April 1972

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April 01, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 25 — Armed With 'Big Red Book,' Fischer Trains to Meet Spassky by Martin Arnold — Ferndale, N.Y., March 31—Nearly always, when he is seen, he is carrying or reading what is jokingly called “the big red book” to distinguish it from “Quotations From Chairman Mao,” which is a little red book. Bound in red velvet, the big book contains the chess games of Boris Spassky, the Russian, who is the world champion, and for Bobby Fischer it is every bit as important as the sparring partners boxing champions drag up to this 1,000-acre resort when they are in training. For a month now, Fischer has been in training at Grossinger's just as hundreds have trained here before for a world championship. Nonetheless, all over the world except perhaps in the Soviet Union, chess “patzers” — woodpushers, or chess duffers — are afraid that Fischer, who is already considered the terror of international chess, has talked himself out of a crack at the championship. Today, for instance, the Yugoslavian sponsors of the first half of the tournament said that they could not possibly organize the match to start June 22 as scheduled because of Fischer's sudden objections to the financial arrangements.
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• Orlando Evening Star, Orlando, Florida, Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Czars Threaten To Disqualify Fischer —Amsterdam (UPI) — The International Chess Federation (FIDE) offered American grand master Bobby Fischer a final choice today—either face world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union under current financial conditions or be disqualified as a challenger. FIDE issued its ultimatum in a midnight statement after Fischer rejected the payment arrangements agreed for the championship games to be played in Belgrade and Reykjavik this summer. THE STATEMENT gave Fischer until Tuesday to guarantee his attendance or lose his chance at the title. “Lacking an answer by the deadline (FIDE President Max) Euwe will take it as a refusal from Fischer to play for the title,” the statement said. The controversy flared after the Belgrade organizers told FIDE that “due to the uncertainty still going on … it is impossible to carry out all of the organizational preparations such a match would require.”
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• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 22 — Bobby Fischer Chess Strikes — So You Though Easter was for Easter eggs. Ba, Humbug. Easter is for strikes. Hockey television strikes. Baseball strikes. Vida Blue strikes. Bobby Fischer chess strikes. […] The Bobby Fischer chess uproar doesn't have much muscle connected with it one way or another. Fischer is singlehandedly trying to drum up his own business by drawing an inordinate amount of attention to his world title match against Russia's Boris Spassky. Fischer in the past has customarily played according to his own rules. He could have had a world title match 10 years ago had he been agreeable to international rules as they were then. […] Now, He Wants to make a lot of money, to a point perhaps where he will default if the stakes don't suit him. Fischer has yet to give a rap for anybody else's prerogatives. The world isn't likely to hold still for him. Fischer's idea is to professionalize chess to a level it has never known across hundreds of years. The agreement he made with tournament people at Belgrade and Iceland would promote that. But he says it isn't enough. His bargaining position isn't likely that good. The chess world could cut him loose and plod on a few more hundred years. It's that kind of world. ★ / ★ Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 3 — Spassky-Fischer Chess Match Set For June is Called Off — Belgrade, Yugoslavia (AP)—The Belgrade organizers of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess match announced yesterday that they are scrapping plans to organize the match scheduled to start here June 22. The first half of the 24-game contest between the world champion, Mr. Spassky, of the Soviet Union, and the American challenger, Mr. Fischer was to be played in Belgrade and the second half in Reykjavik, Iceland, under a compromise agreement. The settlement was disclosed March 20 in Amsterdam by the International Chess Federation. It provided that the winner would receive about three-quarters of the $138,000 prize money, and the loser would get the rest. Mr. Fischer objected and asked the organizers in both cities to change the financial terms. When they refused he sent them telegrams saving he would not play the match. The Belgrade organizers then demanded a pledge from the chess federation that Mr. Fischer would abide by the agreement. They set a March 31 deadline for reply. None came. There still was a chance the contest might take place at another time, under altered conditions. But observers in Belgrade said Mr. Fischer's apparent refusal to accept the chess federation's ruling indicated he would lose a chance to play Mr. Spassky. E. B. Edmondson, head of the U.S. Chess Federation, announced Thursday in New York that Mr. Fischer had dismissed him as his financial negotiator for the match. He said Mr. Fischer planned to conduct his own bargaining. Mr. Fischer, staying at Grossingers resort hotel in New York state, was not taking telephone calls. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Ironwood Daily Globe Ironwood, Michigan Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 10 — Fischer In Chess Brinkmanship — American chess players don't have the stomach for the brinksmanship games that chess star Bobby Fischer has been playing recently. They hope Fischer will forget his latest money demands and get on with the business of winning America's first official world chess championship. Fischer is currently balking at the terms of the agreement set for his match with the world champion, Russian Boris Spassky. Fischer was set to play Spassky in a 24-game match, beginning June 22 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and continuing in Reykjavik, Iceland — under an agreement reached in Amsterdam recently. The purse was set at $138,500. However, last week Bobby demanded that he and Spassky share in the profits from the match, beyond the prize money. The two host countries refused. Bobby then refused to play in those countries. He dismissed E. B. Edmondson, executive director of the U.S. Chess Federation, as his negotiator, and Edmondson said Bobby would bargain for himself. The organizers in Belgrade announced Friday that they had stopped planning for the match in the scheduled period because they couldn't be guaranteed that Fischer would show up. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, has the power to disqualify Bobby. The match would then be played between Spassky and Russian Tigran Petrosian, ex-world champ, who Bobby defeated in the semifinals. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Balks on Money, Endangering Chess Match — Belgrade, Yugoslavia (AP) — The Belgrade organizers of the scheduled world championship chess match said Friday that Bobby Fischer of the United States has refused to play here and they are cancelling plans for the contest. Fischer has rejected financial terms of the match, to begin June 22. In Amsterdam, the World Chess Federation—FIDE—said Friday night it was asking the U.S. Chess Federation to guarantee that Fischer would go ahead with the match with world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Dr. Max Euwe, FIDE president, also sent a telegram to the Yugoslav Chess Federation asking it to delay any decision on holding the match until after an answer is received from the U.S. federation.
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• The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 2 — Chess Group Orders Fischer To Compete — Amsterdam (UPI) — The International Chess Federation (FIDE) said yesterday Bobby Fischer of the United States must meet world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union under the current financial agreement or else be disqualified as a challenger for the world title. A statement issued by the federation said it has given the U.S. Chess Union and Fischer until Tuesday to guarantee his appearance at the matches, the first scheduled to begin in Belgrade June 22.
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• The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City, Utah Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 6 — U.S. Chess Champion Given Ultimatum — Reuters News Agency-Amsterdam, Holland — The International Chess Federation Friday gave Bobby Fischer, American challenger for the world chess title, an ultimatum — agree to the present arrangements for the tournament or forfeit his challenge. The federation asked the American Chess Federation to guarantee that Fischer will play the match against Russia's world champion, Boris Spassky, according to an agreement of March 20. They were to play the first 12 games in Belgrade and the second 12 in Reykjavik. But the Yugoslav organizers said Friday they were unable to stage the first half starting June 22 because of uncertainty following Fischer's rejection of the agreed financial arrangements. The president of the international federation, Dr. Max Euwe, made the ultimatum in Australia after being informed by telephone of Fischer's new financial demands and about Belgrade officials stopping preparations for the match. He said he would consider failure by the American federation to give the guarantee by April 4 or refusal by Fischer to agree with the guarantee, as denying Fischer his rights to challenge the world champion. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, April 01, 1972 - Page 79 — Bobby Fischer Gets Chess Match Ultimatum — Amsterdam (UPI) — The International Chess Federation (FIDE) offered U.S. grand master Bobby Fischer a final choice today — either face world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union under current financial conditions or be disqualified as a challenger. FIDE issued its ultimatum in a statement after Fischer rejected the payment arrangements agreed for the championship games to be played in Belgrade and Reykjavik this summer. The statement gave Fischer until Tuesday to guarantee his attendance or lose his chance at the title. “Lacking an answer by the deadline (FIDE president Max) Euwe will take it as a refusal from Fischer to play for the title,” the statement said. The controversy flared after the Belgrade organizers told FIDE that “due to the uncertainty still going on … it is impossible to carry out all of the organizational preparations such a match would require.” The Yugoslav Export and Credit Bank and a Belgrade chess magazine made the highest bid to stage the match — $152,000 — but Fischer turned the offer down, demanding that all profit made from the meet, after deduction of organizational costs, should be paid the players. To end the financial bickering over the title match, FIDE decided the location at a meeting in Amsterdam March 20. It informed the organizers that first part of the 24-match series would be played in Belgrade June 22 through July 15, with the second part to be played in Reykjavik, Iceland. Fischer told the organizers their offers were too low and that he would not play Spassky under those conditions. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 02, 1972

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, April 02, 1972 - Page 116 — Chess: Fischer, Spassky Dates, Referee Set by Isaac Kashdan — Final details for the coming world championship match between titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and his American challenger Bobby Fischer were apparently worked out at a meeting in Amsterdam. The opening game of the match will be in Belgrade on Thursday, June 22. The schedule calls for 12 games to be completed there, at the rate of three each week, on Thursdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. The remainder of the match, which may go to a maximum of 24 games, will be in Reykjavik, Iceland, starting there on Sunday, Aug. 6. The long interval is to allow for possible delays in Belgrade. Each player is allowed three postponements in the case of injury or illness attested by a physician. The length of the Iceland portion cannot he determined in advance. The match will be won by the player who first scores 12½ points. Should the result be a tie at 12 points, then Spassky will retain the championship. The total purse, by far the largest for any chess event in history, is $138,500. It will be divided 62½% to the winner and 37½% to the loser. Another possible cause of controversy was resolved when Lothar Schmidt of West Germany was approved as the match referee. Schmidt had the same role in the encounter in Argentina last year between Fischer and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union. With everything set, Fischer injected another problem last week when he sent telegrams to the sponsors in both countries, requesting that if either should have a profit after all costs are paid, the amount should be given to the players. Both groups replied that they would make no changes in the financial arrangements which had already been agreed to, and that since they were taking considerable risks, they were entitled to any profit that might ensue. Read More

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Sunday, April 02, 1972 - Page 24 — FIDE Delivers Ultimatum To Fischer — Amsterdam, (AP)—The World Chess Federation—FIDE—Friday night asked the U.S. Chess Federation to guarantee that challenger Robert Fischer would play world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union as agreed in Amsterdam on March 20. If not, the FIDE Secretariat warned in a communique released here, or if an answer arrives after the deadline of April 4, FIDE president doctor Max Euwe will regard it as a refusal of the American challenger to play the match. At the agreement reached in Amsterdam it was decided to split the match between Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Reykjavik, Iceland, after Fischer and Spassky could not agree on the venue. The agreement was signed by all chess federations concerned, the FIDE secretariat said, adding that Fischer was represented by Edmund Edmondson, the Executive Director of the American Chess Federation. Two days later, however, Fischer sent telegrams to the Yugoslav and Icelandic federations in which he demanded a cut from television revenue and other possible receipts in addition to the newly set price fund of 138,000 dollars. He also stated that Edmondson was not authorized to accept the Amsterdam agreement in his name. The two organizing federations replied they could not accept a change in the agreement and refused to comply with Fischer's demands, the FIDE secretariat said. Dr. Euwe also sent a telegram to the Yugoslav Chess Federation asking them to defer any decision on the staging of the first leg of the match—which was scheduled to have started in Belgrade June 22—until after he received an answer from the U.S. Federation. Before this cable arrived, however, the Belgrade organizers announced they were dropping plans to stage the match, because they were not in a position to take any further risk about organizing the match in the term between June 22 and July 18. In his cable to the U.S. Federation Euwe stressed FIDE will not directly negotiate with Fischer, but only through the intercession of the U.S. Federation, FIDE said. FIDE Secretary, H.J. Slavekoorde declined to comment on the prospects of the match being held, but admitted the situation is extremely critical. He said the matter was especially complicated because Euwe at present is in Australia and handled the whole subject by telephone. Read More

April 03, 1972

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Monday, April 03, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Near To Self-Checkmate — U S grandmaster Bobby Fischer will be automatically disqualified tomorrow from the final of the world chess championship unless the US Chess Federation can guarantee his appearance in the contest. The president of the International Chess Federation, Dr Max Euwe, said this in Canberra last night. Dr Euwe said that Fischer “cannot keep fooling around.” Overseas reports say Fischer is baulking at the terms of the agreement for his match with the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, and is demanding that he and Spassky share in the profits of the match, beyond the prize money. Dr Euwe said he had sent a telegram through his office in The Hague late last week asking the US Chess Federation to “clear up the situation.” If there was no reply on his desk tomorrow the matter would be considered negative. It was up to all national chess federations to guarantee their players' presence, or withdraw. He said that the rules provided that a player's presence must be guaranteed three months before a match. The world championship, scheduled for June 22, was now less than three months off. If Fischer was disqualified it would be through application of the rules. If the US federation could not guarantee that Fischer would play he would be replaced. The agreement to which the US body was a signatory was valid and Fischer would “have to stick to it.” “It will be a great pity if he does not play, but it will be his own fault. “It makes it impossible for us all,” Dr Euwe said. Dr Euwe is in Australia to meet chess officials, give exhibitions and lecture. The Australian Associated Press reported from New York yesterday that the executive director of the US Chess Federation, Mr E. B. Edmondson, would discuss the problem with Fischer at the weekend. The report said that if Fischer was disqualified, the match would be between Spassky and another Russian, Tigran Petrosian, a former world champion, whom Fischer defeated in the semi-finals. Fischer was set to play Spassky in a 24-game match beginning on June 22 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and continuing in Reykjavik, Iceland. The two host countries refused Fischer's demand for a share in the match profits. Fischer responded by refusing to play there. Read More

