AThe Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Saturday, May 06, 1972 - Page 5
Fischer Accepts Match In Iceland
Grossingers, N.Y. (Reuter) Chess master Bobby Fischer agreed Friday to play world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title in Reykjavik, Iceland, Fischer's representative said.
Paul Marshall, Fischer's representative said Fischer had agreed to the International Chess Federation's proposal of Iceland as the site of the world chess championships because “Bobby feels that even under adverse and uncertain conditions designed to make it difficult for him to play, he must play and win as a matter of national and personal pride.”
FISCHER WON the right to challenge Russia's Spassky for the title, which is contested every three years, by defeating other potential challengers, including former world champion Tigran Petrosyan of the Soviet Union.
Spassky won the world title from Petrosyan in Moscow in 1969.
Fischer's acceptance of Iceland appears to have ended a long wrangle over the championship site that threatened to jeopardize this year's championship. The international association was reported at one stage to be considering cancellation of the title match because of Fischer's reluctance to agree to a site.
MARSHALL SAID Fischer found making the decision to go to Iceland was “one heck of a struggle … it was really terrible.”
Fischer's spokesman added the choice of Iceland “was made solely by the Soviet government without reference to either of the players.”
“The method by which the choice was made is clearly against FIDE (International Chess Federation rules and brings into question the integrity and intent of FIDE,” he said.
FIDE had originally stated it had refused to hold any part of the match in the Western hemisphere, the spokesman said, “evidencing not only a callous disregard of their own rules and display of authority, but a prejudice which has marked chess championships ever since the Soviet Union obtained the monopoly.”
