AThe Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, April 29, 1972 - Page 2
Mexicans Seek Chess
Amsterdam (AP) — Mexico made a bid today to host the world chess championship between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States.
A World Chess Federation (FIDE) spokesman said the Mexican Chess Federation had offered the highest purse yet — $175,000 — for the privilege of staging the 24-match contest in Mexico.
But the Mexicans said they would need a firm guarantee that both contestants would show up for the 24-game contest.
Iceland already has told FIDE it is willing to stage the entire event in Reykjavik.
Under an earlier agreement, half of the match was to be played in Reykjavik and the other half in Belgrade. But Belgrade backed out after Fischer demanded a share in the profits above the $138,000 offered.
The Yugoslav city of Sarajevo has said it is also willing to stage the contest.
The Soviet Chess Federation representing Spassky has told FIDE that it favors Iceland for the match. Fischer's views are unknown.
