AThe Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 6
The Great Chess War: Now Spassky Walks Out on Fischer
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Russian chess champion Boris Spassky refused today to play American challenger Bobby Fischer in a 24-game world championship match until the International Chess Federation (FIDE) punishes Fischer for “insulting me personally…and the USSR.”
Match officials postponed the opening of the tournament for the second time but did not set a new starting date.
Spassky said he would not yet leave Iceland and left the door open to a possible solution.
“I still want to play the match if there is a solution,” Spassky said. “I will not play today. I will make my decision in the next few days.”
In a statement, datelined in Reykjavik, Tass, the official Soviet news agency, quoted Spassky as saying Fischer broke the rules by refusing to show up for the opening ceremonies last Saturday.
“By this, Fischer insulted me personally and the chess federation of the USSR which I represent,” Spassky said.
Fischer delayed the tournament for two days while he haggled for more money. He finally agreed to play after a British banker agreed to double the prize money.
It was not clear exactly what effect Spassky's refusal would have on the match, which was scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EDT today.
Spassky earlier stalked out of a meeting set to determine who would get the first move in the opening game. Fischer, who did not arrive in Reykjavik until early today, did not attend the meeting. He stayed in his hotel room to sleep to prepare for the game.
Dr. Max Euwe, president of FIDE, said after Spassky's walkout that he was pessimistic the match would be held.
“The situation is critical. I don't know if the match will be played at all. I am very pessimistic,“ he said.
Spassky's statement, in Russian, was turned in as a formal protest to Fischer's two-day delay of the tournament.
“The public opinion in the USSR and I, personally, are (sic) indignant over Fischer's conduct. Under all human notions, he discredited himself completely,” Spassky said.
“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,” Spassky said.
Spassky has been waiting in Iceland one week preparing for the match.
Only Spassky attended the meeting to determine who would get the first move in the opening game.
Fischer stayed in his hotel room to sleep and sent his second, the Rev. William Lombardy, and two attorneys, Paul Marshall and Andrew Davis.
Spassky turned over his protest and walked out.
Lothar Schmid, the official arbiter of the match, said he would need a translation of the Soviet protest before he could act upon it.
“What happened was that Spassky lodged a protest against the fact that Fischer did not arrive in time Sunday and he walked out of the meeting,” Euwe said.
The match was postponed for two days while Fischer haggled for more money.
He agreed to play after the British banker said he would double the prize money and Fischer boarded an Icelandic Airline flight from New York Monday night. The flight was held for one hour to wait for Fischer.
Fischer's delaying tactics revolved around money. The organizers had put up $125,000 for the match, which has gained more world interest than any chess encounter in history. About 60 per cent was to go to the winner, with the loser taking the rest.
British millionaire James D. Slater came to the rescue Monday by offering to double the purse. He said he was putting up the additional $125,000 from his own pocket because he loved chess and wanted the match played.
The 24-game series starting today is to be played on alternate days, with the extra days allowed to finish incomplete games. A win counts as one point, a tie a half-point for each. As champion, Spassky needs only 12 points to retain his title, while as challenger, Fischer needs 12½ points to win.
The Soviet chess federation condemned Fischer for “blackmail” ([no, Belgrade was guilty when they illegally demanded a 35,000 USD “guarantee” and USCF Edmondson refused to pay their extortion fees]) and said his actions “merit his unconditional disqualification” from play.
Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), expressed some fears over what Spassky might do. The Soviet champion said in a statement Monday he never gave FIDE permission to postpone the game from its original Sunday starting time.
Icelandic chess officials declined to say where Fischer would stay. The American had the choice of a private guest house or a hotel.
Fischer, who balked earlier in the year over a selection of sites for the world championship, postponed his departure for Iceland four times and finally threatened to stay away from the championship altogether unless his demands for more prize money were met.
The Iceland Chess Federation refused and FIDE threatened to disqualify the American as challenger to Spassky's world title.
But Slater, a British banker, industrialist and chess enthusiast, finally came to the rescue.
Now Spassky Walks Out on Fischer 04 Jul 1972, Tue The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com
