Korchnoi - Spassky Match in Belgrade, 1977

 Match between Korchnoi and Spassky that took place in Belgrade, The Capital Of Serbia, *Yugoslavia* at a time in 1977, even today is attracting attention because of it`s *Human Side*. One against another clashed two players, two rivals from the former Soviet Union, both who had decided to live abroad, in the Western democracy. Two old rivals to decide who would challenge Karpov, World Champion. Korchnoi and Spassky who, day by day, made playing hall fulfilled in those Autumn of 1977. In the audience been the age *From  7 to 77*,  a funny visitor at a time, in Belgrade commented that *Korchnoi is hoping for a better future, while Spassky could only hope that repeating past is about to happen*. Because Spassky already had sit on the chess throne from 1969 to 1972, while Korchnoi was hoping he would become World Champion for the first time. 

  Match started with a few days delay, cause Korchnoi had small traffic accident in Switzerland, serious enough, though, match to start on Monday, November the 21st 1977 instead on November the 15th. If at the beginning Spassky looked calm, Korchnoi looked ambitious. From the beginning two of them started with the battle of nerves. And in this battle it was inevitable each player to suffer something that looked like a nervous breakdown. Korchnoi won two out of the first three games, one ended up in a draw, it started to create an echo in the audience *What is going on with Spassky?*

   After the 8th game result been 6 - 2 in favor of Korchnoi, and it seemed that match sponsored by the Belgrade magazine *Duga* would last shorter than it was predicted.

  Until game No.10, match was taking place, at least from the perspective of an audience, in a  routine manner. But then, in the 10th game, audience saw an unusual scene. This scene would stay until the end of the match...

  For the first time in the game No.10. it was seen the table without players sitting on it. After move number 14th, after Korchnoi created Queen side castle, stage was remaining empty. For 20 minutes there was nobody on the stage, and audience suffered a bit of a shock! Spassky decided to remain in his corner, from the beginning of the match used for the rest - and to think about the next move focusing strictly on the demonstration board! Visible from the player`s corner demonstration board in Belgrade been one of the most solid at a time. Writer of these lines, as a kid, as a youngster at a time, demonstrated games on the Grand master tournaments away from Belgrade, never saw before, never would see after the Korchnoi - Spassky match either that huge and solid demonstration board. 

  With four point advantage in the match, Korchnoi acted like a gentleman, told he has nothing against these new circumstances. But when Spassky finally in the game No. 11, created victory, all the old animosities between two stepped on stage. Korchnoi started to protest, referee Kazic couldn`t handle things, from Amsterdam, on December the 23rd 1977 had to arrive Dr. Euve, *FIDE* President. Spassky insisted rules dont forbid he to stay and thinking for the next move in his corner. On the other side, Korchnoi, was claiming *The way Spassky is acting looks like underestimating of opponent in front of an audience*. All the luck it was New Year`s Eve to arrive soon, both players with coach and with the family to go out of Belgrade, to relax a bit. *Solomon solution* been found, Spassky was allowed to continue playing *The new way*, thinking about the next move in his corner, only to approach to the table when making a move,- Korchnoi, in return, would have to pick up new set of pieces. As one of his complaints been that pieces on the table don`t suit him the best.

  Battle of nerves seemed to go in Spassky`s favor, who created series of wins in the new year, reduced lead of the opponent to the 1 point margin. In the 14th game Spassky appeared with the Sun visor on his head, it was the most extravagant move in the match so far...

  One visitor in the audience commented that *Korchnoi now should appear on the stage, over the board with an open umbrella*. Korchnoi asked curtain to go down, and it happened, actually, like in Sinatra song. What happened in the next several minutes on the other side of the closed curtain, nobody in the playing hall been aware of, apart of players themselves, referee and his deputy, also demonstrator of the game on the big board. Sympathetic Candidate Master, sole participant of the match neither of players had complaints about. Game was finished somehow, margin between opponents been one point still.

  In the end, Korchnoi won two more games. Won the match with 10 1/2 - 7 1/2 result. Word about match written by the pen of legendary Belgrade journalist, Miroslav Radojcic...

  *Memories remained on a match which was sharp and magnificent, without single *Grand Master draw*. Match that been in jeopardy only because of nervous acts of two finalists in front of the last obstacle after which one of them would play match of his life. *But to madness of the brave ones we are singing song.* And we are ready to forgive everything.*