The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, June 17, 1972 - Page 14
Spassky Owes Fischer 'Big Barrel of Vodka'
Belgrade (UPI) — World chess champion Boris Spassky figures he owes rival Bobby Fischer “a big barrel of vodka.”
In an interview published today by the Belgrade weekly magazine the Soviet champion dispelled rumors of personal animosity between him and America's Fischer, who plays Spassky in Iceland for the world title next month.
Spassky said his prestige in the Soviet Union has been so enhanced by Fischer's challenge that the Spassky family has been given a new apartment in Moscow's exclusive Podmoskovje suburb.
“All my family consider we owe Bobby a big barrel of vodka. Thanks to him, we have a good apartment for the first time,” Spassky said.
“Bobby is a very charming guy. His popularity is not politically motivated. It comes from real esteem and admiration for Fischer's game,” Spassky said.
Spassky also said much of the American master's support among fans from chess-crazy South America and central Europe stems from sheer boredom with traditional Russian domination of the game.
“The hegemony of Soviet chess is boring everybody in the West and even some in the Soviet Union,” Spassky said.
The blonde, blue-eyed Spassky, 35, has a wife who works as a technician in a refrigerator plant, and two children aged five and 12.
Asked if Fischer has any weaknesses, the Russian replied “yes, he has some very serious weaknesses. But don't ask me what they are because for the time being that is my secret.”
In preparing for his title match, Spassky has spent several weeks at a resort hotel on the Black Sea. “I get up at 8 a.m. and go to bed at midnight. More or less the whole day is spent in chess studies. I devote particular attention to physical conditioning," Spassky said.
