Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 43
Spassky Tried Money Gambit
Question: I know that Bobby Fischer, the chess great, can be pretty difficult about money, but what about the Russian Boris Spassky? Does he play for the glory of Russia?—D.G., Painesville, Ohio.
Answer: Spassky is just as prickly as Fischer about money. The 35-year-old Soviet player just caused a huge scandal by splitting with his long-time coach, claiming creative and business differences. The rumor in chess circles is that Spassky thought that as the world champion he ought to be getting more money than Fischer. Right now the Russian earns about $350 a month from his job as a chess coach at a Moscow club plus about $1,800 yearly for tournaments abroad. The official viewpoint is of course that the honor of being world champion ought to be enough and Spassky shouldn't be so crass.