Fischer vs Spassky: The Rivalry (Part 2: 1972 World Chess Championship)

20 Oct 20253,543 viewsEnglish (US)

Chess Analysis Chess Personalities Over the board Tournament

Explore one of the Greatest Rivalries in the History of Chess

Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky are two of the greatest legends of the game. They had a rivalry spanning over a quarter of a century from 1960-1992.

Preparation

Spassky had begun his pre-match preparation for his future challenger in March-April 1971. His team was composed of Igor Bondarevsky (team captain), Efim Geller, Nikolai Krogius and Ivo Nei. Nei's presence was not welcomed by the Soviet Sport Commitee who wanted Tal to be part of the training instead. Krogius stated that Spassky probably picked him for his tennis ability and that Nei ended up being a 'yes-man' to Spassky. None of the coaches lived in Moscow which meant that Spassky was less inclined to work. Spassky also had a falling out with Victor Baturinsky, head of the Soviet state chess organization which also contributed to the wheels of the match preparation being not so smooth.

Bondarevsky urged Spassky to actually study instead of playing tennis and according to Krogius his (Bondarevsky's) manner was a bit harsh sometimes. Bondarevsky would say to Spassky frequently "If you don't work, you'll lose the match". Geller winded up Spassky, saying that Bondarevsky didn't play much and didn't know about opening theory. Bondarevsky ended up having to resign as team captain as Spassky turned against him writing that he "fell behind in theory and practice lately and doesn't believe in the success of our pursuits". Geller took on the post of team captain from this point on. Krogius saw this episode as a big mistake. Spassky placed a disappointing 6th in the Alekhine Memorial in November-December 1971 which led to concerns about his playing form. Fischer said in an interview on 60 Minutes in April 1972 that Spassky had been dead lost in half the games and that they were "atrocious games" and "really bad games on his part". Fischer also said that Spassky was "not really much of a champion" as Fischer hadn't played in the 1969 cycle.

By March 1972 Krogius assessed that the study of Spassky and Fischer's games (Strengths/Weaknesses and looking at Spassky's games from Fischer's point of view) had been a failure. Spassky and Geller spent a lot of time on opening preperation but not on other parts of the study plan. Spassky's score in his training games against his team were also not great. In June 1972, Karpov showed up to play some training games with Spassky as his style was similar to Fischer's. Karpov was taken aback by Spassky's idleness. They played one game where Karpov got an advantage but after trying to show off with some tactics got stung and lost the game. Spassky then decided that that was enough.

Krogius summed up the last pre-match period:

"I think that in the last pre-match period, Boris came to some kind of fundamental view: he could not outprepare Fischer anyway, so he would make do with the minimum he already had, and rely to his over-the-board skills for the rest. Anyway, this approach didn't fail him yet: he defeated the American at Mar del Plata, Santa Monica and Siegen. Why would it fail in Reykjavik? This position explains everything: the bravado, the "clear head" theory, tennis games instead of chess training.

I should say that this attitude was largely formed by outside circumstances: the champion's special status, overestimation of his strength both by sincere and insincere fans, and, of course, the conflict with coaches that allowed Boris to get out of control - at the time he needed it the most.

The nearer was the match, the more letters would Spassky receive. He got more than 2,000 letters from all regions of the USSR. Some letters were addressed to "Moscow, World Champion Boris Spassky".

Despite the obvious stylistic differences, the vast majority of letters expressed concerns and fears about the result. The chess fans obviously felt that Spassky's title was in a real danger."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 0

Fischer spent his time preparing at Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel in New York. He played tennis and bowling. He swam and worked out for physical fitness. He bought a book which contained 353 of Spassky's games up to 1967 which was part of Wildhagen’s Weltgeschichte des Schachs - World History of Chess series (dubbed the 'red book' as it was red and he carried it around all the time, a reference to the famous 'little red book' - Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung). He also had IM Robert Wade make up a dossier for him of Spassky's games. He met with fellow grandmasters Robert Byrne, Larry Evans, Lubomir Kavalek and William Lombardy during this time.

Fischer reading the 'Red Book'. Source: https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/

Source: Edward Winter

Source: https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/

Credit: AP

March 23rd, 1972. Credit: AP

Source: https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/

Credit: Harry Benson.

Credit: Harry Benson

Fischer on The Dick Cavett Show (January 4th, 1972):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIE3CFNpZ5Y

Fischer on 60 Minutes (April 9th, 1972):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPuazOwq0aw

Fischer BBC Interview (July 2nd, 1972):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzlObDyzcyU

The bids for hosting the match were due to be delivered to FIDE by January 1st, 1972. Iceland flew out their bid to FIDE headquarters just in the nick of time. Gudmundur Thorarinsson was the head of the Icelandic Chess Federation and was skeptical about the possibility of holding the match there due to the remote location, but he was convinced by others that it could be a possibility. The Soviets had 4 ranked choices: 1. Reykjavik, Iceland 2. Amsterdam, Netherlands 3. Dortmund, Germany 4. Paris, France. Fischer's representative, Executive Director of the United States Chess Federation Ed Edmondson selected 1. Belgrade, Yugoslavia 2. Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 3. Buenos Aires, Argentina 4. Montreal, Canada according to the principle that you should not concede to your opponent.

If two cities matched then the match would take place there. FIDE President and former World Champion Max Euwe suggested a meeting in Amsterdam between Fischer and Spassky and their representatives on January 27th to discuss where the match would take place. Fischer didn't show up so the Soviet side protested saying Fischer skipping a official FIDE meeting was a breach of the rules. Euwe defused the situation by saying that the meeting was just a casual offer as opposed to a regulation. Fischer and Edmondson then had a meeting with Euwe on January 31st.

Edmondson, Fischer and Euwe, January 31st 1972. Credit: Bert Verhoeff/Anefo

On February 3rd, Fischer and Edmondson went to Reykjavik. Edmondson also went to Moscow, Russia to discuss their offer to hold the match there. Spassky had said in a meeting with the Soviet Sports Committee in November 1971 that he didn't want to play in Russia or play the match in two cities. He wanted to play in Europe in a country with a moderate climate.

FIDE President Euwe then decided that half the match would take place in Belgrade and half in Reykjavik due to the city choice stalemate. Euwe's decsion was met with widespread criticism and the chairman of FIDE resigned. The Soviet Chess Federation said that Spassky wouldn't play in Belgrade due to the hot climate. Fischer said the the 2-city arrangement would cause logistical problems but then accepted the split. Spassky then suddenly changed his mind and decided to play in Belgrade. According to Thorarinsson, Euwe threatened to take away Spassky's World Champion title if the Soviets didn't agree to the arrangement. According to Krogius, Spassky simply wanted to play Fischer no matter what. So it looked that the match would now take place, the first half in Belgrade and the second half in Reykjavik. But suddenly, Fischer broke from the agreement for the match which Edmondson had signed on his behalf on May 5th. Fischer stated that he did not give Edmondson permission to act for him. The Belgrade organizers ended up pulling out due to their financial security not being guaranteed.

After a bunch of discussions, Euwe had to say to Fischer that if he didn't accept the match terms then Petrosian would be the new challenger. Fischer then accepted the terms for a match in Reykjavik. His agreement was sent to the local Post Office Box because the FIDE office was closed. Euwe was actually about to announce that Fischer had been forfeited from the match, when some FIDE employees discovered where the confirmation had been sent and told Euwe about it. Spassky hadn't been happy with the progress of the talks. Krogius said that Spassky's attitude towards Fischer became 'less friendly' at this time.

Fischer's team were pressing for American businessman Chester Fox to get the filming rights for the match. Thorarinsson realized only later that this was probably because they had a backdoor deal with Fox, where Fischer would get a share of his profits from the filming. Thorarinsson said if he had been more savvy he would have noticed this at the time and stopped this as it was a conflict of interest as Spassky wouldn't be getting a share.

Spassky had a press conference on June 16th before departing for Reykjavik.

"Some foreign correspondents tried to provoke Spassky into an indirect discussion with Fischer, reminding him of some of the American's tactless words. But Spassky didn't say much on this topic as well, though he allowed that Fischer's suspicions about the Soviet chess players' hostility towards him look like "persecution mania". Then the world champion said, "I don't know how the match ends, but it's going to be very interesting from the chess point of view"."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 0

On June 21st, Spassky and his group flew to Iceland. Later Spassky said he regretted not taking inspiring music with him (Caruso, Shalyapin, Russian and Romani romances) along with him to Iceland. Iceland is a small country and had a population of 220,000 at the time. During night-time it was still light as Iceland is close to the Earth's pole. It was also very cold when they arrived (10 degrees Celcius at noon). Geysers were used as a tourist attraction as they would erupt if you threw a bar of soap at it. Spassky played tennis with Nei at the Loftleidir Hotel for recreation. The group also drove to the countryside which was said to look like the surface of the moon as there is not much vegetation, only grass.

