ANew York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 01
Chess World Argues Fischer's Actions by Martin Arnold
Bobby Fischer's posture toward the world chess championship has touched off a wave of debate and discussion in New York and Moscow as well as Reykjavik, Iceland, where his match with the defending Soviet champion, Boris Spassky, is scheduled to open tomorrow.
Tass, the Soviet press agency, said Fischer was motivated by “a disgusting spirit of gain.” ([No more than Soviet system subsidizing its athletes to unfairly monopolize world titles to promote the mythical idea of the Soviet's almost hitleresque “Übermensch”…])
“Whenever the matter concerns Fischer, money comes first while sports motives are relegated to the background,” the agency asserted. ([Ditto!]) “Characteristically, his confidants are not chess players, but lawyers to whom he entrusted all his chess affairs.” ([The Soviet thru coercion of FIDE officials gave Fischer an ultimatum to agree to a contract, he had neither read nor knew the particulars of its contents, forced to agree blindly, or forfeit his rights to challenge for the title. Apparently, Fischer did not consult enough legal advise, as that loaded contract was devised to set off a chain of events which led to Fischer being hounded with a 3.3 million dollar lawsuit by Fox inc years after the match.])
Col. Edmund Edmondson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation, said he did not think anyone would know until game time if Fischer would play.
“He's putting on some kind of an act—for what I don't know,” Colonel Edmondson said, adding that he thought the odds were 2 to 1 that he would not play.
In Iceland, many people seemed to be outraged by Fischer's actions, while others passed the time spreading rumors.
The two most popular rumors were that he had arrived in the country about a week ago on a United States Air Force jet and was in hiding and that he had arrived, also about a week ago, in a Navy submarine, had been smuggled ashore in a rubber dinghy, and was in hiding.
What is known is that one of his lawyers, Andrew Davis, is in Iceland conferring with that nation's chess officials, that some of his best friends are also in the country and that yesterday the 29-year-old international grand master told other friends that he would probably be on the plane for Reykjavik tonight.
His actions Thursday night at Kennedy International Airport were the latest in a series of occurrences since the agreements were signed for the chess championship in March.
On Thursday, Fischer arrived at the airport at about 11 P.M. with Mr. Davis to catch an Icelandic Airlines flight.
Both Flee Newsmen
What had happened is that reporters and photographers spotted Fischer in an airport restaurant Thursday at about 11 P.M. Both he and Mr. Davis ran away, but the lawyer finally got on the plane, which took off at 1:30 A.M. yesterday.
Fischer disappeared in Queens, which was somewhat of a shock, but not entirely a surprise, to his associates. Said one yesterday, “I wouldn't be happy until he actually makes his first chess move in Iceland, and even then it would only be a 90 per cent chance that all would go well.”
Fischer is a member of the Protestant fundamentalist Church of God, a religious group that observes the Sabbath on Saturdays. Because of this, he will not play chess or travel between sundowns on Friday and Saturday. This means that to arrive in Iceland in time to start the tournament, he must take either the 7:30 P.M. or 9:30 P.M. Icelandic flights tonight, if he is to fly direct.
On Wednesday night, Fischer also canceled an airline flight, this on Pan American World Airways, two hour before flight time. Ever since the match was set, Fischer has been on and off about it, and much of his ambivalence has stemmed, some believe, from money disputes.
The winner of the match, if it takes place, is to receive five-eighths of the $125,000 prize money and the loser the remainder—making this the best-paid chess tournament in history.
But Fischer has been balking. Although he has been given 30 per cent (about $70,000) of the television rights, according to Max Euwe, the president of the World Chess Federation, he is said to want 30 per cent of the gate receipts.
Yesterday, Fischer was reported to have finally realized that if he did not appear to play tomorrow the match would be canceled. He also was reportedly told that no more money would be forthcoming.
His problem now, according to those who are close to international chess, is to find a graceful way to back down from his added demands.
“If he doesn't show up, he'll lose his rights to play in the world championship,” Mr. Euwe said. “It won't be my decision alone, but the rules of the game.”
It is also possible, chess sources said, that if he fails to appear this time, he will never get a chance at the world championship again.
Chess experts have still another theory—that Fischer is conducting a war of nerves against Spassky, who is reported to “be on edge already.”
Those who believe this, point to a Fischer quote of some years ago, when the young chess prodigy said of his opponents, “I like to see them squirm.”
