The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 14
The Right Move at Reykjavik
By the time Russian Chess Champion Boris Spassky makes the first move today, all the tempestuous antics leading to his 24-game match with Bobby Fischer, the American challenger, will have been forgotten. ([Actually no, the Soviets are only beginning to ramp up their campaign of defamatory invective in American newspapers. But they're going to lose, and not a word is being reported on the finicky, overbearing demands and complaints of European-Soviet organizers who refused for months to sort out details BEFORE match. Or, speaking of money, Belgrade's illegal demand of 35K USD “guarantee” refused by the USCF! Australia's legal $225K bid snubbed by Russia, with the Soviet threatening they “would not play” unless they got their way... for the countless time. USSR selecting a cesspool of Anti-American sentiment, and fiercely racist … Iceland who restricted entry of blacks, along with a black-out on news coverage. Schemes to disqualify Fischer had been plotted to replace the challenger with another Soviet, but Western media is refusing to investigate and report the full story.]) The two men will go on, one hopes, in silence. For that is the way good chess was meant to be played. ([Explain that to the Soviets who have leveled embellished charges such as accusing that Fischer was going to rely on a computer to win the world chess tournament, in other attempt to smear Fischer, an entire publication was distributed “attributing” quotes to Fischer, or “alleging” he said this and that, but not one credible reprint of any actual cablegrams. On the contrary USCF's Edmondson's complaints alleged the European and Soviet organizers were refusing to communicate with Fischer all those months, to work out the pre-match details, all the while Fischer has been mostly silent. Minding his own business, and ceaseless brunt of Soviet-inspired vicious attacks in the press.])
Even before the hoopla created when Mr. Fischer demanded and received larger prize money ([only bringing the total prize back up to what it SHOULD HAVE BEEN, had the legal bid by Australia been accepted and stood, had Euwe kept his word, but instead the Soviet threw a conniption fit, threatening not show up at all unless their demand was met that the whole match was staged in Iceland. Demand, after demand, after overbearing demand and let it not be forgotten]) the event drew international attention, especially among chess buffs. But there were also a few political overtones. A succession of Russians has held the championship for 35 years; in fact, long before Mr. Fischer was born. In the Soviet Union, chess supremacy is an important fact of life; it is something akin to football at Notre Dame, or lacrosse at John Hopkins.
Ever since Mr. Fischer, one of 12 United States grandmasters, began competing internationally, he has accused the Russians of protecting their champions from foreign challenge. The rules of chess still favor players who settle for a draw, and Mr. Fischer plays definitely to win. By maneuvering for draws among themselves, the Russians, Mr. Fischer said, could concentrate their best games on worthy challengers like himself.
Well, all the charges, denunciations and counter charges are clearly behind. Now, in the little capital of Reykjavik, Iceland, the moment of truth has arrived. We hope the series goes smoothly, without questionable play. It has received a prolific press, one that would have made the late Tex Rickard and Max Jacobs envious. There is nothing left to say but let the play begin.
The Right Move at Reykjavik 11 Jul 1972, Tue The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) Newspapers.com
