AThe Kingston Daily Freeman Kingston, New York Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1
Tuesday Deadline For Bobby Fischer
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer's time runs out at 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday.
Fischer, the 29 year old Brooklyn chess genius, must turn up in Reykjavik by then or lose the right to challenge Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for the world championship, a match that has generated wider interest than any chess game in history.
Fischer, apparently bargaining for more money, was hiding out in New York while the great debate of “will he show up or won't he?” raged.
The 24-game series was to have started Sunday. But when Fischer didn't show the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Dr. Max Euwe, announced that he was postponing the deadline until noon Tuesday (8 a.m. EDT). If Fischer does not appear for the drawing of lots scheduled for that time, he will be disqualified and lose his right to challenge the 35-year-old Russian for the world chess title.
An Icelandic friend of Fischer, Freystrinn Thorberbergsson, flew to New York Sunday to try to persuade the American grand master to return with him. He said he was acting as “a friend of Bobby Fischer” and said only “I know where to find him.”
Fischer, who has kept the Icelandic organizers nervously rushing to Keflavik international airport to meet every flight from New York for a week, simply did not show up Sunday.
Officially there was no explanation. He has not been in touch with the Icelandic Chess Federation or FIDE since he sent a cable through the U.S. Chess Federation some time back saying he would show up for the match “under protest.”
Four times since then, Fischer has canceled bookings on flights to Iceland.
The Icelandic federation, which stands to lose much money if the match does not come off, pleaded for Fischer Sunday and convinced Euwe to postpone the start of the match 48 hours to give Fischer a last chance.
Tuesday Deadline For Bobby Fischer 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Kingston Daily Freeman (Kingston, New York) Newspapers.com
New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1
Chess Title Match Put Off Two Days On Plea by Fischer by Harold C. Schonberg
Reykjavik, Iceland, July 2—The president of the International Chess Federation has granted Bobby Fischer a two-day postponement of his world championship match with Boris Spassky, which was supposed to begin here today. But the president, Dr. Max Euwe, warned the American grandmaster that if he did not show up by noon Tuesday, he would forfeit the match.
Dr. Euwe, a Dutchman who was the world champion from 1935 to 1937, was pessimistic. “I think there will be no play at all,” he said.
Informed at breakfast that Fischer was still in New York, Spassky looked shocked and said: “This is bad for chess.”
As usual, neither Spassky nor any of those who accompanied the Soviet chess star here were available for direct comment on the decision to postpone the match. Dr. Euwe said the Russian had neither agreed nor disagreed with the ruling, but Spassky was quoted as saying that he had waited for more than a week and that he could wait another two days for the start of the 24-game match.
He was doing this, it was said, out of deference to his Icelandic hosts. Fred Cramer, representing Fischer, said that the Russians did not wish to retain the title on a technicality and that they had acted in a sportsmanlike manner.
If Fischer is disqualified, there is likely to be a long series of complicated legal battles.
The Russians, for example, are saying that the match officially started with last night's inaugural ceremony at the National Theater and that the 35-year-old Soviet champion would be the automatic winner by Fischer's disqualification. Thus, they say, he would be entitled to demand his 62.5 per cent of the $125,000 purse and Fischer would be entitled to nothing.
The Americans, however, contend that there can be no legal start to any chess match until the first move is made and the clock that times the players is punched. Dr. Euwe said that there was nothing in the International Chess Federation rules to cover this contingency: no player has ever been disqualified for not appearing for a championship match.
Possibility of Suit
There also is the possibility that the Icelandic Chess Federation will bring a suit against Fischer. The 29-year-old American has never signed a contract—he never signs anything—but he did send the International Chess Federation a telegram saying he would play the match in Iceland, under protest. That telegram would constitute legal acceptance, in the opinion of Dr. Euwe. The Icelandic Chess Federation stands to lose at least $75,000 is the match is not held.
According to Dr. Euwe, there would be no sanction beyond the disqualification—Fischer would not be barred from any future matches or tournaments and would be entitled, if he wished, to compete in the next round of eliminations for the championship.
Dr. Euwe said that as far as he knew, Fischer was remaining in New York because he was unhappy about the financial arrangements. This was confirmed by someone who wanted not to be identified who spoke to Fischer by telephone today. “Bobby sounded calm and reasonable,” the informant said. “His demands are entirely financial.”
Fischer has been asking for 30 per cent of the gate receipts in addition to a share of the purse, and his lawyer, Andrew Davis, has been here for several days. Mr. Davis has been negotiating with the Icelandic Chess Federation.
Last ditch efforts to save the match are in progress. Mr. Davis was still trying to work out a deal with the Icelandic Chess Federation, friends of Fischer are telephoning him, and an Icelandic chess player named Freystrinn Thorbergsson, who claims to be a close friend, flew to New York to try to persuade Fischer to come.
This morning Mr. Cramer said that two telegrams had been sent from New York to the Icelandic Chess Federation and had been lost. One telegram, he said, was from the United States Chess Federation and was a request for a postponement. The other was a doctor's certificate.
Mr. Cramer would not give the name of the doctor, but in recent days Fischer has been seeing Anthony Saidy, a chess master who also is a physician.
