The 20 straight wins (1970-1971)

Context: coming back after years away

After withdrawing from the Sousse Interzonal in 1967, Fischer played very little. In 1970 he returned to the competition that picks the world champion’s challenger. The cycle is long: an Interzonal tournament, then three knockout matches called the “Candidates”. Win all three and you earn the right to face the world champion.

Palma de Mallorca, 1970: seven wins to finish

At the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal, Fischer finished first, 3.5 points ahead of his closest rivals. He won his last seven games. That run is the first link in the chain.

Vancouver, June 1971: 6-0 against Taimanov

In the Candidates quarter-final, Fischer faced the Soviet Mark Taimanov in Vancouver (Canada). Result: six games, six wins. The score stunned the chess world: a match at this level rarely ends 6-0. Taimanov later suffered heavy sanctions at home.

Denver, summer 1971: 6-0 against Larsen

A few weeks later in Denver (Colorado), Denmark’s Bent Larsen, one of the best Western players, suffered the same fate: 6-0. Fischer had now won thirteen games in a row against two top grandmasters.

Buenos Aires, autumn 1971: Petrosian

The Candidates final pitted Fischer against former world champion Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires. Fischer won game one: his twentieth consecutive win (7 + 6 + 6 + 1). In game two, Petrosian won with a Grünfeld Defence and the streak ended. After three draws, Fischer took over and won the next four games. He took the match 6.5 to 2.5.

Why is this streak unique?

• It came against the world’s best players, in official competitions.
• Two of his three Candidates matches ended with the perfect score of 6-0.
• It lifted Fischer to an Elo rating of 2785 in 1972, a record at the time.

The road was open for the match of the century in Reykjavik.

Sources

• Results of the 1970-1971 Interzonals and Candidates matches (FIDE, press archives).
• Frank Brady, Endgame (2011).
• Bobby Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games (1969) for his playing style.