The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Thursday, May 04, 1972 - Page 8
Iceland Named For Chess Titles on July 2
Reykjavik, (Iceland), Wednesday. — The long-delayed world chess championship between the Soviet title-holder, Boris Spassky and the American player, Bobby Fischer, will begin in Reykjavik on July 2, if the two contenders agree.
Mr Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of Iceland's Chess Federation, announced tonight that he had accepted an offer today from the International Chess Federation president, Dr Max Euwe, to hold the entire 24-game contest in Reykjavik.
If either player refused, he would be disqualified, he said.
The contest was originally to have been held in two stages — the first 12 games in Belgrade in June and 12 more in Reykjavik.
But Yugoslavia withdrew after Fischer had sought a larger financial share, including television and film fees. Since the problems over a location arose, offers to stage the contest have been made by Australia, Holland, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Derryn Hinch, “Herald” correspondent, reports from New York:
The United States Chess Federation has come out in favor of holding the championship in Sydney.
The federation's executive director, Colonel Edmund Edmondson, said in New York yesterday that Sydney was “far and away the best offer” to stage the competition.
He was referring to a Sydney syndicate's offer of $225,000 to stage the championship in Australia.
Col. Edmondson said Dr. Euwe “in his wisdom will no doubt have to reconsider the announcement he has just made [offering the whole match to Iceland] in view of the offer earlier today from Sydney.”
Auckland, Wednesday. — The Sydney syndicate seeking to stage a world chess championship in Australia considers its offer still open. The syndicate head, Mr. Linden Prowse, said this tonight after hearing details of a report that Reykjavik, Iceland, was to be the location.