Dr. Euwe and Lothar Schmid, the referee, both said that they had not seen any telegrams. In any case, Dr. Euwe explained, the arrival of an unsupported medical certificate was meaningless.
The now-you-see-it-now-you-don't character of the chess match confused not only officials but also the public. Several hundred people showed up at the 3,000-seat sports hall, where tickets are sold for $5 each, and had to leave disappointed.
Icelander Arrives
Thorbergsson arrived here last night and said that he expected to remain in the country for “two or three days,” although he carried no baggage. He would not comment directly on his plan to persuade Fischer to return to Iceland, saying only that “I'll find him. I'm here to see Bobby as a friend.”
Fischer was staying last week at the home of Fred Saidy, Dr. Saidy's father and co-author of “Finian's Rainbow,” the musical about the filching of a pot of gold.
At Fred Saidy's Tudor-style house at 2 Cedar Lane, Douglaston, Queens, a man who declined to identify himself said yesterday that Mr. Fischer “was here until 48 hours ago.” He added that the chess champion would not want to talk to newsmen, and would not say where he had gone. Fischer has not been seen boarding any of the direct New York-to-Reykjavik flights, the next of which leaves at 7:30 tonight from Kennedy International Airport.
Anthony Saidy, reached by telephone, said yesterday that he was not Mr. Fischer's physician, and then added: “It might be of interest that telephone lines from Iceland are tapped.”
Col. Edmond Edmundson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation,s aid yesterday that “the federation always hopes Fischer plays,” but had not taken part in discussions on the match with Spassky.
Two New York television stations were still hoping to present reconstructions and analyses of the games, despite efforts by the Icelandic Chess Federation to bar simultaneous play-by-play dispatches by news organizations.
One was WNET-TV, Channel 13, a public broadcasting station, which presented an analysis yesterday by Shelby Lyman, an American chess master, of a 1970 match between Fischer and Spassky.
The other was Teleprompter Manhattan Cable TV, serving 45,000 subscribers in northern Manhattan, which put on an hour's commentary yesterday by the Rev. William Lombardy, a Roman Catholic priest who is one of 10 American grandmasters.
The Icelandic federation has made an agreement to give the World Chess Network all move-by-move broadcasts. In London, Henry Stampleman, a New York marketing consultant, said the network was a new corporation that he had started to help the Icelandic group get back some of its costs, and that outlets for the broadcasts were still being negotiated.
The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 3
British Banker Offers $130,000 Deal To Entice Fischer To Play Spassky For Chess Title
London (AP)—A British banker today offered Bobby Fischer a deal worth 50,000 pounds—$130,000 at official parity—to entice Fischer to play his Soviet rival Boris Spassky for the world title.
James D. Slater, an investment banker, said in making the offer, “Fischer has said that money is the problem. Well here it is. What I am saying to Fischer now is, ‘Come out and play.’”
Slater's offer was made through Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, and was immediately relayed to Fischer in New York, a spokesman for Slater said.
Fischer faces a noon Tuesday deadline to be in Reykjavik, Iceland, for his match with Spassky. The American champion was reported as saying he would not appear in Iceland unless his financial demands were met by the tournament organizers.
Slater, chairman of Slater Walker Securities, which has worldwide business affairs, has proposed a package containing several alternative offers.
One is to double the match's prize money, which is now $125,000. The winner would get $78,125 under present terms. An increased prize would mean that the winner gets $156,000 and the loser $104,000.
“The money is mine,” said Slater. “I hope the offer is being considered this afternoon. I like chess and have played it for years. Many want to see this match and everything has been arranged. If Fischer does not go to Iceland, many will be disappointed.”
Alternative Offer
The alternative is to give a straight $130,000 extra to the winner, making his prize money up to $208,000.
“The idea is to remove the problem of money from Fischer and see if he has any others,” said Slater.
In Moscow, the Soviet Chess Federation said Fischer merits disqualification because of his money demands and assailed Euwe as taking “the more than unseemly role of Fischer's defender.” (Blah blah blah. Blah.)
London bookmaker William Hill made Fischer odds-on favorite to defeat Spassky and gain the world championship. Fischer was quoted at 2-1 and Spassky at 6-to-4 against.
Image Caption: AWAITS CHALLENGER—Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, world chess champion, holds his thumb up outside hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland, awaiting arrival of Bobby Fischer.
Daily News New York, New York Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 181
Bobby Gets It Off His Chess: Money Stalemating Game by Robert Byrne
Reykjavik, Iceland, July 2—Rejecting alibis put forward by his own agents that illness caused by fatigue brought the two-day postponement of the world championship chess match, Bobby Fischer said today that he will not appear here unless his financial demands are met by the organizers.
Robert James (Bobby) Fischer, the “enfant terrible&rddquo; of the chess world, who has called himself the “unofficial world champion” for nearly a decade, said in an exclusive interview by phone from his New York hide-away that he is standing behind his demands for 30% of the gate receipts for the 24-game match with champion Boris Vasilyevich Spassky.
Heretofore Fischer's demand had been flatly rejected by Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation.
But Thorarinsson said that he still believed that “financial differences could be overcome.”
Fischer, 29, failed to appear today for the opening game with Spassky,35, at the 2,500-seat auditorium here. The match was postponed for two days to give the American challenger a last chance to play.
