The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, May 07, 1972 - Page 6
World Chess to Be Played in Iceland
New York, Saturday (AAP-Reuter): Bobby Fischer of America, agreed yesterday to play world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Fischer's representative, Mr. Paul Marshall, said:
“In spite of continued attempts on the part of the Russian Government to avoid defending a title by chicanery instead of defending it with skill, in spite of conditions unfavorable to Bobby set forth by a biased organization (the International Chess Federation) and improperly enforced, and in spite of every handicap deliberately placed in Bobby's path, he has agreed to play Boris Spassky in Iceland or anywhere in the free world.”
He said Fischer had agreed to the federation's proposal of Iceland for the series because Bobby feels that even under adverse and uncertain conditions designed to make it difficult for him to play, he must play and win as a matter of national and personal pride.”
Fischer won the right to challenge Spassky for the title, which is contested every three years, by defeating other potential challengers, including former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union.
Spassky won the title from Petrosyan in Moscow in 1969.
“The method by which the choice was made is clearly against FIDE (International Chess Federation) rules and brings into question the integrity and intent of FIDE,” he said.
The U.S. Chess federation earlier backed Sydney as the site for the match.
The federation president, Colonel Ed Edmondson, said the federation thought Sydney's $225,000 offer was “far and away the best bid.”
The International Chess Federation chairman, Dr. Max Euwe, had announced that the had selected Reykjavik, Iceland, as host city for the 24-game series and gave Fischer and Spassky until today to accept the decision.
Colonel Edmondson was critical of Dr. Euwe and said the whole thing was “a mess.”
He said he was not down-grading Iceland — “They have a good playing hall and they've made a generous offer.”
“It amounts to about half a dollar for every man, woman and child in the country.”
But it still did not match the Sydney offer.
