World Chess Championship 1972

Bobby Fischer in 1972

Boris Spassky

The World Chess Championship 1972 was a match between challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States and defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the World Chess Championship. The match took place in the Laugardalshöll arena in Reykjavík, Iceland and has been dubbed the Match of the Century. Fischer became the first American born in the United States to win the World Championship and the second American overall to win the title (Wilhelm Steinitz, the first world champion, became a naturalized American citizen in 1888). Fischer's win also ended, for a short time, 24 years of Soviet domination of the World Championship.

The first game started on July 11, 1972. The last game began on August 31 and was adjourned after 40 moves. Spassky resigned the next day without resuming play. Fischer won the match 12½–8½, becoming the eleventh undisputed World Champion.

Background[edit]

The match was played during the Cold War, but during a period of increasing détente. The Soviet Chess School had long held a monopoly on the game at the highest level. Spassky was the latest in an uninterrupted chain of Soviet world chess champions, stretching back to the 1948 championship.^[1]

Fischer, an eccentric^[2] 29-year-old American, was a vocal critic of the Soviet domination of chess, because he believed that Soviet players gained an unfair advantage by agreeing to short draws among themselves in tournaments.^[3] In August 1962 Sports Illustrated, and then in October the German magazine Der Spiegel, published a famous article by Fischer "The Russians Have Fixed World Chess" in which he expounded this view.^[4][5] Fischer himself rarely agreed to early draws in unclear positions.

The expectations on Spassky were enormous because for the Soviets, chess was part of the political system.^[6][7][8] While Fischer was often famously critical of his home country ("Americans want to plunk in front of a TV and don't want to open a book ..."), he too carried the burden of expectation because of the political significance of the match.^[9] No American had achieved the world championship since the first champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, became a naturalized American citizen in 1888.^[10] The excitement surrounding the match was such that it was called the "Match of the Century",^[11][12][13] even though the same term had been applied to the USSR vs. Rest of the World match just two years before.^[14]

Spassky, the champion, had lost the world championship match against Tigran Petrosian in 1966.^[15] In 1968, he won matches against Efim Geller, Bent Larsen, and Viktor Korchnoi to again win the right to challenge Petrosian for the title.^[16] This time Spassky triumphed, winning 12½–10½.^[17] He is often said to have (had) a "universal style", "involving an ability to play the most varied types of positions".^[18] However, Garry Kasparov notes that "from childhood he clearly had a leaning toward sharp, attacking play, and possessed a splendid feel for the initiative."^[18] Before the match, Fischer had played five games against Spassky, with two draws and Spassky winning three.^[19]

However, in the Candidates matches en route to becoming the challenger, Fischer had demolished world-class grandmasters Mark Taimanov and Bent Larsen, each by a perfect score of 6–0, a feat no one else had ever accomplished in any Candidates match. After that, Fischer had split the first five games of his match against former World Champion Tigran Petrosian, then closed out the match by winning the last four games.^[1] "No bare statement conveys the magnitude and impact of these results. ... Fischer sowed devastation."^[20]From the last seven rounds of the Interzonal until the first game against Petrosian, Fischer won 20 consecutive games, nearly all of which were against top grandmasters.

Fischer also had a much higher Elo rating than Spassky, or indeed any player in history.^[21] On the July 1972 FIDE rating list, Fischer's 2785 was a record 125 points ahead of the number two player – Spassky, whose rating was 2660.^[22] Fischer's recent results and record Elo rating made him the pre-match favorite.^[23][24][25] Other observers, however, noted that Fischer had never won a game against Spassky.^[26]

Spassky's seconds for the match were Efim Geller, Nikolai Krogius and Iivo Nei.^[27] Fischer's second was William Lombardy.^{[28][29][30][31]} His entourage also included lawyer Paul Marshall, who would play a significant role in the events surrounding the match, and USCFrepresentative Fred Cramer.^[32] The match referee was Lothar Schmid.^[33]

