Fischer v. Spassky – Game 10 of 1972 Championship Match
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Fischer-Spassky match for the chess world championship, I am publishing the games of the match on the anniversary date of each of the games.
Fischer, with the White pieces, returns to his favorite “best by test” opening: 1.e4.
Round 10
Fischer-Spassky
Date: August 3, 1972 (*See note below.)
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bb5 a6
- 4. Ba4 Nf6
- 5. O-O Be7
- 6. Re1 b5
- 7. Bb3 d6
- 8. c3 O-O
- 9. h3 Nb8
- 10. d4 Nbd7
- 11. Nbd2 Bb7
- 12. Bc2 Re8
- 13. b4 Bf8
- 14. a4 Nb6
- 15. a5 Nbd7
- 16. Bb2 Qb8
- 17. Rb1 c5
- 18. bxc5 dxc5
- 19. dxe5 Nxe5
- 20. Nxe5 Qxe5
- 21. c4 Qf4
- 22. Bxf6 Qxf6
- 23. cxb5 Red8
- 24. Qc1 Qc3
- 25. Nf3 Qxa5
- 26. Bb3 axb5
- 27. Qf4 Rd7
- 28. Ne5 Qc7
- 29. Rbd1 Re7
- 30. Bxf7+ Rxf7
- 31. Qxf7+ Qxf7
- 32. Nxf7 Bxe4
- 33. Rxe4 Kxf7
- 34. Rd7+ Kf6
- 35. Rb7 Ra1+
- 36. Kh2 Bd6+
- 37. g3 b4
- 38. Kg2 h5
- 39. Rb6 Rd1
- 40. Kf3 Kf7
- 41. Ke2 Rd5
- 42. f4 g6
- 43. g4 hxg4
- 44. hxg4 g5
- 45. f5 Be5
- 46. Rb5 Kf6
- 47. Rexb4 Bd4
- 48. Rb6+ Ke5
- 49. Kf3 Rd8
- 50. Rb8 Rd7
- 51. R4b7 Rd6
- 52. Rb6 Rd7
- 53. Rg6 Kd5
- 54. Rxg5 Be5
- 55. f6 Kd4
- 56. Rb1 1-0
Match score: Fischer 6 1/2, Spassky 3 1/2
It must have been devestating for Spassky to consider that, discounting the first two games, which must have seemed aberrant at this point, Spassky had scored 1 1/2 points out of 8 games. And then his mind must have gone back to the absolute crushing victories Fischer had achieved over Taimanov, Larsen, and Petrosian to reach the championship match. That pressure must have been enormous.
If you want to download the pgn file for the game, here’s a link.
*Note: See my post of game 1 for a note about the dates of the games in this match.