ANew York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 28
Doubt Voiced on Funds For Top Chess Match
The Hague, the Netherlands, April 15 — Wim Ruth, chairman of the Dutch Chess Union, said tonight it was highly unlikely that his organization could raise the necessary prize money for the first half of the match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky for the international chess championship.
The Dutch Chess Union was asked to take over organization of the match yesterday by Hendrik Slavekoorte, secretary of the International Chess Federation.
The federation, which has its headquarters in Amsterdam, turned to the Dutch Chess Union after Belgrade withdrew its $150,000 offer to be host city for the first half of the match.
Mr. Ruth, who blamed “Fischer's financial chicanery for all the problems,” said that “convincing sponsors to raise the necessary prize money seems an impossible task.”