Spassky arrives in Iceland. GM Fridrik Olafsson on left, Thorarinsson with his daughters on right. June 21st. From Match of all Time, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, 2022.

Fischer was expected to arrive on June 26th, but failed to show up. The time for the opening ceremony was approaching and Fischer's continuing absence played on Spassky's nerves.

Geller, Thorarinsson, Nei, Unknown, Spassky at Press Conference in Saga Hotel, June 26th. From Match of all Time, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, 2022.

Source: https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/

Fischer arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York on the night of June 29th-30th. But Fischer never boarded the flight and then left the airport. This was shocking news to everyone over at Reykjavik.

Source: https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/

Fischer leaving the airport. Credit: AP

After bailing on his flight, Fischer then demanded that he receive 30 percent of the gate money. Spassky and his team examined the playing hall on July 1st. Fred Cramer was Fischer's representative in the match. He was a FIDE Vice President for Zone 5 and a USCF official. He had been inspecting all the hotel rooms and measuring the strength of the lights at the playing hall (he was also a lighting engineer). He showed up at the playing hall when the Soviets were there and said that he represented Fischer. Schmid asked him for proof and he got triggered and left. Krogius reflected: "He didn't make a particularly nice impression: too fussy, spoke too much, over-free attitude."

Boris Spassky, July 2nd, 1972. Credit: AP

The opening ceremony took place on July 2nd, 8 p.m. at the Icelandic National Theater. The President of Iceland and his wife were in the box seats. Members of the Icelandic parliament were sitting in the front rows. The National Anthems of Iceland, Russia and the U.S. were played and speeches were given. They were now supposed to do the drawing of the lots to see who would start with which colour. Euwe then awkwardly announced that this would take place tomorrow at 12. At the Loftleidir Hotel the next day, Fischer still wasn't there.

The Soviets then met with Euwe and all the match officials and Cramer. Euwe said Fischer was ill. Cramer claimed that a telegram had been sent with the doctor's certificate. The Soviets asked for the telegram, but Cramer couldn't provide it and then said that there must be something wrong with the post office. The Soviets then again asked for proof that Cramer was representing Fischer. He couldn't provide any so they asked him to leave. Krogius said that Cramer started muttering about “the Soviet machinations”. The note was later discovered to have never existed as the story had been fabricated by Cramer. Euwe then asked the match doctor Fordarsson to give Fischer a time out but he said no.

At 2:20 p.m., Euwe decided to postpone the match for 2 extra days. The Soviets were piqued by this idea. Euwe fell silent when the Soviets pointed out that this would break FIDE rules for the match. The atmosphere was charged as the Soviets lobbed at Euwe. Krogius believed that Euwe never got over 1948, where he played in the tournament to decide who would be world champion after Alekhine died. Euwe finished at the very bottom of the standings. Krogius thought that he was now getting 'revenge' due to having to endure decades of Soviet domination after his opportunity at becoming World Champion again shattered in 1948 (Euwe had defeated Alekhine to become World Champion for 2 years in 1935).

Spassky was hesistant about making his decision. He said that he didn't fully agree with the postponement. Spassky stated he never made any decision when the news falsely reported that he had agreed to the postponement. Later, Isaac Turower (American millionaire chess fan) invited Spassky to dinner with him and Euwe. This was Euwe's way of trying to induce Spassky into committing to stay in the match. Spassky's team told him not to go, but Spassky told them that he already promised to go. Spassky returned quickly from the dinner, having not promised anything to Euwe.

https://youtu.be/8w5RDTbGX4M?t=47

Fischer stayed at IM Anthony Saidy's house after bailing on his flight. William Lombardy (Fischer's second for the match) and Paul Marshall (Fischer's lawyer) showed up to try to convince him to play the match.

Spassky suggested a meeting with Thorarinsson at his hotel room. Spassky told Thorarinsson that the situation could be solved 'on a higher level'. Thorarinsson said he never thought of the possibility and pitched the idea to the U.S. Ambassdor in Iceland. This resulted in Henry Kissinger, U.S. Secretary of State calling Fischer to tell him to play. Reportedly, Kissinger told Fischer at the beginning of the call: "This is the worst chess player in the world calling the best chess player in the world.". Thorarinsson noted that the official story was that Kissinger/White House Officials just decided to call Fischer, but Thorarinsson believed that it was because he proposed the U.S. Ambassador with the idea, and that the official story was just given because it was more smoother from a public narrative perspective.

When Thorarinsson told Spassky what happened, he said that Spassky look upset and almost angry. Thorarinsson didn't get the meaning of what Spassky had said. Turns out what Spassky meant by solving the situation 'on a higher level' was for Thorarinsson to try to stop the pressure that the Soviet leaders in Russia were putting on Spassky to try to get him to withdraw from the match as Fischer had not shown up. Spassky was upset because Thorarinsson hadn't done anything about this. Thorarinsson viewed this misunderstanding as having saved the match by accidently giving him the idea to tell the U.S. Ambassador to tell the White House to urge Fischer to play the match.

On July 3rd, the English Banker Jim Slater tossed $125,000 into the prize pot for the match, saying that if Fischer didn't play he was 'chicken'.

"Bobby considered the offer (for six hours, according to The Times) but apparently made up his mind minutes after receiving the cable. I spoke with him at 11 a.m. "Are you going to accept?" In a subdued but jubilant tone, he responded: "That's a lot of money just to give away." Being noncommittal is normal for Bobby. But he requested that chess books be ordered, books on end games, openings, of just anthologies of games. He wanted the latest Chess Life & Review."

William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QUk1pm-Jdo

On July 4th at 6:46 a.m. Fischer finally arrived and descended down the stairs of the airplane, practically jogging. He was going so fast that Thorarinsson had to grab his arm to greet him. Fischer glanced at him for one second and didn't stop. There were a bunch of guards flanking the car parked for Fischer. Then he was driven to a country house in Voga, by his bodyguard Saemundur Palsson. Lombardy and Paul Marshall (Fischer's lawyer) followed. Palsson was a off-duty policeofficer whose job was to shield Fischer from the paparazzi. He followed Fischer like 'a shadow' and said he felt like a zombie by the end of the match. Fischer developed a strong trust and friendship with Palsson as the match progressed.

Fischer arriving at Reykjavik Airport, July 4th, 6:46 a.m. Credit: Harry Benson

Credit: AP

Fischer in car with Palsson driving. Credit: AP

Playing Hall. July 6th. Credit: Johann/AP

Playing Hall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTTJs8QI-Bc

After being driven from the airport to the country house, Fischer told Lombardy, Marshall and Cramer that he was going to sleep till the beginning of Game 1, which was scheduled for 5 p.m. that same day (July 4th). The Drawing of Lots had been rescheduled for 12 p.m. that day, so Fischer signed a note delegating Lombardy to take his place for him. Lombardy arrived at the Hotel Esja at 12p.m. to meet with the Soviets. Geller put their statement on the table and told Euwe to relay it to the journalists.

“The world champion was present at the opening ceremony, while the candidate was absent without any explanations... In violation of existing traditions, the drawing procedure was postponed... On July 2nd, instead of performing the drawing procedure and starting the first game, the FIDE president decided to postpone the draw and the first game for two days, stating R. Fischer's illness as the reason. He had no documents proving Fischer's illness. We think that this decision of the FIDE president violates the Amsterdam agreements and the FIDE rules and goes against his own letter sent at 5th May 1972. The FIDE president stopped the arbiter from performing his functions, violating Paragraph 12 of the Amsterdam agreements. Subsequently, Paragraphs 5 and 6 were also violated.

The FIDE president's decision disrupted the schedule of the match, agreed upon in the Paragraph 7 of the Amsterdam agreements and the president's letter sent at 5th May 1972.

The FIDE president's decision also led to the violation of Article 7, part 5b of the FIDE rules regarding the possibility of a match's postponement due to an illness of one of the players.

In view of that, we make a vigorous protest and demand sanctions to be imposed on Fischer according to the FIDE rules.”

Soviet Statement, Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 2

At 4:30p.m. Geller and Krogius met with Lombardy and Marshall after Fischer's team insisted on a meeting. They wanted the Soviets to make a private agreement with them without FIDE being involved. Geller and Krogius refused.

Meanwhile Euwe purposely withheld the Soviets letter of protest from the journalists. Euwe and Schmid came to see Spassky at the Saga Hotel at 4:30 p.m., 5th July to try to find out whether Spassky was going to leave the match. Euwe couldn't answer the Soviets who asked why the journalists were not given their protest statement.

At 6 p.m. July 5th, the Soviet side held a press conference because Euwe hadn't given the journalists the information. The journalists thought it would be the 'farewell' conference before Spassky returned to Russia.

