AThe Newark Advocate Newark, Ohio Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 19
Dawdling Chessmen to Play . . . Sometime
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — International chess chief Max Euwe proposed another delay Wednesday night in the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky world championship match as the maneuvering and confusion continued in Reykjavik. There was no immediate response from Fischer or the Russians, and it was not known whether the twice-postponed match would start today.
Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said he didn't penalize Fischer for his late arrivals in Iceland because the American challenger is “living in another world.” ([Indeed he is, and that world he naively believes in, promotes at the forefront of national law, concepts like “Freedom” and “Justice” a thing the Soviet has long forbidden to its own citizens. Speaking of Capitalism, for the Soviets “Winning is Everything” no expense spared, including endangering the lives of their athletes, maneuvering for unfair advantage against their opponents, and at what high costs? and who pays?]) He said Spassky, the Russian world title holder, was “very upset” and that he would like to give him another week before the first game.
Euwe also admitted he had violated the rules in allowing two previous postponements in the start of the match. He promised strict rule enforcement in the future.
The 24-game series between Fischer and Spassky had been scheduled to start Sunday. Fischer stayed in New York, holding out for more money, and Euwe postponed the start of the match until Tuesday. Fischer arrived that day, but the Russians objected to his conduct and Euwe put the start off until today.
Fischer apologized Wednesday for delaying the start of the match, but the Russians demanded apologies in writing. Then they demanded that Fischer forfeit the first game.
The American's apology, read by a spokesman at a news conference, said: “We are sorry the world championship was delayed. The problems causing the delays were not with world champion Spassky whom I respect as a man and admire as a player.”
Later Yefim Geller, the Soviet grandmaster, acting as Spassky's second, told another news conference the Russians wanted Euwe to condemn the American's conduct and accept blame himself for violating the federation's rules.
Euwe came forward and condemned Fischer, conceded he himself had broken the rules and added: “I apologize.”
Asked if the Russians were satisfied, Geller said they wanted it all in writing. ([To print in Soviet-censorship controlled press, for official propaganda purposes. Not a word uttered about months of the Soviet Rumor Mill attempts to disqualify Fischer and replace with Petrosian, or their choice to ignore flagrant Icelandic racism, and selecting Iceland as the host site, for 1) its offer as the lowest bid, discouraging competition against the Soviet monopoly on sports titles, 2) inadequate technology to facilitate world broadcast of the event, a blatant attempt to bury coverage, 3) A Pro-Soviet, anti-American atmosphere to demoralize the opponent; etc.]) Euwe took a pen from his pocket and said, “I can write it now,” and began drafting a letter.
Geller then said the Soviet Chess Federation had told Euwe he should award the first game to Spassky by forfeit, but Euwe said he did not consider the request official.
Then Euwe put forward his idea of another postponement.
