New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 30
Referee To Miss First Chess Game. Goes Home to Injured Son - Will Officiate Thursday by Harold C. Schonberg
Reykjavik, Iceland, July 8—Lothar Schmid, the referee of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer championship chess match, will not be able to officiate at the first game on Tuesday.
Mr. Schmid today flew to his home in Bamberg, Germany, upon receiving news that his 10-year-old son had been injured in a bicycle accident. The injury was reported not to be serious.
The assistant referee, Gudmundur Arnlaugsson of Iceland, will replace Mr. Schmid, who expects to be here for the second game on Thursday.
Fischer objected to the choice of Mr. Schmid as referee originally, maintaining that no active chess player who participates in international tournaments should referee important games. Fischer, citing Russian domination over chess, said players who liked to participate in Russian tournaments would favor the Russians when they acted as referees.
Mr. Schmid responded by saying that he had played in Russia only once. Although he is an international grandmaster, Mr. Schmid describes himself as an “amateur” who plays in very few tournaments these days and who does not make his living at chess. He is the head of a publishing house in Bamberg.
Last week Dr. Max Euwe, head of the International Chess Federation, ruled that Fischer's objections were invalid, and that Mr. Schmid would remain as referee. Since then there have been no objections from the American delegation.
As of this afternoon, neither Spassky nor Fischer had approved the playing conditions in Exhibition Hall. Spassky is expected to visit the hall this evening, after which he will give his opinion on the lighting, the chessboard and pieces and the general ambiance. Fischer may visit the hall early tomorrow morning.
The American grandmaster is described as in good spirits. A member of his delegation said today that Fischer was relaxed, joking, confident and eager to play.
