AThe Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1
White Knight Shows Up!
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — U.S. grand master Bobby Fischer, finally wooed to the board by a British banker's offer to double the prize money, arrived in Iceland today hours before the opening match in his chess showdown with world champion Boris Spassky.
Fischer arrived aboard an Icelandic Airline flight from New York delayed more than one hour for him.
The controversial American challenger, who won a two-day postponement in the world championship while he bartered for more prize money, was driven down the runway to the airplane in New York to avoid newsmen.
Fischer, wearing red trousers, a blue sports shirt and a brown suede jacket, was met aborad the plane by a nervous Fredrik Olafsson, an Icelandic grand master and friend of the American challenger.
A crowd of newsmen and photographers waited for Fischer at planeside but when the challenger finally deplaned he bounded down the stairs and jumped into a waiting limousine.
Reykjavik police surrounded the limousine and pushed newsmen away. Fischer left without a word.
Spassky, who won the world championship in 1969, has been in Iceland two weeks preparing for the 24-match world championship.
The champion and challenger were drawing at noon (8 a.m. EDT) to see who plays white in the opening match.
The first game was due to start at 1 p.m. EDT—only 10 hours after Fischer arrived in Reykjavik. It already had been postponed two days when the 29-year-old American challenger failed to turn up Sunday as scheduled. There were indications that Spassky, 35, might protest the postponement.
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 ches federation condemned Fischer for “blackmail” 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.
White Knight Shows Up! 04 Jul 1972, Tue The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.com
White Knight 04 Jul 1972, Tue The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.com