For some time, it was doubtful that the match would be played at all.^[34] Shortly before the match, Fischer demanded that the players receive, in addition to the agreed-upon prize fund of $125,000 (5/8 to the winner, 3/8 to the loser) and 30% of the proceeds from television and film rights, 30% of the box-office receipts.^[35][36] He failed to arrive in Iceland for the opening ceremony on July 1.^[35][37][38] Fischer's behavior was seemingly full of contradictions, as it had been throughout his career. He finally flew to Iceland and agreed to play after a two-day postponement of the match by FIDE President Max Euwe, a surprise doubling of the prize fund by British investment banker Jim Slater, and much persuasion, including a phone call by Henry Kissinger to Fischer.^[39][40] Many commentators, particularly from the USSR, have suggested that all this (and his continuing demands and unreasonableness) was part of Fischer's plan to "psych out" Spassky. Fischer's supporters say that winning the World Championship was the mission of his life, that he simply wanted the setting to be perfect for it when he took the stage, and that his behavior was the same as it had always been.

World-class match play (i.e., a series of games between the same two opponents) often involves one or both players preparing one or two openings very deeply, and playing them repeatedly during the match.^[41] Preparation for such a match also involves analysis of those opening lines known to be played by the opponent. Fischer had been famous for his unusually narrow opening repertoire: for example, almost invariably playing 1.e4 as White, and almost always playing the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence as Black against 1.e4.^[42][43] He surprised Spassky by repeatedly switching openings, and by playing openings that he had never, or only rarely, played before (such as 1.c4 as White, and Alekhine's Defence, the Pirc Defence, and the Paulsen Sicilian as Black).^[42] Even in openings that Fischer had played before in the match, he continually deviated from the variations he had previously played, almost never repeating the same line twice in the match.^[44]

1970 Interzonal tournament[edit]

The Interzonal tournament was held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain in November and December 1970. The top six (in bold) qualified for the Candidates Tournament.

1970 Interzonal Tournament

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	Total	Tie break
1	Bobby Fischer (United States)	-	0	1	½	1	1	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	½	½	1	½	18½
2	Bent Larsen (Denmark)	1	-	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	0	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	1	½	1	½	15	167.50
3	Efim Geller (Soviet Union)	0	½	-	1	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	15	167.00
4	Robert Hübner (West Germany)	½	½	0	-	½	1	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	1	1	15	155.25
5	Mark Taimanov (Soviet Union)	0	1	½	½	-	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	1	1	½	1	½	1	½	1	1	1	14	146.50
6	Wolfgang Uhlmann (East Germany)	0	0	0	0	½	-	1	½	½	1	½	½	1	½	0	1	½	1	1	½	1	1	1	1	14	141.50
7	Lajos Portisch (Hungary)	½	½	½	½	½	0	-	½	0	1	½	1	1	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	½	1	1	0	13½	149.75
8	Vasily Smyslov (Soviet Union)	0	½	0	1	½	½	½	-	1	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	1	13½	141.00
9	Lev Polugaevsky (Soviet Union)	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	0	-	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	0	½	1	1	½	½	½	½	13	146.75
10	Svetozar Gligorić (Yugoslavia)	0	½	½	½	½	0	0	½	½	-	1	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	0	½	1	½	1	1	13	135.50
11	Oscar Panno (Argentina)	0	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	0	0	-	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	12½	130.75
12	Henrique Mecking (Brazil)	0	0	0	½	1	½	0	1	½	½	½	-	1	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	1	1	1	1	12½	130.00
13	Vlastimil Hort (Czechoslovakia)	0	1	½	½	½	0	0	½	½	0	½	0	-	1	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	½	11½
14	Borislav Ivkov (Yugoslavia)	0	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	-	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	10½
15	Duncan Suttles (Canada)	0	½	0	½	0	1	½	½	½	0	0	½	½	½	-	0	½	½	1	½	0	1	½	1	10	105.75
16	Dragoljub Minić (Yugoslavia)	0	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	1	-	1	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	10	96.00
17	Samuel Reshevsky (United States)	0	½	0	0	½	½	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	0	-	½	½	½	0	0	½	1	9½
18	Milan Matulović (Yugoslavia)	½	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	½	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	-	½	½	0	0	½	1	9	98.50
19	William Addison (United States)	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	0	0	1	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	-	½	0	0	1	1	9	95.25
20	Miroslav Filip (Czechoslovakia)	0	0	½	½	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	-	½	1	½	0	8½	91.50
21	Renato Naranja (Philippines)	½	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	0	0	0	½	1	0	1	1	1	½	-	0	0	1	8½	88.75
22	Tudev Ujtumen (Mongolia)	½	½	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	½	0	0	½	1	1	1	0	1	-	1	½	8½	85.25
23	Jorge Rubinetti (Argentina)	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	0	½	0	½	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	0	½	1	0	-	1	6
24	Eleazar Jiménez (Cuba)	½	½	½	0	0	0	1	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	½	0	-	5½

