I don't think Larsen ever predicted a winner in a Fischer-Karpov match, basically because he did not believe that Fischer would defend his title. He said something about Fischer getting increasingly afraid of losing (as in not living up to his own expectations); to lose against someone younger than himself would be even worse, and to lose against a Russian would be unforgivable. Hence - Larsen's theory goes - Fischer would have too much to lose in a match vs Karpov.

As for who was stronger, Larsen would of course always claim that he himself was at least equal to anyone else (he even claimed to have a decent chance against Kasparov in the mid-eighties when he was way past his own peak and 50 years old). He had plenty of respect for both players though and has annotated several brilliant wins by both.

He would often criticize Fischer for putting too much faith in the bishop pair (mostly when he was younger) which, however, mainly boils down to this game: Fischer vs Larsen, 1959

He would criticize Karpov for having a tendency to get the bad bishop (in his annotations to Karpov vs Larsen, 1979 he gave that as the reasoning behind 5..Bg4); also he once remarked that Karpov sometimes was too satisfied with a draw as Black, although "it happened that he played for the win immediately".

https://www.wunderground.com/histor...

I don't recall it that hot but then I was young (21) at the time. I certainly don't recall the auditorium where the games were played as hot - but then again, it has been a few years. I attended the games with Bill Riley who had been State Champ in 1968.

Larsen said something to the effect that Fischer was more prepared for the heat... Then he proceeded to move to Argentina where summers are very hot (and humid). Fischer looked and moved sharp; Larsen...not so much. 'Frumpy' is the way I can best describe it.

I've always been a big fan of Larsen's chess - I hurried downtown during the rush hour one night in 1970 after the bookstore called and said his Games tome was finally in stock! I had my best tournament results playing the Sicilian Pelikan after seeing Larsen's game against Robatsch in that book. Soon, the Pelikan was all the rage at the university chess club - all thanks to Larsen.

But he's said some 'interesting' things over the years as <keypusher> notes. Given he was sure he was #1 at the time, one can imagine a 6-0 blitzing had to smart some.

I do clearly recall that by the third game everyone was already anticipating 6-0.

Indeed he was! And clever, also - getting Larsen always on the side of the board that was 110 f.

Still, Larsen was a wellspring of innovation in the 1960s and 1970s, bringing back quite a few openings and variations from the dead.

He was winning with the Sveshnikov when Evgeny was still a Young Pioneer: F Olafsson vs Larsen, 1959

/Rimshot

Yes Fischer via John Harris put the call out for some books and I responded. Sure, would have assisted Larsen as well.

Interesting that one of the books Fischer requested was the Sicilian book by Gligoric and Sokolov -

https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-def...

(A nice book BTW - too bad no other volumes were done.)

< WMD: Interviewed for New In Chess, the view that his career never fully recovered from the whitewash to Fischer was put to him. "No, I don't see that. After losing the match in 1971 I win Hastings and I win Teeside. Immediately."

Asked whether he had analysed what went wrong with the match, Larsen complained about having to play on Fischer's home ground in the United States and the heat in Colorado. "They had the hottest summer in that place in 35 years. And very, very dry. This is not for me. I cannot sleep. It is absolutely impossible. After Round 2 I asked to see the doctor. The bad thing is that the doctor is part of the organization. He just thought I am someone who always runs around with high blood pressure and doesn't believe that I am not...I have to just put down my foot and leave or I have to play on. I didn't put down my foot.">

Seriously, his symptoms sound more like someone not adjusting well to the high altitude. We had guests from Florida once who had never been much above sea level. The both got high BP and were 'languid' from it.

Sleeping in a hotel with no A/C even in 1971 and even in a cow-town like Denver would have been strange tho not impossible I suppose. The two hosts - John Powell and John Harris I am *sure* would have taken the best of care of him.

My vague recollection is that Fischer came to town a few days early; Larsen just under the wire. Perhaps someone else who was there will remember if that is correct or not. Sadly, I believe all the fine folks who would have known details of accommodations and such have gone to the big Chessboard in the Sky. If not, they are old like me and forget to get dressed in the morning before going out-and-about, much less able remember what happened 45 years ago! ;)

I am not buying it.

Denver is 885 miles from Chicago and 1,614 miles from New York. I do see that it is "home ground" in that Fischer is American but Denveroids would not be overly partisan, surely.