• The Mercury Pottstown, Pennsylvania Monday, April 03, 1972 - Page 28 — Chess President Urges Bobby Fischer to Play — Canberra, Australia (AP) — The president of the international Chess Federation said Sunday night that American grandmaster Bobby Fischer “cannot keep fooling around” if he wants to play the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky for the world championship of chess. Dr. Max Euwe said Fischer will be disqualified automatically if the U.S. Chess Federation does not guarantee his appearance for the 24-game match against Spassky. It is set to be played in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Reykjavik, Iceland, beginning June 22. Fischer has been reported demanding that he and Spassky share in the profits of the match in addition to receiving prize money. The organizers in both countries have said no. Euwe said in an interview that he has wired the U.S. federation to clear up the situation. “It will be a great pity if Fischer does not play, but it will be his own fault,” he said. Euwe is in Australia to meet with chess officials and to give exhibitions and lectures. ★ / ★ / ★ ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, April 03, 1972 - Page 12 — U.S. Champ Eyes World Chess Title — Though an American was hailed as the world's best chess player 114 years ago, Robert J. Fischer may become the first player officially to bring the title to the United States. Brooklyn-born Bobby Fischer, 28, is given a good chance to defeat reigning champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in their 24-game match scheduled to begin June 22 in Belgrade. Fischer and Spassky will play three games a week. After 12 games, the match will move to Reykjavik. The winning player will receive almost two-thirds of the $138,500 prize money offered by the Yugoslav and Icelandic capitals for the international championship bout.
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• Star-Phoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Monday, April 03, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Pushing His Luck — Canberra, Australia (Reuter) - American chess player Bobby Fischer could be automatically disqualified from the final of the world championship, Dr. Max Euwe, International Chess Federation president said here Sunday. He said Fischer would be automatically disqualified if the United States Chess Federation cannot provide certain guarantees by today. “Fischer cannot keep fooling around,” Euwe warned, referring to overseas reports that Fischer is balking at the terms of the agreement for his match with world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, and is demanding he and Spassky share in match profits beyond the prize money. Euwe said he had sent a cable through his office in The Hague late last week asking the American body to clear up the situation. If there was no reply on his desk today the matter would be considered negative. He said it is up to the national federations to guarantee their players' presence or pull out, and rules provided a player's presence must be guaranteed three months before a match. The world title match was scheduled for June 22. “It will be a great pity if he does not play, but it will be his own fault,” said Euwe, who is visiting Australia to meet chess officials, give exhibitions and lecture. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 04, 1972

• The 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… Read More

• 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.” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, April 04, 1972 - Page 17 — Fischer Lifts Veto on Chess Venue — Amsterdam — (UPI) 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / Read More

• The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Tuesday, April 04, 1972 - Page 13 — Settled At Last — Although the Russians protested FIDE president Dr. Max Euwe's decision to allot the world championship match between champion Boris Spassky, USSR, and challenger Bobby Fischer, U.S.A., to Belgrade, Yugoslavia (games 1-12) and Reykjavik, Iceland (games 13-24), they have had to finally accept the conditions. Their original protest was based on the climatic conditions in Belgrade in summer, and the fact that previous championship matches under FIDE control had all been held in one city. They demanded a meeting of the FIDE Bureau in Moscow at the beginning of March. The Bureau pointed out that they did not have the constitutional power to make a decision, and that President Euwe alone had that right, when no agreement could be reached between the principals. Dr. Euwe, on his tour in the Far East (Japan, East Asia and Australia) stopped off at Moscow for discussions with Russian officials. They suggested switching the games to Bled, a holiday resort in North of Slovenia (which had bid $100,000 for the match), but Dr. Euwe stuck to his original decision. It was then decided to hold final talks at Amsterdam, March 18-19. Ed Edmondson, U.S.A. director, came over to represent Fischer's interests and Russia sent Ewfim Geller, senior GM. Others present were Rabell-Mendez (Puerto Rico) Deputy FIDE President, and delegates from the organizers in Belgrade and Reykjavik. Talks lasted for 14 hours. Iceland had earlier expressed some doubts of the value to them of the last 12 games, with the prospect of fewer than that being played. The Yugoslavs pointed out that it was in Reykjavik that the match would be decided and the champion crowned. So the best of 24 games match will start at Belgrade on Thursday, June 22, with other sessions (4-9 p.m.) on Sundays and Tuesdays. Any unfinished games will be completed in between. The match will be moved to Reykjavik on Aug. 6, with play on the same days of the week (5-10 p.m.) To win, Fischer must score 12½ points, and in case of a 12-12 tie Spassky will retain his title. Lothar Schmid, German master, will referee. He handled that chore in the Fischer-Petrosian match at Buenos Aires. Read More

April 05, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, April 05, 1972 - Page 42 — Fischer Announces He Is Ready to Play For the World Title — Bobby Fischer has notified the International Chess Federation—in a cablegram received moments before the deadline set for his disqualification—that he is ready to play for the world championship chess title on the terms already set by the federation. Fischer denied that he ever intended not to appear for the match against Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and said he was sorry about any misunderstandings that might have arisen. The cable was received Monday night by the International Chess Federation. Last week it was reported in the international press that Fischer had made new demands involving money. The federation threatened to disqualify him unless he agreed to all conditions by Tuesday. At Grossinger's, where Fischer is training for the match, he was said to have spent several hours with Svetozar Gligoric, a Yugoslav grandmaster and long a friend and admirer, and it is believed Gligoric may have been instrumental in helping Fischer come to a decision. The title match was supposed to start in Belgrade on June 22. After 12 games (the playing schedule calls for three games a week) and a two-week interim, the match was to resume in Reykjavik, Iceland, on August 6. The challenger must get 12½ points to take the title, with a draw counting as a half point and a victory a full point. Col. Edmund E. Edmondson, head of the United States Chess Federation, indicated the start might have to be delayed a week or two. Several details still remain to be settled. The amount of the purse is not at issue, but Fischer feels a delay of about two weeks before resuming the match in Reykjavik is too long. Last week Fischer was quoted as saying he wanted a share of the proceeds in addition to his share of the purse. The purse, put up by Belgrade and Reykjavik, is $138,000—the largest in chess history—of which the winner gets 62½ per cent. Fischer was not available yesterday for comment. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 4 — Chess Match Is On Again — Amsterdam (AP) — Bobby Fischer's much heralded meeting with Boris Spassky to determine the world chess championship is on again. The International Chess Federation said Tuesday it had received a telegram from the United States federation stating that the American challenger will meet the Soviet titleholder “at the negotiated time and place.” The 24-game match is to begin June 22 in Belgrade and finish in Reykjavik, Iceland. Fischer has been at odds with the international federation over some aspects of the tournament. His demands for a share of the profits in addition to the agreed prize money still remain at issue. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 41 — Fischer Accepts Belgrade Money Offer — Amsterdam (UPI) — 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 said Tuesday. The official said Fischer's acceptance came in a telegram from the U.S. Chess Federation. Fischer had until Tuesday 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 48 — Chess Challenger Agrees To Time, Place for Match — Amsterdam (AP) — That foremost current chess problem—whether and under what terms Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky will meet across the checkered board for the world championship —may have moved a step toward solution Tuesday. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) said it had received a telegram from the U.S. federation stating that the American challenger will meet the Soviet titleholder “at the negotiated time and place.” But Fischer's demands for a share of the profits in addition to the agreed prize money remain an issue and the organizers in Belgrade, Yugoslavia—one of the two sites for the match—insist on further guarantees. Fischer's demands prompted FIDE to announce last Friday that lack of a U.S. federation guarantee by Tuesday would be construed as a refusal by Fischer to play the match. The international organization's president, Dr. Max Euwe, said the American challenger could be disqualified. FIDE's secretariat said Tuesday that a representative of the American federation would meet with the international group to confirm the agreements. Further complications arose last Friday when organizers in Belgrade withdrew from the initial agreements. The 24-game match is to begin June 22 in Belgrade and finish in Reykjavik, Iceland. FIDE said Tuesday that Belgrade was sticking by its decision, insisting that FIDE guarantee the match. The Belgrade organizers also said the telegram received Tuesday does not amount to a guarantee from the U.S. federation “that Fischer will play under all stipulations of the March 20 agreement reached in Amsterdam.” E. B. Edmondson, executive director of the U.S. Chess Federation, said Monday in New York that Euwe should get together with Fischer and Spassky to work out the problems. “How can Mr. Fischer be asked to comply with an agreement already apparently invalidated by the withdrawal of one of the parties?” he said. Fischer's attorney, also in New York, declined to comment. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Billings Gazette Billings, Montana Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 37 — Fischer Agrees To Chess Finals — Amsterdam (UPI) —American chess champion Bobby Fischer said Tuesday he would play in a world title match with Russian Boris Spassky at Reykjavik, Iceland, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia, starting June 22 under the financial terms discussed earlier. Fischer had until Tuesday to accept or reject the money offer. In a telegram to organizers in Belgrade, Fischer said he would withdraw his objections. However, officials in Belgrade said the match would be cancelled unless Fischer promised not to change his mind again. An official of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) said in Amsterdam Fischer telegraphed match officials in Belgrade asking if they would agree to resume preparations for the June 22-July 18 match. The Belgrade organizers said initially they had no reason to reconsider their decision to cancel preparations for the match but Belgrade chess officials said later the match would go ahead as scheduled if they received assurances from FIDE that Fischer would not change his mind again. The match is scheduled to begin June 22 with 12 matches to be played in Belgrade. Another set of 12 matches will be played in Reykjavik, ending July 18. Under the terms of the agreement the two cities would offer a total prize money of $138,500. The winner would receive 62.5 per cent of the total and the loser, 37.5. Fischer later told the organizers he wanted a percentage of the proceeds from television and movie rights in addition to the prize money. In reply, Belgrade said it was stopping preparations for the match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 91 — Jack Kofoed: Fischer Like Ali — Bobby Fischer, who's from Brooklyn or the Bronx, and Boris Spassky, who comes from Minsk or Pinsk, are the best chess players in the world. Aficionados of check and checkmate want a match between them. Intellectual as chess may be, it isn't a game to stir the pulse and bring out the roar of the crowd. How many people would pay high admission prices to watch a couple of experts sit motionless for long periods while they figure out moves. Any star, whether at football, golf, chess or movies is worth only what he can draw at the gate. Yet, Bobby Fischer figures $150,000 isn't enough loot for a match with Spassky. If interested promoters pay that much, they won't be able to afford borscht, to say nothing of caviar, after the match is over. Fischer talks more and more like Muhammad Ali, and that is not good. ★ / ★ Read More

• Battle Creek Enquirer Battle Creek, Michigan Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 14 — Fischer-Spassky — Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky will meet for the world championship of chess, according to the International Chess Federation. The on-again-off-again match was endangered when Fischer refused to play in Belgrade, the first city in the two- city tournament. The U.S. federation has wired the international body to confirm that Fischer will play, but that the conditions of the match, most specifically the money involved, will remain open for discussion. The American champion, Fischer, and the Russian, Spassky, will play the second part of their tournament in Reykjavik, Iceland. ★ / ★ Read More

• Edmonton Journal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 47 — Fischer Prepared to Play — Chess master Bobby Fischer of the United States appeared on Dutch television Tuesday and said he is prepared to play the first six matches against world chess master Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in Belgrade. The secretariat of the World Chess Federation in Amsterdam was expected to issue a statement later. Max Euwe, the federation's president, said Sunday that unless Fischer could provide certain guarantees by the following day he would be disqualified from the world title match. ★ Read More

• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 22 — Dave Hicks Opinion — … By July of 1973, the entire hemisphere will be on strike, although the actual scope will be difficult to assess because the pickets also will be on strike. Sport will continue to occupy its special niche. … But other strikes are certainly imminent. Only this week, as nothing was replacing baseball, another figure was (if you'll pardon the expression) making his move. That American chess grandmaster, Bobby Fischer, stymied his long-awaited showdown with Russian Boris Spassky with a financial demand. (Note: It has long been known that chess players have even more inadequate pension plan than baseball players). Fischer demanded that he and the Soviet ace share in profits of their match — in ADDITION to receiving prize money. This unearthed an entire new lode for attorneys. By the time Fischer and Spassky do meet, their new contracts will demand a setting befitting a match of such magnitude. Say, the Los Angeles Coliseum. There is some humor, thank God, in most every crisis. ★ / ★ Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 1 — New Hitch — Another hitch in the proposed world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer of America and Boris Spassky of Russia: Fischer offered a compromise over the terms for the match last night, but the World Chess Federation said the organizers in Belgrade had refused to change their decision. Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, April 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer's Compromise Offer On Chess Title Match Rejected — The Hague (Reuter) — Bobby Fischer, the American chess master, offered a compromise yesterday in the dispute over the site of his world title match with the Russian world champion Boris Spassky—but his offer was rejected. A statement by the secretariat of the World Chess Federation said the organizers of the matches in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, had refused to change the decision they made last week to withdraw Belgrade as a site. The championship match has been plagued by disputes over where and when Mr. Fischer and Mr. Spassky should meet, and on what financial terms. On Sunday, Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation, said in Australia that unless the United States chess authority could provide satisfactory guarantees Mr. Fischer would be disqualified from the world title match. Mr. Euwe had earlier rules that the first 12 games would be played in Belgrade, beginning on June 22, and the second 12 in Reykjavik, Iceland. But last Friday the Yugoslav organizers withdrew their offer. Tonight a chess federation spokesman in Amsterdam said the group had received a telegram from the U.S. Chess Federation and Mr. Fischer saying he was prepared to play the first six matches in Belgrade. This was passed on to Belgrade, but the organizers of the match there confirmed their refusal to play host. ★ / ★ Read More

