AThe Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 3
Bobby Fischer Asks Chess Match Delay
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer's lawyer has asked to postpone the start of today's world championship chess match until Tuesday, but neither the organizers appeared willing to grant the request.
Lothar Schmidt of Germany, the chief referee, said early today he didn't recognize the legitimacy of the request made by Andrew Davis, Fischer's lawyer.
Schmidt said Davis carried no written credentials authorizing him to act in the American grand master's name. But Schmidt said something might can be worked out if Fischer shows up on time for the scheduled start of his match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia.
The likelihood the American challenger would appear in time for scheduled 1 p.m. EDT start of the first game of the 24-game match appeared dim, however.
Fischer failed to board the last scheduled commercial airline flight that could have taken him from New York to Iceland for the start of the world's richest chess match. The Icelandic Airlines plane departed without Fischer, and an airline spokesman said the next flight to Reykjavik would be 7:30 p.m. EDT—6½ hours after the game was to start.
There was some speculation however, that the 29-year-old grandmaster might have taken a flight to another European city, planning to proceed to Iceland from there.
“If he's on the plane,” Schmidt said, “perhaps we can arrange something if the Iceland Chess Federation and the Russians agree. If not, there will be a problem.”
The problem could be that Schmidt would decide that Fischer had to forfeit his chances to contend for the title.
Gudmunder Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic federation, organizing the match said, “As far as I'm concerned, the match will begin on Sunday.”
“If Fischer wants a postponement, he needs the agreement of the federation and the Russians. And I don't think he is going to get it.” Thorarinsson added.
It appeared that if Fischer arrived in Iceland before the scheduled starting time and asked for a delay, his chances for playing Spassky would be improved.
Officials involved in preparations for the match have become increasingly less amused by Fischer's conduct. His almost daily demands, from a Mercedes Benz with automatic transmission to a hideaway villa, have tried the patience of the organizers.
To cap the demands came the surprise ultimatum last week that he wouldn't appear on time unless he got a percentage of gate receipts at the 24-game match.
Thorarinsson told an acquaintance last night he wasn't ready to accede.
“I've been trying for more than a year to get the match to Iceland. I would do many things. But I will not bite a sour apple,” he said.
In the past week, Fischer has repeatedly canceled reservations for Iceland. On Thursday, he ducked away from newsmen who spotted him at Kennedy Airport in New York.
The 29-year-old American grand master was balking at a chance to end the Soviet Union's monopoly on the world chess crown because of a last-minute dispute he started by issuing a demand for more money.
In New York, a lawyer associated with Fischer's American attorney in Reykjavik, said the challenger has been concerned because the match will not be televised live in the United States.
“Bobby loves Iceland but it wasn't his choice,” said Paul Marshall, the lawyer in New York. “You can't have live TV coverage there. …
“He said over and over again that he wanted his countrymen to have an opportunity to see the match live.”
Marshall said a lack of satellite tracking stations in the Reykjavik area prevented such live coverage. He added that Fischer wants the match to be handled in a “comfortable, dignified way.”
“A lot of people feel he's committed to greed,” Marshall said. “But he's committed to his own standards of propriety and dignity.”
Fischer's demand was for 30 per cent of gate receipts in addition to prize money and other payments previously agreed on.
The original terms included prize money of $125,000, with five-eights going to the winner, and an even split of 60 per cent of the income derived from the sale of television and film rights to the match. The purse was 10 times greater, than any previous offered for the for the world's title. ([Not true. Australia made top bid of $225,000 with only 25,000 of that total going for expenses, meaning $200k in prize money and Mexico coming in second with a bid for $175,000.])
If Fischer doesn't appear for the match, Spassky would retain the title. It also was likely the International Chess Federation would apply strict sanctions against Fischer in future tournaments the federation sponsors. There also was discussion of a possible suit against Fischer by the ([some unscrupulous sorts, troublesome people who spread rumors, not the general population of]) Icelanders.
Spassky remained composed, chatting amiably with reporters at his hotel and joking about his tennis game. He had a two-hour session with Soviet chess grand master Jivo Nei, a strong tennis player who gave the 25-year-old Spassky a good workout.