In the evening, Euwe made a public statement where he apologized for breaking the rules in postponing the match and condemned Fischer's behaviour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE8Dk96WLec

Marshall helped Fischer write the first apology letter. Fischer wanted to offer to give up his prize fund as he was worried about the Spassky leaving the match, but Marshall dissuaded him from this. Fischer also wanted to make a personal explanation to Spassky. Then they gave the apology letter to Spassky. It wasn't accepted as it was a second hand copy that was delivered second hand and wasn't signed by Fischer. So they had to make another apology letter.

On the morning of July 6th at 5 a.m., Fischer and Marshall drove to the Saga Hotel where Spassky was staying. Fischer waited in the corner of the lobby while Marshall went to Spassky's room and gave him the letter.

Dear Boris:

Please accept my sincerest apology for my disrespectful behavior in not attending the opening ceremony. I simply became carried away by my petty dispute over money with the Icelandic chess organizers. I have offended you and your country, the Soviet Union, where chess has a prestigious position. Also, I would like to apologize to Dr. Max Euwe, President of FIDE, to the Match Organizers in Iceland, to the thousands of chess fans around the world and especially to the millions of fans and the many friends I have in the United States.

After I did not show up for the first game, Dr. Euwe announced that the first game would be postponed without prejudice to me. At that time you made no protest. Now I am informed that the Russian chess federation is demanding that the first game be forfeited to you. The timing of this demand seems to place in doubt the motives for your federation’s not insisting at first for a forfeit on the first game. If this forfeit demand were respected, it would place me at a tremendous handicap. Even without this handicap, you will have an advantage to begin with of needing twelve points out of twenty four to retain your title, whereas I will need twelve and a half to win the title. If this demand were granted, you would need only eleven points out of twenty three but I would still need twelve and a half out of my twenty three. In other words I must win three! games without losses, just to obtain the position you would have at the beginning of the match and I don’t believe that the world’s champion desires such an advantage in order to play me.

I know you to be a sportsman and a gentleman, and I am looking forward to some exciting chess games with you.

Sincerely,
Bobby Fischer

In Frank Brady, Endgame, 2011, (p.194)

Spassky accepted the apology, and the drawing of the lots was scheduled for 8 p.m., July 6th.

Spassky signing autographs for fans, July 6th

Drawing of the lots, Fischer, Thorarinsson and Spassky. Geller, Lombardy and Krogius sitting in back. July 6th

At the Drawing of Lots Ceremony at 8 p.m., Fischer apologized to Spassky again. Schmid had Spassky choose an envelope which would determine who chooses the color for the first game. Spassky got his own envelope and pointed to Schmid's left hand, getting the white pieces for the first game. Fischer verified that there was no funny business by getting Schmid to show that the other envelope had his name in it and that Schmid's other hand indeed had a black pawn.

1972 World Chess Championship

1972 World Chess Championship Poster.

1972 World Chess Championship Ticket. Credit: www.crackteam.org

Match Details: 12.5 points to win the match (24 game total). If match is tied (12-12) after 24 games, Spassky retains the title.

Match Schedule: Games take place between 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Adjourned games take place the next day from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. (Adjourned games on Friday: 2:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.). Maximum of 3 postponements per player.

Match Venue: Laugardalshöll, an indoor sporting arena. The main hall has 3,000 seats and there is room for 2,000 people in two smaller halls which broadcasts the main hall cameras.

"On Tuesday, July 11, the first game was held. Bobby woke at 4 p.m. to what became his customary pre-game snack of skyr (a sour milk whipped with sugar and heavy cream), cheese and herring, dark bread, apple juice, orange juice, milk and dextrose malt, a barley and malt health beverage. Bobby never finished these meals. Most of the food was transported to the hall to be eaten during the game.

From the start, Bobby established a custom of tardiness. Why was he always late? His excuse was that he could only manage to wake half an hour before game time. That is possible, but there was always something else to cause delay. The food. A misplaced tie clasp. Last-minute game preparation. The right tie. Finding a good ballpoint for recording the game.

I think it was the tension, the anticipation of the chess struggle, that slowed him down. It was as if something subconscious prevented him from appearing too soon lest he arrive without full armament. It was as if an unseen force prompted him to avoid the fight until he was forced into it by the necessity of time. He wanted more than anything to play, yet before each game he had to make a superhuman effort to wind himself up. "What time is it?" he would ask. "What time is it?""

William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

"Spassky entered the illuminated stage of the large tournament hall a minute before five p.m. Icelandic time. Fischer was not there. So, all the initial applause of thousands of spectators (the Soviet ambassador was also noticed there) went to the title holder. The Icelandic referee pushed the clock. (Chief Referee, grandmaster Lothar Schmid, returned later from his home in Germany where his son had been involved in a slight accident). The silence was automatically established and Spassky, waiting for his opponent to appear), made his first move. An atmosphere of some tension was created and nine minutes had elapsed before Fischer finally arrived, shook hands with the champion, and made his move without much reflection."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972 (p.31)

"The first game is always very nerve-racking for everyone. And during the game your pulse very often rises to about 160.. even if you have a healthy heart. On average your pulse in 40. Mine at that moment was about 55. I was physically quite strong - not an athlete but just generally healthy. But my nerves - that was another matter."

Boris Spassky, Clash of the Titans Documentary Series, 1996-1999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKGIUIsLiww

At the start of the game, Fischer went to Schmid and expressed discomfort about the cameras saying "I feel disturbed. I cannot have that please.". The cameras were installed in two massive towers on both sides of the stage, covered in burlap.

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/iY9LEeRR#0

When Fischer played 29.Bxh2, the world was stunned. It looked that the bishop would be lost with insufficient compensation. Technically it was still a draw after that, but only with perfect play. Fischer studied the adjourned position with Lombardy, but it was already lost by that point.

"He equalized, and after several exchanges, everyone expected a draw agreement. But the candidate didn't allow the spectators to quietly leave the hall and perhaps even come home in time for the dinner. With his 29th move, Fischer caused a stir in the hall and confusion in the press center, since it was obvious that his daring Bishop would be lost in the opponent's camp."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 3

"In that first game Fischer took a poisoned pawn, a reckless move that I watched with disbelief. I began to doubt my own judgment. I decided, "It's a mistake; I hope he knows what he's doing." The first game was adjourned and 10 minutes of analysis in the suite at the Loftleidir confirmed the sad truth. But Fischer and I spent another six hours considering the position. The prospect of the loss didn't seem to faze Bobby, who concluded the analysis session with, "We work well together." The next day Bobby resigned on Move 56. It took me five minutes to circle the hall to pick him up. I was greeted by Bobby snapping his fingers: "Come on, Bill; I can't wait around here all day, you know." Trouble was only beginning."

William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

https://youtu.be/pavYCzvg2fM?t=2145

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh-V8nCAONU
Position between Moves 5.O-O-11.dxc5. Credit: Harry Benson.

Position between Moves 22.Ne4-24.Bxc1. Credit: Harry Benson.

Fischer presses the clock after playing the famous 29.Bxh2. View from Left Camera.

Postion between 36.Kd5-37.Ba3. Credit: Harry Benson.

Photo taken as Game 1 was adjourned. Spassky sealed his move 41.exf4.

Fischer resigns Game 1, Credit: AP.

Q: "Why did you take on h2 in the game against Spassky in 1972? Were you trying to create winning chances by complicating a drawn position?"

Fischer: "Basically, that's right. Yes."

Bobby Fischer, No Regrets, Yasser Seirawan and George Stefanovic, (p.15), 1992, Fischer-Spassky Rematch First Press Conference, September 1, 1992

"Fischer's style was always to be on the offensive. Here he was in a passive position. If he had just held that position, he'd have got a draw. He wouldn't have had any problems. But he found himself in a passive position and he didn't want to draw. He wanted to change the course of the battle at any cost and to do that was very risky, that is why he lost that game."

Boris Spassky, Clash of the Titans Documentary Series, 1996-1999

At 5 p.m. on July 13th, Spassky was at the playing hall for Game 2. Fischer was still at his suite at his hotel. Fischer didn't want to play as the cameras were still there. Lobmardy now delegated between Fischer and the film representatives. Icelandic GM Fridrik Olafsson showed up to try to convince Fischer to play but he refused. At 5:35, Fox sent a telephone message saying that they removed the cameras. But Fischer would now only play if they reset his clock to the beginning, so he could play without the lost time. Spassky had to wait an hour in the hall before Fischer got forfeited as per the rules of the match. Spassky said to Schmid: "This is terrible". Fischer was now down 2-0 to Spassky.

Fischer forfeited after not showing up to Game 2.

Spassky leaving hall after Fischer forfeits Game 2, Credit: AP

"Was the match off, or was it on? At eight o'clock in the morning, Fischer delivered his letter of protest personally to the referee, Lothar Schmid, as he had done with the letter to Spassky before the match began. The German grandmaster, surprised in his room and still in his pyjamas, hit the low hanging lamp with his head. Realizing that his unexpected presence was the cause, Bobby said: 'Very, very, sorry!' He was polite and extremely kind. The written protest against the forfeit was less so. Was Fischer going to withdraw as he did, for similar reasons, during the Sousse Interzonal of 1967?

