Spassky errs, Fischer level

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 1

Spassky errs, Fischer level

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter—Copyrights

REYKJAVIK, July 21. The American challenger, R. K. Fischer won the fifth game in the world chess championship at Reykjavik last evening after a major blunder by the Russian title-holder, B. Spassky.

Spassky resigned on the twenty-eighth move; allowing Fischer to equalise the score, at 24-all. in the 24-game series. There was a roar of applause, for Fischer as the end came.

Icelandic spectators appeared to forgive him for his < conduct away from the board, in admiration of his fine play. Fischer’s speed in catching up a two-game deficit, and the rapidity with which he won yesterday’s fifth game, must have greatly undermined the confidence of the world champion. Fischer took just three hours and a half to win the game, in which Spassky had been under serious pressure throughout. Finally, after taking roughly twice as long over his moves as Fischer, Spassky made a gross blunder on the twentyseventh move, and then promptly resigned on the next. The Jugoslav grandmaster, Svetosan Gligoric, said that Spassky had probably made the greatest, blunder of his whole career.

Fischer’s feat in levelling the score, after losing the opening game and then forfeiting the second because he was unhappy ■ with the television cameras, should ease the future course of the tournament—which could take up to two months to complete. The match’s chief arbiter, the West German grandmaster, Lothar Schmid, said he felt that Fischer’s win .in the fifth game would make the temperamental American less difficult and more willing to obey the rules. Mr Schmid said that all future games—today is a rest

day—would take place in the main hall, and would not be moved back into the private room where the third game was played after Fischer had complained about the television cameras. “IN THE RULES” Commenting on Fischer’s demand last evening that he, Fischer, should have the option whether the games should be played in either room, Mr Schmid said: “In the rules, it says that the game may be moved to a back room if the game is disturbed. The meaning of this rule is that it shall be done only in an emergency—such as if a smoke bomb is thrown, or something of a . similar nature.” , Fischer himself seems to , be less nervous. For the first time, he has been seen walk- ' ing out alone on the open ; fields next to his hotel. But i his marked antipathy to- . wards journalists remains. Spassky, as champion, has i still one small advantage r over Fischer, that he need only draw the 24-game series ; to retain the title he captured > from the Russian grand- , master, T. Petrosian, in 1969. When he emerged from last

evening’s game, Spassky appeared to be completely exhausted. Two members of his supporting team, which includes four grandmasters, were waiting for him in a car. The words exchanged could not be heard or understood, but they appeared to be hkrsh. All were obviously downcast. Move by move, Back page.