AKenosha News Kenosha, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1
Bobby Fischer Apologizes but Chess Ruckus Continues
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—American chess challenger Bobby Fischer apologized today for delaying the start of the world championship match with Russian Boris Spassky but a demand from the Soviet chess federation threatened to cancel the 24-game series.
The Russian chess group cabled Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), demanding that Fischer be ordered to forfeit the first game because he did not abide by an agreement which said both players must show up within one hour of the scheduled game time.
“If the Russians insist on this penalty I believe the whole match is off,” said Euwe.
“We are sorry that the world championships were delayed. The problems causing the delays were not with world champion Spassky who I respect as a player and a man,” Fischer said.
“If grandmaster Spassky or the Soviet people were inconvenienced or discomforted I am indeed unhappy for I had not the slightest intention of this occurring,” Fischer said.
Officials hoped the twice-postponed tournament could get under way Thursday but earlier representatives of both Fischer and Spassky broke off talks, casting doubts on the possibility the match would be held.
Fischer, who has remained in seclusion since arriving in Reykjavik early Tuesday, apologized in a statement read by his second, the Rev. William Lombardy.
“The Russians said today they don't want any further talks with the Americans,” Euwe said.
The talks between representatives of Fischer and Spassky started Tuesday after Spassky triggered the second postponement of the scheduled 24-game series, saying Fischer had insulted him by not showing up for pre-match ceremonies. He said he would not play until FIDE punished Fischer and Fischer personally apologized.
Officials hoped the match could start Thursday.
Earlier, the official Soviet News Agency Tass criticized Fischer and said he and his backers planned to use a computer to try to win Spassky's title.
The 24-game championship match was scheduled to start Sunday, but Fischer, a 29-year-old chess genius from Brooklyn, failed to turn up, mostly because he wanted more money than the $125,000 purse put up by the organizers.
All appeared saved when a British millionaire banker—and chess fan—dug into his own pocket to offer another $125,000. Fischer was on the next plane to Reykjavik and arrived Tuesday morning, where he quickly left the airport not to be seen since.
Cam the draw Tuesday to see who would play white for the first game and Fischer was asleep. So he sent his second, while Spassky was there in person. The world champion, 35, ([they actually mean the Soviet Regime Apparatus]) apparently decided he had had enough of Fischer's antics ([or anyone who pose a risk to the Soviets of losing a title outside the USSR, including punishing their own athletes)] and issued a statement that said:
“Fischer broke the rules of holding the contest by refusing to come for the ceremony of opening the match. By this, Fischer insulted me, personally, and the Chess Federation of the U.S.S.R., which I represent.”
He added that since Fischer had broken the rules he “must bear the just punishment before there is a hope of holding the match. Only after this can I return to the question about the possibility of holding the match.”
[★] He also demanded a personal apology.
Fischer's lawyer, Paul Marshal, and his second, Father William Lombardy, were optimistic.
“We are hopeful we will be able to solve our differences with the Russians,” said Marshall after a 2½-hour session with Spassky's advisors Tuesday night.
Marshall said he and Father Lombardy, a burly Catholic priest and international chess grand master, will sit down again with the Russians today to try to solve the problems.
“We are making progress,” Father Lombardy said.
Dr. Max Euwe, president of the international federation said he hoped to be able to stage the first game Thursday.
Euwe said, “Bobby sides say they want to play so I believe they will find some solution. It would be a great setback for world chess if we would have to call off the match.”
