The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Tuesday, August 15, 1972 - Page 5
Fischer, Spassky to Square Again
Reykjavik (UPI) — Bobby Fischer and Russian world chess champion Boris Spassky square off again today in the $250,000 playoff with the temperamental American challenger engaged in two offstage battles.
The 14th game, scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT with Fischer playing white and moving first, was postponed from Sunday when Spassky said he was not feeling well after his shattering 135th game defeat two days earlier.
The win gave Fischer an 8-to-5-point lead, 4.5 points short of winning the title, while Spassky needs another seven points in 11 games to retain his crown. The Russian's second, grandmaster Ivo Ney, said “Mr. Spassky has recovered and will be back at full strength.”
Early today German arbiter Lothar Schmid rejected an American protest against the medical certificate, issued to Spassky Sunday, but U.S. sources said Fischer lined up another attack.
Session Scheduled
The Icelandic Chess Federation, after twice postponing a meeting Monday, scheduled a session for later today to discuss the challenger's demand that the money—equivalent to the loser's share of the $125,000 official cash prize—be deposited at the embassy. The purse was doubled by a British banker, Jim Slater, to lure the reluctant Fischer to Iceland for the world championship match.
Fischer said he wanted the cash deposited against the possibility that he will be sued for refusing to allow television filming of the match.
Icelandic sources said the federation might hold on to the money pending the come of the possible law suit against the challenger from New York move director Chester Fox.
Fox, who signed an exclusive contract with the federation for television and filming rights in the exhibition hall playing area, said Monday, his lawyer in New York was putting the final touches to a law suit here and in the United States.
Fischer Prevents Filming
Fox said “Fischer has prevented me from filming this match although I have a legal and binding contract I could bring in cameras but I will not take the risk of him walking out. But rest assured Fischer is not getting away with this little game. We'll sue him for every cent I have lost as a result of his antics.”
Fox managed to film the first and eighth game, but removed his equipment after Fischer threatened to boycott the match because he signed no agreement.
After meeting with Harry Gvolombek, the senior representative of the International Chess Federation, match doctor Ulvar Thordarson and an Icelandic lawyer, Schmid said Fischer's medical certificate protest had been rejected on all points.
“Dr. Thordarson was within his rights to state Spassky was not feeling well without giving the exact nature of his illness. There is nothing in the match rules to cover Fischer's allegation,” Schmid said.
