AThe Jacksonville Daily Journal, Jacksonville, Illinois, Thursday, April 20, 1972 - Page 12
WORLD CHESS CHAMPION Boris Spassky checkmates a slice of melon during a tennis session in Moscow. This is the “pawn broker” U.S. champion Bobby Fischer is so anxious to get at.
The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Thursday, April 20, 1972 - Page 6
Why Not Montreal?
The International Chess Federation is having a hard time staging its world championship this year. It is too bad, because the match promises to be one of the most exciting ever (for chess players), pitting Bobby Fischer, the onetime Brooklyn whizz kid now grown to possibly the greatest player of all time, against Boris Spassky, the current title holder representing the Soviet Union which has dominated the game ever since the Second World War.
First came the difficulty of choosing a site, with each contestant selecting four preferences among the hopeful host cities. Since no city appeared on both lists, Dr. Max Euwe, president of the federation, decided to hold the first half of the match in Belgrade (Fischer's first choice) and the second half in Rekjavik (Spassky's choice). The opening game was scheduled for June 22. But Belgrade wanted a $35,000 appearance bond for both players. The Russians provided one for Spassky but the American Chess Federation failed to put up one for Fischer and Belgrade backed down.
What now? For $75,000 in prize money and a bit more for arrangements for the match, Mayor Drapeau can add once again to the glory of Montreal. By charging admission and selling television rights to Europe and South America, he might even get a lot of it back — assuming that Fischer shows up. And one thing about a chess match. It doesn't need a new stadium.
Austin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Thursday, April 20, 1972 - Page 6
Soviets Like Paris For Chess
Moscow (AP) - Soviet chess officials declared today that world champion Boris Spassky is willing to meet American challenger Bobby Fischer in Paris this summer.
Viktor D. Baturinsky, chairman of Moscow's chess club, said Paris was proposed by the Russians earlier this year as a site for the world championship match. But the suggestion was made with understanding the entire match would be held in Paris, he added.
Baturinsky said the Soviet Union has received no new proposal from the International Chess Federation—Organizers of the match—declared Spassky would have to make the decision on Paris.
In Paris, a spokesman for the French Chess Federation said it had no information about the possibility of organizing the match.
The original Paris offer of $50,000 to stage the match was turned down in favor of bigger purses pledged by Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Reykjavik, Iceland. The French federation has made no move since its offer was rejected.
The spokesman said it would be extremely difficult to find facilities for staging the match at short notice.
The matter of where and whether the match will be held is uncertain because of Fischer's refusal to accept the original financial arrangements.
The 24-match game originally was to be split between Belgrade and Reykjavik, starting June 22 in Belgrade.
But Belgrade withdrew as a host for the match, saying it could not be sure Fischer would appear. Amsterdam has been mentioned as an alternative site but there is opposition to that plan.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fort Worth, Texas Thursday, April 20, 1972 - Page 76
Chess King Willing to Stay in Paris
Moscow (Reuter) — World chess champion Boris Spassky of Russia is willing to meet challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States in Paris this summer provided the entire match is held there, according to Soviet chess officials.
The 1972 chess championship ran into difficulties last week when Yugoslavia decided not to stage the first half of the championship, which had been scheduled to begin June 22; the second half was fixed for Reykjavik, Iceland.
Officials of the Moscow Chess Club told journalists that Paris had been one of Spassky's initial suggestions as a site for the match.
They said he originally made the suggestion on the understanding the entire match would be held in Paris, adding that they have not received any new proposals on the subject from the International Chess Federation.
