AThe Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 2
Apology Brings Truce in the Chess Cold War from Michael Lake
Reykjavik, July 05 — The world chess championship, fraught with fury and recrimination, looks like getting off to a start once again — but perhaps not until Sunday or even Tuesday — because the Soviet champion, Boris Spassky, is so distressed by the uproar over the behavior of the challenger, Bobby Fischer.
But the match seems to be on after a series of developments at a sizzling Soviet press conference here tonight. The Soviet grand master, Ewfim Geller, made three Soviet demands — that Fischer apologize for his behavior ([No Soviet apologies will be forthcoming for their own off-board, off-the-record illegal activities, behind the scenes]) that the president of the International Chess Federation, Professor Max Euwe, condemns Fischer; and that Mr. Euwe admits he violated the rules in postponing the match on Sunday before Fischer had dug up enough money to decide to come. ([It is difficult to come to a land, which has been notoriously racist, and anti-American due to widely circulated anti-American, pro-Soviet underground constituted by about 10% of the Icelandic population but for some reason, the Soviet Union representatives didn't feel it was worth mention, any more than Iceland provided ideal conditions to achieve censorship and media black out due to limited communications to the outside world.])
After 20 minutes of this Dr. Euwe negotiated with the Russians for the floor, condemned Fischer's behavior over several months as “inexcusable — there isn't anyone in this locality who would not condemn him” — ([But of course! That's precisely why the Anti_American Iceland was forced as the prime choice of the 1972 World Championship, and Euwe is fully aware of it, whether he admits to it or not. The black American service men at Keflavik might would disagree, but whoops! black Americans are not wanted on Icelandic soil by the Icelandic government, whom the Soviet had spent decades romancing, not at all unlike Stalin's well-documented romance with Adolf Hitler; “Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact”]) and freely admitted he had violated the rules to save the match.
The Russians also demanded the statement in writing so as to be confident that the rules would be obeyed in the future and Dr. Euwe, whose dignified approach during these trying days has been irreproachable, pulled out his pen and wrote his ([TOKEN]) admission, and commitment to the rules there and then on the back of a text of the Soviet demands. The press conference spontaneously applauded him.
The Russians, confronted with a barrage of questions as to whether they accepted this, had no option but to do so, although it has been clear that they have had to refer to Moscow for instructions all along the line.
They confirmed also that the Soviet Chess Federation in Moscow had demanded that Fischer forfeit last Sunday's opening game for which he failed to arrive; Dr. Euwe said he did not believe Spassky would accept such a point. Mr. Geller said the demands must stand, but that it was for Spassky to accept the point and he did not think he would.
Fischer meanwhile, still hidden from public view as if in quarantine, sent out a statement this morning expressing regret at the trouble. ([Which Moscow's egotism all too happy to create.])
Last night Mr. Geller indicated that he had a further note saying Fischer wished to express himself to the Russians in person tomorrow and this would then meet every demand.
Mr. Geller explained that such a situation would pave the way for resumed negotiations between the Russians, Americans and the ICF on the remaining unresolved conditions for the match such as furniture and press facilities.
It was at the end of a press conference which had correspondents and chess fans reeling — and sometimes shouting among themselves about the right to ask questions — at the rapid unfolding of events that Dr. Euwe put the brakes on.
He pointed out that if, as he thought quite fair, Spassky needed until Tuesday to recover enough to start the match, this would prolong the 24-game test so that it clashed with the chess Olympics in Skopje in September. His own feeling was that the match might be split, half the games to be played here now and half here later in the autumn. He said that Spassky was “damaged” and would be at a disadvantage if the match began tomorrow.
It was not clear, however, what Spassky thought, and one source close to the Russians said he thought that a further long delay until Tuesday would be even worse for Spassky.
There is no doubt what the chess world thinks of Fischer in the emotionally charged atmosphere among the attendant grandmasters and ([infamously racist, and Anti-American which should be pointed out, worldwide, that Soviet publications regularly canvass Icelandic]) fans here, among the dozens of journalists, and among the Icelanders. Fischer and his companion are getting the bird in a big way ([and would have, even had there been no delay. Fischer deserved 5 times the payoff, for being forced to play in a hostile, Anti-American haven, with its Anti-American propaganda going back, decades when Fischer was yet a child in sneakers, under the tutelage of chess master Max Pavey!]) The claim by Fischer today that he had no intention of causing trouble was regarded with particular derision.
In his condemnation tonight, Dr. Euwe said: “He's living in another world. That does not mean he is forbidden to do everything he likes, but these abnormalities are unacceptable.” ([None of the Soviet aberrations of course, will be condemned as they plot and seek to derail the match with their well-documented heavy-handed coercion and manipulation.])
The whole event escalated this morning from a sport into a revival of the cold war. Spassky launched a furious and scathing attack on Fischer. He said: “Fischer has violated the rule of behavior by refusing to attend the solemn opening ceremony.”