The Tournament Committee turned the protest down. Its members also inspected the hall and found 'that playing conditions in every respect conformed to the Match Rules and that all likely sources of disturbance were well controlled.' In the meantime, Spassky went fishing for salmon to get away from it all."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972 (p.37)

July 13, 1972
Mr. Lothar Schmid
Chief Arbiter
World Championship Match Committee
Reykjavik, Iceland

Dear Sir

I must most vigorously protest your action today in starting my clock when playing conditions were grossly below the minimum standards set by the official rules (nos. 18 and 21) and your subsequent action in forfeiting me.

For the past four years of my tournament career I have not permitted any filming or picture-taking while play was in progress. In all events I have participated in, the organizers have agreed in writing to my letter of conditions which I send out as a matter of course to all prospective organizers of chess events who would like my participation. Some months ago I was asked about the possibilities of televising this match and of taking films, still photos and using closed-circuit television, and so on. I was sceptical because the noise, commotion, and distraction surrounding such things ... had always proved to be an unbearable annoyance to me in the past.

However, I was assured by all parties concerned that modern technology had progressed to such an extent that they could photograph me without the least disturbance, using telephoto lenses in fixed position behind plate-glass panels, all equipment and supporting structures and personnel and their cameras to be completely out of sight ....

Tentatively, I agreed, without signing any contracts, that if and when I saw and approved such equipment in operation at the match site, that I would allow TV and the other devices mentioned provided they were under my control at all times.

Unfortunately the outcome has been quite the opposite. The filmmakers are not in possession of adequate equipment. The bungling unknowns who claimed to be professional cameramen were clumsy, rude and deceitful. The only thing invisible, silent and out of sight was fairness on the part of the organizers.

The organizers knew how strict I have always been on the matter of playing conditions. In fact, though from time to time I have compromised on money matters, I have never compromised on anything affecting playing conditions of the game itself which is my art and my profession. It seemed to me that the organizers deliberately tried to upset and provoke me by the way they coddled and kowtowed to that (film) crew.

When I asked my representative to report the conditions at the playing hall for today’s game (the second game) I learned at 1 pm and was told again that all three (camera) shooting sites which had been removed for the adjourned game at my insistence were in full operation, focused on the playing table, and had been returned to the positions they occupied on the opening day.

You had been repeatedly warned by my representative after the adjourned game and again this morning that conditions must be corrected. It can therefore have been no surprise to you that I did not appear at game time. Yet suddenly half an hour after game time and only half an hour before the moment when I would risk a forfeit, I was informed that the cameras were being removed at last. I then had a choice of going to the hall and starting play immediately and at a considerable disadvantage in time, a condition for which I bore no fault, not to mention the fact that I could have no assurance on such short notice that there would be no problems in future games with camera equipment, and for that matter even during today’s game; or of going to the hall and facing the necessity of arguing with the arbiter for the return of the clock to its starting position and obtaining a written agreement that there would be no further trouble with the cameras, all this while thousands of people waited uncomfortably in the hall for play to begin. I decided in favour of a third course, which was to allow my time to run out, to be forfeited, even though the forfeit was contrary to the rules under the circumstances, and then to protest the forfeit in writing to you and the committee, as I now do.

As you know, I have been very anxious for people in my own country, the United States, to see this event. It was for this reason that I was willing for the first time to try filming. My personal representative, Mr. Paul Marshall, was assured that the process of filming would not be evident to the players. While I wanted TV, and while it could mean a great deal of money to me personally, it is more important that the world chess championship be played under full professional conditions than that I make a personal monetary gain. The rules were designed so that the contestants could play the finest chess of which they are capable. They protect the players from interference with their concentration. My concentration has been disturbed by an evasion of these rules. I only ask what I have always said, that the rules providing for proper championship chess conditions be observed. Therefore I request that today’s ruling be reversed. When that happens, and when all camera equipment and supporting equipment has been removed from the hall, I will be at the chessboard. I am keen to play this match, and I hope Game Two will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 16 at five in the afternoon.

Sincerely,
Bobby Fischer
Reykjavik, Iceland

In The Match of All Time: The Inside Story of the Legendary 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Gudmundur G. Thorarinsson, 2022

Now that Fischer had once again blown up the match, Soviets Sports Committee Chairman Sergey Pavlov called Spassky and ordered him to leave.

"Some days before the start of the 3rd game I spoke for half an hour on the telephone with Pavlov, president of the Soviet Sports Committee. He demanded that I should declare an ultimatum which, I was sure, Fischer, Euwe and the organisers would have never accepted; so, the match would be broken off. The whole telephone conversation was just a never-ending exchange of two phrases: ‘Boris Vassilievich, you must declare an ultimatum!’; to which I responded, ‘Sergei Pavlovich, I shall play the match!’ After this conversation I spent three hours in bed shivering with nervousness."

Boris Spassky, Lev Khariton Interview, 2007

Q: Did the Soviet officials insist on you stopping the match?

Spassky: "They ordered me to! The Sports Committee chairman Sergey Pavlov talked to me on the phone for half an hour. He instructed me what to do: "File a protest against this, against that, then just fly away..." But I resisted - I wanted to play! What a fool I was. The match was much bigger than my individual interests."

Boris Spassky, Yuri Golyshak and Sergei Kruzhkov Interview, Sport-Express, 2016

The match commitee supported Schmid's decision to forfeit Fischer (Krogius, Arnlaugsson, Meler voted yes, Cramer voted no and Schmid abstained from the vote). Olafsson met with Fischer again and Fischer said he no longer had an interest in the match. The press found out that 'Robert Fischer' had booked a flight to Greenland, but it turned out to be a German tourist with the same name. Fischer actually had Cramer book a flight out of Reykjavik on 16th July. Lombardy and Brad Darrach (LIFE reporter) organized for messages of moral support to be sent to Fischer by friends in the U.S.. Lombardy said that Fischer 'relished' reading them and that it might have contributed to Fischer continuing the match. The constant surveillance of the airport by journalists also may have helped Fischer stay.

Marshall and Lombardy called Schmid and conveyed that Fischer wouldn't play the third game unless it was held in the ping-pong room behind the stage. Krogius believed that Fischer was uncomfortable to have the audience see him after the what happened during Game 2 and that making demands and having his opponent concede gave Fischer self-confidence. Spassky's team insistently told him to not agree to play in the ping-pong room. Spassky decided to play in the ping-pong room as he wanted to play against Fischer no matter what. He didn't want Fischer to abandon the match. He also felt like he owed Fischer due to the free point he got from Fischer not showing up to Game 2.

Spassky arriving to the third game, July 16th. Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKWm-63IdCQ

So they went to the ping-pong room with arbiter Lothar Schmid. Schmid announced "Gentleman, it's time to start the game". Then an unpleasant incident occurred. Fischer saw that there was a camera in the room and got agitated. The camera was set on Fischer's left side looking down at the board so the audience could see them. He said: "Earggh. The camera is too loud. I don't want to play." Fischer then had words with Schmid. Schmid stated that Fischer was quarreling with him saying "No not this one, no not that!". Spassky later said that Fischer "allowed himself to speak quite familiarly. It wasn't particularly pleasing to listen". When Schmid told Fischer that five minutes had elapsed, Fischer told Schmid: "Aargh, Shut up!". As the minutes went Spassky stated "So I retire, I do not want this, this too much for me. If so, we end the match". Spassky and Fischer were both standing. Schmid put his hands on the back on their necks and pushed them down into their seats, saying "Now will you play!". The whole ordeal had taken eight minutes by this point. Then the game commenced. Spassky began the game with 1.d4. During the game, ambient noises could be heard outside, sounds from traffic. Fridjonsson was the fourth person in the room who relayed the moves to the demonstration board, going back and forth during the game without shoes to keep quiet. At one point Fischer 'hissed' at him to keep quiet.

"But nevertheless, at the decisive moment, when the third game was supposed to take place, I made a serious psychological error: during an argument with the chief arbiter for the match, Grandmaster Schmid, Bobby behaved quite badly. I should have made a show of getting up and refusing to play – I’d have resigned that game and got a zero, but at the same time I’d have preserved my nerves. In that case Bobby would have got an empty point and nothing more, and my moral conviction would have grown"

Boris Spassky, Kirill Zangalis Interview, Soviet Sport, 2010

Q: After the first two games you were leading by two points. Bobby did not turn up for the 2nd game after quarrelling with the organisers.

After the 2nd game I could have returned to Moscow. There was only one way I could have won this match: before the 3rd game, when Bobby raised a scandal with the organisers, I should have resigned this game.

Q: But that sounds quite absurd!

