Fischer vs. Korchnoi?

Kortschnoj was easily the strongest player in the world in the mid-1970s, but he could not beat the KGB while his wife was trapped in the Soviet Union. This would have been no hindrance in a match with Fischer.

Korchnoi would never throw a game. 

The Petrosian-Korchnoi match featured an old gambit: they kicked each other under the table! 

Neither side would throw games to the other.

Let's say from an imaginable scenario that his form was exceptionally good in 71 and he won game 9. Would aforementioned contender presumably do much better than Petrosian.

What I'm trying to suggest is that it is perhaps likely that Korchnoi would at least manage to get a better score in the match, nothing says that Korchnoi would have caught up with Fischer in any way close.

Is that a credible assumption ?

Robert Fischer 6.5/9 (+5 -1 =3)
Tigran V Petrosian 2.5/9 (+1 -5 =3)

Viktor Korchnoi ???

In 1971, Korchnoi was rated 2670 and Petrosian was rated 2640. This was true for both the January and July supplements.

So yes, there’s a fair chance that Korchnoi would have performed slightly better than Petrosian. But the rating differences were slight and Petrosian was the better player in a match.

What I was going to say, is I agree, Geller or Korchnoi, maybe even Stein, would have been much better opponents and Fischer definitely had the easier option. Also, Fischer played through all his opponents known games, while perhaps not having so many for his opponents to study of himself. Karpov would probably have lost in 75.

So, why isn't Mikhail Tal mentioned as a possible better opponent to Fischer?! Assuredly that would have been interesting. Though Tal was not back on scintillating form until 1979 I suppose. I still think the strongest opponent in the 1970's would have been Efim Geller. Well, we'll never know now.🤔

He beat both Korchnoi and Geller I ussr vs world match, who both played as a second to Petrosian on board 2

Tal was knocked out in match play by Spassky in 1965 and didn’t even qualify in the final 8 in 1971.

Tal was one of the all-time greats and managed to break 2700 in the 1970s by changing his style. But he never contended at the highest level after 1965. Of course, Tal was still great, but in his own words, he was no longer “Tal”.

In the first part of the 1970's, it was Fischer hands down. After 1974, it was Karpov. I agree Korchnoi was a great player and contesting the World Championship under duress, but that's just underestimating Karpov, who played a marathon match with the young genius Kasparov in 1980 and did not lose!

The theory is that Korchnoi should have played instead of Petrosian in 71 and scored better but still lose.

Fischer would have crushed Korchnoi in 1971, IMO 🙂

I think the score between Fischer and Korchnoi would have been similar to the Fischer Petrosian match, but there may have been more of-the-board antics.

I think Korchnoi would put up more resistance, but anything else than defeat out of the question. Similarly, one can wonder whether Reuben Fine were capable to dethrone Alekhine in the years 1938-1940 I'f a match were arranged.

Indeed, Nordlandia. Dr Fine was young, brilliant, and on top of his game in 1940. Alekhine was brilliant, but ten years past his prime.

How about Botvinnik vs Fine in 1940 ?

Well, this is the real question In 1940 Keres was very strong, Botvinnik was well along in his organization of the Soviet School, and Fine had been trading off the US Championship with Reshevsky during the 1930's (Sammy was first in 1940, drawing their individual game and undefeated in the tournament). Botvinnik won the Absolute Championship of the USSR in 1940, but had placed third in the famous AVRO 1938 tournament behind Fine and Keres (while Reshevsky tied for 4-6 place with Euwe and Alekhine). Who was first among equals?

Reshevsky had a firm grip on Fine and Botvinnik got a positive score against Reshevsky. So i don't really know for certain.

January 1970 Was Korchnoi’s Best Shot to face Fischer