ANew York Times, New York, New York, Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 40
Fischer-Spassky Games in Belgrade Canceled, World Chess Group Says by Linda Charlton
The first half of the world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union—the subject of protracted haggling and negotiation—was canceled yesterday. But moves to reverse the cancellation were already under way.
The cancellation involved the first 12 games scheduled to be played in Belgrade in June.
The second half—and there would have to be at least one game and possibly as many as 12 in that half—is to be played in Iceland.
The cancellation was announced in The Hague by the International Chess Federation. The president of the federation, Dr. Max Euwe, on a lecture tour in Australia, was telephoned last night by Col. E. B. Edmondson, director of the United States Chess Federation.
Colonel Edmondson said, after his telephone talk with Dr. Euwe, that the international official knew nothing of the cancellation and “assured me that he would make every effort to save the situation.”
Informed by Media
Colonel Edmondson said he had learned of the cancellation not from the world chess group, but from the news media. Fischer is at Grossinger's, the Adirondacks resort, accepting no telephone calls. But Colonel Edmondson said he would “probably be informed of the situation this evening.”
Behind the international organization's announcement was the decision of the Belgrade organizers not to play host to the match because the United States Chess Federation had refused to put up a $35,000 guarantee for Fischer's appearance. The Soviet Union agreed to a like guarantee for Spassky.
The colonel, asked how the cancellation of the Belgrade series affected the second half of the match, scheduled for Reykjavik, Iceland, said: “I'm hoping that the second half will stay the second half.”
Colonel Edmondson, asked what sort of agreement might be worked out to “save the situation,” replied: “How can you reach any compromise if the party won't even talk with you?”
A ‘Misunderstanding’
He was referring to the world federation's rejection of a request from the American group for a telephone conference.
He said he felt a “misunderstanding” had been caused by the world group secretariat's “being used to relay messages rather than having direct contact between the Belgrade organizers and the players.” The secretariat, he said, was assuming “powers that aren't rightfully theirs.”
The basis for the American federation's rejection of the $35,000 demand from Belgrade, he said, was its conviction that such a request was “an illegal one, not provided for in any agreements.” The guarantee demand was prompted by fears that Fischer, who has been dissatisfied with the financial arrangements, might not show up as scheduled.
The world federation said that it had extended the deadline for acceptance of the guarantee demand until 8 A.M. yesterday “as a gesture of good-will,” but that the request was ignored despite an assurance that “an insurance policy to a value of $35,000 was also acceptable.”
When the Belgrade sponsors were informed, the statement said, they replied they were no longer willing to sponsor the match even if the guarantee was forthcoming because it would not be possible now to make the necessary arrangements.
Percentage Demand
Preparations for the 12 games due in Belgrade were halted after Fischer went beyond the terms of the agreement in asking for a percentage of the proceeds, an international federation official said.
The two cities, in bidding for the match, put up a total of $138,000 in prize money, of which the winner was to receive 62.5 per cent and the loser 37.5 per cent.
The division between the two cities was itself a compromise. Fischer had wanted the entire match in Belgrade; Spassky, apparently wanting to play in a climate reminiscent of his native Leningrad, preferred Reykjavik.
The world federation, according to its statement, has informed the national federations of the United States, the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Iceland of the cancellation, and is seeking instructions from Dr. Euwe as to the next move.
