AThe Journal Herald Dayton, Ohio Tuesday, February 15, 1972 - Page 3
Chess Bout To Be Held In 2 Cities
Amsterdam (UPI) — Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation, announced two sites yesterday for the world title match between the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer of the United States.
Both Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Reykjavik, Iceland, were selected.
Euwe, in a compromise decision, took the first choices of each of the players and awarded each city half the games in the 24-game title match.
Belgrade will be the scene of the first 12 games.
Euwe said the championship match should not start later than June 25, but he added in a communique he would agree if they started several days earlier. He said the players might need extra rest because they have to play in two cities.
Belgrade had topped the list submitted by Fischer, the 28-year-old challenger. Reykjavik was the first choice of Spassky.
The match will not get to Reykjavik if Spassky wins all first 12 games. In the case of a tie, Spassky retains his title. Fischer needs 12½ points to gain the title.
Euwe noted that Yugoslavia had offered a prize fund of $150,000 while Iceland had offered $125,000. Chess experts said the total prize money probably would be half of each — $137,500.
The prize money is expected to be split two-thirds for the winner and one-third for the loser.
Fischer earned his challenge to the title by trouncing his three opponents in the candidates' tournament in Buenos Aires last summer. He defeated Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union, and Bent Larsen of Denmark by unprecedented 6-0 scores. In the final challenger round he beat former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union, 6½ points to 2½.
