ANew York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 01, 34
Spassky, Refusing to Play, Asks Fischer Be ‘Punished’ by Harold C. Schonberg
Reykjavik, Iceland, July 4 — The world championship chess match, moved thousands of miles, postponed and then postponed again because of the protests of Bobby Fischer, was delayed once more today—this time because the Russian title-holder refused to play.
The champion, Boris Spassky, showed up at a meeting at which lots were to be drawn for the right to make the first move in the first game, which was to begin today. Fischer, who was said to be asleep in his hotel room, was represented by his second.
Instead of drawing lots, Spassky tossed down a statement and stalked out of the room. The statement, in a translation supplied by Tass, the Soviet press agency, 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.
“The public opinion in the U.S.S.R. and I, personally, are indignant over Fischer's conduct. Under all human notions, he discredited himself completely. By this he jeopardized his moral right to play in the match for the world chess crown.
“Fischer 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.”
Neither Spassky nor the Soviet Chess Federation made any specific suggestions about what kind of “punishment” they had in mind. The federation, however, is demanding an apology from Fischer.
Spassky said, however, that he would not leave Iceland and that “I still want to play the match if there is a solution.”
“I will make my decision in the next few days,” he added.
The 24-game match, which had been scheduled to start here Sunday, was postponed until today by Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, when it became clear that the American challenger would not show up in time. Dr. Euwe said at that time that Fischer would forfeit the match if he did not arrive by noon today.
Fischer, who left New York for Iceland last night after a British millionaire doubled the purse to $250,000, arrived with a little more than five hours to spare. He said nothing, slipped off to his hotel, went to sleep and has not yet made a public appearance.
If ruffled feelings can be smoothed—and Fischer's entourage was hard at work today apparently trying to do so—the match could start Thursday. But Dr. Euwe, who has been on the pessimistic side all along, was still there today.
“The situation is critical,” he said. “I don't know if the match will be played at all.”
Dr. Euwe, a tall, courtly, 71-year-old former world chess champion, also said he knew he was “following a correct middle course” because “first the Americans attacked me, and now the Russians.”
The Soviet delegation has charged Dr. Euwe with having committed procedural errors.
The Russians are also insisting that the match formally began with the opening ceremony Saturday night in the National Theater here. The Americans say the match will begin only when the first move is made in the 3,000-seat Sports Hall.
[In New York, the president of the United States Chess Federation, Col. Edmund B. Edmondson, said: “This entire charade should end. I recommend that the FIDE president establish a firm starting date, preferably this Thursday, and forfeit either player if he doesn't show.”]
FIDE is an acronym for Federation Internationale des Eschecs, the International Chess Federation.
With the resolution of the financial problems of the match, it seems evident that the issues separating both parties are personal.
The Rev. William Lombardy, a Roman Catholic priest who is one of 10 American grandmasters and Fischer's second, and Paul Marshall, Fischer's lawyer, arrived with Fischer this morning and soon disappeared into a series of conferences with the Russians. It soon became clear that they were trying to soothe the angry Russians and to come to an agreement.
Father Lombardy said at an evening news conference that negotiations, though delicate, were proceeding on a friendly basis. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, he said, and he hoped that all issues would then be satisfactorily resolved.
Opinions Vary
Several grandmasters today, in discussing the Russian tactics, had varying opinions on the subject. One school of thought held that Spassky should have demanded a game tonight, while Fischer's biological clock was still adjusting to the change of time zone and lack of darkness. Others said Spassky was too angry to play his best game and should wait until he simmers down.
Spassky, these experts said, is more of an attacking player than the precise Fischer, and in his eagerness to punish the American might launch an unsound and s*icid*l attack.
Fischer has yet to see the hall where he and Spassky are supposed to meet. He may not like the lighting and in the past he has refused to play on this ground. He may not like the table. (A specially built chess table had to be hastily rebuilt a few days ago when it was discovered that it was too highly polished and created a glare).
His objections led the city of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to withdraw its bid to be the site of the title match. His protests led to two postponements of the start. Today, while Fischer slept, Spassky protested.
(Caption) SPASSKY WALKS OUT: Boris Spassky, right, the champion, holding car door open for associates after leaving a meeting at which he and Fischer were to have drawn lots for the first move. But Fischer had sent a second.
