ARed Deer Advocate Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 17
No Matter What, Spassky's Rich
Moscow (AP)—No matter what, Boris Spassky is going to return to his Communist homeland a rich man, even by capitalist standards.
But the Soviet government and the National Chess Federation have apparently yet to decide whether the Russian chess champion can keep the earnings from his Reykjavik encounter with American challenger Bobby Fischer.
Viktor Baturinsky, director of the Soviet Chess Club, said the allocation of Spassky's prize money “has not been decided.” He made it clear, though, that the chess club feels entitled to a good chunk of Spassky's winnings.
It is illegal for a Soviet citizen to possess foreign currency. But the regulation is waived for some of the Soviet elite permitted to travel abroad and earn Western currency.
Even if he loses, Spassky, 35, will return home with about $119,375. At the official exchange rate that's 98, 245 rubles and 63 kopeks, or more than the average Russian worker can make in 78 years. And if he wins, Spassky gets estimated $180,625.
Spassky probably will convert a substantial amount of his prize into certificates that enable him to shop at the special food and consumer goods stores established for the Soviet elite in Moscow ([Already, the elite Soviet Capitalists are speculating on how to divide up the spoils between themselves, and the fate of Spassky's share of the prize hangs in the balance, if he fails to win this tournament, as harsh punishment and repressive measures, will surely follow. Where's all that so-called “Equality” under Soviet “Socialist” Imperialism?]) and Leningrad, his home town.