Spassky: Why? I was about to do so, but I was the Chess King and I could not go back upon my word. I had promised to play this game. As a result, I destroyed my fighting spirit and the match which promised to be a great chess feast turned into a litigation.

Boris Spassky, Lev Khariton Interview, 2007

Q: Was continuing the match the right decision?

Spassky: Now, in hindsight, I understand that I was wrong. I had to let Fischer finish what he started. He started to resign the match! Let's imagine that we are boxers. If one says "I give up", the other one has to accept! But I refused.

Q: Did he understand that he was resigning?

Spassky: Of course! He no-showed the second game. The arbiter started the clock and then declared that Fischer lost. Before that match, he never won a game against me!

Q: You came to the third game and suffered that first defeat.

Spassky: Yes. Fischer immediately became much more confident. He understood that he had good chances.

Boris Spassky, Yuri Golyshak and Sergei Kruzhkov Interview, Sport-Express, 2016

Photo of the closed ciruit camera during Game 3. Position after Fischer played 11.Nh5 about an hour into the game.

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/pENOeHn7#0

Fischer leaving hall after winning Game 3, July 17th.

Fischer said to Lombardy: "I sealed a knockout". Fischer arrived 15 minutes late to the adjournment resumption, and Spassky had already left having resigned the game earlier. It was the first time Fischer beat Spassky. Now he only needed one more point to make the match even. After the game, Fischer and Lombardy dined at the Odal Restaraunt. Lombardy said that Fischer was in high spirits. After ordering his food, Fischer got up and went to the library and brought some magazines over so he could read while eating. Then they both took an hour long walk around the streets. Spassky later said he played the game like "a rabbit caught in the gaze of a boa constrictor".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cavv24bWvJc

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/993JU2mJ#0

Match score is now 2½ -1½ in favour of Spassky.

After the game, we went home in a dismal mood. Geller was especially upset. He said to Boris, “OK, you could forget the plan with 13. b3 in the third game. It's possible to forget something, even if it's unforgivable. But today, you didn't play 21... Rd8, and that meant that you didn't trust in us and our entire preparation!” His concerns were understandable: he put a lot of effort into analyzing this variant, and besides, thorough opening analysis was the thing he valued the most. Of course, Nei and I fully supported Geller.

The fourth game was a strong blow for Boris. I think that the worst for him was having to admit that his skepticism towards others' recommendations led him to failure. Fischer, on the other hand, was encouraged by the game: despite meeting a nasty surprise in the opening (Fischer never used the Sozin system again in the match), he managed to confuse the opponent with complications. I think that Fischer finally managed to overcome his uncertainty before Spassky after the fourth game."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 3

"Before the fifth game with Spassky, the rumour spread that Fischer had put fourteen(!) new demands to the Icelandic Chess Federation. He wanted to change rooms. He asked to be allowed to sign bills wherever he went. He wanted more pocket money than his allowance of ten dollars a day, a new Mercedes car (the one he was given was two years old), the option to change the playing room, a larger supply of American newspapers and magazines, personal control of filming (his own off and on switch), a chessboard with squares one eighth of an inch smaller, the use of an indoor tennis court, the exclusive use of the hotel swimming pool, and so on. The Icelanders kept quiet about these demands and no-one knew to what extent rumours had been exaggerated. Already the hotel swimming pool was closed at 10 p.m. and Fischer was given the right to use it alone after that time. He felt happy in the swimming pool and sauna bath during the physically exhausting two or three hours spent there from 11pm. on. But, was he back on form was the question that mattered, and the fourth game had raised some doubts."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972 (p.47)

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/lkbEV2Qe#0

The match is now tied 2½ all. Fischer drove Lombardy to the Icelandic air base where they could play bowling. Lombardy said that Fischer only drove at 25 miles an hour in 50 mile speed limit zone. When Lombardy drove them home, Fischer told him to slow down whenever Lombardy went faster than 35. Spassky played tennis with Nei till 11 p.m.

After Game 4, Fischer had told Lombardy: "Don't worry. Sunday [Game 6] I will play something that will make you very happy"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-bUPCvigKg

Fischer opened with 1.c4 in Game 6, and played the Queen's Gambit for the first time in his career.

Game 6.

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/LjDolr89#0

"With thousands of spectators applauding Fischer's classical style win in the sixth game, Spassky did the same, while offering his hand to the challenger. In order not to be touched by his opponent's gracious behaviour, 'I had to go away' said Fischer to friends afterwards."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972, (p.55)

"In fact, Fischer felt happy that same evening after he took the lead for the first time in the match. There was a casual dinner gathering and Bobby did not think much about the match itself although he needed nothing less than nine more points for victory. He behaved as if the Reykjavik duel was over and mused upon the possibility of keeping the world title for the next thirty years, by which time he would be nearly sixty."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972, (p.55)

Fischer took the lead for the first time in the match: 3½ -2½ .

For the seventh game, Spassky replaced his previous chair with a chair identical to Fischer's. Astonishingly, Cramer childishly hid Spassky's new chair when it was in the hall before Game 7 started and Schmid had to go retrieve it and put it back. Cramer would often creep around backstage during the match and was spotted in the hall after midnight tampering with the lights (Cramer was also lighting contractor) which was against the rules. Spassky was not happy with this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVmONpzCNbU

Game 7, Position after 16.Nxd6 or 16.Kf1, July 25th

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/Qh7J3hx0#0

4-3 to Fischer. Before the eighth game, Fischer wrote a letter to Schmid asking him to replace the marble board with a wooden one because the colours made it look like the white squares were bigger than the black squares. Schmid checked with Spassky and Spassky didn't object. Then Fischer said he wanted the marble board back again and that Schmid broke the rules. He pointed out that it was against the match rules to change the board (the same chess equipment had to be used throughout the match). So Schmid had to find Spassky again to tell if he was ok with removing it now. But there wasn't enough time and the Game 8 was played with the wooden board.

"The eighth game was played on 27th July. Fischer came several minutes before the game. This would probably surprise the readers who read about Fischer systematically coming late for the first six games (except for the third). If we add his coming late to the drawing procedure and the first game play-off, the sum would amount for 80 minutes. Why? Was Fischer sloppy, or he had any ulterior motives?

I thought that it was a deliberate and well thought-out strategy. Fischer wanted to show that he was superior and special, to bend the opponent to his will and make him wait: it was all done to psychologically affect the partner. In Reykjavik, Fischer used a trick that Emmanuel Lasker often used in tournaments at the beginning of the century. Fischer's trickery annoyed Boris, but he didn't want to react on them. However, his patience gradually grew very thin.

Before the seventh game, we managed to persuade Spassky to give an adequate answer. So, the world champion came in time, but didn't come to the table: he remained in his resting room backstage. Three minutes after the clock was started, Fischer arrived and was rather confused by the opponent's absence. I remember him looking around in annoyance at being alone at the table. Spassky came out a couple of minutes later, and the game began. Fischer never deliberately came late to the games after that. He did come late by 7 minutes to the 12th game, but this was caused by other circumstances."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 3

"From the start, Bobby established a custom of tardiness. Why was he always late? His excuse was that he could only manage to wake half an hour before game time. That is possible, but there was always something else to cause delay. The food. A misplaced tie clasp. Last-minute game preparation. The right tie. Finding a good ballpoint for recording the game.

I think it was the tension, the anticipation of the chess struggle, that slowed him down. It was as if something subconscious prevented him from appearing too soon lest he arrive without full armament. It was as if an unseen force prompted him to avoid the fight until he was forced into it by the necessity of time. He wanted more than anything to play, yet before each game he had to make a superhuman effort to wind himself up. "What time is it?" he would ask. "What time is it?""

William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/wi365pOu#0

Spassky explained his loss: “In the 8th game, I thought for almost an hour, and, trying to “discover America”, got very tired and blundered. I shouldn't have tried to create a wholesome “work of art”; I should have played in a more quiet and technical manner, like Fischer.”

"I've been watching Fischer systematically during the match and I can assure you that he didn't just pay notice to the opponent's behaviour: he also constantly and deliberately watched him. There were several photos of Fischer in his classical pose: his face in his hand, but still looking between his fingers at the thinking partner, rather than the position. Spassky himself admitted Fischer's observation skills. At our meeting after the 8th game, the world champion said, “He felt my uncertainty during the game very well.”

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 3

Spassky postponed Game 9 for 2 days. Cramer demanded to see the doctor's certificate. The score for the sets of the regular tennis game between Nei and Spassky was 6-3, 6-1, 6-1. Spassky reflected: "'It could have been worse." (Nei was an experienced tennis player).

