Fischer Spassky Game 12 – 1972 World Championship Match

Fischer v. Spassky – Game 12 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.

Round 12
Fischer-Spassky
Date: August 8, 1972 (*See note below.)

  • 1. c4 e6
  • 2. Nf3 d5
  • 3. d4 Nf6
  • 4. Nc3 Be7
  • 5. Bg5 h6
  • 6. Bh4 O-O
  • 7. e3 Nbd7
  • 8. Rc1 c6
  • 9. Bd3 dxc4
  • 10. Bxc4 b5
  • 11. Bd3 a6
  • 12. a4 bxa4
  • 13. Nxa4 Qa5+
  • 14. Nd2 Bb4
  • 15. Nc3 c5
  • 16. Nb3 Qd8
  • 17. O-O cxd4
  • 18. Nxd4 Bb7
  • 19. Be4 Qb8
  • 20. Bg3 Qa7
  • 21. Nc6 Bxc6
  • 22. Bxc6 Rac8
  • 23. Na4 Rfd8
  • 24. Bf3 a5
  • 25. Rc6 Rxc6
  • 26. Bxc6 Rc8
  • 27. Bf3 Qa6
  • 28. h3 Qb5
  • 29. Be2 Qc6
  • 30. Bf3 Qb5
  • 31. b3 Be7
  • 32. Be2 Qb4
  • 33. Ba6 Rc6
  • 34. Bd3 Nc5
  • 35. Qf3 Rc8
  • 36. Nxc5 Bxc5
  • 37. Rc1 Rd8
  • 38. Bc4 Qd2
  • 39. Rf1 Bb4
  • 40. Bc7 Rd7
  • 41. Qc6 Qc2
  • 42. Be5 Rd2
  • 43. Qa8+ Kh7
  • 44. Bxf6 gxf6
  • 45. Qf3 f5
  • 46. g4 Qe4
  • 47. Kg2 Kg6
  • 48. Rc1 Ba3
  • 49. Ra1 Bb4
  • 50. Rc1 Be7
  • 51. gxf5+ exf5
  • 52. Re1 Rxf2+
  • 53. Kxf2 Bh4+
  • 54. Ke2 Qxf3+
  • 55. Kxf3 Bxe1
  • 1/2-1/2

Match score: Fischer 7, Spassky 5

The game was adjourned after move 40, with Fischer sealing 41.Qc6. After a night of analysis, the players resumed and purused the game to a draw. At moves 48 through 50, Fischer offered a draw by repetition, which Spassky declined, even winning a Pawn. Despite this, however, the game was a dead draw, and Spassky directly offered the draw at move 55, which Fischer accepted.

With the match half over, Fischer held a 2-game advantage. This must have been daunting to Spassky, but he showed that he was fighting for the match.

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.

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