MovieChat Forums > Pawn Sacrifice (2015) Discussion > Game 6 scene, did that REALLY happened?

Game 6 scene, did that REALLY happened?


I mean, Spassky really got up and applauded Fischer?

Fantastic movie, but I really think it would be even better if we had the chance to see more of the Russian point of view.

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Yes, that really happened. It was also pointed out in the documentary "Bobby Fischer against the world".

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Tks!

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From what I read, the movie version is an exaggeration of what happened. Spassky didn't start the applause. He resigned, the audience started clapping, and he joined in from somewhere off to the side. But still, it was a significant moment and symbol.

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Yes.
Fischer was surprised as well. He complimented Sapssky afterward. Said something like "when Spassky applauded me, I realized he was a classy opponent" Something like that.

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The scene of Spassky in his room talking to the "listening device" sums up the Russian point of view. Spassky wasn't a party line type. Geller was, which is why he was assigned to keep Spassky straight (and from defecting), and why Spassky assumed that Geller was listening to him along with Brezhnev.

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It's a good question. One would think that scene was constructed for dramatic effect. But there's nothing more dramatic than real life. It must've been something to witness that moment when the reigning Soviet world champion stood up and applauded his American challenger in the middle of the Cold War. This was a testament to Spassky's class and Fischer's genius. Understand this: Spassky was an awesome chess player. One does not become chess world champion by accident. He appreciated Fischer's artistry to THAT degree.

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Boris Spassky was also a really nice guy. I am a strong player, but not anywhere near their class, but I know several tournament level players, IMs and GMs, and every story about Spassky I've heard always shows him in a positive light.

Another not very well known fact is that Spassky and Fischer were quite good friends before the match, in fact there is a story that it was Spassky that stopped Fischer from retiring from the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup when he had a disastrous first half of the tournament, going 3/8 and convinced him to stay, where Fischer then went 7/8 for the second half and came second to Spassky.

Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man of wealth and taste......

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It did not happen in the exaggerated way shown in the film. What really happened was that when Spassky resigned the game, the audience and crowd applauded loudly and then Spassky also joined in. It was nevertheless still a fine show of sportsmanship on Spassky's part.

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