Portisch and Smyslov contested a six-game playoff in Portorož, Yugoslavia in early 1971 for the reserve position for the Candidates Tournament. The match ended 3–3; Portisch was declared the winner because of a better tie-break score in the main tournament.

1971 Candidates Tournament[edit]

Petrosian as the loser of the last championship match and Korchnoi as runner-up of the previous Candidates final were seeded directly into the tournament and joined by the top six from the Interzonal.

1st Round

Semifinals

Final

Vancouver, May 1971

Bobby Fischer

6

Mark Taimanov

0

Denver, July 1971

Bobby Fischer

6

Las Palmas, May–June 1971

Bent Larsen

0

Bent Larsen

5½

Wolfgang Uhlmann

3½

Buenos Aires, Sep–Oct 1971

Bobby Fischer

6½

Moscow, May 1971

Tigran Petrosian

2½

Viktor Korchnoi

5½

Efim Geller

2½

Moscow, July 1971

Viktor Korchnoi

4½

Seville, May 1971

Tigran Petrosian

5½

Tigran Petrosian

4

Robert Hübner (forfeit)

3

Fischer's victory earned him the right to challenge reigning champion Spassky for the title.

1972 World Championship match[edit]

Schedule and results[edit]

The match was played as the best of 24 games, with wins counting 1 point and draws counting ½ point, and would end when one of the players scored 12½ points.^[45] If the match ended in a 12–12 tie, the defending champion (Spassky) would retain the title.^[46] The firsttime control was 40 moves in 2½ hours.^[47] Three games per week were scheduled.^[48] Each player was entitled to three postponements for medical reasons during the match.^[49][50] Games were scheduled to start on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.^[27] If a game was adjourned, it was to be continued the next day.^[27] Saturday was a rest day.^[27]

Fischer insisted that a Staunton chess set from Jaques of London be used. The chessboard had to be remade at Fischer's request.^[51] The match was covered throughout the world. Fischer became a worldwide celebrity, described as the Einstein or Hitler of chess. His hotel received dozens of calls each day from women attracted to him, and Fischer enjoyed reading the numerous letters and telegrams that arrived with compliments or criticisms.^[52] Excitement grew as the match was postponed and people questioned whether Fischer would appear. Previously, he had come to the airport and, surrounded by reporters, left. The combination of "Will he play?" and "American versus Russian" created excitement throughout the world.

World Chess Championship Match 1972

	Rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Points
Boris Spassky (USSR)	2660	1	1	0	½	0	0	½	0	½	0	1	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	8½
Bobby Fischer (USA)	2785	0	0	1	½	1	1	½	1	½	1	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	12½

Games[edit]

Game 1: Spassky 1 Fischer 0 (Nimzo-Indian)[edit]

The opening was a placid Nimzo-Indian Defence, and after 17...Ba4 the game was even (Filip).^[53] After a series of piece exchanges the position in the diagram was reached after 29.b5. It appeared to be a dead-drawn ending, and no one would have been remotely surprised if the players had agreed to a draw here.^[54][55][56]

Spassky–Fischer, game 1

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Fischer played 29...Bxh2?

