The Daily Times Salisbury, Maryland Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 10
Fischer Accepts Deal For More Cash For Chess
London, (AP) — A British banker said Monday night Bobby Fischer had accepted a deal worth 50,000 pounds—$130,000 at official parity—and was flying to Iceland to meet Russia's Boris Spassky for the chess world title.
Paul Marshall, a lawyer in New York for Fischer, said the 29-year-old American challenger had accepted Slater's offer of the extra prize money and would be in Reykjavik by the Tuesday noon deadline.
Earlier Monday, the sponsors of the championship match turned down Fischer's bid for a cut of the gate receipts in addition to the prize money previously agreed on.
Marshall quoted Fischer as saying of Slater's proposal: “I gotta accept it. It's a stupendous offer,” He said Fischer considered the gesture “incredible and generous and brave.”
Slater said in London he received confirmation of Fischer's acceptance by telephone and had been told the challenger planned to fly to Reykjavik.
Fischer must arrive in Reykjavik by noon Tuesday—8 a.m. EDT—or forfeit his chance at Spassky and the title. The first Tuesday—1 p.m. EDT—postponed from the same time Sunday at Fischer's request.
The Russians protested the granting of the postponement by the World Chess Federation—FIDE.
When Slater offered to put up his own money as an extra inducement to the American grandmaster, he stated: “Fischer has said that money is the problem. Here it is. What I am saying to Fischer now is ‘come out and play.’”
Marshall claimed that the issue with Fischer never had been money.
Caption: SO FAR STILL CHAMPION. Boris Spassky of Russia, present world chess champion, holds thumb up outside his hotel in Reykjavik. Challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States has so far failed to arrive in the Icelandic capital for the championship match that had been scheduled to start Sunday. Officials gave Fischer until today at noon to show up or else risk forfeit. At left is Jivo Nei, a Soviet chess master. (AP Wirephoto via cable from Reykjavik)
