AThe Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 48
Pre-Draw Deal Saved World Match
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Boris Spassky gave up his demand that Bobby Fischer forfeit the first game of their world championship chess matches in return for Fischer's agreement to postpone the game until Tuesday, U.S. chess sources said yesterday.
The compromise was worked out in a backstage room of Reykjavik's main sports hall Thursday night a few minutes before the American challenger and the world champion from Russia appeared on stage to draw lots for the first move, the sources said.
The 24-game, $250,000 match originally was scheduled to begin last Sunday, but was delayed by Fischer's failure to show up and the Russian's demands that he be punished.
“ONE of our conditions to play the match at all was that the Russians give up their demand for the first match point,” said Fred Cramer, a vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation.
Cramer said minor obstacles might still crop up before the first game, “but nothing serious enough to endanger the start of the match.
“Bobby would have liked to start play on Sunday, but we agreed to another postponement,” he said. “The Russians apparently felt we had done it once to them and now they wanted to do it to us.”
HE was referring to an International Chess Federation (FIDE) decision to postpone the match July 2 when Fischer did not show in time for the opening game. The Russian Chess Federation said the postponement violated FIDE's own rules.
Spassky won the draw Thursday night and will play the white pieces, which means he will make the very first move of the match. Fischer will play black.
The two opponents appeared relaxed and in a good mood when they met in the hall for the first time since they arrived here. Spassky even wished Fischer good luck when they shook hands.
THEY may meet again once before Tuesday. Lothar Schmid, the FIDE judge, would like both to inspect the facilities together. They tested chairs, the board and the chess pieces Thursday night.
THERE was talk of Fischer flying in his own chair from New York unless he finds a suitable one here. Schmid has four or five different chess sets from which to pick the match set. The organizers have also treated the marble playing board with acid to take away the glare on the surface.
