1 World Chess Championship 1972

Background

This was labelled the Match of the Century as it pitted representatives of the two major powers USA’s eccentric, Bobby Fischer and the USSR’s World Champion, Boris Spassky

The match formed the centrepiece of the 2014 movie, Pawn Sacrifice

Game 1: Spassky 1 Fischer 0 (1-0)

Animated Game - Nimzo-Indian

Crunch Move

Fischer played 29…Bxh2? a move that few players would consider in light of the obvious 30.g3, trapping the bishop.

In exchange for the lost bishop, Black is only able to obtain two pawns.

Commentators have suggested that Fischer may have miscalculated, having planned 30…h5 31.Ke2 h4 32.Kf3 h3 33.Kg4 Bg1, but overlooking that 34.Kxh3 Bxf2 35.Bd2 keeps the bishop trapped.

Final Position (Black to Move)

Black is unable to prevent the White King from capturing his pawn on b7 and then queening his pawn

Game 2: Spassky 2 Fischer 0 (2-0)

Fischer Forfeited

Following his loss Fischer made further demands on the organizers, including that all cameras be removed. When they were not, he refused to appear for game 2, giving a default win to Spassky.

Fischer looked to board the next plane out of Iceland, only to be dissuaded by his second, William Lombardy.

Spassky, owing to his sporting spirit and respect and sympathy for Fischer, agreed to play the third game in a small room backstage, out of sight of the spectators

Game 3: Spassky 0 Fischer 1 (2-1)

Modern Benoni

Crunch Move

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Final Position (Black to Move)

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