Reykjavik, Iceland; September 2, 1972 - a new month, a new day, and a new world chess champion. Bobby Fischer has just reached his lifelong ambition. All that remains now is to retain it. Fischer, 29, is rated the strongest player who ever lived by the International Chess Federation, F.I.D.E., and he readily claims that distinction. A junior champion at 13, and U. S. champion at 14, Fischer's rise to power was not unlike that of his more amiable opponent, Boris Spassky. Ever wonder what a chess master like Fischer likes about the game? Bobby: "I like the moment when I break a man's ego." Arrogance? Perhaps. But in a game in which egotism has always been the rule, Fischer is indeed well mannered in comparison with his predecessors.

The two opponents may seem to be bishops of opposite colors; Boris has stated many times that he has great respect for his opponent's skills. Spassky is also a free-thinking man in many of his ways, and has refused to join the Communist Party as a result of this.

In order to just get the privilege of playing Spassky, Fischer had to first defeat three other players. The first of these was Mark Taimonov (USSR), whom he beat 6-0. The shut-out was a spectacular first in grandmaster chess, and Fischer went on to duplicate the feat in his match with Bent Larsen (Denmark), with the score again at 6-0. He entered into the third match against Tigran Petrosian (USSR) with a bad head cold, and still came out on top at 6 1/2 - 2 1/2. It is also interesting to note here that in each match, each opponent was allowed three medical postponements. Each of Fischer's opponents used all three.

The world championship almost didn't begin. Fischer, holding out for monetary reasons, didn't show up. An English banker eventually better than doubled the prize money, and after Spassky demanded apologies the match was underway. The first game Spassky played the white pieces and the game developed into the Nimzo-Indian defense. Fischer then made what was undoubtedly the worst blunder of his career by capturing a "poisoned pawn," losing his bishop six moves later, and consequently losing the game.

Fischer then began what was to be a continuing tirade against the cameras in the playing hall. He even went so far as to boycott the second game and subsequently lost on a forfeit. Spassky now had what in grandmaster chess is almost a comfortable lead -- two games.

Fischer came back for the third shot after they finally agreed to play the game in a small back room. Spassky plays his favorite queen pawn opening, and Fischer counters with the highly aggressive (and unexpected) Benoni countergambit, a highly intricate and varied opening.

Spassky resigns the next day without bothering to reply to Fischer's opening move after the adjournment. In the fourth game Fischer finally got his hands on the white pieces, and Spassky uses the Scheveningen variation of the Sicilian defense. Spassky has the edge until Bobby forces the Queen swap, and the game is drawn.

Then the decisive fifth game arrived. Again playing a Nimzo-Indian defense, Fischer kept Spassky's game cramped, and slowly began to build up the overpowering advantage he likes to play from. He didn't need to bother, for Spassky threw the game away with 27 Q-B2??, giving Bobby the game after BxRP!!, threatening the king pawn and mate in two. Spassky resigns and the match is tied 2 1/2 - 2 1/2.

Fischer then throws Spassky for a loop by transferring into the Queen's Gambit Declined. Despite material disadvantage (Rook for a Bishop and a Pawn) Fischer forces Spassky into a bad position. Spassky resigns. Then in the seventh game Fischer uses his favorite, the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defense. Bobby takes a poisoned pawn (he has recommended this line of play, no less!), but Spassky fades after the eleventh move. The game is drawn. The eighth game opens up in a big battle over Q5. Fischer has a Rook for a Knight and mating threats. Spassky resigns, bringing the score to 5-3; and now Fischer has the two-game lead.

Fischer again talks of quitting, as the cameras are again brought back. Spassky has a "cold" and the 9th game is delayed. The game begins later and develops into the Tarrasch variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined; one of the few games that Fischer has ever played that fall into the category "Grandmaster's draw."

The climax of action is now upon the scene. The tenth game continued the present trend of Fischer's supremacy in the Morphy's defense variation of the old but lively Ruy Lopez. British grandmaster David Levy commented, "He will not win one more game; he is beaten to a pulp." Levy didn't realise how wrong hewas to become. Fischer follows the line of game seven, poisoned pawn and all. Spassky, for the first (and the last) time in the tournament, showed some of the brilliance which made him champion by soundly beating Fischer.

Game twelve was a draw. Spassky had made a come-back from the bottom of his career, but he soon faded as Fischer amazingly resurrected Alekhines Defense and beat Spassky again! The score now stood at 8-5. The climax had passed, and now the series of draws that would eventually end the championship began. Spassky has another "cold" and the games continue. Fischer again uses Alekhines Defense and the games continue. Although this series of draws were not the most spectacular of the series, they were undoubtedly the most solid chess.

The end came on the twenty-first match, adjourned and then resigned by Spassky before the match resumed. It was the first day of September. The final score was 12 1/2 - 8 1/2, Fischer with seven wins, Spassky with three (one of which was a forfeit), and eleven draws. Fischer's reaction? "I feel I haven't played enough chess." Surprised? Why?