user9620: In 1972, when Fischer and Spassky played the championship tournament, Fischer demanded to play the games in a ping pong room stating too much distractions as his reason. Later (if I am not wrong) he returned to the main hall to play the rest of the games. What was all this about? I mean weren't there distractions then? What kind of psychological warfare was this?

user11245: Fischer objected to the proximity of the spectators, the intensity of the lighting, and the noise of the cameras. He did not request a separate venue. It was the organizers who suggested the ping-pong room as a compromise to address his objections.  They then set to work modifying the conditions in the main playing hall to meet his demands.
By the start of Game 3, they had been able to reduce the lighting, rearrange the seating of spectators, and relocate the cameras so their noise would not be heard by the players.

9620: <p>In 1972, when Fischer and Spassky played the championship tournament, Fischer demanded to play the games in a ping pong room stating <em>too much distractions</em> as his reason. Later (if I am not wrong) he returned to the main hall to play the rest of the games. What was all this about? I mean weren't there distractions then? What kind of psychological warfare was this?</p>
 11245: <p>Fischer objected to the proximity of the spectators, the intensity of the lighting, and the noise of the cameras. He did <em>not</em> request a separate venue. It was the organizers who suggested the ping-pong room as a compromise to address his objections.  They then set to work modifying the conditions in the main playing hall to meet his demands.</p>

<p>By the start of Game 3, they had been able to reduce the lighting, rearrange the seating of spectators, and relocate the cameras so their noise would not be heard by the players.</p>
