Page 9 - THE ORACLE MAGAZINE October'23 EDITION

The first game turned out to be a disaster for Fischer, after
he showed up late and made a rookie mistake, which left
him defeated early. Fischer blamed this loss on the
presence of TV cameras and demanded they be removed.
The organizers refused. As a result, Fischer forfeited the
second game, meaning Spassky was up 2:0; again, he
needed 12.5 to win.
Spassky, realizing the match was in jeopardy, agreed to
hold the match away from cameras, although still in front
of a crowd. The next couple of matches ended in draws,
until a critical turning point in game 5, where Fischer took
command of the game. He proceeded to dominate Spassky
for the next few games, with most either ending in Fischer
winning or a draw. The final score ended with a 12.5 for
Fischer and 8.5 for Spassky, leaving Fischer to be crowned
the first American world chess champion.
After their historic match, Fischer withdrew from
competitive chess, while Spassky continued his career,
mentoring new players. In 1992, Fischer won a controversial
rematch against Spassky in Yugoslavia. Fischers later chess
years were marked by controversy. Spassky, in contrast,
remained active in chess circles and lived a quieter life,
leaving behind a lasting legacy of sportsmanship and
mentorship. The match in 1972 was crowned as the match of
the century, and remains arguably, a mark of the golden
era of chess.
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THE ORACLE MAGAZINE
(chess.com, 2018)