Victory in sight for Fischer

Bobby Fischer won the 21st game of his chess match against Boris Spassky in Belgrade at the weekend to increase his lead to eight wins to four. Fischer wore down his opponent after eight hours with subtle play in an endgame that most grandmaster spectators had given up as drawn.

When Spassky resigned after 57 moves, each player had only king, rook and two pawns, but Spassky's pieces had been reduced to a hopeless passivity. Yesterday, the 22nd game was drawn in 26 moves.