"Fischer led 5-3. Spassky's situation didn't look irreparable, but... After the 8th game, we decided to discuss, frankly and calmly, what was happening, to point out the mistakes and make plans for the future. We had this frank talk on 28th July. First of all, we analyzed all the games one by one, and then each of us came up with his own resume. Spassky pointed out the following shortcomings of his own playing: inefficient time usage (which led to tiredness and blunders); bad calculation of concrete variants; difficulties during the transition from opening to middlegame (they had something to do with choice of a strategic plan); lack of practicality in the playing and “too much striving for wholesomeness”.

The coaches pointed out more general and more pressing concerns. We talked frankly about the reasons of the world champion's bad form. We told about his lack of trust in prepared recommendations, baseless urge to play for a win regardless of the situation on the board, excessive doubts and regrets about the blunders already made, softness towards Fischer, etc. We also discussed the possibilities of improving the regimen, for instance, moving to a countryhouse, changing the diet and length of sleep. In short, we've agreed to “start a new life”, forget about all the bad things that happened and hopefully look into the future. We wanted to believe that Spassky could turn the situation around."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_xmw2hEwhs

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/u0IyTMW0#0

Score is 5½-3½ to Fischer.

"Of course, it wasn't too great to “lose” White colour without much struggle, but in this game, we saw an important encouraging symptom: the world champion started to play with more restraint. At move 18, Spassky could move his central pawn forward, causing great complications. It was very hard to evaluate the consequences: the risk was probably very high. Earlier, he would play in Tolush's “good old style”. But now, he made a more reasonable move."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPM0Vmq7KvM

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/yPzYf9TB#0

"The score now was 6½-3½. The three-point lead looked threatening. But still, this disappointing defeat didn't demoralize Spassky and his coaches. His playing showed good progress compared to the period from 3rd to 8th games. He was resourceful and tough – that's the right recipe against Fischer. Botvinnik later said, “Even though he lost the 10th game, he played very well. Fischer played brilliantly, and there is no shame in losing such a game. This could happen with any player, however great they are.”

After Boris' defeat in game 10, Moscow grew anxious. Even though we saw the first rays of hope to turn the match around, the Sports Committee and Chess Federation officials offered me to come to Moscow for 2 or 3 days and explain Spassky's bad form. Luckily for me, Boris categorically refused. Feeling the change in Spassky's mood, the Soviet ambassador supported him too. What could I say to our sport officials? Only what we knew already: we've made too many mistakes earlier, and there's no sense in crying over spilt milk. Now, we had hopes of Spassky's resurrection, and those hopes could be realized only in Reykjavik, not in Moscow."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 4

During Game 11, Bent Larsen played a game of living chess with Fridrik Olafsson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lir5POWswjg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsg5GlUPbh4

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/2YgV8o7v#0

Spassky won Game 11 bringing the point difference back to two games: 6½-4½.

"Before the 11th game, which I won, I didn't go to the restaurant. I went to some students' cantina, ate something simple, and, you know, I started to fly as a bird. I was in a very happy, light mood, and this helped with my game."

Boris Spassky, Igor Lensky Interview, Gudok 2016

"There was something dramatic in Spassky's achievement, just at the point when an eventual loss of the match threatened to be transformed into a most severe defeat which would be a personal tragedy, for a very pleasant man. Spassky was not on the stage when Fischer stopped the clock and waited in vain to shake hands, before leaving. When Spassky appeared alone between the curtains and stepped on to the stage in order to sign the score sheets, he continually gave signs with his hands, trying to quieten the roaring applause."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972, (p.73)

"After Spassky's brilliant victory in game 11, many journalists thought that Fischer would be depressed, and in the next few games, Spassky would have advantage. Grandmaster Larsen, who visited Reykjavik in those days, also said something to that effect. But I didn't think that Fischer would slump into depression. This opinion was based on comparing Fischer's past behaviour in the critical situations with the current one. In Reykjavik, the American showed much better control over his emotions. So I thought that Spassky's opponent wouldn't be demoralized, but rather would play at full strength, but without much risk. After all, he led 6½-4½. The 12th game confirmed my opinion."

Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998, Part 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cLua4mF5Q

Game 12, Postion between 23.Na4-23.Rfd8

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/oE0dFcSu#0

7-5 to Fischer. Before the 13th Game, Fischer wanted the kids in the audience to not be allowed to bring candy due to the noises caused by unwrapping. He also wanted more seats (7 rows) to be taken out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lraE7DP2oM4

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/VEWJzZ3R#0

"Fischer left the stage but Spassky, after having resigned the thirteenth game, remained seated. "It is very strange," he said (as though hypnotized) and tried to reconstruct the position of a few moves earlier. "How can one lose with the opponent's only rook locked in completely at K.N1?"

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972, (p.86)

8-5 to Fischer. Spassky later reflected that the night after losing this game was the toughest in the entire match. Cramer and Marshall continued their tirades by demanding that the loser's share of the prize money (the minimum that Fischer could get) be deposited at Kennedy Airport in New York, or if not there than the U.S. Embassy in Iceland. Spassky's wife Larissa and the other wives of the Soviet team arrived for moral support, staying in the Soviet Embassy.

Larissa Spassky with Krogius:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rZzHcPsR-M

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/kXeW3mvQ#0

8½-5½ to Fischer. Fischer complained again about noise and the air conditioning and the people wanting autographs and threatened to only play in the ping pong room again. Chester Fox complained about losing $1,250,000 dollars as a result of Fischer not letting the cameras record in the hall.

"Knowing the rules and what Spassky's reaction would now be, Lothar Schmid made a nice little speech to the public before starting the chess clock on the stage, praying within himself for the best reaction from Bobby. That evening, referee Schmid, while sitting quietly at the dinner table, produced his normal statement in his usual tired voice: 'I cannot move. I feel finished.' It had been like that for two months, but everyone had survived, including the players, going through the hell of the fifteenth game. Boris, rumoured before to be suffering from defeatism, professed a new found determination: 'The first half of this match was not very interesting for me. The second half will be.' Indeed, he was a tougher opponent in the opening, too, and it was Fischer who spent more time in the beginning of the game."

Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972, (p.90)

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/vDa6SbWK#0

9-6 to Fischer. Fox sued Fischer under New York law for loss of income due to Fischer being responsible for the cameras not operating. A New York High Court judge wanted to freeze Fischer's assets in preparation for the court case. Rumors started that the Icelandic Chess Federation was involved in the lawsuit. So Thorarinsson had to make a public statement clarifying that this was not true.

During Game 16, Fischer was not happy with people coughing. Fischer complained twice about it during the game and once again asked the game to be moved to the dreaded ping pong room. After the game, Fischer roasted the coughers: "'They should go to the hospital, not to the world championship match!". Lombardy expressed his feeling that 'Spassky was rude to Fischer', because he played out the 2v1 rook endgame, even though Fischer would have done the same in his position.

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/7hAH1Xmm#0

9½-6½ to Fischer. Fischer sent an offical letter to Schmid, saying he was only gonna play in the ping pong room unless the conditions were settled.

‘Sir. You have received four letters and many verbal requests in the last few weeks, but still the playing conditions in Laugardalsholl are getting worse. By now the disturbance has reached the point that I can no longer tolerate it and will not accept it any more. I expect you to make arrangements so that the 17th game and every game thereafter can be played in the table-tennis room until the playing conditions my representatives have demanded are such that I can fully agree on. If you fail to do so you will become responsible for my second absence in the match as I will under no circumstances play more. So it is entirely up to you. I myself and the chess world hope that you will reject the display of comedy the match has become by offering conditions worthy of the World Championship match.’

Bobby Fischer letter to Lothar Schmid, August 21st, 1972. In The Match of All Time: The Inside Story of the Legendary 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Gudmundur G. Thorarinsson, 2022

Geller decided to launch a complaint demanding that the chairs be inspected, accusing Fischer of possibly using electronic rays to disrupt Spassky's concentration. Spassky had been receiving a lot of mail from people suggesting that this might be going on. The other members of Spassky's team were not happy with this idea but Geller as team captain went forward with the complaint. It was an either an attempt to counterbalance the complaints and disruptions that Fischer caused (before this complaint Fischer and his team were winning 7-0 in terms of total complaints filed) or a genuine worry that this could be happening.

“Statement by Grandmaster E. Geller, the world champion's second.

The World Championship match currently taking place in Reykjavik attracts great interest in the whole world. B. Spassky, I and other members of our chess delegation receive many letters from various countries, United States included. Many letters are concerned with quite an unusual topic for chess history: using non-chess methods of influence on one of the opponents.

They say that innumerable “antics” of R. Fischer, his complaints to the organizers, constant coming late to the games, demands to play in a closed room, baseless protests etc. are means for an end: to put pressure on the partner's personality and to bring B. Spassky out of his best sporting form.

I consider R. Fischer's behaviour a violation of the Amsterdam agreements, which require gentlemanly conduct of both partners. I think that the arbiters had enough reasons already to demand R. Fischer to follow this particular point of match rules. This should be required again immediately, when the match enters its decisive stage.