April 06, 1972

• Nanaimo Daily News Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, April 06, 1972 - Page 2 — World Chess Officials Stand Pat On Old Terms — Belgrade (Reuter) — The Belgrade organizers of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world title chess match made it clear Wednesday they do not intend to negotiate new terms with Fischer as the price of ending the dispute over arrangements for the match. Paul Marshall, representing both Fischer and the American Chess Federation, is expected here next week to try to persuade the Yugoslavs to change their minds over withdrawing their offer of Belgrade as the location for the first half of the championship encounter. But the organizers here say there can be no question of further negotiations. The location and date for the match, due to start June 22, were fixed by an agreement in Amsterdam March 20, but Fischer rejected it, the organizers noted. The president of the International Chess Federation, Dr. Max Euwe, threatened Fischer with disqualification from the match unless his national federation guaranteed he would play. The organizers here said that while Fischer now had agreed to play in Belgrade June 22, he had still left open whether or not he agreed to the financial conditions, the main issue in dispute. Under the original agreement, Belgrade and Reykjavik offered $138,500 total prize money, of which 62.5 per cent would go to the winner and 37.5 per cent to the loser. But Fischer, who defeated the former champion, Russian Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires for the right to challenge Spassky, also of the Soviet Union, is reported to want a larger share guaranteed him, including a proportion of television and other rights. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Pensacola News Pensacola, Florida Thursday, April 06, 1972 - Page 4 — Belgrade Reconsiders Chess Match — Belgrade (AP) — Belgrade may change its mind about refusing to stage the up-coming world chess championship match between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and Bobby Fischer of the United States provided the U.S. Chess Federation deposits a $35,000 guaranty against Fischer's nonappearance, a city spokesman said today. “If the Americans agree to deposit $35,000 pledging that Fischer will arrive to play his match, we would be ready to get the entire machine rolling again,” organizer Aleksandar Matanovic said. The newspaper Politika Ekspres said Matanovic stressed that efforts of Paul Marshall, Fischer's new representative, to get better financial terms for the American chess wizard are futile. “There is nothing we can talk about with him,” Matanovic said. Fischer has agreed to abide by the decision of the International Chess Federation to play half the 24 title matches in Reykjavik, Iceland, and half in Belgrade but still is haggling over money. Fischer's financial demands induced the Belgrade organizers early last week to cancel plans to hold the match starting June 22, as scheduled. Fischer has insisted that all profits from the match after expenses, be divided equally between himself and Spassky. The original agreement called for 72 per cent of the $138,500 purse to be handed to the winner, with 28 per cent for the loser. Matanovic told the Politika Ekspres that only an insurance policy against ill-health would be required from the Russian, the current world champion. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Herald-News Passaic, New Jersey Thursday, April 06, 1972 - Page 32 — Fischer Sends Agent in Chess Title Check — Belgrade, Yugoslavia (AP) — Bobby Fischer's representative is due here next week to attempt to straighten out problems surrounding the American challenger's world chess title match with Boris Spassky. But the Belgrade organizers of the 24-game match—to be played here and in Reykjavik, Iceland, beginning June 22—said yesterday that “no new negotiations will be considered.” The Belgrade group, angered by Fischer's demands for a share of the profits in addition to the $138,500 prize money they offered to put up —withdrew Friday from the original agreement. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• “…CBS-TV's “60 Minutes” profiles chess master Bobby Fischer…” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

April 07, 1972

• Asbury Park Press Asbury Park, New Jersey Friday, April 07, 1972 - Page 24 — Funds Are Shy For Chess Match — New York (AP) — A spokesman for the U.S. Chess Federation said yesterday the organization does not have $35,000 to guarantee the appearance of Bobby Fischer of the United States at the world champion chess match in Belgrade. “We can't make such a guarantee for a very good reason. The federation does not have that kind of money,” the spokesman said. Earlier, a spokesman for the Belgrade match organizers had said, “If the Americans agree to deposit the $35,000 pledge that Fischer will arrive to play his match, we would be ready to get the entire machine rolling again. Fischer, who is to meet in the match the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky, the current world champion, was not available for comment. Fischer has agreed to abide by the decision of the International Chess Federation to play half the title matches in Reykjavik, Iceland, and half in Belgrade. But he has been demanding more money. The financial demands had induced the Belgrade organizers to announce last week they were cancelling plans to hold the match June 22 as planned. Fischer has insisted that all profits from the match after expenses he divided equally between himself and Spassky. The original agreement called for 72 per cent of the $138,500 purse to go to the winner and 28 per cent to the loser. The newspaper Polituka Ekspres which printed the comments of Belgrade spokesman Aleksander Matanovik quoted him as saying only an insurance policy against ill health would be required from Spassky, the current world champion. “Spassky is a reasonable man,” Matanovik was reported as saying. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Friday, April 07, 1972 - Page 51 — Bobby Fischer Item Is Pawn For Joker — Chess Master Bobby Fischer will make a rare television appearance at 5 p.m. Sunday on KMOX-TV when he is interviewed by Mike Wallace on “60 Minutes.” And that is as bad a reason as any to tell a story being spread by Post-Dispatch sportswriter Don Poston. It seems that Fischer was standing in the vast lobby of a downtown, building recently, talking with some other chess players. Before long they were bragging about their accomplishments with knights and pawns, and the situation got so far out of hand that a guard had to eject them. The guard said he couldn't tolerate “chess nuts boasting by an open foyer.” Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, April 07, 1972 - Page 12 — Belgrade Spurns Chess — Belgrade, Yugoslavia (AP) — This city will abide by its decision to withdraw its sponsorship from the world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, a spokesman said today. The spokesman declared Belgrade would agree to stage the match only if the U.S. Chess Federation deposited a $35,000 guarantee against Fischer's non-appearance. The federation rejected this demand Thursday, saying it did not have the money. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Friday, April 07, 1972 - Page 40 — Starbeams — Bobby Fischer finally agrees to play the Russian champion. Settlement of the chess strike might be a good omen for baseball.

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, April 07, 1972 - Page 32 — Yugoslavia Asks for $35,000 To Insure Fischer's Appearance — The International Chess Federation has asked the United States Chess Federation to post a $35,000 guarantee that Bobby Fischer will appear in Belgrade to compete with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world championship. The request was relayed in a cablegram sent from Amsterdam by the secretary of the international federation, H.J.J. Slavekoorde, and received yesterday at the American federation's offices in Newburgh, N.Y. It was made on behalf of the Yugoslavian sponsors of the match, who have threatened to cancel it since Fischer raised objections to the financial arrangements. John Hudson, administrative director of the American federation, said the nonprofit organization had no way of raising $35,000 and was looking for “an angel” to put up the sum. It was not clear whether a request for a similar financial guarantee had been asked of Spassky. Mr. Hudson said that the cablegram had indicated that both sides had been asked to deposit $35,000. However, a sponsor in Belgrade told a newsman there that the Russian had been required to present only an insurance policy against ill health. “Spassky is a reasonable man,” the sponsor, Aleksander Matanovic, was reported to have said. But Fischer caused an uproar by reportedly demanding part of the proceeds in addition to his share of the $138,000 purse, a record for a chess match. Earlier this week, Fischer notified the international federation, which had threatened to disqualify him, that he agreed to abide by the terms and The 29-year-old chess genius — the first American to play for the world championship since the elimination system began — has a reputation for imposing conditions upon matches that sponsors refuse to meet, and for refusing to participate if something is not to his liking. Read More

April 08, 1972

• St. Cloud Times Saint Cloud, Minnesota Saturday, April 08, 1972 - Page 14 — “60 Minutes.” — One of the segments on this edition of CBS' magazine-of-the-air, features a filmed profile of American chess master, Bobby Fischer. Mike Wallace interviews the young champion upstate in Liberty, New York, where he is in training for his forthcoming match with Soviet chess master Boris Spassky. Fischer will also be seen in a speed match with a 12-year-old opponent of promise. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Orlando Evening Star Orlando, Florida Saturday, April 08, 1972 - Page 9 — Chess Whiz Opens Up On '60 Minutes' — The contender for the world championship is in training at Grossingers in the Catskills. Described as a lonely, determined man who says he has “no doubt —none whatsoever” that he'll defeat the Russian champion when and if they meet. Notoriously finicky about the conditions under which he performs, he relented to permit the “60 Minutes” cameras to film him in a crucial match. The contender is Bobby Fischer, chess master, and the reason for all this tension is the match against a l2-year-old opponent, a boy who is considered to be one of America's most promising players. CBS's Mike Wallace gets Fischer to open up on “60 Minutes” Sunday (6 p.m.). Whether Fischer and the Russian Spassky contend for the world title will be decided in the next week. They are arguing about money at the moment, like who gets how much. Read More

• The Charlotte News Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, April 08, 1972 - Page 1 — Q. Has An American Ever Won an International Chess Match? — A. Yes. In 1858, when the international matches were in their infancy, Paul Morphy of New Orleans defeated all his opponents here and abroad. He held the title four years. Russians have held the world championship since World War II, but an American, Brooklyn-bred Bobby Fischer, has a good chance of beating the reigning champion Boris Spassky in the 24-game match scheduled to begin June 22 in Belgrade. The first recorded international tournament was between Italian and Spanish players in 1566, but chess itself dates back to antiquity. India generally is credited with creating chaturanga, or “four arms,” the game that evolved into today's chess. Persian armies later took the game home with them and later, in the seventh century, Moslem conquerors carried the idea to Spain. Rule changes through the ages often reflected the culture of an era. During the Middle Ages, for example, there was a squabble because of a new rule that allowed a pawn to be promoted to queen. That promotion, allowed the purists, could make the king a bigamist! Read More

• The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, April 08, 1972 - Page 52 — Off Again, On Again, Off Again — More trouble has developed in the Spassky-Fischer world championship arrangements. Belgrade, where the first 12 games were to be played, starting June 22, has backed out. Full details are lacking, but it appears that Fischer has made some financial demands that the Belgrade sponsor cannot accept. Fischer is reported to have dispensed with the services of his advisor, E.B. Edmondson, USACF official, in any further financial negotiations. To get a picture of what when on during the period immediately after the deadline of January 31 the following details are gleaned from the Swiss “Chess Express”. As the Russians would not agree with Dr. Euwe's decision to split the match between Belgrade and Reykjavik, they insisted that the matter be put in the hands of the FIDE Bureau. The Bureau replied that only the president had the constitutional authority to decide, when the principals were unable to agree among themselves. Nevertheless, Dr. Euwe went to Moscow for a conference. The Russian protest concerned climatic conditions in Belgrade in summer, and the fact that previous matches had all been held in one city. They suggested switching the Yugoslav site to Bled in northern Slovenia (which had bid $100,000). Dr. Euwe refused any chance from the original decision, but another meeting was arranged for March 18-19 at Amsterdam. This brought together Edmondson, USA, Geller, USSR, and organizing delegates from Belgrade and Reykjavik, under the chairmanship of Deputy President of FIDE, Rabell-Mendez (Puerto Rico). Talks lasted fourteen hours and Dr. Euwe's original decision was maintained. In spite of all this Belgrade still wants the match, but only in the fall, and provided firm guarantees can be given by all concerned. Read More

• The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Saturday, April 08, 1972 - Page 36 — Exercise In Futility? — Just when everything seemed to be ironed out, after many weeks of negotiations, in the world championship match between champion Boris Spassky and challenger, Bobby Fischer with a start on June 22 it now appears to be all off. An overseas dispatch states that Fischer has demanded from the organizers that, in addition to the guaranteed cash prizes, they split any excess through ticket sales, etc., between himself and Spassky. The Belgrade private sponsor has refused and canceled their end of the sponsorship for a June 22 start. There would not be time to go through further frustrating negotiations, which might last for weeks, judging by past experience, and still be able to put the show on. However, if they can get firm guarantees from all concerned, they may go on with it in the fall. Meanwhile, Dr. Max Euwe, present of the Federation International des Echecs (FIDE), has issued a statement to the effect that Fischer may be defaulted. No man is bigger than the game and he is likely to find that world opinion will back the president, if such a regrettable decision has to be made. Fischer was not present at the second meeting in Amsterdam, March 18-19, in which he was represented by USACF Administrative Director E.B. Edmondson, his long-time friend and counselor. The latter has been dismissed by him from further financial negotiations. Read More

