AThe Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Friday, June 30, 1972 - Page 21
Fischer Hides, May Seek Bigger Purse
By Philip Finn
New York — Bobby Fischer, the 29-year-old grand master of chess and mystery, has been in “hiding” in New York while a row about him boils in Iceland.
The Brooklyn-born genius booked into room 1003 at the elegant Yale Club on Tuesday and has rarely ventured out.
He has refused to comment or say anything about his forthcoming world championship match against Russia's Boris Spassky, scheduled to start in Reykjavik Sunday.
He canceled scheduled flights there Tuesday and again Wednesday, and gave rise to speculation it was part of a war of nerves. But friends in New York and sources in Iceland indicate the chess man with the love of seclusion is hoping to get a better deal.
He and Spassky are to share a purse of $125,000, the winner getting five-eighths after the 24-game match in a 2,500-seat sports arena where tickets sell for $5.
Fischer is believed to be seeking 30 per cent from receipts from sales of television and film rights for the match.
Asked whether Fischer would keep his appointment with Spassky, a friend said: “I have no idea—no one knows.”
London Express Service
