which left Fischer's king stranded in mid-board and his rooks disunited.
Fischer counter-attacked and queened a passed-pawn to win a rook, but then the Russian's final thrust drove Fischer's king into the open board where he could only avoid checkmate by heavy material loss.
The score in the 12-game series is now 1-1, and the third game is scheduled for tonight.
Fischer won the first game of the match by clever end game play. Petrosian sprung a prepared opening improvement on move 11 over a game in the Fischer v. Taimanov quarterfinal match.
Fischer took over 20 minutes before taking the pawn, but a few moves later Petrosian apparently chickened out of sharp tactical play based on 16. … RxP Fischer refused a draw on move 27 and, with Petrosian acutely short of time, scored with an outside passed pawn. At the end Petrosian resigned because of Fischer's double threat to queen passed pawn or capture of the black knight.
