Returning from retirement, Fischer was able to cash in on some of this work. He must have decided in his pre-match preparations that the Open Sicilian against Spassky was not something he wanted to play too often. Spassky, on the other hand, would have had no way of knowing, before the match, that Fischer would play this way.

Hello <Adarknight> Most games do NOT end with a mate. Mostly players will resign in a hopeless position (for example when material is lost) or when mate cannot be avoided.

Make sure you read all of the Kibitzes, that means the posts, on a game - yeah, I know it takes time to do so, but it's time well spent and worth it.

Most likely you will find an explanation on why the game was won or lost; and a sample continuation of moves showing it.

No perpetual check.

Pyke certainly answered your question, but for the sake of the less experienced, or those relatively new to chess...

Top level GM's spend thousands of hours studying end game positions, so when it comes to a game like this, they already know the outcome and when it is hopelessly lost. The game final position is a classic textbook example (as are many of Bobby's games), and contain some very important features that every player should understand. It therefore merits a little bit of < Endgames 101 >.

< hottyboy90: 59...Rxg7+, 60Bxg7+ Kg6. Is that a draw? >

Unfortunately for black he has the h4 pawn, so it is not a draw. WITHOUT THE H PAWN black could force a stalemate:

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In this position black simply plays ..Rf6+! If white captures the rook black is stalemated. If he instead plays Kg8 then RxB+! forces the stalemate!

Every player should memorize this tactic as it can save you from a loss. In fact, there are games in the CG database where the defender of a hopelessly lost position will baracade himself into a hole then play this kind of idea to gain the draw.

< THE ACTUAL GAME FINAL POSITION >

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If black was to make a non-check rook move off the 6th rank (like ..Ra5 to guard his pawn), white can play Rg6+ Kh7 Rh6#. But neither can he keep the rook on the 6th rank since Rg6+ is a double check forcing the black king to h7, then white captures the rook followed by Rh6#. Thus black must check. ..Ra7+ is forced to prevent mate. So after 58. ..Ra7+ 59.Kg8

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..it is clear black has no safe square for his rook. If ..Ra5 (or anywhere else on the A file) then white plays Ra7+ discovered check with the B and wins the black R. Thus the rook exchange is forced.

59. ..RxR+ 60.Bxg7+ Kg6 and now in this position...

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< hottyboy90: 61.Be5 perhaps stopping the monster passed pawn on the H-File? >

Actually, anywhere else on the a1-h8 diagonal (like a1 b2 c3 or d4). The objective is to force a black move while guarding the escape square f6. So after say 61.Bd4 black must either move the K or pawn. If he moves the pawn ..h3 THEN 62.Be5! Black must then choose between ..Kh6 or give up the pawn. If black gives up the pawn then on the next move he is forced to move the K. If he goes to f6 white plays Kh7 and comes up to h5 or if black goes to h6 white plays Kf7 and comes up to f5. In either event black is forced to abandon the guard of his pawn and white then promotes to a Q.