New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, September 30, 1971 - Page 30
U.S. Chess Player Favored by Experts — Petrosian Match to Start in Buenos Aires Today — Buenos Aires, Sept. 29—Among the chess aficionados who have gather here for the tournament beginning tomorrow between Bobby Fischer of New York and Tigran Petrosian of Moscow, the feeling was that the odds favored the temperamental, 28-year-old American.
The opening game of their 12-game match is scheduled to get under way at 5 p.m. in the Teatro San Martin. The winner will meet the current world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, in a title contest next year.
To win the elimination match, a contestant needs 6½ points, with a point scored for each game won and ½ point for each game drawn.
Petrosian Held Title — The match has excited considerable speculation. As a former world champion, Petrosian, 42, is a formidable opponent. He rarely blunders on the board.
However, Fisher is riding a winning streak of 19 games in a row. The streak began in an international tournament last December and continued in the elimination matches when he defeated Mark Taimanov, the Soviet grandmaster, and Bent Larsen, the Danish grandmaster, by scores of 6 to 0—a notable feat in grandmaster play.
Fischer and Petrosian have styles of play that are as far apart as two grandmasters can be. Fischer plays every game to win, with brilliance and flash. He attempts to win even with the black pieces, the usual defensive pieces, sometimes leaving himself open to attack.
Petrosian is cautious, holding his opponent at bay and ready to equalize, but waiting to seize advantage from an error. He plays for a draw more often than he plays to win.
Rivals Are Even — The two have met 18 times previously and are even, with three victories and 12 draws. In their most recent encounter, which was last year, Fischer won 3 to 1.
In the elimination series, Petrosian defeated two opponents, Robert Huebner of West Germany, and Viktor Korchnoi of the Soviet Union, but by slim margins.
Both of the grandmasters here appear to be in good physical condition for the exhausting, month-long match. Games are scheduled for Thursdays, Sundays and Tuesdays from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M. Any adjourned games will be completed the following day.
