[4] Fischer, an eccentric[note 1] 29-year-old American, claimed that Soviet players gained an unfair advantage by agreeing to short draws among themselves in tournaments.

[30][31][32][33] His entourage also included lawyer Paul Marshall, who played a significant role in the events surrounding the match, and USCF representative Fred Cramer.

However, Pal Benko (and the reserve William Lombardy) gave up their spot, and FIDE President Max Euwe controversially allowed Fischer to participate instead.

[44] Shortly before the match, Fischer demanded that he and Spassky receive 30% of the box-office receipts, in addition to the agreed-upon prize fund of $125,000 (5/8 to the winner, 3/8 to the loser) and 30% of the proceeds from television and film rights.

[45][46] Fischer agreed to play after British investment banker Jim Slater doubled the prize fund, and after much persuasion, including a phone call from Henry Kissinger (the US National Security Advisor).

[47][48] Fischer, however, did not arrive in Iceland in time for the opening ceremony on July 1, required to determine the playing colors[45][49][50] and FIDE President Max Euwe postponed the match by two days.

In the letter, Fischer explained that his absence was caused by being "carried away by his petty dispute over money with Icelandic chess organizers", and asked for a favor to withdraw the forfeit penalty, saying it would put him at "tremendous handicap" and he "didn't believe that the world's champion desired such an advantage".

[52] The match was again postponed until July 11th, now initiated by Spassky as a "face-saving measure" to convince Pavlov that the honor of the Soviet Union had been preserved.

[53][54] Some commentators contended that Fischer "was playing a game of psychological warfare with Spassky, and his demands, his protest, his disappearance—all were calculated to unnerve the supposedly unflappable Russian.

His hotel received dozens of calls each day from women attracted to him, and Fischer enjoyed reading the numerous letters and telegrams that arrived, whether with compliments or criticisms.

[62] The day of the first game, Fischer arrived shortly after five o'clock, the scheduled starting time, due to heavy traffic.

The game continued the next day, and "Fischer left the playing table for half an hour to protest the presence of the television cameras.

At that time, Fischer told Icelandic Chess Federation President Gudmundur Thorarinsson that, "they forfeit me that's it I'm taking the next plane back home".

Bobby Fischer formally protested the forfeit, supported by FIDE Delegate Fred Cramer, writing a letter to the Schmid and explaining his absence by the poor conditions in the playing hall (in particular the noise and distraction of the video and photo recording).

He admitted to initially agreeing to the recording, aware that the organizers were informed about his conditions and "assured by all parties concerned that modern technology had progressed to such an extent that they could photograph him without the least disturbance".

[78] Karpov speculated that this forfeited game was actually a masterstroke on Fischer's part, a move designed specifically to upset Spassky's equanimity.

Fischer already booked all three flight that would took him from Reykjavik back to New York City, but was persuaded to "give it [the match] a trial" with newly established conditions.

[100] Thus Fischer had drawn level (the score was now 2½–2½), although FIDE rules stipulated that the champion retained the title if after 24 games the match ended in a tie.

Spassky has not met a player of Bobby's genius and caliber before, who fights for every piece on the board; he doesn't give in and agree to draws like the Russian grandmasters.

[121] He consolidated his extra pawn and reached a winning endgame, but then played carelessly, allowing Spassky to salvage a draw.

[122] In the final position, Fischer had two extra pawns but had to execute a draw by perpetual check in order to escape being checkmated by Spassky's two rooks and knight.

[142] Although later analysis showed that the game would maintain equality if Black responded correctly, Fischer was unprepared for the move and did not find the optimal reply.

The two were left wondering how Bobby could have squeezed a win from a position which a night of competent analysis by a renowned Soviet team had showed to be a guaranteed draw.Former World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik said this game made a particularly strong impression on him.

Fischer returned to the Najdorf Sicilian, but played the main line rather than the Poisoned Pawn Variation with which he had lost game 11.

[164] Spassky, on the brink of disaster, "found miraculous replies while in time pressure" and Fischer was only able to achieve a draw by threefold repetition after 43 moves.

Alexander wrote: "A miracle; after all the excitements – two piece sacrifices by White and the counter-sacrifice of a rook by Black – the players have reached a completely equal endgame with no chances for either side.

[209] Fischer also made television appearances on a Bob Hope special and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.

Instead he demanded the format be changed to that used in the very first World Chess Championship, between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort, where the winner was the first player to score 10 wins, with draws not counting.

[214][215] Seventeen years later, Fischer entered negotiations with sponsors willing to fund a match under his proposed format, settling on a bid from Yugoslav millionaire Jezdimir Vasiljević.

He further claimed that all the games in the FIDE-sanctioned World Championship matches, involving Karpov and his challengers Korchnoi and Kasparov, had prearranged outcomes.