Remarkably, Fischer blundered with 29...Bxh2?,^[57] a move that few players above master level would have played in light of the obvious 30.g3 and the fact that the h-pawn cannot save the bishop, trapping the bishop.^[56] In exchange for the lost bishop, Black is only able to obtain two pawns (see chess piece relative value). According to Garry Kasparov, Fischer probably planned 30...h5 31.Ke2 h4 32.Kf3 h3 33.Kg4 Bg1, but overlooked that 34.Kxh3 Bxf2 keeps the bishop trapped.^[58] Svetozar Gligorić reports that Fischer made the move very quickly and thinks that he simply overlooked the intermediate move 35.Bd2, which prevents the black bishop from escaping via the e1-square.^[59] Anatoly Karpov suggested that Spassky was afraid of Fischer and wanted to show that he could draw with the white pieces, while Fischer wanted to disprove that as the game headed for a stale draw.^[60] Owing to unusual features in the position, Fischer had good drawing chances despite having only two pawns for the bishop.^[61] However, the position became hopeless after he made at least one more bad move before the adjournment, which took place after move 40.^[62] Fischer could still have drawn the game with the correct 39th or 40th move.^[63] He resigned on move 56.

Spassky–Fischer, game 1;^[64] Nimzo-Indian Defence, Main Variation (ECO E56)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Ba5 9.Ne2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Bb6 11.dxc5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Bxc5 13.b4 Be7 14.Bb2 Bd7 15.Rac1 Rfd8 16.Ned4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Ba4 18.Bb3 Bxb3 19.Nxb3 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rc8 21.Kf1 Kf8 22.Ke2 Ne4 23.Rc1 Rxc1 24.Bxc1 f6 25.Na5 Nd6 26.Kd3 Bd8 27.Nc4 Bc7 28.Nxd6 Bxd6 29.b5 (diagram) Bxh2 30.g3 h5 31.Ke2 h4 32.Kf3 Ke7 33.Kg2 hxg3 34.fxg3 Bxg3 35.Kxg3 Kd6 36.a4 Kd5 37.Ba3 Ke4 38.Bc5 a6 39.b6 f5 40.Kh4 f4 41.exf4 Kxf4 42.Kh5 Kf5 43.Be3 Ke4 44.Bf2 Kf5 45.Bh4 e5 46.Bg5 e4 47.Be3 Kf6 48.Kg4 Ke5 49.Kg5 Kd5 50.Kf5 a5 51.Bf2 g5 52.Kxg5 Kc4 53.Kf5 Kb4 54.Kxe4 Kxa4 55.Kd5 Kb5 56.Kd6 1–0

Game 2: Fischer forfeits[edit]

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. His appeal was rejected. Karpov speculates that this forfeited game was actually a masterstroke on Fischer's part, a move designed specifically to upset Spassky's equanimity.^[60]

With the score now 2–0 in favor of Spassky, many observers believed that the match was over and Fischer would leave Iceland, and, indeed, Fischer looked to board the next plane out of Iceland, only to be dissuaded by his second, William Lombardy.^[65] His decision to stay in the match was attributed by some to another phone call from Kissinger and a deluge of cablegrams to Fischer.^[66][67] 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. According to Pal Benko and Burt Hochberg, this concession was a psychological mistake by Spassky.^[68]

Spassky–Fischer, game 3

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Fischer played 11...Nh5!?

