AThe Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Wednesday, February 09, 1972 - Page 35
2 Cities Win Chess Match
New York Times, Moscow — The Soviet Union announced Tuesday that Russian and American chess officials had reached agreement on the site of the world championship match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, subject to approval by the two contenders.
The decision if accepted by Spassky, the Soviet titleholder, and Fischer, the American challenger, is to be made public Thursday after Dr. Max Euwe of the Netherlands, president of the World Chess Federation, has been officially informed.
TASS, the Soviet government press agency, indicated it would involve play in more than one site. There were indications that the compromise would include Belgrade or Buenos Aires, reputedly favored by Fischer, and Reykjavik, Iceland, the first choice of Spassky.
All three cities happen to have submitted the highest cash bids for the match, and Fischer has said that he tended to prefer the highest bidders. The Soviet press has criticized him for making the size of the purse a criterion in site selection.
According to Tass, agreement was reached Monday in a five-hour meeting between Col. Edmund Edmondson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation, and Viktor Baturinsky, secretary of the Soviet Chess Federation. A brief Tass dispatch Monday indicated that no final accord had been reached.
EDMONDSON arrived in Moscow by air late Sunday after having visited both Belgrade, which has offered the biggest prize money — $152,000, and Reykjavik, which submitted a $125,000 bid. Fischer accompanied the chess officials to both proposed sites, but no to Moscow.
The Soviet press agency said Edmondson would discuss the decision with the American challenger after returning to New York later Tuesday, while the Soviet side would confer with Spassky. In case of mutual consent, final agreement is to be affirmed by cablegrams.
Although Western newsmen could not learn details of the chess negotiations, and Edmondson could not be reached, the official Soviet press agency, by virtue of its position, was able to provide a detailed account of the discussion.
HINTING AT a compromise, the Tass dispatch said:
“Although Edmondson and Baturinsky refused to tell newsmen their preliminary decision, judging by everything, including their pleased looks, the talks broke the deadlock. Now everything depends on how the adopted plan will suit Spassky and Fischer.”
Buenos Aires, where Fischer defeated Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union in the final challenge round in the fall, has offered $150,000 for the championship match. The winner is to get 63.5 per cent and the loser 37.5 per cent.
2 Cities Win Chess Match Wed, Feb 9, 1972 – Page 35 · The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) · Newspapers.com