Spassky, the broad-shouldered champ from the Soviet Union, reluctantly agreed to the postponement idea raised by Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation.
“If he (Fischer) does not show up at noon on Tuesday (8 a.m. New York time) for the drawing of the lots,” Euwe said “he will be disqualified and lose the right to play for the title.”
In a move—taken without official approval—to get Fischer here, Freystinn Thorbergsson, a maverick member of the Icelandic Chess Federation and a friend of Fischer, flew to New York tonight to negotiate a compromise with Fischer on the financial demand.
Euwe said that the postponement was made primarily to protect the Icelandic financial backers of the match — who stand to lose $75,000 if it doesn't come off — and to preserve the image of the game.
The winner's end of the $125,000 purse is $78,000, and each player gets 30% of the income from the sale of film and TV rights. If Fischer refuses to appear, Spassky apparently will win by default.
Although the terms are 10 times greater than any prize money previously paid a chess player, Fischer insisted on adding his 30% gate receipt demand.
When Spassky won the title from another Russian, Tigran Petrosian, in the last championship event three years ago, the purse was $1,400.
Each player is permitted three postponements for medical reasons. They must be certified by the official match doctor. Before the Fischer interview in New York, Fred Cramer, here representing Fischer said two cablegrams—one from Fischer's doctor and the other from the United States Chess Federation—had been sent here, but both were lost. He indicated the cables called for a postponement because of Fischer's health.
The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 4
Drama
Not many years ago a chess tournament was a perfect place to be if you wanted to be completely ignored by the press and the other media. Nobody but chess players was interested.
Terrible-tempered and money conscious Bobby Fischer, America's chess champion and quite possibly one of the great players in the history of the game, has changed all that. The tournament scheduled in Iceland Sunday between Fischer and Russia's world champion Boris Spassky is getting more publicity than any in recent history, thanks to Fischer. Before he moved his first pawn on the board, he caused an uproar by not appearing in Reykjavik when expected and stirring rumors about demanding 30 per cent of the gate over his share of the $125,000 purse.
If the drama on the chess board is as intense as the drama around it, chess enthusiasts are in for an exciting tournament indeed.
Drama 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Newspapers.com
Fort Lauderdale News Fort Lauderdale, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 2
Fischer, Chess Unit Deadlocked
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The world chess championship was threatened with collapse today 24 hours before Bobby Fischer's deadline to show up or forfeit his match with Boris Spassky of Russia.
Fischer, the American chess champion, was reported sticking to his demand for more money. He told the New York Daily News he wouldn't yield.
The six-man board of the sponsoring Icelandic Chess Federation was reported unanimously opposed to paying Fischer the extra money.
One board member call Fischer's gambit “a blatant attempt at extortion.”
The board met until the early hours today with Fischer's lawyer, Andrew Davis. A spokesman said there was no progress.
As the deadline approached, the board met again and decided not to concede to Fischer's demands for more money.
Some chess experts who have gathered here from distant parts of the world for what promised to be the match of the century expressed a belief that Fischer, in the end, would sabotage the championship.
Among the more optimistic was Larry Evans, a former American champion. He said, “I say there was a 50-50 chance he will come.” ([Which is saying nothing of importance at all.])
One Swedish expert left for home in disgust.
Icelanders themselves, though they may not believe Fischer will come, have made no great rush to return the tickets they purchased for the match.
Fischer's 24-game match with the Russian world's champion was to have begun yesterday, and the president of the world federation, Dr. Max Euwe, announced if the American challenger failed to show up by noon tomorrow he would risk forfeiting his chance at the title.
Euwe said his personal opinion was that “there will be no play at all.”
The Russians reluctantly accepted Euwe's decision to delay the match. Asked what he thought of the situation, Spassky replied: “I came to play.”
An Icelandic chess player and longtime friend of Fischer, Freystrinn Thorbergsson, flew to New York and said he would try to persuade Fischer to meet the deadline tomorrow.
Muncie Evening Press Muncie, Indiana Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 9
Chessman Fischer Fails to Check In by Ian Westergren
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) - Bobby Fischer's time runs out at 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday.
Fischer, the 29-year-old Brooklyn chess genius, must turn up in Reykjavik by then or lose the right to challenge Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for the world championship, a match that has generated wider interest than any chess game in history.
Fischer, apparently bargaining for more money, was hiding out in New York while the great debate of “will he show up or won't he?” raged.
The 24-game series was to have started Sunday. But when Fischer didn't show the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Dr. Max Euwe, announced that he was postponing the deadline until noon Tuesday (8 a.m. EDT). If Fischer does not appear for the drawing of lots scheduled for that time, he will be disqualified and lose his right to challenge the 35-year-old Russian for the world chess title.
Friend Flies to N.Y. to Persuade Bobby
An Icelandic friend of Fischer, Freystrinn Thorbergsson, flew to New York Sunday to try to persuade the American grand master to return with him. He said he was acting as “a friend of Bobby Fischer” and said only “I know where to find him.” He refused to answer other questions.
Fischer, who has kept the Icelandic organizers nervously rushing to Keflavik international airport to meet every flight from New York for a week, simply did not show up Sunday.
Officially there was no explanation. He has not been in touch with the Icelandic Chess Federation or FIDE since he sent a cable through the U.S. Chess Federation some time back saying he would show up for the match “under protest.”
