Kingsport Times Kingsport, Tennessee Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 14
Russians Walk Out, Chess Championship May Be Off
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The Russians broke off their talks with representatives of American chess challenger Bobby Fischer today, throwing serious doubts on the possibility the twice-postponed world championship match with the USSR's Boris Spassky would ever be held.
“This is a very bad development and I am now very pessimistic about the match,” said Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The reason for the breakup was not immediately disclosed but representatives of Spassky, the reigning world chess champion, said they would explain later at a news conference.
“The Russians said today they don't want any further talks with the Americans,” Euwe said.
The talks between representatives of Fischer and Spassky started Tuesday after Spassky triggered the second postponement of the scheduled 24-game series, saying Fischer had insulted him by not showing up for the pre-match ceremonies. He said he would not play until FIDE punished Fischer and Fischer personally apologized.
Officials hoped the match could start Thursday.
Earlier, the official Soviet News Agency Tass criticized Fischer and said he and his backers planned to use a computer to try to win Spassky's title. ([Who makes such wild tall tales up? Pity upon the poor Russian who dare questions the absurd tall tales of the Soviet machinery.])
All appeared saved when a British millionaire banker—and chess fan—dug into his own pocket to offer another $125,000. Fischer was on the next plane to Reykjavik and arrived Tuesday morning, where he quickly left the airport not to be seen since.
Came the draw Tuesday, to see who would play white for the first game and Fischer was asleep. SO he sent his second, while Spassky was there in person. The world champion, 35, apparently decided he had had enough of Fischer's antics, and issued a statement that said:
“Fischer broke the rules of holding the contest by refusing to come for the ceremony of opening the match. By this, Fischer insulted me, personally, and the Chess Federation of the U.S.S.R., which I represent.”
He added that since Fischer had broken the rules he “must bear the just punishment before there is a hope of holding the match. Only after this can I return to the question about the possibility of holding the match.”
He also demanded a personal apology.
“I cannot see Bobby apologizing,” said Fred Cramer of the U.S. Chess Federation.
But Fischer's lawyer, Paul Marshall, and his second, Father William Lombardy, were more optimistic.
“We are hopeful we will be able to solve our differences with the Russians,” ([Good luck with that, because to solve differences with the Soviet Regime, is an impossibly futile endeavor]) said Marshall after a 2½ hour session with Spassky's advisers Tuesday night.
Marshall said he and Father Lombardy, a burly Catholic priest and international chess grand master, will sit down again with the Russians today to try to solve the problems.
“We are making progress,” Father Lombardy said.
Spassky told newsmen he did not plan to walk out of the match.
Russians Walk Out, Chess Championship May Be Off 05 Jul 1972, Wed Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee) Newspapers.com
Spassky 05 Jul 1972, Wed Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee) Newspapers.com
