AThe Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 10
New Delay in World Chess Title Match Suggested after Fischer Apologizes to Champ
(UPI) Reykjavik — Bobby Fischer surprised even his own advisers yesterday by formally apologizing to Russian Boris Spassky for delaying their world championship chess match. But the president of the International Chess Federation admitted he was in the wrong, too, and said he would ask for a one-week postponement.
Dr. Max Euwe announced he would ask for another postponement during a news conference in which he agreed to Soviet demands to condemn Fischer's behavior and admitted that he violated chess federation rules in allowing two earlier postponements.
“It would damage Spassky, who is very upset by what has happened in the last few days, if he were forced to play today.” Euwe said in announcing that he would seek another delay in the 24-game match.
Euwe also said he might even suggest an entirely new match schedule calling for between 12 and 18 games now and the rest later in the year because of a possible conflict with the chess Olympics beginning Sept. 17 in Skopje, Yugoslavia.
“The only thing keeping Spassky from leaving for home is his knowledge of what it would mean for the game of chess and for the Icelandic people if the match was canceled,” said Soviet Grandmaster Efraim Geller.
The Russians also have demanded that Fischer forfeit the first game of the match to Spassky because of the American's failure to show up for the official opening of the match Sunday.
However, the Russians indicated the demand might be just a formality.
Geller said he knew “Spassky would not accept that point as a gift,” indicating the world champion would decline the forfeiture if it were offered.
Euwe said the Russians made their demand in a cable citing Paragraph 5 of the so-called Amsterdam agreement for the match in which both sides agreed that a player still missing after one hour of game time has expired forfeits the game and point to his opponent.
“The Russians did not object Sunday when I postponed the game and now I cannot make such a ruling” Euwe said. He had delayed the start of the match until Tuesday when Fischer, holding out for more money, failed to appear for the scheduled opening Sunday.
Fischer, 29, the challenger, finally arrived early Tuesday after a chess-playing English financier doubled the prize to $250,000. With Fischer still resting up for the opening match Tuesday afternoon, Spassky, 35, arrived at a meeting called to draw lots for the right to make the first play and threw down a statement saying that Fischer “must beat just penalty” for his behavior and walked out.
The match was delayed a second time until today. Fischer's associates talked for 2½ hours to Spassky's associations without reaching an agreement and the Russians refused to meet again yesterday, the American said.
When chess sources reported Spassky had demanded an apology from Fischer, Fred Cramer of the U.S. chess federation said, “I cannot see Fischer apologizing.” But Fischer did.
The apology was read by the Rev. William J. Lombardy, a New York priest who is one of the 10 American chess grandmasters and is acting as Fischer's second.
“We are sorry that the world championships were delayed,” it said. “The problems causing the delays were not with world championship Spassky who I respect as a player and a man.
“If Grandmaster Spassky or the Soviet people were inconvenienced or discomforted I am indeed unhappy for I had not the slightest intention of this occurring,” the statement said.
Lombardy said Fischer hoped to “further explain his statement” to Spassky when they met face-to-face at the drawing of lots for the right to make the first play. Spassky defeated Fischer in an earlier match before he became world champion.
In his statement, made public by Euwe yesterday, Spassky charged “Fischer has violated rules of common behavior by refusing to attend the opening ceremony of the chess match (on Sunday). By this he has insulted me personally and the country which I represent.
“The public opinion in the U.S.S.R. and that of myself is very indignant at the behavior of Fischer.
