ADetroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Monday, June 26, 1972 - Page 34
Fischer Mystery: Chess Challenger Cancels Flight
Reykjavik—(UPI)—Bobby Fischer, American challenger to Russian world chess champion Boris Spassky, abruptly canceled his flight ticket to Reykjavik, Icelandic Chess Federation officials said Sunday.
Fischer, of Brooklyn, was scheduled to arrive here Monday morning to prepare for the 24-game world chess championship match starting July 2. The prize money totals $125,000 with five-eights going to the winner.
T. Thorarisson, president of the Icelandic federation, told the island nation on television that Fischer had canceled the flight aboard Islandic (Loftleider) Airlines but did not know the reason.
Officials said they did not rule out the possibility Fischer would arrive at Reykjavik on Wednesday, aboard a Pan Am flight.
HOWEVER, a spokesman for Pan Am in New York said the Wednesday flight, its only one this week to Reykjavik, was booked solid and Fischer's name was not on the reservation list.
The reason for the cancellation was not known although a spokesman for the American Chess Foundation in Manhattan said Fischer reportedly was in Los Angeles Sunday and may have decided to take a later flight to Reykjavik.
