New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 8
Conferences in Iceland by Harold C. Schonberg
NYTimes. Reykjavik, Iceland, June 30—Mr. Davis arrived here this morning and immediately disappeared into a series of conferences with officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation and Fred Cramer of Milwaukee, Fischer's representative here. None of the participants was available for comment.
If Fischer arrives on Sunday morning, after an all-night flight, the chances are that he will be in no physical condition to play a game at 5 P.M.
Under the provisions of the 24-game match, which could last two months, he is entitled to three postponed games for reasons of health if he can supply a medical certificate. Most likely, Fischer will take advantage of that provision, thus putting the start of the match off to Tuesday, Thursday or even next Sunday.
What the Russians think of this, nobody knows. Spassky and his entourage of three companions keep very much to themselves. They are affable, but they do not appear in public much, and they never speak to the press except at a full-scale news conference. So far they have been models of decorum, raising no objections and showing no temperament.
It was learned from a private source, however, that the Russians believe Fischer is acting the way he does because he feels the match will be difficult.
“Of course,” the source said, “Spassky does not show it, but he is also nervous.”
Tonight, an imposing ceremony is being held at the National Theater to inaugurate the chess match. The President of Iceland, the Lord Mayor of Reykjavik, and the Russian Ambassador are among those scheduled to speak.
(CAPTION) Sports Hall Tour: Boris Spassky, center, checking lighting in Reykjavik hall where chess tournament is to be held. With him are Gudmunder Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, left, and Fridrik Olafsson, an Icelandic grand master.
