AThe San Bernardino County Sun San Bernardino, California Thursday, May 04, 1972 - Page 31
Fischer Warned Play In Iceland or Else
Amsterdam (UPI)—Max Euwe, president of the international Chess Federation (FIDE), announced yesterday he has picked Reykjavik, Iceland, as the site for the world championship chess match between the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky and his American challenger, Robert (Bobby) Fischer.
Euwe said the 24-match series would start July 2 and offer as prize money $125,000 split 60 per cent for the winner and 46 per cent for the loser.
He said he had asked the contenders for their confirmation by May 6.
Euwe said he took the decision after the Reykjavik sponsors advised him they were ready to organize the complete match under their original offer which they filed with the world federation in December last year.
Euwe said discussions about “possible other financial aspects” would he exclusively held by him and the organizers.
He said he reminded the American federation that Fischer, of Brooklyn, N.Y., would be deprived of his challenger rights if he refused to play.
All other national federations which offered to organize the first leg were informed the match would he played at Reykjavik, he said. They were Mexico, Canada, Australia and Yugoslavia.
He said if it would be impossible to play at Reykjavik for some reason, he would first look for another organizer in Europe. Only thereafter would bids from outside Europe be taken into consideration.
The original arrangement made under auspices of FIDE was that the first leg would he played at Belgrade, Fischer's original choice, and the second leg at Reykjavik, Spassky's choice.
The Belgrade sponsors backed out when they were faced with new financial demands from Fischer and they felt they had no solid guarantees he would play under the original arrangement. ([Euwe knew as well as Edmondson, the Belgrade demand for a 35k “guarantee” was not in the contract, therefore illegal. Euwe knew Fischer did not twist the arms of Belgrade organizers to withdraw, anymore than Reykjavik withdrew. While away on his tour, Euwe was enthusiastic with the possibility of Australia acting as tournament host, perhaps… Euwe praised the offer by Mexico for offering the “highest purse” which Australia would later beat, all this and more, while away on tour. Euwe returns to Europe, to find Soviet delegates breathing down his back. Euwe does an about face, calls off his recent open bidding invitation, opting to do things the “Soviet Way”. News reports now become sullen and threatening. One might perceive Euwe's changeability as “erratic”.)]
