AJournal and Courier Lafayette, Indiana Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 13
Fischer Hasn't Moved Toward Chess Match by Stephens Broening
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Organizers of the world chess championship were unable today to report any break-through in their deadlock over money with Bobby Fischer.
On the eve of Fischer's scheduled challenge match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia, officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation said they still had no assurances that Fischer would appear.
Almost at the last minute the 29-year-old American grand master sent word that he wouldn't play Spassky in Iceland unless a new condition was met: 30 per cent of the gate receipts for the 24 games in addition to a share of a $125,000 purse and a piece of television and film income already contracted for.
Chess Federation officials met until nearly midnight with Andrew Davis, Fischer's friend and attorney, who arrived Friday to negotiate for his client.
The 25-game match is supposed to start Sunday.
Meanwhile, Fischer missed a flight to Reykjavik. He booked a reservation and checked his baggage, but after holding the plane up for two hours demanded his luggage back and disappeared from New York's Kennedy International Airport.
This apparently leaves only one flight late tonight which would put Fischer in Reykjavik in time for the start of the match.
Fischer's faith, the Church of God, observes Saturday as the Sabbath and Fischer ill not fly between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.
The financial dispute with the Icelandic Chess Federation involves Fischer's demand for 30 per cent of the gate receipts at the 2,500 Sports Palace where the matches will be held. Tickets are $5 apiece.
A federation spokesman said Davis was seeking a compromise over the money snarl.
But Gutmunder Thorarisson, ICF president who talked with Fischer's representatives in the United States for much of Friday night, said later that “nothing had been settled.”
By previous agreement, Fischer and Spassky are to divide the $125,000 purse, with the winner getting five-eighths, and receiving 30 per cent of the sales of television and film rights.
The Soviet news agency Tass blamed the uncertain conditions on Fischer and said, “Wherever Fischer is, money ranks first, pushing aside all sporting motives.”
Tass accused the American challenger of disrespect to the championship organizers by not telling them that he might arrive just before the match begins.