Game 3: Spassky 0 Fischer 1 (Modern Benoni)[edit]

This game proved to be the turning point of the match. After 11.Qc2 (diagram), Fischer demonstrated his acute intuitive feel for the position with 11...Nh5!?—a seemingly antipositional move allowing White to shatter Black'skingside pawn structure, but Fischer's assessment that his kingside attack created significant counterplay proved correct.^[69] Surprised by Fischer's novelty, Spassky did not react in the best way. Instead of 15.Bd2, 15.Ne2!? was possible (Zaitsev),^[70] or 15.f3 to prevent ...Ng4.^[71] In particular, Spassky's 18th move, weakening the light squares, was a mistake.^[72] The game was adjourned, and Spassky resigned the next day upon seeing that Fischer had sealed the best move, 41...Bd3+! The win was Fischer's first victory over Spassky in Fischer's chess career.^[73]

Spassky–Fischer, game 3;^[74] Modern Benoni Defence, Classical Main Line (ECO A77)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nd2 Nbd7 8.e4 Bg7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 Re8 11.Qc2 (diagram) Nh5 12.Bxh5 gxh5 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Ne3 Qh4 15.Bd2 Ng4 16.Nxg4 hxg4 17.Bf4 Qf6 18.g3 Bd7 19.a4 b6 20.Rfe1 a6 21.Re2 b5 22.Rae1 Qg6 23.b3 Re7 24.Qd3 Rb8 25.axb5 axb5 26.b4 c4 27.Qd2 Rbe8 28.Re3 h5 29.R3e2 Kh7 30.Re3 Kg8 31.R3e2 Bxc3 32.Qxc3 Rxe4 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Rxe4 Qxe4 35.Bh6 Qg6 36.Bc1 Qb1 37.Kf1 Bf5 38.Ke2 Qe4+ 39.Qe3 Qc2+ 40.Qd2 Qb3 41.Qd4 Bd3+ 0–1

Fischer–Spassky, game 4

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 29.Nd4

Game 4: Fischer ½ Spassky ½ (Sicilian Sozin)[edit]

Fischer as White played the Sozin Attack against Spassky's Sicilian Defence. Spassky sacrificed a pawn, and after 17...Bxc5+ had a slight advantage (Nunn).^[75] Spassky developed a strong kingside attack, but failed to convert it into a win,^[76] the game ending in a draw.

Fischer–Spassky, game 4;^[77] Sicilian Defence, Sozin Attack (ECO B88)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qd3 a5 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd7 16.Nxb5 Nc5 17.Bxc5 Bxc5+ 18.Kh1 Qg5 19.Qe2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 h5 22.Nd6 Ba8 23.Bc4 h4 24.h3 Be3 25.Qg4 Qxe5 26.Qxh4 g5 27.Qg4 Bc5 28.Nb5 Kg7 29.Nd4 (diagram) Rh8 30.Nf3 Bxf3 31.Qxf3 Bd6 32.Qc3 Qxc3 33.bxc3 Be5 34.Rd7 Kf6 35.Kg1 Bxc3 36.Be2 Be5 37.Kf1 Rc8 38.Bh5 Rc7 39.Rxc7 Bxc7 40.a4 Ke7 41.Ke2 f5 42.Kd3 Be5 43.c4 Kd6 44.Bf7 Bg3 45.c5+ ½–½

Spassky–Fischer, game 5

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Spassky played 27.Qc2??

Game 5: Spassky 0 Fischer 1 (Nimzo-Indian)[edit]

Another Nimzo-Indian, this time the Hübner Variation: 4.Nf3 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6.^[78] Fischer rebuffed Spassky's attempt to attack; after 15...0-0 the game was even (Adorján).^[79] Fischer obtained a blocked position where Spassky was saddled with weak pawns and his bishop pair had no prospects.^[80] After 26 moves, Spassky faced the position in the diagram, in which he blundered with 27.Qc2??, and resigned after Fischer's 27...Bxa4! After 28.Qxa4 Qxe4, Black's dual threats of 29...Qxg2# and 29...Qxe1# would decide; alternatively, 28.Qd2 (or 28.Qb1) Bxd1 29.Qxd1 Qxe4 30.Qd2 a4 wins.

