The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 3
Fischer's Demands Kill Chess Match
Amsterdam (Reuter) The World Chess Federation canceled the world championship encounter in Belgrade between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and his U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer Thursday, after a long dispute with Fischer over financial terms.
Belgrade was to have been the site for the first half of the championship match from June 22 to July 8. The second half was fixed for Reykjavic, Iceland.
THE WORLD Chess Federation, (FIDE), based in Amsterdam, said it informed the national associations of the Soviet Union, United States, Iceland and Yugoslavia of the cancellation Thursday. Its secretary was now asking FIDE President Max Euwe, who is in Australia, for instructions on what to do next.
Terms for the match were originally agreed on March 31, but Fischer subsequently sought a larger financial share, including a share of television and film fees.
Although on April 4, the U.S. Chess Federation advised FIDE that Fischer agreed to the date and site for the match against Spassky, the message made no reference to the financial terms.
FURTHER exchanges failed to sort out the problems, and to satisfy the Belgrade organizers the federation asked the Soviet and the United States Chess Federations each to provide a $35,000 guarantee that their players would meet as arranged.
The guarantee was provided by the Soviet Federation but was not forthcoming from the United States. Two days ago the Belgrade organizers finally withdrew their offer to play host, saying it would be impossible for them to make preparations in time.
