The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 20
Chess Match Not Backed by Yugoslavs
Belgrade (AP) — Yugoslav chess officials said Tuesday they would definitely not set up the Fischer-Spassky championship match here.
The statement followed an announcement by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, that the U.S. Chess Federation had not give a final answer on a requested $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would appear in Belgrade.
The head of the U.S. Chess Federation, E.B. Edmondson, denied that his organization had failed to respond. He said it replied, turning down the demand for bond.
“Not only did we respond,” said Edmondson from the U.S. federation headquarters in Newburgh, N.Y. “we got a message from FIDE today acknowledging our response.”
Demand Rejected
The bond requirement was made by the Yugoslavs after the American grandmaster, Bobby Fischer demanded a share in any profits match organizers might realize in addition to the $138,500 in prize money. Both Belgrade and Reykjavik, Iceland, the two sites agreed upon for the match, turned Fischer down, putting in doubt whether the American champion would show up.
Edmondson reiterated that the U.S. federation was neither wealthy no government supported and criticized what he called the breakdown of communications during the negotiations.
He asked why the Yugoslavs have not tried to talk to Fischer directly to avoid “this farce that has been going on for a couple of weeks.”
Edmondson said the U.S. federation's position on the bond was that Belgrade's demand for a guarantee was illegal. No such bond is provided for in FIDE regulations, is contrary to any agreements so far governing the proposed match and contrary to Fischer's rights, he said.
When FIDE acknowledged the response, Edmondson said, it asked “us by Thursday this week to try to get together with an insurance company to cover the probabilities concerning this match — in other words an insurance policy” which the Americans would take out to protect Belgrade from financial loss should Fischer fail to appear for the match.
Soviet chess authorities have agreed to post $35,000 guaranteeing Spassky's appearance to defend his world championship against Fischer.
Fischer and Spassky had agreed March 20 to play the 24-game match, beginning in Belgrade, June 22 and continuing in Reykjavik. Fischer announced eight days later he had changed his mind.