Spassky–Fischer, game 5;^[81] Nimzo-Indian Defence, Hübner Variation (ECO E41)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.e4 e5 9.d5 Ne7 10.Nh4 h6 11.f4 Ng6 12.Nxg6 fxg6 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.Be3 b6 15.0-0 0-0 16.a4 a5 17.Rb1 Bd7 18.Rb2 Rb8 19.Rbf2 Qe7 20.Bc2 g5 21.Bd2 Qe8 22.Be1 Qg6 23.Qd3 Nh5 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Bd1 Nf4 (diagram) 27.Qc2 Bxa4 0–1

Thus Fischer had drawn level (the score was now 2½–2½), although FIDE rules stipulated that the champion retained the title if after 24 games the match ended in a tie.

After game 5, Fischer hinted to Lombardy about a surprise he had in store for game 6.^[82]

Game 6: Fischer 1 Spassky 0 (QGD Tartakower)[edit]

Fischer–Spassky, game 6

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 20.e4!

Before the match began, the Soviet team that had been training Spassky debated about whether Fischer might play an opening move different from his usual 1.e4.^[83] "But when the question was raised as to whether 1 d4 or 1 c4 could be expected of Fischer, Spassky replied: 'Let's not bother with such nonsense – I'll play the [Tartakower] Defence. What can he achieve?...'"^[84]

Fischer played 1.c4 (instead of 1.e4) for only the third time in a serious game.^[85] With 3.d4 the game transposed to the Queen's Gambit, surprising many who had never seen Fischer play the White side of that opening. In fact, he had previously openly condemned it.

Spassky played Tartakower's Defense (7...b6), his favorite choice in many tournaments and a line with which he had never lost.^[86] After 14.Bb5!? (introduced in Furman–Geller, Moscow 1970),^[87] Spassky responded with 14...a6?!. Geller had previously shown Spassky 14...Qb7!, the move with which he later beat Jan Timman at Hilversum 1973,^[87] but Spassky apparently forgot about it.^[88] After 21.f4 Fischer had the upper hand (Hort).^[89] After 26.f5, White had a crushing attack.

Fischer–Spassky, game 6;^[90] Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower Defense (ECO D59)
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Rc1 Be6 12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 Rc8 14.Bb5 a6 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.0-0 Ra7 17.Be2 Nd7 18.Nd4 Qf8 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.e4 (diagram) d4 21.f4 Qe7 22.e5 Rb8 23.Bc4 Kh8 24.Qh3 Nf8 25.b3 a5 26.f5 exf5 27.Rxf5 Nh7 28.Rcf1 Qd8 29.Qg3 Re7 30.h4 Rbb7 31.e6 Rbc7 32.Qe5 Qe8 33.a4 Qd8 34.R1f2 Qe8 35.R2f3 Qd8 36.Bd3 Qe8 37.Qe4 Nf6 38.Rxf6 gxf6 39.Rxf6 Kg8 40.Bc4 Kh8 41.Qf4 1–0

After this game, Spassky joined the audience in applauding Fischer's win.^[91] This astounded Fischer, who called his opponent "a true sportsman".^[52]

"Lombardy was ecstatic: '"Bobby has played a steady, fluent game, and just watched Spassky make horrendous moves. Spassky has not met a player of Bobby's genius and caliber before, who fights for every piece on the board; he doesn't give in and agree to draws like the Russian grandmasters. This is a shock to Spassky'".^[92]

According to C.H.O'D. Alexander:^[93]

This game was notable for two things. First, Fischer played the Queen's Gambit for the first time in his life in a serious game; second, he played it to perfection, the game indeed casting doubt on Black's whole opening system.

The win gave Fischer the lead (3½–2½) for the first time in the match.^[94]