AThe Californian Salinas, California Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 2
New Complications Arise In Fischer-Spassky Match
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—New complications, which might further delay the start of the world chess championship match between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and American Bobby Fischer, arose today when the chief arbiter left Iceland.
Lothar Schmid, a West German grand master picked by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as arbiter, flew home this morning and said he would not return until next Thursday—when the second game is scheduled to be played.
Schmid, who runs his own publishing firm in Bamberg, said he was going back to Germany because his son had been injured in a traffic accident.
Schmid had invited world champion Spassky and challenger Fischer to come to the chess hall together Sunday to study the facilities and, hopefully, approve them.
This touchy job will now be taken over by Gudmundur Arnlaugson, serving as Schmid's deputy.
“This could be critical,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. “Picking the board and the pieces is a much more difficult job than to referee the match as such.”
U.S. chess sources would not rule out the possibility of a further postponement of the first game — already delayed nine days — as a result of Schmid's departure.
The first game of the 24-game match is scheduled to be played July 11.
Fischer stayed indoors today observing the Sabbath, which last from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday. Fischer is a member of the California based Fundamentalist sect called the Church of God.
Spassky went salmon fishing with an Icelandic chess player, Froeystein Thobergson, who had invited both players to fly to Northern Iceland where the salmon streams are rich.
If popularity were a determining factor, Spassky would retain his title hands down. Chess-mad Icelanders continually speculate who will win and compare the different personalities of the Soviet champion and his American challenger.