April 09, 1972

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, April 09, 1972 - Page 143 — USCF Guarantees Fischer Will Play — The match for the world chess championship between American ace Bobby Fischer and titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union is a reality again. For a time last week it appeared Fischer would be disqualified, as a result of his demands for a change in the financial conditions of the match. The organizers in both Yugoslavia and Iceland claimed they could not go ahead with their plans in view of the uncertainty. Cables and telephone calls to three continents were required to resolve the conflict. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, was reached in Canberra, Australia, on his world tour of chess centers. Euwe immediately sent an ultimatum to Fischer and the U.S. Chess Federation, requiring that the American body send a guarantee by April 4 that Fischer was ready to play according to the conditions previously agreed to.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, April 09, 1972 - Page 53 — Soviet Chess Union Will Pay Guarantee — The Soviet Chess Federation said yesterday that it was willing to put up $35,000 to insure that Boris Spassky would compete against Bobby Fischer of the United States for the world chess championship provided that the United States did likewise. The financial guarantees had been requested by the International Chess Federation on Thursday. However, the United States Chess Federation said it was not sure if the international organization still wanted the money guarantee. Edmund B. Edmondson, executive director of the American federation, said a second cable had been received on Friday asking if an agreement by Fischer to abide by the conditions for the match included a firm agreement with the financial arrangements for the players. “The question is, does that second cable supersede the first?” Mr. Edmondson asked. The arrangements for the match, originally set to begin in Belgrade on June 22, have been in limbo since Fischer reportedly demanded part of the proceeds in addition to his share of the $138,000 purse. The Yugoslav sponsors responded by threatening to withdraw unless both sides provide the money guarantee. It is not known if Fischer who is scheduled in training at Grossinger's upstate, has actually dropped his demand for part of the proceeds. Read More

• Daily Press Newport News, Virginia Sunday, April 09, 1972 - Page 58 — Soviets Offer To Finance Chess Match — Moscow (UPI)—The Soviet Chess Federation said Saturday it will financially guarantee the world chess championship match if the U.S. Chess Federation does likewise. Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the reigning champion, and Robert “Bobby” Fischer of Brooklyn, the challenger, are scheduled to begin title play June 22 in Belgrade, shifting to Reykjavik, Iceland, at the halfway mark. Fischer, however, demanded additional money and the start of play was not in doubt despite agreements announced in Amsterdam by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The Soviet news agency Tass said: “The Soviet Chess Federation is ready to give financial guarantees that it will observe the agreements reached March 20 in Amsterdam on holding the match…provided such a step is also made by the American side and all Fischer's demands that arose after March 20 are considered annulled.” Fischer has agreed to play, but the Belgrade sponsors asked each side for a $35,000 guarantee, Tass said. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Oakland Tribune Oakland, California Sunday, April 09, 1972 - Page 12 — Soviets Reply to Fischer's Demands on Chess Match — Moscow (AP) —The Soviet Chess Federation said Saturday it is willing to give financial guarantees that world champion Boris Spassky will keep his commitments to defend his title against American Bobby Fischer. But the Russian body said in a telegram to the International Chess Federation —FIDE — that it is willing to do this only “provided such a step is also taken by the American side, and all Fischer's demands that arose after March 20 are considered annulled.” The news agency Tass said the telegram was dispatched to the international body in response to a statement by FIDE “that the only chance to save the match is that the two sides … make a guarantee of $35,000 each.” The telegram was the latest episode in a continuing disagreement on terms for the 24-game match. Both Fischer and Spassky agreed March 20 that the match would begin in Belgrade June 22 and would be continued in Reykjavik, Iceland. The match had been split up because the participants could not agree on a single site for the entire match. But on March 28, Fischer announced that he was no longer agreeable to the arrangement. He had asked for a share of any profits the organizers might accrue, and was turned down by both Belgrade and Reykjavik. With the new demands, the Belgrade organizers also balked at getting the match under way by the agreed date. But they said Thursday they could “get the entire machine rolling again if the U.S. federation pledges $35,000 guaranteeing Fischer's appearance. There has still been no financial guarantee from the Americans. The Russian federation apparently seeks to make a point that it is Fischer—and not Spassky—who is to blame for holding up preparations for the match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, April 09, 1972 - Page 30 — The Chess Column: Yugoslav Master Predicts Close Win For Fischer — “Fischer will beat Spassky, but it will be close,” is the prediction of Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric on the forthcoming world championship chess match between America's Bobby Fischer and the Soviet's Boris Spassky. “They have equal talent for the game,” Gligoric said last week while appearing in Sacramento and Davis for exhibition games. “Fischer works harder at it, and that is his advantage. “Fischer appears to be getting nervous about the match. Why else would he make extra demands after everything had been agreed upon? Perhaps his preparations are not going so well. Later, when he gets some ideas, perhaps he will change his mind.” Gligoric discounts the importance of the team of Soviet grandmasters Spassky has at his disposal to prepare against Fischer's weaknesses. “When you are as good as Fischer and work as hard, it may be better to work alone,” Gligoric said. Gligoric thinks the Yugoslavs and, for that matter, the rest of the world wants Fischer to win. “Fischer represents a new order in chess. For Spassky to win is to have the same old thing we've had for the past 25 years. If Fischer wins, it will be very interesting for chess. People want a change.” Within the next 10 years Gligoric expects a new generation to reach the top in world competition. “The players who have dominated so long will be reaching 60. They cannot keep it up.” Read More

• The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City, Utah Sunday, April 09, 1972 - Page 14 — Russ Ready to Underwrite Chess Match — Reuters News Agency - Moscow - The Soviet Chess Federation sent a cable to the international federation Saturday saying it was prepared to put up financial guarantees on the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world title match. Tass News Agency quoted the telegram as saying: “The Soviet Chess Federation is ready to give financial guarantees that it will observe the agreements reached in Amsterdam on March 20 on holding a world chess title match between Boris Spassky and Robert Fischer of the United States provided such a step is also taken by the American side and all Fischer's demands that arose after March 20 are annulled.” Tass said this decision was taken in response to the statement by the general secretary of the international federation that the only chance to save the match was for both, at the *truncated by Tribune* Read More

April 10, 1972

• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, April 10, 1972 - Page 19 — Chess Genius — CBS's “60 Minutes” provided a frank and tantalizing study of Bobby Fischer, who calls himself “the world's greatest chess player.” The profile was made as Fischer was training like a boxer for his approaching match with Boris Spassky, Russian holder of the world's championship title. Fischer, at 29, was confident he would prevail, but seemed unenthusiastic about the interview. Mike Wallace described him as a shy man, suspicious of strangers, and as living an almost monastic life. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Monday, April 10, 1972 - Page 1 — Action Line — Q: My wife and I are going to Europe this summer, and it would make our vacation if we got a chance to see some of the World Title Match games between Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky. Can you find out how to get tickets? — K.K., Coldwater. A: Details are on the way from the U.S. Chess Federation. You can get a package deal that includes air charter, hotels and sightseeing between chess matches. Title matches begin June 22 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Current world champ Spassky needs 12 points to keep his crown. American challenger Fischer needs 12½ to take it. (Players get one point for a win, half a point for a draw.) For travel information, write Putnik Overseas Dept., Yugoslav Tourism and Travel Agency, Box 126, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Stay-at-home chess nuts can catch the U.S. championship matches starting April 23 in New York, N.Y. Write Chess Federation, 479 Broadway, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550 for information. Read More

April 11, 1972

• The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, Tuesday, April 11, 1972 - Page 12 — Pass Me An Oscar Please… — The Oscar for the best supporting actor went to Bobby Fischer, the ill-mannered chess champion, for his role in “Better Dead Than Red.” Mr. Fischer, taking the stand of George C. Scott, failed to show up at the ceremonies, saying by telephone, “I haven't the time to fool with such nonsense.” Read More

• Lansing State Journal Lansing, Michigan Tuesday, April 11, 1972 - Page 8 — Ten Years Ago — Bobby Fischer, 19-year-old former U.S. chess champion is seeking a court order barring Samuel Reshevsky from competing in any public chess exhibition until after completion of a series of games the two started last year…

April 12, 1972

The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Wednesday, April 12, 1972 "Incidentally, I'm glad I'm taking sour...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, February 5, 2021

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 55 — Big Mama — “Incidentally, I'm glad I'm taking sour minds off the baseball strike. That's a lousy sport. It's like walking chess. I'd rather see Bobby Fischer move pieces around on a board than sit through a ball game.” —Cass Elliot, Mamas and the Papas

• The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 25 — Chess Match Called Off By Yugoslav Officials — Belgrade (AP) — Yugoslav chess officials said Tuesday they would definitely not set up the Fischer-Spassky championship match here. The statement followed an announcement by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, that the U.S. Chess Federation had not give a final answer on a requested $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would appear in Belgrade. The bond was set by Yugoslav authorities after American grandmaster Bobby Fischer demanded a share in any profits organizers might accrue, in addition to the $138,500 prize money. He was turned down by both Belgrade and by Reykjavik, Iceland, the other match site. The American chess group said initially that it did not have $35,000 to put up. Soviet chess authorities, however, had agreed to furnish a similar bond to guarantee the appearance of its world champion, Boris Spassky. A FIDE official said American chess authorities had not responded to a telegram 24 hours after he had asked for a final answer on the $35,000 bond. Fischer and Spassky had agreed March 20 to play the 24-game match, beginning in Belgrade June 22 and continuing in Reykjavik. Fischer announced eight days later he had changed his mind. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 54 — Even Chess Has a Strike Problem — Los Angeles — By what cerebral processes editors arrive at decisions long has been a matter of bafflement to those who study the human scene. A case in point was the big commotion in print over the baseball strike, while a matter of vital international concern was being consigned to obscure corners in the back of the editorial bus. Alas, the long-awaited match for the chess championship of the world was jeopardized. The American titleholder, Mr. Bobby Fischer, was accused of striking because he demanded a share of the profits from his meeting in June with the champion of the Soviet Union, Mr. Boris Spassky.
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• The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 20 — Chess Match Not Backed by Yugoslavs —Belgrade (AP) — Yugoslav chess officials said Tuesday they would definitely not set up the Fischer-Spassky championship match here. The statement followed an announcement by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, that the U.S. Chess Federation had not give a final answer on a requested $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would appear in Belgrade. The head of the U.S. Chess Federation, E.B. Edmondson, denied that his organization had failed to respond. He said it replied, turning down the demand for bond. “Not only did we respond,” said Edmondson from the U.S. federation headquarters in Newburgh, N.Y. “we got a message from FIDE today acknowledging our response.”
  Demand Rejected The bond requirement was made by the Yugoslavs after the American grandmaster, Bobby Fischer demanded a share in any profits match organizers might realize in addition to the $138,500 in prize money. Both Belgrade and Reykjavik, Iceland, the two sites agreed upon for the match, turned Fischer down, putting in doubt whether the American champion would show up. Edmondson reiterated that the U.S. federation was neither wealthy no government supported and criticized what he called the breakdown of communications during the negotiations. He asked why the Yugoslavs have not tried to talk to Fischer directly to avoid “this farce that has been going on for a couple of weeks.” Edmondson said the U.S. federation's position on the bond was that Belgrade's demand for a guarantee was illegal. No such bond is provided for in FIDE regulations, is contrary to any agreements so far governing the proposed match and contrary to Fischer's rights, he said. When FIDE acknowledged the response, Edmondson said, it asked “us by Thursday this week to try to get together with an insurance company to cover the probabilities concerning this match — in other words an insurance policy” which the Americans would take out to protect Belgrade from financial loss should Fischer fail to appear for the match. Soviet chess authorities have agreed to post $35,000 guaranteeing Spassky's appearance to defend his world championship against Fischer. Fischer and Spassky had agreed March 20 to play the 24-game match, beginning in Belgrade, June 22 and continuing in Reykjavik. Fischer announced eight days later he had changed his mind. Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 32 — Chess Match Strikes Snag — Belgrade — Belgrade organizers of the world title chess match between Boris Spassky and Robert Fischer have definitely refused to stage their half of the match because the American Chess Federation has not deposited the required guarantee, informed sources said Tuesday. The sources said the organizers have sent cables to the International Chess Federation and to the Soviet Chess Federation informing them of the decision. The Soviet Chess Federation already had deposited their part of the guarantee, $35,000, but the latest development apparently diminishes the chances of the match taking place at all, according to the sources. The dispute arose over Fischer's reported refusal late last month to play under financial arrangements concluded in Amsterdam earlier in March. Belgrade organizers felt unable to make adequate preparations for the match, scheduled in June, because of the uncertainty and the shortness of time. ★ Read More

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 23 — Fischer Sees More To Meet Than Spassky — New York (AP) — I don't care two pennies about Boris Spassky as a man, one way or another, but by defeating him I can beat the Russians, who have tried to run me down for years. Bob Fischer, the self- confident 29-year-old American who challenges Russian Spassky for the world championship this summer, said in a nation-wide television interview Sunday that he aimed to crush Spassky. Fischer, interviewed by the Columbia Broadcasting System on his 29th birthday, went through a filmed training routine like that of a professional boxer--in gymnasium and bowling alley. He freely discussed his reputed arrogance and his tigerish attitudes toward opponents, even juvenile prodigies. He ruled out only discussing his family, and a father who left when Bobby was two years old, and his religion, born atheistic turning fundamentalist Christian) and girls. Bachelor Fischer was filmed living alone in a hotel room with chess boards and television set his most constant companions—next to a red book on Spassky that was said to contain every move made by Spassky in every recorded match the Russian ever played. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 41 — Yugoslavia Says No To Top Chess Match — Belgrade, April 11 (AP)—Yugoslav chess officials said today that they would definitely not set up the championship match here between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The statement followed an announcement by the International Chess Federation that the United States Chess Federation had not given a final answer on a requested $35,000 guarantee for Fischer to appear in Belgrade. Col. Edmund E. Edmondson, head of the United States Chess Federation, said at his home in Newburgh, N.Y., last night that his federation had replied to the request for the guarantee and that the reply had been negative. “We stated that the guarantee was illegal,” Colonel Edmondson said. It was not, he added, provided for in any regulations of the International Chess Federation or in any of the agreements made regarding the match. It also “denied the rights of the challenger [Fischer],” the colonel contended. He said he had not received word from Yugoslavia that match officials there were definitely refusing to be host to the encounter. “I've heard nothing from Yugoslavia in at least two weeks,” he said. If the report of noncooperation is true, he added, “I would expect the next thing called for is further negotiations” between the players and the International Chess Federation. Read More

