Fischer conjures emphatic win

After a 20-year absence, Bobby Fischer returned with an emphatic victory in the opening game of his match against Boris Spassky. After a quiet opening, Fischer built up pressure against his opponent's immobile pawns. Spassky responded vigorously, giving up a knight for two central pawns, but Fischer blew the position open with a counter-sacrifice.

Suddenly, Spassky's king came under attack from all directions. Fischer manoeuvred his queen and knight with the dexterity of a conjurer, pursuing the king and picking off a few pawns in the process. Two pawns behind, and still facing a strong attack, Spassky gave up. 'I had a good opening advantage and that was basically it,' Fischer said when it was over. Spassky added: 'I was killed.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here are the full moves: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ White: Fischer Black: Spassky 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 Nb8 10 d4 Nbd7 11 Nbd2 Bb7 12 Bc2 Re8 13 Nf1 Bf8 14 Ng3 g6 15 Bg5 h6 16 Bd2 Bg7 17 a4 c5 18 d5 c4 19 b4 Nh7 20 Be3 h5 21 Qd2 Rf8 22 Ra3 Ndf6 23 Rea1 Qd7 24 R1a2 Rfc8 25 Qc1 Bf8 26 Qa1 Qe8 27 Nf1 Be7 28 N1d2 Kg7 29 Nb1 Nxe4 30 Bxe4 f5 31 Bc2 Bxd5 32 axb5 axb5 33 Ra7 Kf6 34 Nbd2 Rxa7 35 Rxa7 Ra8 36 g4 hxg4 37 hxg4 Rxa7 38 Qxa7 f4 39 Bxf4 exf4 40 Nh4 Bf7 41 Qd4+ Ke6 42 Nf5 Bf8 43 Qxf4 Kd7 44 Nd4 Qe1+ 45 Kg2 Bd5+ 46 Be4 Bxe4+ 47 Nxe4 Be7 48 Nxb5 Nf8 49 Nbxd6 Ne6 Black resigned