El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 2
Fischer 'Unhappy' With Conditions
Chess Match Set for Tomorrow
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Challenger Bobby Fischer expressed dissatisfaction today with some of the arrangements in the hall where his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union is scheduled to begin tomorrow.
“Fischer does not like the lighting, the board and the pieces, the location of the television cameras and some other minor details,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation.
Cramer said the “minor details” included the thickness of the window drapes used in the hall. Fischer prefers heavier drapes, he said.
“THESE THINGS are troublesome but not critical,” Cramer said. “The organizers are already doing something about it.”
Fischer, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y. slipped unnoticed into the 3,000-seat hall early today and spent 80 minutes inspecting details arranged for the match that is scheduled to go as many as 24 games. There is a purse of $250,000 in addition to the world chess championship at stake.
Cramer said Fischer was “go, go, go” for the first game, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EST) tomorrow.
HIS EVALUATION of the American was seconded by a Catholic priest and chess grand master who serves as Fischer's second.
“I don't know if he is thinking of chess, but he is ready,” said the Rev. William Lombardy.
While Fischer sought changes in the arrangements, Spassky said he was going to relax and not argue.
“I will leave that to Bobby. It makes no difference to me.” Spassky said.
Cramer, himself a retired lighting engineer, said he was not sure what Fischer objected to concerning the lighting.
FROM AN engineering point of view it's perfect and very flexible. But if you have to sit for five hours staring at a chess board you might have other ideas,” Cramer said.
The chess board, made of green and white Icelandic stones, has been an issue from the start. The organizers treated it with acid to take the glare off it.
Fischer is not satisfied with the board, however, and he also feels the chess pieces are too small in relation, Cramer said.
The Deputy arbiter for the match, Gudmundur Arnlaugsson, has a number of different boards and sets to choose from when match time comes.
FISCHER also felt the two TV camera covering the board could be distracting, although they are hidden in built-in “boxes” and placed some 15 yards away from the stage where the players will sit.
Fischer also wants thicker drapes in front of the windows in the hall. In Iceland, close to the Arctic circle, the sun shines at this time of the year until after 10 p.m., and the American apparently is concerned that the evening sun might distract him.
Fischer also inspected the carpeting in the hall and other arrangements made to keep the noise level down, Cramer said.
THE SPECTATORS, paying $5 each for admission will be reminded by a big, lighted sign to be silent. There also is a ban against pocket chess sets in the hall.
While Fischer was still discussing the setup, the chess experts assembled in Iceland were predicting the outcome of the “chess match of the century,” as the Spassky-Fischer match has been billed.
A private poll taken among the experts was in Fischer's favor. Many experts noted that Fischer in fact has a higher point rating in the complex international rating system than does Spassky, who has not been playing at his best recently.
Fischer also impressed the chess world in his qualification matches. He beat Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union and Bent Larsen of Denmark in six straight games and then overwhelmed former world champion Tigran Petrosian 6.5 points to 2.5.