There are letters suggesting that Spassky could be affected with electronics and chemical substances inside the playing room. Particularly, they mention R. Fischer's chair and the special stage lighting installed by the American side's demand.

All this may seem fantastic, but some objective facts still make one consider even the most fantastic assumptions.

For instance, why does R. Fischer vehemently protest against filming, even though it leads to money losses? Perhaps he wants to prevent constant objective control of the partners' behaviour and state? The same can be said about his repeated demands to play the games in a closed room and forbid the public to sit at the first seven rows.

The Americans' coming into the playing hall in non-playing time, even at night, also looks suspicious, as well as Cramer's demands to give R. Fischer “his” and only his chair, even though both chairs look identical and were made by the same American company.
I also want to add that, having known Spassky for a number of years, it's the first time I've seen uncharacteristic lapses in attention and impulsiveness in his playing. And I can't explain it by R. Fischer's exceptionally strong play. On the contrary, the candidate made technical mistakes in several games, and also, in a number of games, he demonstrated his lack of understanding of the position.

In view of the aforesaid, our delegation filed an official statement to the match arbiter and organizers, asking to run a thorough check of the playing hall and items located in it and to prevent any unauthorized persons to enter the players' rooms.

22nd August 1972, E. Geller.”

In Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972, (p.90)

As a result, a guard got placed on 24 hour watch at the hall. The chairs were compared to pictures that had been previously taken. The chairs were also X-rayed and subject to chemical analysis. The X-ray showed a strange object in Spassky's chair...

They opened the chair and found... a piece of woodfiller. They also found two dead flies. Weirdly the piece of wood filler ended up disappearing. When Thorarinsson addressed the journalists, he decided to leave that piece of information out as it would do no good to provide anything that could cause the match to implode. 20 years later, a police officer who was at the scene revealed to Thorarinsson that he was the one who took the wood filler. Apparently he was worried it might have been some device to try to negatively affect Spassky's concentration so he took it away.

Thorarinsson interview on August 25th:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66C_C9ZEQ44

Fischer walking to Game 17, August 23rd, Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

"The hall was dead quiet in fearful anticipation of a blowup. When Fischer emerged from backstage, he squinted out at the shadowed hall filled with spectators, sat down in his swivel seat and countered Spassky's king pawn opening.

No Fischer protest! During the course of the match, as he swayed in his executive chair, Bobby's vacant stare would engulf Boris, who seemed to be making a concentrated effort to avoid Bobby's gaze. Bobby's mannerisms must have gotten to Boris, who decided on the antidote. Boris, too, swayed-first right, then left, in a rolling motion which coupled with Bobby's lasted several minutes. It was a kind of chess rock 'n' roll. Later Fischer remarked innocently, "Yeah, I noticed he was imitating me! He's not the kind of guy who would purposely annoy you." For Bobby, this imitation might have been another clue to Spassky's deterioration, his desperation."

William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/Pgr1wHMA#0

10-7 to Fischer. Before Game 18, the Icelandic Chess Federation decided to remove some seats from the front row after Fischer's demands in his letter he sent after the 16th Game. Geller then pointed out that Soviet side was not consulted about this which was against the rules. So they had to put the seats back and compromised by trying not to fill the seats with spectators. During the game Fischer asked Schmid to remove someone who he said was snoring, but Schmid couldn't find him.

Spassky walking to Game 18 with thermos containing hot coffee, August 24th, Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ZZeYl3iRw

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/AR3MabbB#0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQFYUn8iJ8

10½-7½ to Fischer. After the game Fischer told Schmid that "conditions were improving". Chester Fox's lawyer Richard Stein served the papers on his lawsuit against Fischer on Marshall in the hotel lobby during the rest day on Saturday (Fischer observed a sabbath as he followed the practices of The Worldwide Church of God). The lawsuit claimed $1,750,000 from Fischer for Fox's loss of income due to Fischer not letting the cameras operate. To keep Fox from suing Fischer under Icelandic law which could cause the prize money to be impounded, the Icelandic Chess Federation said they'd let Fox get 20 percent of their own potential profit from the filming of the match that had been done so far. Stein was also looking at suing Fischer under British law to clamp down on Jim Slater's prize fund offer. The point of all this was to try to stop Fischer from potentially transferring the money to a Swiss bank so that the money couldn't be taken. Meanwhile Fischer wanted to clear out the front rows of seats from any spectators again, citing noise. And Cramer continued his attacks against Schmid claiming that he was biased against Fischer. Schmid reprimanded him for signing his letter as Vice-President of FIDE (Cramer was Vice-President of Zone 5) instead of as Fischer's representative and said his letter was full of inaccuracies. Schmid jokingly called the feud the "Cramer-Schmid show".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBnwz1H91fk

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/WRgZvHeu#0

Fischer leaving hall after Game 19, Lombardy in Car, August 28th, Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

11-8 to Fischer. Before the 20th Game, FIDE President Max Euwe arrived in Iceland. Fischer's friend Grandmaster Miguel Angel Quintero arrived from Buenos Aires and stayed at Fischer's house. Nei left Spassky's team, for the start of the coaching season.

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/XOjuEvX5#0

Score is 11½-8½ to Fischer.

"'Opportunities were open to me in Games 18 and 20. ... It seemed that one solitary move would be enough to reduce my opponent. But somehow I was not capable of the effort."

Boris Spassky, 64 Magazine (No. 40, 1972), In William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

Spassky and Fischer arriving to Game 21:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp2j8ry1AEA
Game 21, August 31st, Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

https://lichess.org/study/dnsoYwYu/1NnBScXu#0

Spassky knew he sealed a bad move and the adjournment analysis showed he was lost. So Spassky called Schmid and resigned the game by telephone at 12:50 p.m.

Lombardy, Marshall and Cramer went to congratulate Fischer. Lombardy had heard it as a rumor and called Schmid who confirmed it, but that it wasn't official till the adjournment resumption at 2:30 p.m. Fischer didn't accept the congrats as it wasn't official, saying "Why should Spassky resign this position?", "There's a lot of play.". Fischer continued analyzing the position while being driven to the playing hall.

"Schmid moved to the front of the Laugardalsholl stage. "Ladies and gentle- men," he said, "Mr. Spassky has resigned. This is a traditional and legal way of resignation. Mr. Fischer has won this game, Number 21, and he is the winner of the match."

Thunderous applause rang out. Bobby sat glued to his seat. Overpowering shyness forced him to look away from the audience. Schmid tried to coax him forward, taking him by the elbow. Bobby, rose, moved a step and stopped. He nodded a silent thanks to the audience and returned to the table where he apparently reviewed his and Boris' signatures on the scoresheets. Finally, he strode quickly off the stage."

William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974

September 1st 1972 at 2:35 p.m. Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNS9FV2EIUc

Fischer after becoming World Champion, September 1st, Credit: J. Walter Green/AP

Fischer meeting fans as World Champion, September 1st, Credit: AP

Aftermath

Fischer later reflected on the Johnny Carson show: "I woke up the day after the thing was over and I just felt different, like something had been taken out of me."

"You can’t imagine what a relief it was when I ceased to be World Champion. Those were the very toughest years of my life, when responsibility pressed on me and I didn’t get any outside help. I was the king and I had to answer for every word."

Boris Spassky, Kirill Zangalis Interview, Soviet Sport, 2010

In an interview with Gligorić, Fischer said: "He played very well in the second half. I really felt under pressure in the last games, except in the last game I felt good. But for about six or seven games in a row I was under pressure every game, it was terrible."

Spassky: "If I am to speak to any extent of myself, how I felt while the contest was in progress, especially during the second half when I still felt that I would be able to play for a victory (I was convinced right up to the 21st game that I had a real chance of saving the situation)—then I would say that I always had the impression that I lacked both nerves and energy, that I wasted them terribly stupidly sometime earlier. This thought stayed with me—it was some kind of idea fixe. Often during the last eight games I felt that it was within my grasp and could not escape. I thought of it like a big fish, but I could not contain it. The fish was slippery and so I lost it. Then my psychological suffering began again. I had to start everything again. I lost it a second time and then a third, and again I had to begin at the beginning."

Spassky was interviewed on 3rd September:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6SOP2nIvXM

The closing ceremony took place on 3rd September, 7p.m. Spassky and his wife arrived at 7:15 and Fischer arrived at 7:50, while an orchestra was playing on stage. First the Minister of Finance gave a speech. Spassky was then invited to the stage to receive the silver medal by Euwe. Then, Fischer was invited to the stage and Euwe put the Champion's wreath (made of Icelandic birch) over his shoulders. Euwe gave Fischer a FIDE Diploma proclaiming him World Champion. He also gave Fischer the gold medal. Fischer looked at the medal and said: "It has no name on it.", Euwe replied: "They didn't know it!" and they laughed.

