ADaily Press Newport News, Virginia Sunday, April 09, 1972 - 58
Soviets Offer To Finance Chess Match
Moscow (UPI)—The Soviet Chess Federation said Saturday it will financially guarantee the world chess championship match if the U.S. Chess Federation does likewise.
Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the reigning champion, and Robert “Bobby” Fischer of Brooklyn, the challenger, are scheduled to begin title play June 22 in Belgrade, shifting to Reykjavik, Iceland, at the halfway mark.
Fischer, however, demanded additional money and the start of play was not in doubt despite agreements announced in Amsterdam by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The Soviet news agency Tass said:
“The Soviet Chess Federation is ready to give financial guarantees that it will observe the agreements reached March 20 in Amsterdam on holding the match…provided such a step is also made by the American side and all Fischer's demands that arose after March 20 are considered annulled.”
Fischer has agreed to play, but the Belgrade sponsors asked each side for a $35,000 guarantee, Tass said.
