AThe Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday, July 21, 1971 - Page 12
New York's Fischer Moves Into World Chess Finals
Denver — New York chess wizard Robert J. “Bobby” Fischer, 28, defeated Bent Larsen of Denmark in 40 moves yesterday to win a place in the finals of the world chess championships.
Fischer, the undisputed king of American chess, defeated Larsen in six straight games in the best of 10 series to eliminate the Dane from the world playoffs.
Larsen stayed on the attack in the opening stages of the game and appeared to have the early game. But Fischer battled back near the end to take command of the board and win the match and series.
Fischer now will face the winner of the semifinals series being held in Moscow between Soviet grandmasters Tigran Petrosian and Viktor Korchnoi. That series is deadlocked at 4-4 with all eight games having ended in draws.
The winner of the finals match will play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world chess title in 1972.
The win yesterday ran Fischer's string of victories to 18 in international competition without a defeat.
