CHESS RESULTS : Fischer, Spassky Play to Draw in 26 Moves

Former chess champions Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky on Sunday agreed to the shortest draw of their $5-million series in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The game lasted only 26 moves. Fischer retains an 8-4 lead. The first player to win 10 games will win the series.

In Sunday’s game, Spassky tried to follow the path of Thursday’s game, which he won. Playing black, Fischer chose a more reliable defensive formation this time. Spassky obtained a minimal advantage, but Fischer’s 21st move led to exchanges that guaranteed a draw. Only the ninth game, which Spassky lost in 21 moves because of a blunder, ended more quickly.

Fischer will play white in the next game, scheduled for Wednesday. The moves of Sunday’s game are listed below.

Spassky-Fischer 22: 1 e4 c5 2 Ne2 Nf6 3 Nbc3 d6 4 g3 Nc6 5 Bg2 g6 6 0-0 Bg7 7 d3 0-0 8 h3 Rb8 9 f4 Bd7 10 Be3 b5 11 a3 Ne8 12 d4 cxd4 13 Nxd4 b4 14 Nxc6 Bxc6 15 axb4 Rxb4 16 Rxa7 Rxb2 17 e5 Bxg2 18 Kxg2 Nc7 19 exd6 exd6 20 Na4 Ra2 21 Bb6 Qe8 22 Rxc7 Qxa4 23 Qxd6 Rxc2+ 24 Rxc2 Qxc2+ 25 Bf2 Qe4+ 26 Kg1, Drawn.