April 13, 1972

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Thursday, April 13, 1972 - Page 47 — Yugoslavs' Move Puts Challenger Fischer in Check — Belgrade (UPI) — The Belgrade sponsors of the world chess championship have given American challenger Bobby Fischer until Friday to post a $35,000 guarantee that he will take part, championship director Milivoje Molerovic said Wednesday. Otherwise, Molerovic said, the June 22 match, between Fischer and title-holder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, will definitely be off. “What we need is a cable from Fischer or the American Chess Federation that they will stick to the original financial arrangement, and a $35,000 deposit as a guarantee Fischer will take part,” Molerovic said. “We cannot wait any longer than Friday because of technical and other preparations we must make for the match to begin June 22,” he said. The officials said that the sponsors demanded the guarantee because of the 29-year-old challenger's reputation for being unpredictable. A similar request for a $35,000 bond against Spassky's nonappearance has already been met by the Soviet Chess Federation, the officials said. Yugoslav chess officials said Tuesday they would definitely not set up the Fischer-Spassky championship match here. The statement followed an announcement by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, that the U.S. Chess Federation had not given a final answer on a requested $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would appear in Belgrade.
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• Times Colonist Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, April 13, 1972 - Page 7 — Dispute Cancels Chess Match — Amsterdam (Reuter) — The world Chess Federation cancelled Thursday the world championship match in Belgrade between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and the United States challenger Bobby Fischer after a long dispute with Fischer over financial terms. Belgrade was to have been the site for the first half of the championship match from June 22 to July 8. The second half was fixed for Reykjavik, Iceland. Terms for the match were originally agreed on March 31, but Fischer was reported to have subsequently sought a larger financial share, including a share of television and film fees. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Thursday, April 13, 1972 - Page 120 — Checkmate — The agonizing moments of decision, the happiness of a superior tactical move, the sudden flush of realization that you've been out-maneuvered — it's all part of the chess tournament being held by the Boy's Clubs of Palm Beach County in conjunction with National Boys' Club Week. As young hands glide the fate of the delicate, polished bishops, pawns, knights, rooks, king and queen, young minds dream of becoming the new American grand master, the new Bobby Fischer. (Staff Photos by Pat Canova) ★ Read More

April 14, 1972

• Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 17 — U.S. Group Loses Bid To Discuss Problems Of Chess Title Match — Americans Refuse To Post Guarantee — Amsterdam (AP) — The World Chess Federation rejected Thursday a request from the American Chess Federation for a telephone conference to iron out problems of the upcoming match between world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and American challenger Bobby Fischer. Belgrade chess authorities said the match could not he held there because the U.S. federation would not put up a $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would appear. The American chess champion has been arguing over what he would be paid. At the U.S. federation's headquarters in Newburgh, N.Y., Col. E.B. Edmondson, executive director, said he would try to contact the world unit's president anyway. “I don't see how meaningful negotiations can be conducted when you can't make contact.” Edmondson said. “The whole thing is such a snarl of garbled communications at this point that I don't think anything has been handled very well on anyone's part.” Asked about the U.S. federation's refusal to post the $35,000 bond requested by Belgrade authorities, Edmondson replied: “Its difficult to refuse an illegal demand. We don't recognize that there was such a demand.” The Yugoslav chess organizers said that even if the bond was put up later, it would be too late to finish the technical preparations for the match in time, the World Chess Federation related. According to the original agreement the match was to begin June 22 in Belgrade and move later to Reykjavik, Iceland. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer's Demands Kill Chess Match — Amsterdam (Reuter) The World Chess Federation canceled the world championship encounter in Belgrade between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and his U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer Thursday, after a long dispute with Fischer over financial terms. Belgrade was to have been the site for the first half of the championship match from June 22 to July 8. The second half was fixed for Reykjavic, Iceland.
  THE WORLD Chess Federation, (FIDE), based in Amsterdam, said it informed the national associations of the Soviet Union, United States, Iceland and Yugoslavia of the cancellation Thursday. Its secretary was now asking FIDE President Max Euwe, who is in Australia, for instructions on what to do next. Terms for the match were originally agreed on March 31, but Fischer subsequently sought a larger financial share, including a share of television and film fees. Although on April 4, the U.S. Chess Federation advised FIDE that Fischer agreed to the date and site for the match against Spassky, the message made no reference to the financial terms.
  FURTHER exchanges failed to sort out the problems, and to satisfy the Belgrade organizers the federation asked the Soviet and the United States Chess Federations each to provide a $35,000 guarantee that their players would meet as arranged. The guarantee was provided by the Soviet Federation but was not forthcoming from the United States. Two days ago the Belgrade organizers finally withdrew their offer to play host, saying it would be impossible for them to make preparations in time. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 15 — Stalemate in Fischer-Spassky World Chess Tourney Doubted — Newburgh (N.Y.) — (AP) Col. E. B. Edmondson, executive director of the American Chess Federation, says he has been assured that every effort will be made to prevent the world championship chess match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer from being stalemated. The World Chess Federation announced in Amsterdam yesterday that the first half of the keenly anticipated match scheduled in June at Belgrade, Yugoslavia, had been canceled. The WCF canceled the play after Belgrade organizers decided not to play host to the match because the American federation refused to put up a $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would appear. The American challenger has demanded a percentage of the proceeds. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 2 — Spassky Kept Waiting — Amsterdam, April 13 — The first leg of the chess world championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union was cancelled today by the Belgrade sponsors, the International Chess Federation said. The Federation, in a communiqué, said the matches to be played in Belgrade on June 22 to July 18 were cancelled because the American Chess Federation failed to provide a £13,430 guarantee that Fischer would play in Belgrade. The Federation said the Russians agreed to a similar guarantee for Spassky. The communiqué said that on March 20 the International Federation asked for a financial guarantee that Fischer would agree to match arrangements reached in Amsterdam on March 20. The US Federation replied on April 4 that Fischer would play at the agreed sites and times but did not mention financial aspects, the Federation said. On April 5. the communiqué said, the International Federation asked for the £13,430 guarantee. The Soviet reply was positive, the American reply was negative, the Federation said. “As a gesture of goodwill the International Federation gave the US Federation respite until April 13 at 8 am, stressing that an insurance policy to the same value was also acceptable,” the communiqué said. The Federation said the guarantee request was ignored. — UPI. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 40 — Fischer-Spassky Games in Belgrade Canceled, World Chess Group Says by Linda Charlton — The first half of the world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union—the subject of protracted haggling and negotiation—was canceled yesterday. But moves to reverse the cancellation were already under way. The cancellation involved the first 12 games scheduled to be played in Belgrade in June. The second half—and there would have to be at least one game and possibly as many as 12 in that half—is to be played in Iceland. The cancellation was announced in The Hague by the International Chess Federation. The president of the federation, Dr. Max Euwe, on a lecture tour in Australia, was telephoned last night by Col. E. B. Edmondson, director of the United States Chess Federation. Colonel Edmondson said, after his telephone talk with Dr. Euwe, that the international official knew nothing of the cancellation and “assured me that he would make every effort to save the situation.”
  Informed by Media Colonel Edmondson said he had learned of the cancellation not from the world chess group, but from the news media. Fischer is at Grossinger's, the Adirondacks resort, accepting no telephone calls. But Colonel Edmondson said he would “probably be informed of the situation this evening.” Behind the international organization's announcement was the decision of the Belgrade organizers not to play host to the match because the United States Chess Federation had refused to put up a $35,000 guarantee for Fischer's appearance. The Soviet Union agreed to a like guarantee for Spassky. The colonel, asked how the cancellation of the Belgrade series affected the second half of the match, scheduled for Reykjavik, Iceland, said: “I'm hoping that the second half will stay the second half.” Colonel Edmondson, asked what sort of agreement might be worked out to “save the situation,” replied: “How can you reach any compromise if the party won't even talk with you?”
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• St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 35 — Chess Match May Be Held In October — Belgrade, April 14 (UPI) — The world chess title match between Russian champion Boris Spassky and United States challenger Robert Fischer may take place in Belgrade in October instead of June, Yugoslav organizers said today. The International Chess Federation announced yesterday that the first part of the match, in Belgrade June 22 through July 18, had been canceled because the U.S. Chess Federation did not deposit a financial guarantee to ensure Fischer's appearance. The Russian chess federation has replied positively to a request for a financial guarantee for Spassky. The second part of the Spassky-Fischer match had been scheduled to be played in Reykjavik, Iceland, starting Aug. 6. Whether this now would become the first part of the match was not indicated. Read More

• The News Journal Wilmington, Delaware Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 10 — Scheduled to Start in June: Fischer-Spassky Match Not Till Fall, Says Slav — Belgrade (UPI) — The Belgrade organizers of the world chess title match between Soviet champion Boris Spassky and U.S. challenger Robert Fischer said today the event may take place in Belgrade in October instead of June. “There is no chance the match will begin as scheduled on June 22,” championship director Milivoje Molerovic said. “We may only discuss the holding of the match some time in October after the 20th chess Olympic games in September,” Molerovic said. The Yugoslav chess official was commenting on the International Chess Federation (FIDE) communique yesterday saying that the first leg of the match in Belgrade June 22-July 18 has been canceled because the U.S. Chess Federation failed to deposit a financial guarantee. “We have not yet received FIDE's formal decision but learned about it from news agency reports. Anyway, the match in Belgrade scheduled to begin in June is now definitely off,” Molerovic said. “We are surprised that nobody in the United States was willing to deposit a guarantee,” he said. The FIDE requested financial guarantees that Fischer and Spassky will play under the conditions agreed among the interested sides in Amsterdam on March 20. The Soviet Chess Federation has replied positively to the FIDE request for the financial guarantee for Spassky. The second leg of the Spassky-Fischer match was scheduled to be played in Reykjavik, Iceland, starting Aug. 6. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 15, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, April 15, 1972 - Page 11 — Host Sought for First Part of World Chess Match by Lawrence Van Gelder — International Unit Acts After Belgrade Cancels Planned Fischer-Spassky Contest — Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said yesterday that he had instructed the organization's secretary to seek a new host country for the first half of the world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Saying that there was no time for a repetition of bid-seeking procedures that had led to the selection of Yugoslavia as the site for the first half of the match and Iceland for the second, Dr. Euwe indicated that the matter would now be resolved on a first-come, first-served basis. “Whichever country can agree first to stage the match on conditions which have been arranged can have it straight away,” Dr. Euwe said in Perth, Australia, during a lecture tour. The conditions agreed on in February were that the prize money of $138,000, offered by Belgrade and Reykjavik, would be split, with 62.5 per cent for the winner and 37.5 per cent for the loser. The challenger must win 12½ points to take the title, with a draw counting as a half point and a victory as a full point. Dr. Euwe said any postponement of the match, which had been scheduled to start on June 22, would have to take into account that the world Chess Olympiad is scheduled to begin next Sept. 18 and that the two events could not be held around the same time.
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• The Express Lock Haven, Pennsylvania Saturday, April 15, 1972 - Page 7 — Sports — SI didn't snub the Chinese table tennis team's hatch in Canada, nor will it overlook Bobby Fischer's world championship chess match with the Russian. ★

• The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Saturday, April 15, 1972 - Page 43 — San Francisco Herb Caen: Bigga Deal — Promoter Cyrus Weiss of our town, backed by mysterious sources, flew to N.Y. Thursday to offer Chess Champ Bobby Fischer a $200,000 purse to play Russia's No. 1, Boris Spassky, at our Palace of Fine Arts for the world title in June. Half of the match is already set for Reykjavik, Iceland, but the other half is up for grabs… Read More

• The Times San Mateo, California Saturday, April 15, 1972 - Page 36 — Chessboard Is Nation's Field of Honor — At last it has been settled. Bobby Fischer will play Boris Vasilyevich Spassky for the chess championship of the would. The match will begin on June 22 and when it is over many experts think there will be a new champion. The chess world is holding its breath. For, if he wins the title, he will be the first non-Russian to hold the championship in 35 years and he would be the first American ever to win it. Many consider Fischer a cinch but he has never beaten Spassky even though they have met on only a few occasions. Further, Spassky did not get to he chess champion of the World by being a pushover. In may ways Fischer and Spassky are alike, although Spassky lost both of his parents at the siege of Leningrad and was orphaned at the age of five. Both players are totally dedicated to chess and have almost no other interest. Spassky was only about six years old, so the story goes, when he played the then world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in an exhibition. He supposedly beat Botvinnik and the champion predicted “This boy will become world champion.” Spassky has studied and analyzed tens of thousands of variations upon variations of moves. He has few close friends and lives for chess. In the Soviet Union he gets a lot of help because in Russia the government subsidizes such things as chess champions. Fischer will go into the match all alone with only his own ability and wits to guide him. But Spassky will have with him a veritable “brain trust.” Officially, at the moment, he will have Igor Bondarevsky, his coach; Ivor Nei, an international master and advisor; Yefim Geller, Soviet grandmaster; and finally, Nikolai, a psychologist. Spassky will also have whole nation united behind him. Chess is Russia's pride. Each player will indeed have the prestige of his country riding on his skill. Duels between Russians and Americans always seem to work out that way. Read More

April 16, 1972

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 195 — Evanston High Players Take Top Chess Plum — “One member of the Evanston team, Robinson, also has picked up pointers from Bobby Fischer, 28, American chess champion who will compete for the world title in June. Robinson met Fischer In New York earlier this year and since then has played nearly 100 matches with the champion, said Clifford King, Evanston Chess Club president. “He's never won a game against Fischer, but he's learned a lot,” King said. The Evanston High School team also has been state winner in both the Illinois High School Association and the United States Chess Federation tournaments for the last two years. Read More

• Fort Lauderdale News Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 138 — Russia, U.S. Gird For Battle Over World Chess Championship By Stephens Broening Associated Press Writer — Moscow — Yefim Geller draws on his cigarette, then chews on his left thumb for a while. His glance springs momentarily to the man's face across the chess board from him. Geller rises, moves with uncertain destination around the stage. A dark, overweight man in a rumpled suit, he gives the impression that you could hear him sigh at 30 paces. He looks in the direction of the people in the October Hall of the Moscow Trade Union headquarters: they might as well have been a hundred stovepipes or so many snowdrifts. He returns to the table and watches the board, as Viktor Korchnoi has been doing for 12 minutes. Korchnoi coolly measures the collision of forces in the checkered field of tension before him. His fingers flash in the air, and an inert white knight is lowered to the table, a vector suddenly transformed into a lacquered dummy. His hand bangs the stop on his clock. Geller's frail combination has been shattered.
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• The Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 118 — Paul's A Winning Chess Nut — The emergence among young people of an interest in chess is due partly, Paul believes, to the career of Bobby Fischer. “He really works at it, you know,” said Paul. “That's all he ever does. Gives chess-playing a lot of publicity.”

