[Event "World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Round "19"] [White "Spassky"] [Black "Petrosian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian: Najdorf"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {The sharp Najdorf Variation probably came as somewhat of a surprise to Spassky since Petrosian was only one point behind in the match and might well have chosen to play solidly with Black and go for the win with White.} 6. Bg5 {The main line. Black cannot afford to have the kingside pawn structure broken up by a capture at f6.} 6... Nbd7 {6...e6 is much more common.} 7. Bc4 Qa5 {This unusual variation was topical at the time, and had been featured in games by Spassky and Tal.} 8. Qd2 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. O-O-O {Black is seriously behind in development and cannot achieve an equal game. Therefore Petrosian sensibly just tries to get his forces into the game.} 10... e6 11. Rhe1 Be7 12. f4 O-O 13. Bb3 Re8 {The e6-square often proves vulnerable in the Sicilian Defense. Black will retreat the bishop to a defensive post at f8. Petrosian often kept his pieces on the back rank.} 14. Kb1 Bf8 15. g4 {Spassky launches an all-out attack. Black has to accept the proffered pawn or else it will be shoved down his throat!} 15... Nxg4 {The best move was probably 15...e5, though one can understand why Petrosian was reluctant to open up the a2-g8 diagonal.} 16. Qg2 Nf6 {16...e5 17.Nf5} 17. Rg1 { The threat is simply 18.f5 or 18.e5, each of which can be very effective.} 17... Bd7 18. f5 Kh8 {The king will find no shelter in the corner. Probably Petrosian should have captured at f5, or perhaps centralized the queen with 18. ..Qe5.} 19. Rdf1 Qd8 20. fxe6 fxe6 {White is ready to smash down Black's defenses, but needs to involve at least one of the knights in the attack. So he clears the e4-square.} 21. e5 dxe5 22. Ne4 Nh5 23. Qg6 exd4 { Black is busted anyway, but this hastens the end.} 24. Ng5 {Black resigned. This was one of the shortest games in modern WorldChampionship play. If Black wanted to play on he would have either had to give up the queen for the knight or allow the following line:} 24... hxg5 25. Qxh5+ Kg8 26. Qf7+ Kh7 27. Rf3 e5 28. Qg8+ Kg6 29. Bf7+ Kh6 30. Qh8# 1-0