AThe Lowell Sun Lowell, Massachusetts Wednesday, March 22, 1972 - Page 66
Chess Challengers Spar
Sydney (Reuter)—World champion chess player Boris Spassky of Russia and his American challenger Bobby Fischer are limbering up for their scheduled clash like a couple of heavyweight boxers, according to a top official.
For Mr. Spassky, training includes road work and weight lifting. Prof. Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation, told reporters.
For Mr. Fischer, it means eating mountainous quantities of steak and drinking plenty of apple juice, said Dr. Euwe.
Apart from tucking into the steak and apple juice, 28-year-old Mr. Fischer is training in a tomb-like existence with his chessboard.
It is still not certain, however, where or when the “chess tournament of the century” will take place. Mr. Fischer, who has been called the Muhammad Ali of the chessboard, refused to play Mr. Spassky in Russia.
So Dr. Euwe, as president of the federation, decided that six of the 12 games would be played in Yugoslavia and six in Iceland.
Mr. Fischer agreed, but this time Mr. Spassky said no.
Dr. Euwe, a Dutchman who was world chess champion from 1935-37, says he has made his decision on the locations for the tournament and that is the rule. Mr. Spassky will lose his title by default if he does not play, he says.
As for their training methods, Professor Euwe says: “I preferred cold showers and tennis to prepare for the big games.”
