AThe Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1
Added Prize Of $130,000 Luring Fischer To Chess?
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) Bobby Fischer was reported ready last night (Monday) to meet Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for the world chess championship and a prize pot sweetened by $130,000 from a London banker.
Paul Marshall, a lawyer in New York for Fischer, said the 29-year-old American challenger had accepted banker James D. Slater's offer of the extra prize money and would be in Reykjavik by today's noon deadline. Earlier yesterday, the sponsors of the championship match turned down Fischer's bid for a cut of the gate receipts in addition to the prize money previously agreed on.
Marshall quoted Fischer as saying of Slater's proposal: “I gotta accept it. It's a stupendous offer.” He said Fischer considered the gesture “incredible and generous and brave.”
Slater said in London he received confirmation of Fischer's acceptance by telephone and had been told the challenger planned to fly to Reykjavik.
Fischer must arrive in Reykjavik by noon today, postponed from the same time Sunday at Fischer's request.
The Russians, from Spassky here in Iceland to the Soviet Chess Federation in Moscow, protested the fact that the World Chess Federation (FIDE) granted a postponement of Fischer's appearance.
When Slater offered to put up his own money as an extra inducement to the American grand master, he stated: “Fischer has said that money is the problem. Here it is. What I am saying to Fischer now is ‘come out and play.”
Marshall claimed that the issue with Fischer never had been money.
“It was the principle,” Marshall said. “He felt Iceland wasn't treating this match or his countrymen with the dignity that it and they deserved. And he was furious about the press censorship. He was flying around the room.”
Marshall said Fischer told him: “they're trying to stop America from reading about it. That's what they've done all along.”
The sponsors announced restrictions in move-by-move and photo coverage of the 24-game match because the rights had been sold.
Slater made his offer after the Icelandic Chess Federation's board rejected Fischer's demands for 30 per cent of the gate receipts. That would have amounted to considerable sums for both Fischer and Spassky because the match could last as long as two months.
The original terms call for the winner to receive $78,125 and the loser $46,875, plus 30 per cent for each of the income from sale of television and photographic rights.
Slater's private enrichment of the pot could be used to up the winner's prize to $156,000, with the remainder of his funds going to boost the loser's share. He said another alternative would be to add the entire $130,000 (or 50,000 pounds) to the winner's cut, for a total of $208,125.
The London investment banker said he made his offer through Dr. Max Euwe, president of FIDE, explaining: “I like chess and have played it for years. Many want to see this match … if Fischer does not go to Iceland, many will be disappointed.”
The Soviet Chess Federation, issuing a protest in Moscow, declared that on the basis of what Fischer has already done — failed to appear for the scheduled start of the match on Sunday—he merits “unconditional disqualification.” Spassky followed up with a statement in Reykjavik saying he was not satisfied with the decision that allowed Fischer a postponement. That decision was made by Dr. Euwe and FIDE.
“As I have heard that I have given permission to delay the beginning of the first game for two days, I want to declare that I have not given any such permission, not to the president of FIDE or to anybody else,” Spassky said. “All talk about such permission from me, therefore, does not reflect reality.”