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 7 — Australia May Get Big Chess Game By a Special Reporter — Australia has less than a week to bid for the 1972 world chess championship, which is being billed as the chess match of the century. President of the World Chess Federation Professor Max Euwe confirmed in Perth last night that Australia has a chance of staging the match between American Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, of Russia. But, he said, “Australia will have to make up its mind quickly…within the next two or three days.” Professor Euwe, who leaves today after a chess promotion tour, has been forced to seek a new venue following a decision by Yugoslavia not to stage the first 12 games of the match. The championship, worth $138,500, must start by June 22. It's understood the Australian Chess Federation would need about $110,000 to stage the match. Chess officials say sponsors would be able to recoup this through television rights and copyrights of the actual games. Professor Euwe originally gave the federation 48 hours in which to make up its mind. But the deadline was extended last night. Holland, West Germany and France are also in the running for the match. “But I would like to see it come to Australia. It would be a great boost for chess here,” said Professor Euwe, who will have the final say on the venue. Professor Euwe, a 70-year-old Dutchman and the last non-Russian to hold the world chess title, said the match would not automatically go to Australia. “If Holland, West Germany and France don't want to stage the match, then Australia would have a good chance. “If all four say ‘yes’ a number of things will have to be taken into consideration,” he said. Professor Euwe said the championship would not “simply go to the highest bidder.” “All that have to be fulfilled are the original conditions agreed to by Yugoslavia,” he said. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 28 — Doubt Voiced on Funds For Top Chess Match — The Hague, the Netherlands, April 15 — Wim Ruth, chairman of the Dutch Chess Union, said tonight it was highly unlikely that his organization could raise the necessary prize money for the first half of the match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky for the international chess championship. The Dutch Chess Union was asked to take over organization of the match yesterday by Hendrik Slavekoorte, secretary of the International Chess Federation. The federation, which has its headquarters in Amsterdam, turned to the Dutch Chess Union after Belgrade withdrew its $150,000 offer to be host city for the first half of the match. Mr. Ruth, who blamed “Fischer's financial chicanery for all the problems,” said that “convincing sponsors to raise the necessary prize money seems an impossible task.” Read More

April 17, 1972

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Monday, April 17, 1972 - Page 28 — Chess Match Homeless — Amsterdam — (AP) — The problem of where and if American challenger Bobby Fischer will meet titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union to settle the world championship of chess became even knottier Sunday. The Netherlands chess federation turned down in advance a possible bid to host the first half of the 24-game match because it would cost too much and require too much time to organize. The match is to begin June 22. And in Reykjavik, Iceland, where the second half of the match is to be held, chairman Gudmundur Thorarinsson of the Iceland federation said his group might withdraw as a site if the first half is played in the Netherlands. He said the contract would have to be changed in that case. The trouble began when Belgrade, Yugoslavia, pulled out as host for the first 12 games of the match over a demand by Fischer for a share of the profits in addition to prize money of $138,500, and a refusal by the U.S. Chess Federation to post a cash bond guaranteeing Fischer's participation in the match. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said in Australia this weekend that he probably would pick the Netherlands to replace Belgrade. He also said Australia was a possible site. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Daily News Lebanon, Pennsylvania Monday, April 17, 1972 - Page 2 — World Chess Matches Still Without Home — Amsterdam (UPI) — The first games of the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union still were without a home today after officials in Amsterdam said they did not want to host the match. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation. had suggested that the first games be played in Amsterdam after the original Belgrade sponsors said they no longer were willing to organize the match. But a Dutch Chess Federation spokesman said Sunday “since the first leg of 12 games is scheduled to start June 22, it looks impossible to find in good time the sponsors to provide the about $160,000 needed. Even if the sponsors could be found, it could not be guaranteed that Fischer and Spassky would agree to play in Amsterdam.” The Belgrade sponsors backed out of the game arrangements after the American Chess Federation failed to put up a $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would play in Belgrade. A similar guarantee for Spassky was provided by the Russians, the International Chess Federation said April 13 when the decision of the Belgrade sponsors was announced. Agreement on the procedure for the 24-match series had been reached March 20 during a meeting in Amsterdam with representatives of the two players and the Soviet, American, Yugoslav and Icelandic federations. The first 12 games would be played in Belgrade and the remaining 12 in Reykjavik. Belgrade and Reykjavik offered a total prize money of $138,000 of which 62.50 per cent would go to the winner and 37.5 per cent to the loser. Fischer later told organizers he wanted a percentage of television and movie rights proceeds. When he finally accepted, the Belgrade sponsors, who had already stopped preparations, demanded the $35,000 guarantee. After Belgrade backed out, Euwe, in Australia on a chess promoting trip, suggested Holland might be willing to take over the first 12 games. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Tyler Morning Telegraph Tyler, Texas Monday, April 17, 1972 - Page 19 — U.S., Russian Chess Bout Having Trouble — Amsterdam (UPI) — The Dutch chess Federation Sunday turned down a suggestion it organize the first leg of the world championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The suggestion was made by Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, after the original Belgrade sponsors said Thursday they were no longer willing to organize the first games. “Since the first leg of 12 games is scheduled to start June 22, it looks impossible to find in good time the sponsors to provide the about $160,000 needed,” a Dutch federation spokesman said. “Even if the sponsors could be found, it could not be guaranteed that Fischer and Spassky would agree to play in Amsterdam.” he added. The Belgrade sponsors backed out of the game arrangements because the American Chess Federation failed to provide a $35,000 guarantee that Fischer would play in Belgrade. The Russians had agreed to a similar guarantee for Spassky, the international federation said in announcing the Belgrade sponsors' decision Thursday. At a meeting in Amsterdam March 20, representatives of the two players and of the Soviet, America, Yugoslav and Icelandic federations agreed on a procedure for the 24-match series. The first leg of 12 matches would be played in Belgrade and the remaining 12 in Reykjavik. The two cities offered a total prize money of $138,000 of which 62.50 per cent would go to the winner and 37.5 per cent to the loser. Fischer later told organizers he wanted a percentage of television and movie rights proceeds. When he finally accepted, the Belgrade sponsors, who had already stopped preparations, demanded a $35,000 guarantee. When Belgrade backed out, Euwe, who is in Australia on a chess promoting trip, suggested Holland might be willing to take over the first leg. ★ / ★ ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 18, 1972

• The Missoulian Missoula, Montana Tuesday, April 18, 1972 - Page 10 — Dutch Frown On Fischer — The Hague, The Netherlands, — The board of the National Dutch Chess Union has decided to give up all efforts to organize a world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. Gerard Kapsenberg, secretary-general of the Dutch Union, said this Monday after receiving information from the International Chess Federation that Fischer has refused to play either in Belgrade or Reykjavik. Kapsenberg said that for the International Chess Federation only one solution remained: disqualification of Fischer. The board of the Dutch Union considers Fischer's attitude reprehensible, Kapsenberg said, adding: “Following these Fischer maneuvers all the trumps are now in the hands of the Russians. Fischer would now have to beg the Russian Chess Union on his knees for a new deal. One cannot possibly expect Spassky to accept another agreement without cast-iron guarantees.” The International Chess Federation requested the Dutch Union to take over the organization of half the match from Belgrade, which withdrew its offer. The other half of the match was to have been in Iceland. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / Read More

• Times Colonist Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Tuesday, April 18, 1972 - Page 8 — Fischer's 'Whims' Annoy — Moscow (AP) — The Soviet Union jumped into the international wrangle over the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world championship chess match Tuesday, charging Fischer with “endless whims” and the International Chess Federation with “connivance.” In a statement distributed by Tass, the Soviet Chess Federation said the U.S. challenger is “fully responsible” for jeopardizing his title match with the Soviet champion. It also accused Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam, president of the international federation, of playing favorites and catering to those “endless whims” of Fischer's. The question of where and whether the match will be held has become increasingly clouded since Fischer refused to comply with the original financial arrangements and demanded a cut of the profits for himself and Spassky in addition to prize money. The 24-game match originally was scheduled to he split between Belgrade. Yugoslavia and Reykjavik. Iceland, beginning June 22 in Belgrade. Belgrade pulled out after Fischer demanded more money. Euwe said Sunday the first half of the match might be moved to Amsterdam. The Iceland federation said it felt Fischer broke the original agreement, and therefore questioned his right to challenge Spassky. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Tuesday, April 18, 1972 - Page 28 — Dutch Refuse to Provide Site For World Chess Title Match — New York — The Dutch Chess Union announced Monday that the Netherlands would not be the site of the first half of the world chess championship match this summer between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The International Chess Federation had asked the Dutch union last week to take over the first 12 games of the match after Belgrade had withdrawn in a dispute over a cash guarantee that Fischer would appear. The international federation is thus without a site for the first half of the match that is tentatively scheduled to begin on June 22. The second half is scheduled to be played in Reykjavik, Iceland. The conditions originally agreed upon in February were that prize money of $138,000, offered by Belgrade and Reykjavik, would be split, with 62.5 per cent for the winner and 37.5 per cent for the loser. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the international federation, said last week that there was not enough time left for a repetition of bidding procedures. He said a site to replace Belgrade would be picked on a first-come, first-served basis, so long as the host country or city agreed to fulfill Belgrade's original commitment. The Dutch union's decision to remove itself from consideration in the match arrangements was based, according to a report from The Hague, on information that Fischer had refused to play either in Belgrade or Reykjavik. Fischer could not be reached Monday for comment. Col. Edmund Edmondson, executive director of the United States Chess federation, said, however, that Iceland was still the scheduled site for the second half of the match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 19, 1972

• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, April 19, 1972 - Page 37 — A Problem of Some Size — IF THE SOVIETS and Americans can't agree on how to hold a chess match for money, how are the Soviets and Canadians going to manage it in hockey? There is an interesting parallel here because in both cases the Western capitalistic system is trying to call the tune at the expense of Communist ambition. Insofar as I am able to determine, the Russians do not care to finish second in Vietnam, chess, outer space, hockey or anything else worth a mouthful of propaganda. That being the case, I am persuaded that good old Canada may stand to lose more than she can gain, a lesson we might learn from the Americans, although Russian interest in Canada is presently held down to the dull roar of wheat, Arctic icebreakers, ice hockey and our hostility to the influences of American economics. The Russians have held the world championship of chess since 1948—from Mikhail Botvinnik to Vassily Smyslov, to Botvinnik again, to Mikhail Tal, to Botvinnik again, to Tigran Petrosian and thence to Boris Spassky, current titleholder who rose to the purple in 1969.
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• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, April 19, 1972 - Page 3 — Chess Clubs Fear Match in Jeopardy — Moscow (Reuter) — The Soviet Chess Federation said tonight that the world title match between the Soviet holder, Boris Spassky, and the American challenger, Bobby Fischer, is in jeopardy. Its statement said Iceland's Chess Federation has “expressed doubts as to the possibility of holding the second half of the match in Reykjavik.”
  Russians blame Fischer The Dutch Chess Federation, according to its Soviet counterpart, has turned down the request by Max Euwe, Dutch president of the World Chess Federation, to take over the arrangements for the first half of the match, which Belgrade abandoned last week after a dispute over guarantees that Mr. Fischer would appear. The Soviet statement, reported by Tass news agency, blamed Mr. Fischer and the World Federation leadership for the situation. “Fischer's endless whims and connivance by the World Federation placed in a predicament” those chess federations which had showed an interest in organizing the match, it said. The Soviet Federation said it did not like Mr. Euwe's compromise decision to divide the match between two cities but was ready to abide by decisions taken.
  Buck-passing charged Mr. Euwe's comments after Belgrade announced that it could no longer play host to the first half of the match, due to begin June 22, showed a “desire to justify Robert Fischer's unseemly behavior … and to lay the blame on somebody else,” the Soviet group said. Read More

• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Wednesday, April 19, 1972 - Page 12 — Interviews — After watching Mike Wallace's TV interview of chess champion Bobby Fischer. I wonder why his personal and private life is considered his own? Duane Thomas of the Dallas Cowboys was raked over the coals and finally found guilty of possession of marijuana while trying to maintain a similar, if not the same, attitude toward his personal and private life. When asked about his religion, Mr. Fischer closed that line of questioning with something like, “I don't want to discuss it.” Thomas tried to maintain a silent position while running successfully for his team and doing the job for which he had been hired. I wonder why the treatment of these two men is so different. Could it be race or what? Why must some be “pushed&dquo; into submitting to complete interrogation while others are allowed to continue their mysterious and unusual silence even though all are national or international figures? This kind of action smacks of something that is distasteful. Americans are going to have to recognize that individual privacy is each individual's right if he so desires. What is good for one is equally as good for others. B. Carleton Bryant, West Palm Beach. Read More

April 20, 1972

The Jacksonville Daily Journal, Jacksonville, Illinois, Thursday, April 20, 1972 WORLD CHESS CHAMPION Boris Spassky...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Monday, February 15, 2021

• The 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. “Boris Spassky, the world chess champion, is shown eating watermelon during break in a tennis game in the Soviet Union.” Photo by Sovphoto. (AP Wirephoto). ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• 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. Read More

• 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 dub, 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 21, 1972

• San Antonio Express, San Antonio, Texas, Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 5 — Mexico Bids For Chess Title Match — Mexico City (AP) — Telesistema Mexicana, Mexico's largest television network, has offered $175,000 in prize money to be host to the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and Boris Spassky of Russia. In messages sent Thursday to Fide Checs, The Hague, Netherlands, and Fide Press, Max Euwe, Djakarta, Indonesia, Emilio Azcarraga, Jr., president of Telesistema, said: “For the betternment of chess and with the support of Arturo Elizondo Garcia, president of the Federacion Provincial de Ajedrez, I will assume obligations for the Spassky-Fischer tournament and offer $175,000 prize money and customary required expenses for all 24 games to be played in Mexico. ★ / ★ Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 74 — Mexicans Offer $175,000 for Chess — Mexico City (UPI) — Mexico's leading television network reported today it has offered $175,000 in prize money to bail out the deadlocked world championship chess match between American Bobby Fischer and Russia's reigning champ Boris Spassky. The offer to stage the match in Mexico was made in a telegram sent Thursday to the Hague, to Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation. Emilio Azcarraga, owner of Telesistema Mexicano the network which had the rights to the 1968 Olympics and the 1970 World Cup soccer tournament, said: “In benefit of world chess and with the support of Arturo Elizondo Garcia, president of the provincial chess federation, I will assume all obligations for the series between Spassky and Fischer and I offer $175,000 in prizes, plus the expenses to cover all matches which would be played in Mexico.” Azcarraga made it clear he was bidding on all 24 of the championship games, not just half. He said he was confident his bid would get full consideration even though it was a last-minute proposition. The prize money offered by Azcarraga was the most offered to date by any prospective site. Belgrade, Yugoslavia, had offered $150,000 and Reykjavik, Iceland, $125,000. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

April 22, 1972

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Saturday, April 22, 1972 - Page 5 — Mexico TV Offer on Chess Title — Mexico City, Friday. — Telesistema Mexicana, Mexico's largest television network, has offered $US175,000 ($A147,000) in prize money to be host of the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. This follows the collapse of earlier plans to play half the tournament in Belgrade and half in Reykjavik. Read More

• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Saturday, April 22, 1972 - Page 28 — Paris Ruled Out By FIDE As Chess Site — Amsterdam (UPI)—The International Chess Federation (FIDE) said today [it] ruled out the possibility Paris could organize the first part of the World Championship Match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. “We read the TASS report about the Soviet suggestion that Paris take the first leg from Belgrade, but we did not receive a similar message or any other communication from the Soviet Chess Federation,” a FIDE spokesman said. “Even if the suggestion was made in earnest, it looks not possible that Paris could arrange the match,” he added. The Soviet suggestion caused some astonishment with French chess officials, who felt it would hardly be possible to find the money at short notice, FIDE officials said. The first 12 games of the world championship had been scheduled in Belgrade starting June 22 and the remainder of the match in Reykjavik. Belgrade sponsors announced last week they were no longer willing to organize the first leg because the American Chess Federation had not put up a 35,000 guarantee that Fischer would play in Belgrade. The Dutch Chess Federation Sunday turned down a suggestion it organizes the first leg, saying it could not find sponsors in good time to provide the money needed to organize the tournament. The suggestion had been made by Max Euwe, Dutch FIDE President, who is on a chess-promoting trip in Australia. The FIDE spokesman today said he did not expect any solid move to get out of the stalemate before Euwe returns to Holland, May 1. Read More

April 23, 1972

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Sunday, April 23, 1972 - Page 65 — How To Quiet a Roomful of Teen-Agers: Let 'em Play Chess —Kenny Regan of Paramus missed the National High School Chess Championship tourney the other day. He was home, sick. He had the chicken pox. Kenny at 12 is a seventh-grader at Eastbrook Junior High School. That doesn't disqualify him from competing in a high school tournament. “We have,” said Bill Goichberg, director of the championships, “no bottom age limit. Last year a sixth-grader almost ran off with the national title.” Kenny Regan is recovering nicely from the chicken pox. He says he'll be well enough to play in the New York City High School championships. He's no novice. “I have a rating of 1,829,” Kenny says, without a touch of false modesty in his voice. Chess ratings depend on a complicated formula (worked out, it seems, by some gnomes in the Black Forest) that takes into account the rating of the opponents you play and the score you accumulate in a tournament. A master's rating is 2,200. Bobby Fischer, the challenger for the world championship, has a rating of 2,800, theoretically the tops.
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• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Sunday, April 23, 1972 - Page 144 — Unlikely Chess Championship? — A chess championship between the U.S.'s Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky seemed unlikely after the International Chess Federation said that Fischer had refused to play for the world title in either Belgrade or Reykjavik. (Spreading rumors without foundation may have been effective for Soviet to win competitions, but this rumor was put to rest, by Robert J. Fischer in the April 05, 1972, New York Times “Fischer Announces He Is Ready to Play For the World Title.”) Read More

• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, April 23, 1972 - Page 5 — The world championship match between Robert Fischer and Boris Spassky remains clouded with controversy. Ken Smith, Fischer's formally designated aide for openings research, insists that, despite recent news stories, the match should be considered “on” until FIDE releases an official announcement to the contrary. Smith attributes the current disputes to the untiring efforts of a group “of 'old hands' in Belgrade and Iceland.” Smith claims to have documents and memoranda of phone calls which substantiate his charge that Fischer is being victimized by an envious camarilla. He does, however, believe that the organizers sincerely want to see the match played but are victims of behind the scenes maneuvers. As to Fischer's condition, Smith says he has never been mentally sharper and that “Fischer is afraid of no man over the chess board, and the hard, hard work of Spassky preparations were and are not being done by Fischer for the fun of it.” Read More

April 24, 1972

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, April 24, 1972 - Page 10 — Soviet Propaganda: Still Stalemated — Organizers of the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer of the U. S. and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union are having as much trouble finding financial backing as the organizers of the Republican national convention in San Diego had. Belgrade sponsors demanded a financial guarantee that Fischer would play in that Yugoslavian capital, then backed out when they couldn't get it. Now Amsterdam chess officials say that even if they could get an assurance that Fischer and Spassky would play there, they can't find sponsors to put up the approximately $160,000 needed. We don't suppose, at this particular time, it would do much good to inquire at the International Telephone and Telegraph Corp.?
  The match certainly could find financial backers. Foremost, as pointed out by Edmondson, head of the U.S. Federation, the “guarantee” was illegal. Further, generous bids to host the first half of the games were forthcoming from Mexico, Australia, Canada . . . with more to come. Read More

April 25, 1972

• The Post-Crescent Appleton, Wisconsin Tuesday, April 25, 1972 - Page 15 — Focus '71 — “…Bobby Fischer ‘checkmates’ Boris Spassky in the World Chess Championship.”

April 26, 1972

• The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana Wednesday, April 26, 1972 - Page 73 — SOVIET RUMOR MILL: Czechoslovakian-Communist Vlastimil Hort “Force Bobby Fischer to Play” (Tho Week Earlier Fischer Already Confirmed He Would!) — “The World Chess Federation should take tougher measures against American challenger Bobby Fischer to force him into playing, Vlastimil Hort, Czechoslovaki's chess grand master in Prague. Fischer has refused to play world champion Boris Spassky of Russia because, Fischer said, the financial conditions for the matches were not good enough. ‘The American evidently forgets that he belongs to the large family of chess players. He resembles, even in the eyes of his friends, increasingly a business-man,’ Hort said. ‘How many sympathies and friends he has lost over the past few months!’”
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  This rumor was put to rest, by Robert J. Fischer in the April 05, 1972, New York Times “Fischer Announces He Is Ready to Play For the World Title.”) ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Wednesday, April 26, 1972 - Page 4 — Puerto Rico Bids For Chess — Singapore, Tuesday. — Puerto Rico has offered to be host for the world chess championships between defending champion Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union, and Bobby Fischer, of the United States. This follows Yugoslavia's withdrawal of its offer to stage the first half of the championships. The Puerto Rican offer was made by radio telephone this morning to the president of the International Chess Federation, Dr Max Euwe, who is now in Singapore. Puerto Rico offered to be host for either the full championships or either half of the championships. The 24-game final is scheduled to be held in two 12-game matches. Iceland is still prepared to stage half the series, despite the uncertainty over Fischer's refusal to play until certain conditions are changed. Dr Euwe said that he would not be able to decide on a site for the games until he returned to Amsterdam in the next few days. (AAP) Read More

April 27, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 04 — Puerto Rico Offers To Be Host In Chess — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 26 (Reuters)—Puerto Rico has offered to be host for the chess match between the world champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, and his American challenger, Bobby Fischer. The International Chess Federation president, Dr. Max Euwe, announced the Puerto Rican offer here today. Dr. Euwe said Puerto Rico's offer to stage a part or the whole of the contest was made in a telephone call to him while he was in Singapore recently. The contest was to have been played in two stages, first in Belgrade beginning on June 22, and next in Reykjavik, Iceland. But after disagreements over fees and venues for the match, Yugoslavia announced two weeks ago it would not stage the first half in Belgrade. Dr. Euwe, a former world champion, said today: “If it is impossible to hold the whole match in Europe, I will consider Puerto Rico.” He said he would make his decision when he returned to the Netherlands on Monday. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 42 — Puerto Rico Bids For World Chess Match — Kuala Lumper, Malaysia (Reuter) — Puerto Rico has offered to be host for the much-disputed chess match between world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and his American challenger, Bobby Fischer, Max Euwe, International Chess Federation president said here Wednesday. Euwe said Puerto Rico's offer was made in a telephone call to him while he was in Singapore recently. The contest was to have been played in two stages, first in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, beginning June 22, and next in Reykjavik, Iceland. But after disagreements over fees and venues for the match, Yugoslavia announced two weeks ago it would not stage the first half in Belgrade. Euwe said Wednesday: “If it is impossible to hold the whole match in Europe, I will consider Puerto Rico.” Meanwhile, in Sarnia, Ont., Phil Haley, president of the Chess Federation of Canada, said the Canadian group has resubmitted a bid made last year to hold the first 12 games of the match in Montreal, beginning before July 1. He said in an interview that the Canadian federation had made the offer in writing to the International Chess Federation, but has received no answer. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Tass reported today the Soviet Chess Federation insists the match must be held in Iceland. Tass said the Soviet organization, speaking for the champion, had conveyed this to the federation in a telegram Wednesday. “The Chess Federation of the USSR warns that it will not support the intentions of the president Max Euwe of Holland to arrange for another round of talks and search for a venue of the match,” Tass reported. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Capital Annapolis, Maryland Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 4 — Chess: Fischer's Old Team-mate Counters Some of the Bad Press — Sir: Bobby Fischer is probably the strongest chess player in the world today—possibly the greatest player in the history of the game. Back in the 1950's, we played for the same team in New Jersey, Forry Laucks' Log Cabin Chess Club, so as an old “teammate” I feel compelled to counter some of the bad press he's received lately. The newspapers have portrayed his on-again-off-again match with Boris Spassky for the world's championship as the antics of an eccentric, spoiled brat. First, Fischer is no longer the child wonder. He is a man in his late twenties, approximately the same age as Spassky. Second, Fischer knows exactly what he is doing. Several years ago, he withdrew from international competition, claiming the Russians were guilty of collusion. The press booed. To understand Fischer's position, it should be understood that the Russians monopolized chess tournaments simply because there were more Russian top-ranked chess players than the rest of the world combined. This was not because Russians were innately better chess players. It was their national sport, such as baseball is our national sport. Therefore they had a bigger base from which gifted players could develop. With a preponderance of Russians playing in a tournament, it was theoretically possible for the Russians to throw games to one of their leading players while playing their hearts out against the rest of the world. Fischer, who was a participant in several of these tournaments, spoke of it as more than a “possibility”. That the world body governing international tournaments eventually enacted procedures to prevent such possibilities is a justification and a tribute to Fischer's stand. The basis for his current conduct is money. Last year, this marvel of the chess world, this champion of the highest cerebral arts, pulled in about $15,000. When you reflect how some biological freak cashes in on his 7-foot body for a $100,000 contract, or men become millionaires by knocking little white balls across the sward, it does seem shameful that Fischer should be so greedy. The point is that chess masters have always been poorly rewarded. The Russians would prefer it this way. Their best players are on civil service, and if the poor remuneration discourages the rest of the world, so much the better. Hopefully, Fischer will change this, too. DICK HAEFNER 7 Southgate Ave. Annapolis Read More