Four times since then, Fischer has canceled bookings on flights to Iceland.
The Icelandic federation, which stands to lose much money if the match does not come off, pleaded for Fischer Sunday and convinced Euwe to postpone the start of the match 48 hours to give Fischer a last chance.
Victoria Advocate Victoria, Texas Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1
Chess Disaster Looms by Joe Alex Morrison, Jr., Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service.
Reykjavik, Iceland — The ballad of Bobby Fischer has already been written.
Here is Iceland, the classic form of epic poem is called the saga. And Bobby Fischer himself is in the middle of creating one.
He's getting some notable assistance from an incredible cast of characters, mostly Americans, but no one can challenge his top billing in turning what should have been an epic-making match into an epochal disaster.
The 29-year-old American challenger for the world chess crown is playing no show. His tactics have made a shambles of what was supposed to be the most exciting chess match of the century, or perhaps ever.
The first of 24 matches against Boris Spassky, the 35-year-old Russian world champion was to start at 5 p.m. Sunday (local time). Instead, a hastily pencilled sign on the glass door of Lagurdur Hall said simply: “No Match Today.”
And the burning question was: Will there be a match after all?
The authorities were throwing rules and precedents to the wind in a desperate effort to save the championship and rescue the Icelandic Chess Federation from financial disaster. After endless conferences with Russians, American and Icelanders, and after several hours of soul-searching, Dr. Max Euwe, the World Chess Federation president, announced a two-day postponement.
The Russians protested that the step was illegal ([so was that 35K “guarantee” demanded by Belgrade, but the Soviet agreed with illegal demands, when expedient to their own personal advantage]), and Dr. Euwe agreed with them ([and Ed Edmondson agreed the Belgrade organizer demand of 35K was “illegal”]). But he appealed to them to take a sporting attitude, particularly for the sake of the host country, and they did.
The delay had been requested by Americans here who claim to represent Fischer. Dr. Euwe pointed out it was an extraordinary position to put him in, because none of the Americans have any written authorization from Fischer to represent him.
To further cloud a truly Byzantine situation, the Americans based their request on two cables from New York, one from the head of the American chess Federation and the second from a doctor who is a friend of Fischer.
The cables, if they exist, never arrived.
If any event, Dr. Euwe made his decision in spite of the American tactics, not because of them. He also dispatched an Icelandic chess player and friend of Fischer's to New York to try and persuade the reluctant giant to get here by noon Tuesday, but Dr. Euwe was not optimistic.
“I think there will be no play at all,” he said. “Fischer doesn't recognize all we are doing here.”
The American challenger has refused to sign the match agreement, and he is not even personally committed to playing in Reykjavik. The cabled agreement came from the American Federation president, who said Fischer had authorized him to say he would compete, but under protest.
The problems appear to be psychological, pathological and financial.
“Bobby wants to come but he is afraid he will lose,” said a Yugoslav Grand Master ([who is part of the Soviet Machinery.]) That's the psychological reason.
“He has a pathological fear and hatred of the press which so far has caused him to miss four planes to Iceland.
“And he wants the players to get a 30 per cent cut of the gate in addition to the $125,000 combined purse. ([which, is peanuts compared to the offers made by Australia and Mexico among other bids.])
In contrast to Fischer, Boris Spassky has been a model of good behavior. ([Not according to Spassky, years later. While Fischer's battle with chess officials made headlines, in private Spassky raised his own battles with the Soviet Federation, says Spassky, 1985. The Soviet regime extracted “good behavior” thru fear of being “dragged on the carpet”, as with Taimanov and Petrosian for losing those matches!]) He arrived a week early and has not raised a bundle of complaints, as have the Americans, about the physical layout for the match.
Spassky turned up promptly Sunday morning for the chess equivalent of boxing's weigh-in — the drawing of lots to see who plays white, or first, in the first game.
He was a picture of good humor as he strolled through the lobby of the Loftleidir Hotel, his hands jammed into both pockets of his fawn slacks. Like any good boxer, he was surrounded by three burly seconds, but he did not ask them to keep the hordes of photographers at bay. There was, of course, now weigh-in. Instead, a multi-faction huddle took place behind closed doors to see what to do next.
The Icelanders are trying desperately to persuade the Russians that the match really won't start until the first piece is moved on the green and white marble chessboard.
If their argument prevails, it means they probably won't have to pay out the prize money. If the Russians prevail, Spassky will be declared the winner should Fischer fail to show up.
Another related problem is that, should there be no match here, Spassky would be obligated to play the next-highest challenger, another Russian named Tigran Petrosian.
To further complicate matters, Fischer may claim the loser's purse even if he doesn't show up.
If Fischer does appear Tuesday, does this mean he has used up one of his three authorized rights to postpone? Dr. Euwe was not ready to answer that one either.
Despite all the mind-bending and knuckle-rapping going on in the eternal daylight of midsummer here, one thing appeared absolutely certain: If Bobby Fischer fails to show up by noon Tuesday, it is all over.
“He has to be here before noon Tuesday,” said Dr. Euwe, with a note of finality in his voice which previously had been missing.
That could be the last chapter in the saga of Bobby Fischer.
