AThe Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Tuesday, April 04, 1972 - Page 5
Games People Play
However…
With all those huge stadiums sitting out there emptied of spectators, somebody has to rush in and fill the gap. Whenever the times call for a hero, a hero will inevitably respond. Bobby Fischer, American chess genius, may be the wave of the future. He's supposed to play Russia's Boris Spassky for the world chess championship, but he's not satisfied with the financial prospects and the whole thing may be called off. They're too chintzy in Yugoslavia and Iceland where the tournament games were to be played.
As an economic advisor and idea man of unquestioned stature, may I make a small suggestion? The time has come to move baseball out of the stadium and move chess in. The international chess masters can play in each of the major stadiums across this favored land and I'll bet a pawn against a used catcher's mitt that the fans will be tearing down the gates. That's more than baseball has been able to boast in years.
It's your move, Bobby…
The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Tuesday, April 04, 1972 - Page 31
Chess Fuss Discussions Suggested
New York (AP) — A senior U.S. chess official proposed Monday that the president of the International Chess Federation sit down with American chess champion Bobby Fischer to resolve the world championship conflict.
E. B. Edmondson, executive director of the U.S. Chess Federation, said that only by a face-to-face meeting can the tangled negotiations be worked out.
Fischer has demanded a share in the profits from the 24 game match with current champion Russian Boris Spassky. The championship had been scheduled to begin in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, June 22, and to be completed in Reykjavik, Iceland. Both these nations refused to give Fischer anything in addition to the prize money.
Dr. Max Euwe, the International Federation president, said in Canberra, Australia, Sunday that Fischer will be disqualified automatically if the U.S. Chess Federation does not guarantee his appearance.
Last Friday the federation warned that if Fischer's participation was not guaranteed by Tuesday, April 4, it would be construed as a refusal to play the match.
Edmondson, who up to last week was Fischer's negotiator, said here Monday that one of the main participants, the Belgrade organizers, withdrew from the initial agreement last week. “How can Mr. Fischer be asked to comply with an agreement already apparently invalidated by the withdrawal of one of the parties?”
Edmondson said, “The next step should be contact, and I mean full contact, between the president and the players.”
The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, April 04, 1972 - Page 17
Fischer Lifts Veto on Chess Venue
Amsterdam — American chess champion Bobby Fischer has withdrawn his objections to the money terms offered by Belgrade, as one of the sites for the world chess title match, an official of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) said today.
The international federation refused official confirmation, but a spokesman said: “Today, we received a cable to Belgrade asking if they are willing to resume their preparations.
“We will release a communique after reception of the Belgrade reply, but we are prudently optimistic the match will be played,” he said.
Fischer had until today to accept or reject the financial terms offered by Belgrade and Reykjavik, Iceland, for the title match against current champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
