AThe Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1
Stakes Doubled, Fischer Heading for Chess Match by Harold Dondis, Globe Correspondent
Reykjavik, Iceland — Thanks to the extra inducement of $130,000 put up yesterday morning by a wealthy British banker, reluctant Bobby Fischer decided last night to show up, after all, for his summit chess match here against Boris Spassky of Russia.
He flew from New York last [night] after accepting, through his attorney, the offer of investment banker James D. Slater to double the pot for the once-delayed meeting between the American challenger and the present world champion.
It ended, for the moment, a day of off-again, on-again bulletins and charges and counter-charges. Fischer had said he wouldn't show up unless the Icelandic Chess Federation, sponsor of the 24-game match, met his demands for 30 percent of the gate receipts.
Then, a delay was granted and Fischer was given until this noon (8 a.m. EDT) to get here or forfeit the match. It was originally scheduled to begin Sunday and Fischer was due here Saturday. He refused to leave New York and another type of “chess game” was on.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Chess Federation, protesting the postponement, said Fischer merited disqualification because of his demands for more money. A statement out of Moscow accused Fischer of “blackmail” and accused the International Chess Federation of “connivance.”
Slater, a millionaire British banker, stepped into the breach and put up an additional 50,000 pounds ($130,000). He proposed that the winner receive $156,000 and the loser the remainder, or that the winner receive the entire sum, making the winning total $208,125.
“Fischer has said that money is the problem,” said Slater in London. “Well, here it is. What I now am saying to Fischer is, ‘Come out and play.’ I hope my offer will help remove the problem of money from Fischer so that the match can go ahead.”
After some six hours of deliberation, Fischer said through his lawyer, Paul Marshall, that “I gotta accept it. It's a stupendous offer.” And Fischer was heading for the airport in New York to make a late night flight.
“It was the principle,” said Marshall. “He felt Iceland wasn't treating this match or his countrymen with the dignity that it and they deserved. And he was furious about the press censorship. He was flying around the room.”
The “censorship” was the three-releases-per game limitation which the Icelandic Chess Federation made for reporters covering the match. “They're trying to stop America from reading about it. That's what they've done all along.” Marshall quoted Fischer saying.
Stakes Doubled, Fischer Heading for Chess Match 04 Jul 1972, Tue The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com