• Orlando Evening Star Orlando, Florida Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 40 — Chess Match Delay Irks Russians — Moscow (Reuter) — The Soviet Chess Federation today said American challenger Bobby Fischer should be deprived of the right to meet Boris Spassky, the Soviet world champion, because he did not obey international rules. A telegram addressed to the International Chess Federation said that if Fischer was deprived of the challenge then a new challenger must be named according to the rules. THE telegram, quoted by Tass news agency, attacked Fischer for his “caprices” and said an unprecedented situation in chess history had been created in which the challenger and not the champion dictated the terms. The cable showed annoyance over the long wrangle about the site and terms of the match between Fischer and Spassky. (observations.) ★ Read More

• Oakland Tribune Oakland, California Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 5 — Soviet Rumor Mill: Soviets Insist on Iceland Chess Site — Moscow (AP) — The Soviet Chess Federation said today the world title match between Boris Spassky, the reigning champion, and Bobby Fischer, his American challenger, must be held in Reykjavik because Fischer (?)blocked a compromise decision(?) to hold the contest in Reykjavik and Belgrade. ([Edit: No, Belgrade did that, when it illegally demanded a 35k guarantee then withdrew from sponsorship!]) In a telegram to the International Chess Federation — (FIDE) — the Soviet group said: “If FIDE safeguards the match organizers from Fischer's caprices, the contest may be held. If the American grand master does not accept unconditionally all FIDE demands he must be deprived of the rights to play this match. Then, according to rules, a new challenger must be named. ([True to Ken Smith's prediction that a small group of “old hands” were maneuvering to replace Fischer, outside the established rules of professional protocol of tournament chess conduct.)] “The Chess Federation of the USSR warns that it will not support the intentions of the FIDE president to arrange another round of talks and search for a venue of the match.” FIDE has asked each side to put up a guarantee of $35,000 ([illegal, and not in the agreement, so USCF's Edmondson refused)] to save the 24-game match. The Soviet Union agreed to put up the money, on condition the Americans did so as well. There still has been no financial guarantee from the American side. Both Fischer and Spassky agreed March 20 that the match would begin in Belgrade June 22 and would be continued in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. The match was split up because the two grand masters could not agree on a single site. But on March 28, Fischer rejected the arrangement because both Belgrade and Reykjavik turned down his demand for a share of any profits the organizers might make above the purse they put up ([And on April 05, 1972 in the New York Times in a report titled, “Fischer Announces He Is Ready to Play For the World Title.” Fischer sent a cablegram to FIDE apology for any misunderstanding and clarifying that his intent was indeed to play! yet Soviet correspondents continue to spread this false narrative that he 'refused to play in both Belgrade and Reykjavik over money.]) The purse was to have been $138,500 with 72½ per cent going to the winner, the rest to the loser. (Comments) ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 34 — Canadians Now Enter Chess Bid — The world chess showdown between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the current champion, and challenger Bobby Fischer, could still come about. Puerto Rico and Canada have both offered to host at least a portion of the 24-match series for the championship that was originally scheduled for Belgrade, Yugoslavia and Reykjavik, Iceland with 12 games to have been played in each city. International Chess Federation president Max Euwe said from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wednesday that Puerto Rico had offered to stage a part of the whole of the final in a telephone call to him while he was in Singapore recently. And Phil Haley, president of the Chess Federation of Canada, said from Sarnia that his group has resubmitted a bid made late last year to hold the initial 12 games in Montreal beginning before July 1. Haley said that the Canadian federation has sent the offer to the International Chess Federation, but has received no answer. He said he feels the Montreal bid has “probably a very good chance” of acceptance. Read More

April 28, 1972

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, April 28, 1972 - Page 18 — Reykjavik Makes Chess Bid — Amsterdam (UPI) — Reykjavik is willing to organize both legs of the world chess championship match between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer, an international chess spokesman said Thursday. This solution would be in line with the Soviet Chess Federation's demand to get out of the stalemate on the venue for the first 12 championship games. Originally the first leg of the 24-game series was to be played in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and the second leg in Reykjavik. Belgrade organizers backed out early this month when faced with additional financial demands from Fischer. “Reykjavik told us they would seriously try to organize the first leg too, provided both Spassky and Fischer guarantee they would play the complete match there,” the FIDE spokesman said. In a cable to FIDE, the Soviet federation Wednesday demanded the complete series be staged in Reykjavik. The cable also said the Soviet Union would not support efforts by FIDE President Max Euwe to find another site for the first leg. ★ Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Friday, April 28, 1972 - Page 120 — Game Within a Game — Belgrade, April 27 (UPI)—The International Chess Federation has contacted four European cities in its search for a host for the first part of the world championship match between challenger Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, Bozidar Kazic, secretary of the Yugoslav Chess Federation, said today. He sent telegrams to organizers in Paris; Reykjavik, Iceland; Dortmund, West Germany; and Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. The second part of the match is scheduled for Reykjavik. The first part was originally slated for Belgrade, but organizers there backed out last month when Fischer reportedly said he wanted a larger share of the profits.
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  Moscow, April 27 (AP)—The Soviet Chess Federation said today “The Chess Federation of the USSR warns that it will not support the intentions of the international president to arrange another round of talks and search for a venue of the match.” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Kenosha News Kenosha, Wisconsin Friday, April 28, 1972 - Page 1 — Seeks Chess Match in Australia — Sydney (UPI) — James Mason, a Melbourne entrepreneur, today 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, a chess official here said today. 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Calgary Herald Calgary, Alberta, Alberta, Canada Friday, April 28, 1972 - Page 3 — Australia Offers To Be Host For Chess Match — Melbourne (Reuter) — Australia has made a $133,000 offer to stage the world chess championship between title-holder Boris Spassky of Russia and American challenger Bobby Fischer, it was announced tonight. The president of the Victorian Chess Association, J. Englander, said that James Mason of Eltham, a Melbourne suburb, had agreed to put up the money to sponsor the match. “A cable has already been sent to the president of the International Chess Federation, Max Euwe, in Amsterdam informing him that we have the sponsorship and that we wish to stage the title,” Englander said. “We expected a reply in the next week or so.” In New York, the executive director of the United States Chess Federation expressed interest in the Australian offer, but said the ultimate choice would rest with the players. ★ / ★ / ★ ★ / ★ Read More

• Des Moines Tribune Des Moines, Iowa Friday, April 28, 1972 - Page 22 — Soviet Rumor Mill: Soviet Paper Cites Chess 'Bias' — Moscow, Russia (AP) — A Soviet newspaper Friday accused the head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) of unscrupulous bias in favor of Bobby Fischer, the American grandmaster who has pledged to wrest the world chess title from the Russians. Arrangements for the 24-game title match have come apart because ([Soviet instruction from Moscow for Belgrade to withdraw from hosting first half of games])of Fischer's demand for more money. Sovietsky Sport, a daily newspaper, said the attitude of FIDE President Max Euwe had been “obviously tendentious” to the disadvantage of Russian Boris Spassky, the world champion. The paper said Euwe's conduct leads to a possibility that the match may be “torpedoed.” ([By whom?]) It also called Fischer an unworthy challenger to Spassky. ([Mr. Spassky strongly disagrees with the Soviet's unhinged bias.)] Read More

April 29, 1972

• Detroit 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• 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. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• 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. ★ / Read More

April 30, 1972

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 93 — Now It's Chess For The Masses From Don Riseborough in New York —WITH YOUNG Bobby Fischer preparing to become the first American to play for the world championship in June, the sale of chess sets across the US is booming. Chess, once thought to be a dull, slow-moving intellectual's game, is now thought of by Americans as “a challenge, a brain-tease, an ‘in’ thing,” according to one chess expert this week. Chess is now an everyday thing in schools among young people and women. The US Chess Federation reports that there are now over 500-membership clubs in this country and many are known to exist outside the federation. Manufacturers say that new improved instruction booklets have made it possible to learn chess quickly and helped it to shed its image as a game that takes years to learn. According to Irving Toler, vice-president of sales for Caramoor Products, one of the most significant aspects of the new chess boom is that it now has a two-fold market — the player and the collector. The collector, a growing breed, is buying numerous sets for their beauty, for status and as decorative pieces of furniture. For him, there are “boards” on rugs and fancy table tops, and handsome chessmen made out of sterling silver, blocks of lucite, ivory or crushed stone. The chessmen can resemble Roman or Napoleonic figures, museum objects, Picasso drawings or even scenes from “Alice in Wonderland,” and the sets may cost as much as up to $500 each. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 4 — Melbourne's 11th-Hour Bid For Top Chess Match — A Melbourne engineer has put in an eleventh-hour bid—to the tune of $110,000—to get an Australian venue for the chess match of the century. Mr. James Nason, 39, of Eltham, put up the prize money through the Australian Chess Federation yesterday to attract world chess champion Boris Spassky of Russia and challenger Bobby Fischer of America to stage the first round of a title clash in Melbourne. The offer came after Australian chess officials had given up hope of finding a sponsor willing to foot the bill for an Australian clash between the pair. The opportunity for Australia to stage what has been described as the greatest chess event of modern times came when International Chess Federation president Dr. Max Euwe, of Holland, visited Melbourne two weeks ago.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 56 — Fischer-Spassky Chess Match May Stalemate Before It Begins By Harold Dondis, Globe Staff — Preparations for the scheduled world championship chess match between the American Bobby Fischer and the Russian world champion Boris Spassky have become as complex as an abstruse chess problem. The match is scheduled to begin June 22, but now lacks one sponsor. It had been set for its first half in Belgrade and its second half in Iceland with an unprecedented $138,500 in prize money. The match floundered when Fischer suddenly asked for clarification of the terms of the contract, apparently with the idea that the chess players, not the sponsors, should receive the profits from the chess match. In the ensuing negotiations, Fischer fired his representative, Ed Edmundson, a former Air Force officer and president of the US Chess Federation, who had masterfully presided over Fischer and shepherded him to the threshold of the World Crown. Fischer hired two lawyers to argue his cause, one of which was Paul Marshall, attorney for TV star David Frost.
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• Green Bay Press-Gazette Green Bay, Wisconsin Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 49 — No Crowds Come to Cheer at this Tourney — Of the players, Downen said, “It's a gentleman's game. The people who play it are reserved and diplomatic.” Although he had said chess is not limited to the “brainy” students, Downen said, “The players who occupy the higher boards are superior students. And the game is helping them to build their IQs or the ability to recognize relationships.” With the help of American champ Bobby Fischer, the attention given chess is on the rise, Downen said. “If he wins the world championship (against a Russian), interest is going to pick up greatly in the United States. “The United States has a lot to learn from other countries which have developed chess to a greater degree. We're so busy with physical activity and not so much with the intellectual side.” Arguments have been made that chess is a game, not a sport. But, said Downen. “It's a sport in the minds of the people involved.” Read More

• The Sunday News Ridgewood, New Jersey Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 43 — Chess Interest Growing — “…there's also a Bergen youth interest upbeat in the most stationary, action-riveted game of all time—chess! Some area libraries report a sudden rush by youngsters on the chess bookshelves, which ordinarily gather much dust (and even some moss) in the outdoor-weather season. Chess group participation has increased at many high schools (especially on the spear side) and chess club membership is growing among young Bergen adult males, as well. If we must find a reason for the rise, the paperbacks on psychology claim that chess is a great escape from the annoyances and frustrations of life … Barry Goldwater has sent his best wishes to Bobby Fischer on Fischer's forthcoming try at whupping the Russian chess champs this summer … Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 143 — Latest Moves — Australia's chess buffs are heartened by yesterday's surprise revelation that a Melbourne businessman is prepared to underwrite the Chess Match of the Century between America's Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky to the tune of $110,000. But if James E. Nason hopes to make a profit on his offer to enable the match to be played in Melbourne, are others interested? Entrepreneur Harry M. Miller said, “If I had that kind of money I'd buy another 900 Hereford cows and calves!” Read More

Political Smear Campaign: These articles are part of politically-motivated propaganda spanning 1960's till Fischer's death in 2008. Some sources cited; Ralph Ginzburg (sued by Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater for defamation); Ronald Gross claimed to ‘move to New York’ to substantiate his rumors but GM Isaac Kashdan in L.A. Times meticulously documents the Gross' S. California residency.) More exagerrated biased British, drivel ★ “Few credit 'king' with chess sales boom” vs. “Doubts Cast But Chess Sales Show Fischer Influence” … the slant, the political bias reeks from this press release! ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ 1,000,000 bribe offered to “take down” Israel's critics (State PROPAGANDA). In 1980, you could earn as much spreading propaganda, as you could winning a chess tournament! For examples where Chess has been sold out for a political agenda and deception, see ★ and ★