AThe Times Shreveport, Louisiana Tuesday, September 07, 1971 - Page 15
World Chess Title Chance Called Even
Moscow (UPI)—American Bobby Fischer and Soviet Tigran Petrosyan have “equal chances” to win their forthcoming final match in the World Chess Championship, Soviet grandmaster Szalo Flor said Monday.
Flor, writing in the weekly magazine Ogonek, said “the match will certainly be a tense one. The chances? They are equal.”
The winner of the match in Buenos Aires will play reigning champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title in 1972.
“Concerning Fischer's excellent performance, it is risky today to speak critically of him,” Flor said. “His performance can and must evoke admiration. But this does not mean it is impossible to cope with him.”
Flor said “Petrosian is a modest chessman. He is satisfied scoring a single victory in a match and letting the other games end in draws. Many believe that this tactic will not do with Fischer. Let us wait and see.”
Flor said “I think that the experienced Petrosyan will not give Fischer a chance to strike a telling blow at the start, as Fischer did in two previous matches.”
Fischer and Petrosyan have played 18 games. Both won three each and the rest were draw, Flor said.
