BOBBY Fischer duly despatched his old rival, Boris Spassky, in their

self-styled World Championship Revenge Match, played in Sveti Stefan and

Belgrade. After 30 games, he won by 10 wins to 5, with 15 draws. His

share of the largest purse ever in a chess match was $3.35m. Spassky's

consolation was $1.65m.

What are we to make of this astonishing comeback? The 49-year-old

Fischer certainly deserved to win. Spassky played well in patches, but

did not have his opponent's sheer aggression and outright quality. The

top players are cagey about

Fischer's possible strength, after 20 years out of tournament chess.

Nigel Short's view, that Fischer ranks in the world's top ten, is

probably the best estimate.

Rumours are rife about further matches. Fischer may play Judith Polgar

soon, in Budapest. A $10m prize-fund has been mooted for a match with

Karpov in Atlantic City. Kasparov has indicated his interest in meeting

the eccentric American, but only after he has defended his title against

Short or Timman next year, and only if the prize fund exceeds the $5m

stake in the Fischer-Spassky match.

The only certainty, as ever, is

Fischer's own unpredictability. Despite his obvious energy and genius

for the game, it would be no surprise, but greatly saddening, if he

dropped out of chess for a further 20 years. Whatever he does, he

creates controversy. The US Government has threatened to prosecute him

for playing in the old Yugoslavia in contravention of United Nations

sanctions.

The chess world certainly needs Bobby Fischer, and more games like the

following.

White: R Fischer

Black: B. Spassky

25th Match Game, Belgrade 1992

Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nge2 d6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 e6

What a pity! Much more interesting than this slightly passive choice

would have been 5 . . . Nf6, aiming to enter the combative lines of the

Richter Rauser Attack after 6 Bg5.

6 Be3 Nf6 7 Qd2 Be7 8 f3 a6 9 0-0-0 0-0 10 g4 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 b5 12 g5

Nd7 13 h4 b4?!

This move provokes an original knight's tour. Black has a more active

game after 13 . . . Ne5.

14 Na4 Bb7 15 Nb6!

The justification of this surprise move is revealed after 15 . . .

Nxb6 16 Qxb4 and White regains his piece, with an extra pawn, due to the

unusual pin on Black's knight.

15 . . . Rb8 16 Nxd7 Qxd7 17 Kb1 Qc7 18 Bd3 Bc8?

Black has a cramped and passive game, but this slow manoeuvre only

adds to his problems. Better was 18 . . . e5 19 Be3 Rfd8, aiming for . .

. d5.

19 h5 e5 20 Be3 Be6 21 Rdg1 a5 22 g6!

White's kingside attack is clearly further advanced than any possible

Black counteraction on the opposite wing.

22 . . . Bf6 23 gxh7+ Kh8 24 Bg5!

The key to White's attack is to eliminate Black's king's bishop and

pile up pressure on the open g-file.

24 . . . Qe7 25 Rg3 Bxg5 26 Rxg5 Qf6

Black has no time for 26 . . . Kxh7, which allows 27 f4 Rg8 (or 27 . .

. exf4 28 e5+) 28 f5 Bd7 29 Rg6!, threatening f6.

27 Rhg1 Qxf3

Black's g-pawn has to fall. If 27 . . . a4 28 Qg2 wins.

28 Rxg7 Qf6 29 h6 a4 30 b3 axb3 31 axb3 Rfd8 32 Qg2 Rf8 33 Rg8+!

The final clearance combination is simple but elegant. White wins by

giving up both of his h-pawns to get at Black's king.

33 . . . Kxh7 34 Rg7+ Kh8 35 h7 Black resigns

Black cannot defend against the threat of 36 Rg8+ Kxh7 37 Rh1+ and

mates.