The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 35
Tomorrow Deadline for Fischer
New York - (UPI) - Bobby Fischer, the American chess champion who was scheduled to begin play for the world title in Iceland remained in seclusion in New York yesterday while his lawyers tried to work out better financial terms.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE), which had threatened to bar Fischer, 29, permanently from world championship play if he failed to appear for the first game against Russian world champion Boris Spassky yesterday at 1 p.m. EDT, relented at the last minute and gave him a two-day extension.
An Icelandic friend of Fischer's, Freystein Thorbergsson, was flying to New York last night to try to persuade him to go to Reykjavik and play the match.
Fischer changed his mind at the last minute about boarding a flight to Reykjavik last week and was not on the last direct flight to the Icelandic capital Saturday night.
Whether Fischer would meet the Tuesday deadline might well hinge on whether his representatives in Iceland could come to terms with the Icelandic Chess Federation, sponsor of the match, on his share of the take, chess sources said.
The original agreement was for the winner to get five eighths of a $125,000 prize plus 30 per cent of television, but Fischer recently asked for 60 per cent of the television money and an additional 30 per cent of the gate.
Fischer's whereabouts were not disclosed but he was reported earlier this weekend staying with a doctor in the New York borough of Queens.
Tomorrow Deadline for Fischer 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com
The Burlington Free Press Burlington, Vermont Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 24
Chess King Fischer Must Decide by Tuesday
Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) - Bobby Fischer was given a Tuesday noon deadline to appear for the world chess championship or forfeit his chance for the title.
The ultimatum, announced Sunday by Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, meant a two-day postponement of Fischer's encounter with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The match was to have started at 5 p.m. Sunday, Iceland time.
Euwe said a friend of the American challenger was leaving for New York “to talk with him.”
“He will try to convince him to appear. I can't say who it is,” he added.
Fischer refused to play the match after officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation balked at his last-minute demands for more money, in addition to a record purse already contracted for.
Fischer and Spassky were to have a guaranteed share of $125,000 — the winner taking five-eighths — plus 30 per cent each of income from the sale of film and television rights. This alone was 10 times greater than any prize money ever paid to a chess player. ([Not failing to mention, Australia offered $225,000 and Mexico bid $175,000 but the Soviet delegation were seeking to censor coverage of the match to salvage their prestige at the expense of the game and good sportsmanship. In other words, they're sore losers, poor sportsmanship.]) Fischer wants additional 30 per cent of the gate receipts.
Faces with a decision of disqualifying Fischer immediately or granting reprieve, Euwe chose the path he said would best protect the host organization.
Fischer's representatives here had asked for a postponement on the basis of illness. They said the American was suffering fatigue.
The rules require that a postponement for illness must be certified by a doctor that the host organization chooses. Typical of confusion surrounding preparations for the match, the federation doctor, Ulfar Thordarson, left for his country house early Sunday morning.
The Russian side reluctantly accepted Euwe's decision. Spassky was asked what he thought of the situation and the 35-year-old champion replied: “I came to play.”
At a late afternoon news conference where he announced the decision on the postponement, Euwe said: “I think there will be no play at all. That is my personal opinion.”
Euwe had said earlier that cancellation would be “a great loss in many respects for the Icelandic organizers who have a great investment at state and for the game of chess itself.”
Americans claiming to represent Fischer here did not want Fischer disqualified.
“One of the troubles is that there is no one here who can act on the authority of Fischer,” Euwe added.
“The situation is extremely difficult.”
By his tone Euwe seemed to favor the alternative he described as “just postponing the first game for two days. And if Fischer is not here by Tuesday at noon at the drawing of lots he loses all right.”
Chess King Fischer Must Decide by Tuesday 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont) Newspapers.com
The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1
Fischer Absent; Chess Opener Postponed 2 Days
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) - Bobby Fischer failed to appear for the opening game in his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union Sunday but the match was postponed for two days to give the American challenger one more chance to play.
“The simplest and maybe correct way to deal with this would be to disqualify Fischer from championship play,” Dr. Max Euwe, president of the (FIDE), said in announcing the postponement.
THE POSTPONEMENT was made primarily to protect the Icelandic financial backers of the match and to preserve the image of the game itself, Euwe said.
Robert Byrne, an American grandmaster, by phone from Reykjavik Sunday. “He said he was not fatigued and he was not sick,” Byrne said. “He won't come because they (the organizers) are not meeting his financial demands.”
Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said he still believed that the “financial differences could be overcome.” He said Fischer also had demanded very strong security measures to protect him from newsmen and fans.
IF FISCHER does not appear for the drawing of lots now scheduled for Tuesday at noon, he will be disqualified and lose his right to challenge the 35-year-old Russian for the world chess title, Euwe said.
The match between Fischer, 29, and Spassky originally was to have begun at 5 p.m. Sunday in a Reykjavik theater especially outfitted to suit the demands of both players. Spassky arrived early last week.
In announcing the decision to postpone the opening of the 24-game match, Euwe said an Icelandic friend of Fischer, flying to New York “to try to persuade Fischer to come here and play the match.”
IF HE DOES not show up at noon on Tuesday for the drawing of lot,” Euwe said “he will be disqualified and lose the right to play for the title.”
