ALubbock Avalanche-Journal Lubbock, Texas Monday, May 10, 1971 - Page 116
Quarterfinals Open As Chess Connoisseurs Start Quest For World Crown
… Crowd-pleaser Bobby Fischer of the United States will take on Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Victor Korchnoi and Efim Geller, both Russians, will play at Sochi, Georgia, in the Soviet Union.
Most experts pick Larsen, Petrosian, Fischer and Korchnoi to advance to the semifinals later this summer.
Former Bad Boy Connoisseurs over the world are already anticipating a Larsen-Fischer semifinal clash. The 28-year-old Brooklyn-based Fischer, for years one of the bad boy in world chess, won the 1970 Interzonal tournament in great style. He lost only one game in Spain, to Larsen, 36, who took second place after a slow start.
Many experts though it unfair to the two “Western” players that they should meet in a semifinal, but it did not bother Larsen.
“There is not much difference in quality at the top, and I believe I have one or two tricks up the sleeve for Bobby, should we both get that far again. Bobby has never played this sort of game before with all the tension and special atmosphere.”
