The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio Saturday, July 29, 1972 - Page 14
ABC Cancels Out Of Chess Match
New York (UPI)—The American Broadcasting Co. Friday pulled out of the world championship chess match between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and American challenger Bobby Fischer because of Fischer's objections to the cameras.
In response to Fischer's demand for an apology for filming the eighth game of the match Thursday without his knowledge. ABC expressed its regret for the “misunderstanding” and said it had canceled plans to broadcast that film Saturday on “ABC's Wide World of Sports” program.
ABC, which had purchased television rights to the match before it began, advised Fischer of its decisions in a telegram sent to him in Reykjavik, Iceland, where the match is under way. The telegram was signed by Roone Arledge, president of ABC Sports.
Fischer and Spassky were to have received about $25,000 each from television film rights on the match, the balance of the approximately $125,000 going to the Icelandic Chess Federation which organized it and put up half of the $250,000 purse.
Although Fischer's attorney, Paul Marshall, signed a specific agreement with ABC for television filming of the eighth game Thursday, Fischer said afterward that he had not signed the agreement and had personally reserved to himself that right. Fischer did not know the game, which he won, was being filmed, learning of it only afterward from a radio newscast in Reykjavik.
The American challenger Friday demanded an apology from all concerned and threatened to withdraw from the match unless television cameras were removed from the playing hall.
“I regret any misunderstanding which may exist over the filming of yesterday's chess match,” Arledge said in his telegram to Fischer.
“Obviously the cameras must have been unobtrusive since there had not been an objection either during or immediately after the game, and we are sorry that you were unaware of their placement.”
The eighth game was recorded by television crewmen and was scheduled to be telecast in the United States today on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
The television recording was made after Paul Marshall, Fischer's lawyer, signed an agreement with ABC on Fischer's behalf and flew back to New York. Fischer said Friday he reserved the right to sign any television agreement personally.
“I don't understand it,” said ABC Producer Lorne Hassan. “I saw Bobby during the night and he gave me his word that cameras could film this great match once we worked out the details with Marshall.”
Fischer has objected to television cameras in the playing hall since the first game, calling them the “evil eyes.” He refused to play in the second game when match organizers refused to removed the cameras, forfeiting the point to Spassky.