The food was served by waiters wearing Viking helmets. Even the cups were shaped like the horns on the Viking helmets. Fischer and Spassky were at the same table with Euwe sat between them. Palsson was on Fischer's left. Fischer enjoyed some steak and wine. There was a crowd of people who flocked to the table to ask for autographs, and Olafsson had to go to the podium microphone and tell the crowd to stop suffocating them, but it didn't change anything. Fischer then decided to analyze the last game of the match on his minature pocket chess set. Then he analyzed the game together with Spassky, saying to him: "Why did you resign in the last game? There was a lot of struggle still". A beautiful Icelandic girl went up to Fischer and asked him to dance with her. Fischer was shy, but then accepted the offer. Apparently people were suprised at the fact that Fischer could dance well. After returning, Fischer talked at the table about how he got into photography after a Polaroid representative gave him a free camera. Fischer said to Spassky: "“Boris, would you like such a camera as a gift?”. Fischer then got the representative to come over and asked him to give a camera to Spassky as a gift. Spassky then declined the gift politely.

Footage of Spassky receiving the silver medal and Fischer being crowned the World Champion. The footage also covers Games 4, 20, and 21:

https://youtu.be/GFOA06krDvE?t=801

Very rare footage from the closing ceremony, interviews with Fischer and Spassky:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv1D228Mnjo

Me and Bobby Fischer documentary: 3:38 - Fischer arriving in Iceland 4th July, 4:48 - footage of Fischer at the closing ceremony, 5:20 - Fischer crowned as World Champion by Euwe.

https://youtu.be/xeCv2HcedTY?t=289

Fischer and Spassky analyzing Game 21 at the closing ceremony:

https://youtu.be/kCNt3lnZEys?t=2016

Credit: Icelandic Chess

Fischer and a knight. Credit: Harry Benson

Fischer and Spassky also attended a reception with the Iceland prime minister. Spassky asked if they would have a rematch and Fischer said maybe in a year if the money was good. Fischer said about Spassky: ‘He is a good man, definitely the second strongest chess player in the world. No doubt about that.’

Spassky returned to Russia, stopping at Copenhagen, Denmark for 3 days. The Soviet ambassador in Denmark N. Egorychev, cheered up Spassky through his warm demeanour. Spassky did not receive the 'Taimanov treatment' and got to keep his prize winnings. However his allowance was reduced and he was banned from international play for nine months. Similar sanctions followed for the other members of Spassky's team. The Soviet Sports Committee held a meeting with Spassky, his team, and a bunch of the top Soviet players. Nei got banned from travelling for 2 years after it was discovered that he annotated the games with Robert Byrne for western newpapers, a little side hustle. Later he published a book with Byrne on the match.

Leontxo Garcia, El Pais (Spain): "What kind of punishment or bad treatment did you receive in the Soviet Union after you were defeated by Mr. Fischer in 1972?"

Spassky: "That's a good question. I think that the strongest sanction from the Soviet Sports Committee after the match was that I was forbidden to play for nine months in international tournaments. Normally after a match the loser has fantastic energy to fight and prove something. We made very good opening preparations and general preparations before Reykjavik. Eventually, I got sick, I was in a very big depression after that."

Boris Spassky, No Regrets, Yasser Seirawan and George Stefanovic, (p.86), 1992, Fischer-Spsasky Rematch Third Press Conference, September 14, 1992

Later, Spassky thought Lombardy was responsible for Fischer's behaviour in the match:

"I pitied him. I saw that the guy was going insane! I rather liked Bobby. It's Korchnoi who needs to hate his opponent to play better. I'm different. There was a crazy kid sitting opposite me - how could I possibly hate him? But I should have invoked the sportsman in me, for whom the most important thing is winning. I didn't come up with any tricks. Unlike Fischer - who threw all kinds of statements left and right. He blamed the Icelandic organizers, Max Euwe, the Soviet delegation. Birds stopped singing in the Reykjavik bay - it's obviously Spassky's fault! Only later did I realize that this pressure was carefully thought out.

Q: Really?

Fischer was supported by an ideologue named Lombardy. His idea was to keep me under constant psychological pressure. Though even during the match, I felt that someone was pushing Bobby quite hard. Back then, I thought it was Kramer; that crazy guy was all over Fischer, agitated him..."

Boris Spassky, Yuri Golyshak and Sergei Kruzhkov Interview, Sport-Express, 2016

Q: Did you meet Lombardy after the match?

"Three or so years ago, on a tournament for the grandmasters older than 75. Lombardy visited it. Someone relayed his words to me: "We wanted to unsettle Spassky, no matter what the cost. He shouldn't have understood what was going on..." Nevertheless, they feared that I would just slam the door and go away."

Boris Spassky, Yuri Golyshak and Sergei Kruzhkov Interview, Sport-Express, 2016

Spassky also thought that Nei was a spy:

"I think they knew what was happening in my brigade.

Q: How?

I took the Estonian Ivo Nei as a second. He turned out to be an American spy. He conspired with Robert Byrne, who wrote chess column for New York Times, to co-write a book about the match. Nei knew everything about our plans - and the Americans waited for information from him. If I did decide to stop the match, Fischer's team would know immediately."

Boris Spassky, Yuri Golyshak and Sergei Kruzhkov Interview, Sport-Express, 2016

Spassky thought it was possible that some sort of weapon to alter the mind was deployed during the match:

"I don't discount the possibility... as I've already mentioned, that Fischer and I may have been targets for some sort of new weapon, deployed from elsewhere, because the sensation which I had during the games was quite unpleasant. I felt uncomfortable, I felt that something was disturbing me."

Boris Spassky, Clash of the Titans Documentary Series, 1996-1999

Fischer stayed in Reykjavik for another 2 weeks. When asked why on his departure he stated: “I like Iceland because I am not bothered by people.” Fischer liked Palsson so much that he invited him and his wife to come with him on his return to America. Grandmaster Miguel Angel Quintero also came with Fischer on the return trip. Fischer said to the reporters “It's great to be back in America”. Fischer also said he didn't know if he would play in the Chess Olympiad in Yugoslavia which would take place from September 18th - October 13th. New York Mayor John Lindsay had a limo pick up Fischer from the airport.

Fischer arrives in New York, Kennedy Airport after the match, September 17th 1972. Credit: AP.

On September 22nd, New York Mayor John Lindsay declared it to be 'Bobby Fischer Day'. He gave Fischer a gold medal at a ceremony at the public hall. Fischer also gave a short speech: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/02rDZEraLCY

Bobby Fischer Day, September 22nd, 1972. Credit: Neal Boenzi/The New York Times

Bobby Fischer Day, September 22nd, 1972. Credit: AP

After New York, Fischer flew to California to stay at his flat in Pasadena. He gave Palsson his own room.

On October 5th Fischer went on the Bob Hope Show.

Fischer and Hope rehearsing. Credit: AP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSWau3pTyIg

On November 8th, Fischer appeared on the Johnny Carson show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxvnEwvgfeI

After two months, Palsson finally headed back to Reykjavik, his wife having gone back long before. Palsson hadn't had a salary for ten weeks and didn't want anyone to think he was getting paid. Palsson had became a real pal to Fischer. Fischer said that he'd miss out on going to White House (Nixon had invited Fischer to come at an unspecified date). When they got to the airport, following Palsson into the airplane Fischer said: "Are you really leaving me?". According to Palsson, Fischer had tears in his eyes.

Fischer vs Spassky: The Rivalry (Part 3: 1973-2008)

Sources

1972 World Chess Championship Games
Svetozar Gligorić, Fischer vs Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century, 1972
Fischer, Spassky, Thorarinsson Interviews, Svetozar Gligorić, Published in January 1973 Chess Life (Transcribed by User batgirl)
William Lombardy, A Mystery Wrapped in an Engima, Sports Illustrated, 1974 (1)(2)
Yasser Seirawan and George Stefanovic, No Regrets, 1992
Nikolai Krogius, Boris Spassky (Vol 1&2), Spassky - Fischer: The Match Diary, 1998 (Translated by User Spektrowski)
Frank Brady, Endgame, 2011
The Match of All Time: The Inside Story of the Legendary 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Gudmundur G. Thorarinsson, 2022
Edward Winter Article, Spassky v Fischer, Reykjavik, 1972, Factfinder
Boris Spassky, Lev Khariton Interview, 2007
Boris Spassky, Kirill Zangalis Interview, Soviet Sport, 2010 (Tranlated by MISHANP)
Boris Spassky, Yuri Golyshak and Sergei Kruzhkov Interview, Sport-Express, 2016 (Translated by User Spektrowski)
Boris Spassky, Igor Lensky Interview, Gudok, 2016 (Translated by User Spektrowski)
Fischer Spassky Times, Crackteam.org
AP Photos,Videos

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Fischer vs Spassky: The Rivalry (Part 2: 1972 World Chess Championship)

Table of Contents:

Preparation

1972 World Chess Championship

Aftermath

Sources

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