AOakland Tribune Oakland, California Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 5
Soviet Rumor Mill: Soviets Insist on Iceland Chess Site
Moscow (AP) — The Soviet Chess Federation said today the world title match between Boris Spassky, the reigning champion, and Bobby Fischer, his American challenger, must be held in Reykjavik because Fischer (?)blocked a compromise decision(?) to hold the contest in Reykjavik and Belgrade. ([Edit: No, Belgrade did that, when it illegally demanded a 35k guarantee then withdrew from sponsorship!])
In a telegram to the International Chess Federation — (FIDE) — the Soviet group said:
“If FIDE safeguards the match organizers from Fischer's caprices, the contest may be held. If the American grand master does not accept unconditionally all FIDE demands he must be deprived of the rights to play this match. Then, according to rules, a new challenger must be named. ([True to Ken Smith's prediction that a small group of “old hands” were maneuvering to replace Fischer, outside the established rules of professional protocol of tournament chess conduct.)]
“The Chess Federation of the USSR warns that it will not support the intentions of the FIDE president to arrange another round of talks and search for a venue of the match.”
FIDE has asked each side to put up a guarantee of $35,000 ([illegal, and not in the agreement, so USCF's Edmondson refused)] to save the 24-game match. The Soviet Union agreed to put up the money, on condition the Americans did so as well. There still has been no financial guarantee from the American side.
Both Fischer and Spassky agreed March 20 that the match would begin in Belgrade June 22 and would be continued in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. The match was split up because the two grand masters could not agree on a single site.
But on March 28, Fischer rejected the arrangement because both Belgrade and Reykjavik turned down his demand for a share of any profits the organizers might make above the purse they put up ([And on April 05, 1972 in the New York Times in a report titled, “Fischer Announces He Is Ready to Play For the World Title.” Fischer sent a cablegram to FIDE apology for any misunderstanding and clarifying that his intent was indeed to play! yet Soviet correspondents continue to spread this false narrative that he 'refused to play in both Belgrade and Reykjavik over money.]) The purse was to have been $138,500 with 72½ per cent going to the winner, the rest to the loser.