Fischer, unhappy over the financial terms arranged for the match, three times canceled flights from New York last week and he failed to board the last direct flight that would have gotten him to Iceland on time Saturday night.
Each player is permitted three postponements for medical reasons but these must be certified by the official match doctor.
FRED CRAMER, representing the 29-year-old challenger said two cablegrams had been sent from the United States to Reykjavik—one from Fischer's physician and one from the U.S. Chess Federation—but he said both had been lost.
He indicated that the cablegrams called for a postponement because of the state of Fischer's health.
Euwe said the postponement was made after he and the official arbiter for the match, Chess Grand Master Lothar Schmid of Germany, asked Spassky and his assistants if they would concur.
Neither the promoters nor Cramer's representatives would say whether the financial problem had been settled. Chess sources said this was the major stumbling block.
Fischer Absent; Chess Opener Postponed 2 Days 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) Newspapers.com
Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 5
Chessmen Refuse Fischer's Demands
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) - The Icelandic Chess Federation refused today to meet U.S. chess challenger Bobby Fischer's demands for more money to play the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky for the world championship.
“A dangerous precedent would be created if we gave in to Fischer. He is threatening to kill the game of chess by insisting on his own conditions,” ([Nonsense. Chess has never been so popular or profitable. Stubborness is not a badge of honor.]) said Gudmundur Einarsson, a member of the Icelandic organization committee.
The 24-game Fischer-Spassky match was scheduled to start Sunday but was postponed until Tuesday by Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Fischer, 29, is hiding out in New York, apparently in a move to force the sponsors of the match to pay him more money for playing Spassky.
Show Up or Forfeit
If Fischer does not show up by noon Tuesday (8 a.m. EDT), he will be disqualified and lose his right to challenge the 35-year-old Russian.
In Hilversum, the Netherlands, Max Euwe told the Dutch radio in a telephone interview that neither the world federation nor Iceland was willing to accept Fischer's additional financial demands.
“However,” Euwe said, “if the American Chess Federation would be willing to pay extra to Fischer, the world federation would not mind.”
Euwe stressed that if this solution would be possible the world federation and the Icelandic chess federation would accept it but would be no parties to it.
An Icelandic friend of Fischer, Freystrinn Thorbergsson, flew to New York Sunday to try to persuade the American grand master to return with him. He said he was acting as “a friend of Bobby Fischer” and said only “I know where to find him.” He refused to answer other questions.
Fischer, who has kept the Icelandic organizers nervously rushing to Keflavik international airport to meet every flight from New York for a week, simply did not show up Sunday.
Four Bookings Canceled
Officially there was no explanation. He has not been in touch with the Icelandic Chess Federation or FIDE since he sent a cable through the U.S. Chess Federation some time back saying he would show up for the match “under protest.”
Four times since then, Fischer has canceled bookings on flights to Iceland.
The Icelandic federation, which stands to lose much money if the match does not come off, pleaded for Fischer, Sunday and convinced Euwe to postpone the start of the match 48 hours to give Fischer a last chance.
Spassky Undisturbed
“But I am not very hopeful,” said Euwe, the last non-Russian to hold the world title from 1935 to 1937. He is Dutch.
The decision came after several rounds of closed negotiations involving Spassky, Euwe, the Icelandic organizers and Americans representing Fischer but not authorized by him to negotiate.
Spassky appeared undisturbed by the crisis surrounding his first defense of the title he won in 1969 from fellow countryman Tigran Petrosian.
Fischer Wants More
He was calm and relaxed in Sunday's negotiations and his seconds said he was in fine spirits.
The total prize money of $125,000—more than ten times bigger than any before in the history of chess ([not to dismiss the bids by Australia and Mexico which were a whopping $225,000, with $200,000 in prize money, and Mexico with a bid of $175,000! but the Soviets would have nothing to do with such a thing. It might inspire too many non-Soviets as challengers.])—will be split with five-eighths to the winner and the rest to the loser. On top of this the two players are guaranteed 30 per cent of net incomes on televisions and film rights.
But Fischer wants more. He has asked the Icelandic organization for a 30 per cent share of the gate receipts—something which in the words of Icelandic Chess Federation president Gudmundur Thorarinsson would spell “economic disaster” for the tiny federation in a nation of only 200,000 inhabitants ([backed by the all-powerful Soviet Empire and their accomplice, Chester Fox who has rigged the contract to later sue Fischer for 3.3 million when he denies access to Fox's noisy cameramen.])
Honolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 7
Bulletin
London (AP)—A British banker said today Bobby Fischer had accepted a deal worth 50,000 pounds—$130,000 at official parity—and was flying to Iceland to meet Russia's Boris Spassky for the chess world title.
Bulletin 03 Jul 1972, Mon Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii) Newspapers.com
El Paso Times El Paso, Texas Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 7
Fischer Given Chess Match Extension
NYTimes, Reykjavik, Iceland - Bobby Fischer, who still has not arrived here for his championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, has been granted a two-day extension, until noon on Tuesday, to appear here. If he does not show up by then he will be disqualified from the match, which had been scheduled to start Sunday at 5 p.m. local time.
The La Crosse Tribune La Crosse, Wisconsin Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 17
Chess Match Postponed
by Stephen Broening, Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) - The International Chess Federation gave Bobby Fischer two days' grace Sunday to appear for the world chess championship as a friend of the reluctant challenger flew to the United States in an attempt to coax him to Reykjavik.
