ADetroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Saturday, April 29, 1972 - Page 40
Another Chess Bid
James Mason, a Melbourne entrepreneur, Friday offered to put up $122,000 to stage the first leg of the world chess championship in Australia between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
The offer was cabled to Prof. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Amsterdam. If accepted the match would take place in Melbourne.
Belgrade organizers backed out of their original agreement to hold the match there when Fischer demanded a larger share of the profits from the match.
Iceland has offered to stage both matches in the series. A spokesman for FIDE Friday said the offer, received two days ago, was being made on condition that “both Spassky and Fischer are firmly prepared to play the entire match in Iceland.”
Meanwhile in Moscow, a Soviet newspaper Friday accused the head of FIDE of unscrupulous bias in favor of Fischer. Sovietsky Sport, a daily sports newspaper, said the attitude of FIDE President Euwe had been “obviously tendentious” to the disadvantage of Spassky.
The paper's chess commentator said Euwe proved his bias when FIDE took no action against Fischer for the breakdown of the arrangements. ([Why should Euwe have taken action against Fischer who broke no rule, when it was Belgrade who broke the contract and demanded an illegal 35K “guarantee” from the players. Upon a failure to receive the extorted funds, Belgrade broke its end of the contract, altogether.])
The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, April 29, 1972 - Page 2
Mexicans Seek Chess
Amsterdam (AP) — Mexico made a bid today to host the world chess championship between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States.
A World Chess Federation (FIDE) spokesman said the Mexican Chess Federation had offered the highest purse yet — $175,000 — for the privilege of staging the 24-match contest in Mexico.
But the Mexicans said they would need a firm guarantee that both contestants would show up for the 24-game contest.
Iceland already has told FIDE it is willing to stage the entire event in Reykjavik.
Under an earlier agreement, half of the match was to be played in Reykjavik and the other half in Belgrade. But Belgrade backed out after Fischer demanded a share in the profits above the $138,000 offered.
The Yugoslav city of Sarajevo has said it is also willing to stage the contest.
The Soviet Chess Federation representing Spassky has told FIDE that it favors Iceland for the match. Fischer's views are unknown.
The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Saturday, April 29, 1972 - Page 6
Sarajevo to Open Play In World Chess Match
By David Spurr
Belgrade (UPI) — Promoters in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, said Friday they have “replied favorably” to an International Chess Federation (FIDE) offer to play host to the first leg of a world championship match between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and his American challenger Robert (Bobby) Fischer.
But the organizers said they could not longer offer the $120,000 originally bid for the match more than two months ago.
“The previous conditions are out of the question.” a director of the huge Skenderija sports palace said. “We are now under more financial pressure and the entire situation has been complicated.” he said.
“We replied favorably to an offer from FIDE President Max Euwe asking us if we could stage the first part of the Fischer-Spassky match,” he said. “We are now waiting for Fide's answer.”
An FIDE spokesman said Friday any proposals for organizing the first leg of the championship matches would have to await Euwe's return to Amsterdam next week from a chess-promoting world tour.
Sarajevo was turned down earlier in favor of a match split into two phases in Belgrade and Reykjavik, Iceland. Belgrade backed out late last month when Fischer, of Brooklyn, N.Y.. refused to agree on financial arrangements with organizers in the Yugoslav capital.
New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, April 29, 1972 - Page 17
Australia Will Bid On Chess Title Play
Adelaide, Australia, April 28—Australia is expected to bid tomorrow for the staging of the first half of the 24-game world chess title match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and the champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
G. Koshnitsky, organizing secretary of the Australian Chess Federation, said here tonight that a Melbourne entrepreneur, J.E. Mason, had told the Victoria Chess Federation he was willing to raise $133,760 to sponsor the event.
“As soon as I receive confirmation by telegram of this offer tomorrow, I will cable Australia's application to Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation in Amsterdam, Mr. Koshnitsky said.
If the first 12 games are played in Australia, the venue would probably be Melbourne. Originally the first 12 games were planned for Belgrade, but Yugoslavia canceled her sponsorship after a dispute with Fischer over prize money. The second half of the match is scheduled for Reykjavik, Iceland.
