Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Wednesday, October 06, 1971 - Page 56
In World Chess Semifinal: A Defeat for Fischer
(AP) Buenos Aires—THE GREATEST winning streak in chess tournament history ended last night when United States ace Bobby Fischer resigned after 32 moves in the second game of his 12-game match with former world's champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union.
The winner of the series, scheduled to run thru Oct. 31 at the San Martin Theatre, will meet the reigning world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Un ion, next spring for the title.
For Fischer the loss ended an incredible winning streak that he started last December with seven straight victories at a tournament in Spain. He continued the run in the present elimination series by taking two matches with six straight games each against Taimanov of the Soviet Union and Bent Larsen of Denmark. The 20th was his victory over Petrosian last week.
Yesterday's game began when the clock in the theatre struck 5 p.m. Petrosian, with the white, started with the Queen's pawn game which is his most usual opening. Fischer, who arrived five minutes later but had 20 minutes in which to make his move, replied with the Gruenfeld defense. This is marked by his third move, P-QR.
Fischer chose the most active variation when he played five, P-B4. This starts a maneuver involving the sacrifice of two pawns.
The game went along well-analyzed lines and after 10 moves Fischer was one pawn behind.
At the end of the 21st move, Fischer had lost the right to castle and his king was in a more precarious position than Petrosian's.
Petrosian might have exchanged queens to simplify the game but he preferred to play for the attack. Fischer's pawn on king six gave hm counter-chances that made Petrosian consider carefully.
For the next five moves the position was very complicated with Petrosian trying to open lines for attack against Fischer's king. On the 22d move it seemed that Fischer could play P-K7 but this would have lost.
Fischer moved his queen to defend his king side. Petrosian gave up a rook for a bishop to maintain the attack. The position was in a critical stage.
The match is now tied with one win and one point apiece. The third game of the series will be tomorrow afternoon. A total of six and a half points is required for the match victory.
Fischer, a 28-year-old native of New York, won in 40 moves last week against Petrosian, 42.
The theatre was packed again with spectators, and those who couldn't obtain seats followed play on demonstration boards in the lobby.
The games will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays thru Oct. 31. If games are not completed between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.- 8 p.m. EST Tuesdays and Sundays, they will be resumed at 5 p.m. the next day. Uncompleted Thursday games will be resumed at 2:30 p.m. on Fridays.