Fischer was believed in New York when Dr. Max Euwe, the international federation's president, announced the postponement. The first game in Fischer's 24-game match with world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union was set back from 5 p.m. Sunday—1 p.m. EDT—to the same time Tuesday.
Euwe said Fischer must show by noon Tuesday or risk forfeiting his chance at Spassky and the title.
Freystrinn Thorberbergsson, an Icelandic chess player and longtime friend of Fischer, flew to New York on Sunday night to try to persuade him to show up in time for the Tuesday match.
Thorberbergsson, arriving at Kennedy Airport without luggage, was reluctant to talk about the trip. He said only that he expected to remain in the United States two or three days and that he had come to see Fischer “as a friend” in an effort to persuade him to meet the deadline.
Fischer refused to play the match after officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation balked at his last-minute demands for more money, in addition to a record purse already contracted for.
Fischer and Spassky were to have a guaranteed share of $125,000—the winner taking five-eighths—plus 30 per cent each of income from the sale of film and television rights. This alone was 10 times greater than any prize money ever paid to a chess player. Fischer wants an additional 30 per cent of the gate receipts.
Faced with a decision of disqualifying Fischer immediately or granting reprieve, Euwe chose the path he said would best protect the host organization.
Fischer's representatives here had asked for a postponement on the basis of illness. They said the American was suffering fatigue.
The rules require that a postponement for illness must be certified by a doctor that the host organization chooses. Typical of confusion surrounding preparations for the match, the federation doctor, Ulfar Thordarson, left for his country house early Sunday morning.
Spassky was asked what he thought of the situation and the 35-year-old champion replied: “I came to play.”
At a late afternoon news conference where he announced the decision on the postponement, Euwe said: “I think there will be no play at all. That is my personal opinion.”
Euwe had said earlier that cancellation would be “a great loss in many respects for the Icelandic organizers who have a great investment at stake and for the game of chess itself.”
Americans claiming to represent Fischer here did not want Fischer disqualified.
“One of the troubles is that there is no one here who can act on the authority of Fischer,” Euwe added. “The situation is extremely difficult.”
Euwe said “if Fischer is not here by Tuesday at noon at the drawing of lots he loses all rights.”
Fred Cramer, one of several Americans here claiming to speak for Fischer, said he had the impression the Russians wanted the match played.
Cramer claimed two telegrams supporting Fischer's claim of illness had been lost. He said one was from his physician, the other from the U.S. Chess Federation.
Chess Match Postponed 03 Jul 1972, Mon The La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Newspapers.com
The Charlotte News Charlotte, North Carolina Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 18
The Chess Connection: Chess World Awaits Fischer's Arrival
It's no coincidence that foreign policy impresarios like Henry Kissinger often look upon big power negotiations as if they were moves in a giant chess match. For when contestants who really are professional chess players come to glare across the table at each other, all the world itself might as well be at stake.
Such was the case this weekend, when enthusiasts around the world followed the eleventh hour hold-out of chess wizard Bobby Fischer, who was scheduled to begin yesterday the long-awaited world championship series against reigning champion Boris Spassky of Russia. Fischer's last-minute refusal to arrive at the Icelandic playing site on time is typical of the tense brand of psychological warfare that is conducted in pre-match maneuverings.
For if the big power negotiators borrow their terminology from the game of chess, so the chess masters in turn get their pre-game strategies from the thickets of international diplomacy. Aside from his holdout, for example, Fischer has been training since March in the seclusion of the Catskill mountains in New York—poring over charts of past Spassky matches, practicing on his board for hours at a time, lifting weights and playing tennis to build physical stamina for the long weeks of play ahead, and typically shunning reporters.
For his part, Spassky showed up early and confident at the playing site in Iceland—as every champion must be seen doing, regardless of his fear for his opponent. As part of the running psychological warfare between the two men, Spassky granted a rare press conference upon his arrival last week, a move that did not cover up the fact that a bustling team of four advance men from Russia had smoothed his passage there.
Spassky, of course, is not casual about defending his crown, even though he has not lost to Fischer in past meetings. Like other Russian athletes, he is supported and pampered by the state, and commands an enormous and enthusiastic following at home. The magnitude of this particular match, long in offing, is reflected in the size of the $125,000 purse—a tribute to the prestige Fischer has brought the game since his meteoric rise as a child prodigy a decade ago.
Even if Fischer had arrived on schedule, the match undoubtedly would not have gotten off to a smooth start. There has already been considerable haggling over matters such as the level of noise in the auditorium (Fischer wants the players' chairs bolted to the floor), the exact temperature in the room (Fischer wants 70 degrees, Spassky 75) and the degree of lighting on the chess board itself.
