The 1972 Fischer – Spassky Times for Game 21

This article lists the times taken for the moves of the 21st and final game of the World Chess Championship Match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer.  Fischer won this game to go 4 games ahead with only three to play.

For more games of the match, see the 1972 Fischer – Spassky Times Home Page

Game 21, August 31st-September 1st, 1972

    Spassky         Fischer
    White           Black
                    (ar)  (0:03)
 1. e4     (0:00)   c5    (0:04)
 2. Nf3    (0:01)   e6    (0:04)
 3. d4     (0:02)   cxd4  (0:04)
 4. Nxd4   (0:02)   a6    (0:04)
 5. Nc3    (0:04)   Nc6   (0:05)
 6. Be3    (0:05)   Nf6   (0:10)
 7. Bd3    (0:15)   d5    (0:14)
 8. exd5   (0:29)   exd5  (0:16)
 9. 0-0    (0:39)   Bd6   (0:19)
10. Nxc6   (0:53)   bxc6  (0:20)

11. Bd4    (0:59)   0-0   (0:23)
12. Qf3    (0:59)   Be6   (0:38)
13. Rfe1   (1:14)   c5    (0:42)
14. Bxf6   (1:19)   Qxf6  (0:43)
15. Qxf6   (1:19)   gxf6  (0:43)
16. Rad1   (1:22)   Rfd8  (0:53)
17. Be2    (1:30)   Rab8  (0:56)
18. b3     (1:32)   c4    (0:58)
19. Nxd5   (1:38)   Bxd5  (1:15)
20. Rxd5   (1:40)   Bxh2+ (1:24)
21. Kxh2   (1:41)   Rxd5  (1:24)
22. Bxc4   (1:41)   Rd2   (1:26)
23. Bxa6   (1:43)   Rxc2  (1:30)
24. Re2    (1:43)   Rxe2  (1:38)
25. Bxe2   (1:43)   Rd8   (1:38)
26. a4     (1:45)   Rd2   (1:38)
27. Bc4    (1:47)   Ra2   (1:40)
28. Kg3    (1:51)   Kf8   (1:41)
29. Kf3    (1:51)   Ke7   (1:46)
30. g4     (2:07)   f5    (1:48)
31. gxf5   (2:08)   f6    (1:50)
32. Bg8    (2:14)   h6    (1:52)
33. Kg3    (2:14)   Kd6   (1:54)
34. Kf3    (2:14)   Ra1   (1:59)
35. Kg2    (2:15)   Ke5   (2:00)
36. Be6    (2:15)   Kf4   (2:01)
37. Bd7    (2:16)   Rb1   (2:03)
38. Be6    (2:20)   Rb2   (2:05)
39. Bc4    (2:23)   Ra2   (2:05)
40. Be6    (2:26)   h5    (2:07)
41. Bd7 s  (2:53)   0-1

(ar) indicates the arrival of that player.

‘s’ after a move indicates a sealed move.

Spassky consumed the remainder of the 5-hour first session to seal his move.

At the resumption of the game, at 2:50 pm, Friday, September 1st,  Lothar Schmid announced in the hall that Bobby was the champion, as Spassky had resigned this game.

There was a great deal of applause, and people seemed a bit reluctant to leave.

At last, Bobby had accomplished his goal; he was World Champion. I looked around at the people, and noticed a small man in a wheel chair, crying. I took him to be John W. Collins, Bobby’s teacher many years before. He was there to see it.

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