The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 2
Outlook for Match Brighter: Russians Prepared to Accept Chess Apologies by Fischer
(Reuters) Reykjavik—The Russians said tonight they would be ready to accept apologies for the way their world chess champion Boris Spassky has been treated by his challenger Bobby Fischer, and there seemed a real chance that the twice-postponed title match would begin Thursday.
The Russian delegation spokesman, chess grandmaster Ewfim Geller, said they had dropped a demand that Fischer should forfeit the first game as a penalty for his absence last weekend when the chess encounter was scheduled to begin.
Some officials thought, however, that the start of the match might finally be fixed for Sunday, to give Spassky time to recover from the emotions of the past few days.
The apologies were flowing here today, and the only question was whether their form would be right for Spassky and his aides. The Russians wanted them in writing.
The immediate reaction of American chess officials was that the way had now been cleared for the start of the match. They thought Spassky would accept a statement made of the match. They thought Spassky would accept a statement made today by Fischer as an apology, even though he avoided accepting blame for the tournament's troubles.
Fischer's message of apology said:
“We are sorry that the world championships were delayed. The problems causing the delays were not with world champion 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 start was postponed from last Sunday while Fischer stayed in New York, bargaining for more money. It was postponed a second time Tuesday after Spassky said Fischer insulted him by refusing to show up to draw lots to see who got to make the first move. He demanded Fischer apologize and said the federation must censor Fischer.
