ACourier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, July 17, 1972 - Page 4
Chess Federation To Appeal Forfeit by Dr. Leroy Dubeck, President U.S. Chess Federation
Bobby Fischer's move 11 in game three was an opening innovation which undoubtedly surprised Boris Spassky. The adjourned position should be an easy win for the American grandmaster.
This would mean that Spassky would lead two points to one. However, one of Spassky's wins was by forfeit since Fischer refused to play Thursday due to the presence of TV cameras which he claimed were distracting him.
These cameras have been removed and yesterday's game was played in a small room near the previous playing hall. Spectators watched the game on closed circuit TV.
Fischer has protested the forfeit by the arbiter, Lothar Schmid of Germany, to the match committee, which upheld the forfeit.
Nevertheless, Fischer has recourse to the general assembly of the World Chess Federation. This body over 70 member countries will have its next annual meeting in Skopje, Yugoslavia in September.
I will attend as part of the United States delegation and we intend to protest the forfeit decision if that game becomes crucial to the outcome.
Thus, if Fischer wins his adjourned game, he would have an even score in the two games played, despite the fact that he played the black pieces in both games.
In addition he will have broken the jinx that Spassky has had over him in the past. The Russian has never before lost to Fischer.
I can only hope that Fischer will concentrate in the future more on playing chess and less on negotiating with the Icelandic Chess Federation. However, his past actions may have unnerved Spassky and may in the end be worth the forfeited game even if the forfeit is not reversed.
Spassky's play in yesterday's game was rather passive, simply trying to hold the draw. This kind of game is hopeless against Fischer.
Fischer's retinue as of yesterday included Grandmaster William Lombardy, a Brooklyn priest, his second. Two attorneys were also on hand as well as Fred Cramer, a World Chess Federation vice president, and Frank Scoff, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. A couple of other American grandmasters also are present as journalists. Fischer's staff is the largest ever for an American grandmaster in any international event.
