ANew York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, April 15, 1972 - Page 11
Host Sought for First Part of World Chess Match by Lawrence Van Gelder
International Unit Acts After Belgrade Cancels Planned Fischer-Spassky Contest
Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said yesterday that he had instructed the organization's secretary to seek a new host country for the first half of the world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
Saying that there was no time for a repetition of bid-seeking procedures that had led to the selection of Yugoslavia as the site for the first half of the match and Iceland for the second, Dr. Euwe indicated that the matter would now be resolved on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Whichever country can agree first to stage the match on conditions which have been arranged can have it straight away,” Dr. Euwe said in Perth, Australia, during a lecture tour.
The conditions agreed on in February were that the prize money of $138,000, offered by Belgrade and Reykjavik, would be split, with 62.5 per cent for the winner and 37.5 per cent for the loser.
The challenger must win 12½ points to take the title, with a draw counting as a half point and a victory as a full point.
Dr. Euwe said any postponement of the match, which had been scheduled to start on June 22, would have to take into account that the world Chess Olympiad is scheduled to begin next Sept. 18 and that the two events could not be held around the same time.
Soviet Union Agrees
Underlying the international organization's cancellation of the Yugoslav matches was the decision of the Belgrade organizers, announced Thursday, not to play host because the United States Chess Federation had refused to post a $35,000 guarantee for the appearance of Fischer, who had been dissatisfied with the financial arrangements. The Soviet Union had agreed to a like guarantee for Spassky.
Dr. Euwe's instructions were communicated to the International Chess Federation's secretary, Hendrik Slavekoorte, in Amsterdam.
In Amsterdam, Mr. Slavekoorte confirmed receiving the instructions, but would not comment on alternative sites.
Dr. Euwe indicated hope that the Netherlands would seek the matches, saying, “I think Holland would be all right for all sides.”
He said he would make the final decision after Mr. Slavekoorte reported back to him within a few days. “But it can't take many more days,” Dr. Euwe said. “The new host will not have much time to complete the arrangements.”
Dr. Euwe expects to leave Perth Sunday for Indonesia and to be virtually out of touch then with other federation officials.
In Australia, Dr. Euwe said that at the moment there was no question of replacing Fischer as the challenger in the absence of new objections to whatever site is now arranged.
“Fischer is the challenger,” said Dr. Euwe, “and he must have his chance. But it was his fault the arrangements for Belgrade fell through, and I feel he should accept any new arrangements.”
He said any country now offering to stage the first half would have to provide financing and not ask the United States Chess Federation for a guarantee.
