A([It surely would be enlightening to read the “reports” Spassky is referring to. Perhaps like the “reports” Vlastimil Hort was referring to, when he was wrongly informed that Fischer “refused” to play, in direct contradiction with New York Times, April 05, 1972, “Fischer Announces He is Ready to Play” (a rumor to the contrary spread by Fischer detractors with no foundation in reality). Spassky has been told, apparently, that Fischer had made remarks he ‘feared Russian players’… which is ridiculous. It was solely Organizers of the coming tournament who had ulterior motives and that's an established fact. Organizers, “Old Hands” Ken Smith called them, were plotting to disqualify and replace Fischer with Petrosian. Spassky seems blissfully unaware of these facts likely due to being isolated and in a state of carefully guarded censorship.])
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Saturday, June 17, 1972 - Page 19
Chess Master Says Fischer Has Complex
By Murray Seeger
Times Staff Writer
Moscow—Looking relaxed and in fine physical condition, Boris Spassky, the world champion chess player, said Friday that the American challenger, Bobby Fischer seemed to have a “persecution com-tricks.”
The Russian champion was asked about published statements by Fischer that “the Russians cheat at chess to keep the world title; they have tried by every means to avoid me.”
Spassky said: “It seems to me that Fischer has developed a sort of persecution complex. He is afraid the Russians are out to get him using kids' tricks.”
The two men will play 24 games in Reykjavik, Iceland, starting July 2, to determine if Fischer, the 29-year-old genius who is America's greatest player, can end the five-year Russian dominance of international chess competition.
Spassky answered correspondents' questions at the Journalists Club Friday, five days before he plans to leave for last-minute training in Iceland.
Slim, fair-haired, muscular and of average height, Spassky said: “My mood is very good before the match. I am approaching it like a holiday. Such things happen rarely, perhaps once in a lifetime. Whether Fischer wins or he loses, it will create great interest in chess. I love chess.”
Won't Discuss It
Spassky, 35, a native of Leningrad, refused to discuss his program for training himself physically and psychologically for the long world championship match. Nor would he disclose if he developed any new strategy to combat Fischer's potent, attacking game style.
“I must be modest and keep my professional secrets,” he answered with a smile.
Only once in the 35-minute press conference did Spassky allude to some of the bitter commentary that filled the Soviet press earlier in the year when Fischer and the Russian Chess Federation were wrangling over a proper site for the battle. That was when Spassky talked of the “persecution complex.”
Spassky said it also appeared that Fischer is greatly concerned about making money but added that this was typical of America “where the size of the prize is more important than the strength of one's game.”
“I have a very high regard for Fischer as a chess player,” the champion added. “He has done a lot for world chess. If it were not for him, the chess world would be very boring.”
Spassky has been world champion since 1968, when he defeated another Soviet player, Tigran Petrosian.
Fischer Won
Fischer defeated Petrosian last October for the right to meet Spassky.
The champion and Fischer have played five times, with Spassky winning three and two ending in draws.
Among Russians, chess is about as popular a game as gin rummy is among Americans. The winter bitterness over finding a site for the championship match has disappeared from recent press articles. Now, the papers are carrying long analyses of Fischer's personality and style of play.
“Soviet grand masters agreed that he has a passion for chess, that he is extremely gifted and incredibly hardworking,” Alexander Roshal, a chess commentator, wrote this week in the New Times magazine.
Like Fischer, Spassky started playing chess as a boy. Spassky became a grand master at 19 while Fischer reached that rank at 15, the youngest ever.
Spassky has been married twice. From his first marriage he has a daughter, Tanya, 12, and from the second a boy, Vassily, who will be 5 the day the championship starts.
Bobby Fischer Declares He is “Ready to Play”! (New York Times,April 05, 1972)
“Refuses to Play” ??? (April 26, 1972) Who said?? Ah, the Soviet Rumor Mill… “The World Chess Federation should take tougher measures against American challenger Bobby Fischer to force him into playing, Vlastimil Hort, Czechoslovaki's chess grand master in Prague. Fischer has refused to play world champion Boris Spassky of Russia because............................”