In this context, Fischer himself is a true representative of his country, for better and for worse. He is a fiercely individualistic and competitive to the point of disarming opponents — a quality bordering on egocentricity that has led many to criticize him for his habit of walking out on tournaments not precisely to his liking. ([Fischer was CORRECT to walk out on the tournament in Tunisia, since the organizers chose to act in an antisemitic fashion, discriminating against Fischer, based on religion and his observance of our Sabbath at the time. The other walk out during the Reshevsky-Fischer, was due to the referee, Irving Rivise, illegally, changing the schedule to suit his own personal commute to the San Francisco Open tournament. Rivise illegally changed the schedule without Fischer's consent then illegally forfeited the game in Reshevsky's favor. Fischer had every right to object to organizers' discrimination and bullying.]) At the same time, he is quick to point out that the officials who arrange such matches often enjoy using the chess players as pawns in a larger and lucrative financial game of their own.
In the past, Fischer has also been particularly critical of Russian chess circles for being too reluctant to put their stable of titles on the line for other players to challenge. But if and when the two men actually sit down across the chess board—with a packed house of 2,500 on hand to watch—all the pregame shenanigans are likely to disappear in the deadly silence of play. As Spassky remarked in concluding his press conference last week, “While seated at the chess board, I am a chess player and not a politician.”
The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 14
Fischer Given Two Days to Get to Iceland by Harold C. Schonberg
NY Times Service, Reykjavik, Iceland — Bobby Fischer, who still has not arrived here for his championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, has been granted a two-day extension until noon Tuesday, to appear here. If he does not show up by then, he will be disqualified from the match, which had been scheduled to start Sunday at 5 p.m.
The decision to grant Fischer an extension was made by Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam, President of the International Chess Federation. Euwe, the world's chess champion from 1935 to 1937, was pessimistic. “I think there will be no play at all,” he said.
The Russians were not available for direct comment, but Euwe said Spassky has neither agreed nor disagreed with the ruling. Spassky, however, was quoted as saying that he had waited over a week and that he could wait another two days. He was reportedly doing this out of deference to his Icelandic hosts. Fred Cramer, representing Fischer, said the Russians did not wish to retain the title on a technicality, and had acted in a sportsmanlike manner. ([Actually, Spassky clarified in a 1985 interview, the Soviet delegation wanted to, but it was Spassky himself who refused to claim the title based on a technicality. Spassky's private battles with Soviet Chess Federation seldom to never, made public headlines.])
If Fischer is disqualified, a series of complicated legal battles is expected. There is, for instance, the matter of the prize money. If it is decided that the Spassky-Fischer match never legally started, there will be no problem. But if the match has indeed started, Spassky will be the automatic winner because of Fischer's disqualification, and he will be entitled to demand 62.5 per cent of the $125,000 purse. Fischer will entitled to nothing.
The Russians already are claiming that the match officially started Saturday night. Others claim there can be no legal start to any chess match until the first move is made and the clock punched. Euwe said there was nothing in the International Chess Federation rules to cover this contingency. No player previously has been disqualified for not appearing for a championship match.
“New rules will have to be formulated,” Euwe said rather grimly. “Brand new rules.”
According to Euwe, there will be no sanctions against Fischer. This disqualification does not apply to any future match or tournament in which he is involved. Fischer will be entitled, if he wishes, to compete in the next round of eliminations for the championship.
Euwe said that as far as he knew, Fischer was remaining in New York because he was unhappy about the financial arrangements for the match. This was confirmed by a source who spoke to Fischer on the telephone Saturday, “Bobby sounded calm and reasonable,” the source said. “His demands are entirely financial.”
Fischer has been asking for 30 per cent of the gate receipts, and his lawyer, Andrew Davis, has been here for several days. Davis has been negotiating with the Icelandic Chess Federation.
Last-ditch efforts to save the match are in progress. The latest reports were that Davis was still trying to work out an arrangement with the Icelandic Chess Federation. It was also learned that an Icelandic chess player, Freystrinn Thorbergsson, who claims to be a close friend of Fischer, was flying to New York Sunday night to try to persuade him to come. Thorbergsson has taken this task upon himself, and the Icelandic Chess Federation is reportedly not very happy about it.
The Herald Jasper, Indiana Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 12
Awaits Challenger — Russian champion Boris Spassky, left, chats with American chess grandmaster Robert Byrne, right, in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sunday. Byrne said he spoke with American chess champion Bobby Fischer by phone Sunday and “he said he was not fatigued and he was not sick. He won't come (to Iceland) because they (the organizers) are not meeting his financial demands.” (United Press International)
The Miami News Miami, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 39
$125,000 Bonus Offered to Lure Fischer
Reuter — Jim Slater, one of London's youngest self-made millionaires, today offered $125,000 from his own pocket to entice U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer to play against his Soviet rival Boris Spassky.
Fischer has been given until noon tomorrow to sign on at the world chess championship arena at Reykjavik, Iceland. So far he has shown no sign of keeping his engagement, the reason apparently being that he is dissatisfied with the amount of cash at stake.
The prospect that the Fischer versus Spassky match might have to be called off has upset chess enthusiasts throughout the world.
Slater, head of the Slater Walker Securities Investment group, London's fastest growing financial empire, has turned to chess as a relaxation.
Today he offered through the International Chess Federation to double the match prize money.
Slater said, “I like chess and have played it for years. In the hope that this match can be saved, I am offering to boost the prize money.
“The money is mine. I hope my offer will help remove the problem of money from Fischer so that the match can go ahead,” he said.
$125,000 Bonus Offered to Lure Fischer 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Miami News (Miami, Florida) Newspapers.com
