The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 3
British Banker Offers $130,000 Deal To Entice Fischer To Play Spassky For Chess Title
London (AP)—A British banker today offered Bobby Fischer a deal worth 50,000 pounds—$130,000 at official parity—to entice Fischer to play his Soviet rival Boris Spassky for the world title.
James D. Slater, an investment banker, said in making the offer, “Fischer has said that money is the problem. Well here it is. What I am saying to Fischer now is, ‘Come out and play.’”
Slater's offer was made through Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, and was immediately relayed to Fischer in New York, a spokesman for Slater said.
Fischer faces a noon Tuesday deadline to be in Reykjavik, Iceland, for his match with Spassky. The American champion was reported as saying he would not appear in Iceland unless his financial demands were met by the tournament organizers.
Slater, chairman of Slater Walker Securities, which has worldwide business affairs, has proposed a package containing several alternative offers.
One is to double the match's prize money, which is now $125,000. The winner would get $78,125 under present terms. An increased prize would mean that the winner gets $156,000 and the loser $104,000.
“The money is mine,” said Slater. “I hope the offer is being considered this afternoon. I like chess and have played it for years. Many want to see this match and everything has been arranged. If Fischer does not go to Iceland, many will be disappointed.”
Alternative Offer
The alternative is to give a straight $130,000 extra to the winner, making his prize money up to $208,000.
“The idea is to remove the problem of money from Fischer and see if he has any others,” said Slater.
In Moscow, the Soviet Chess Federation said Fischer merits disqualification because of his money demands and assailed Euwe as taking “the more than unseemly role of Fischer's defender.” (Blah blah blah. Blah.)
London bookmaker William Hill made Fischer odds-on favorite to defeat Spassky and gain the world championship. Fischer was quoted at 2-1 and Spassky at 6-to-4 against.
Image Caption: AWAITS CHALLENGER—Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, world chess champion, holds his thumb up outside hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland, awaiting arrival of Bobby Fischer.
