Daily Independent Journal San Rafael, California Friday, July 28, 1972 - Page 15
Fischer Throws Camera Tantrum
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—The $250,000 world championship chess match between American Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky, which seemed well on its way toward completion, was threatened again today because of television.
The temperamental Fischer said he may walk out if television cameras are not removed. He did not find out until Thursday night that the afternoon game was televised. When he did, he threw a tantrum.
Fischer won the game Thursday, giving him a 5-3 edge over Spassky. The next game was scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT). Fischer needs 12½ points to win but Spassky needs only 12 points to keep his title.
The Icelandic Chess Federation called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
“We're back to square 1. Whoever dreamed up the idea of staging the world championship match here should be kicked out of Iceland,” said Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the federation.
When Fischer found out the game was televised, he jumped up from the table where he was having dinner with his sister, Mrs. Joan Tarp, raged around his fourth floor suite and slammed doors.
“It's a lie,” Fischer screamed when told an agreement permitting televising of the match had been signed that afternoon.
He said he agreed to a contract so his “millions of fans” could see him after it had been worked out by his lawyer, Paul Marshall. The agreement was signed 25 minutes after the game started and ABC began filming the event immediately.
Fischer said the agreement was not valid because he had not signed it.
Fischer won the eighth game, thanks mainly to an apparent blunder by Spassky.
Spassky's error caused consternation among world chess grand masters gathered to witness what has been termed the match of the century.
Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia, one of the great names in the relatively closed world of chess, shook his head and said, “Why did Spassky bother to come today? He should have stayed in his hotel rather than commit such a tremendous blunder.
“Once he played that rook on the 19th move he was lost,” said Gligoric. “He should have resigned but carried on for appearances sake.”
Miguel Najdorf, dean of Argentine chess, banged chess pieces into a box when he saw Spassky's 19th move on the closed-circuit television.
“This is terrible,” he said. “How can a world champion play like this? Spassky is kaput. He must be seeing ghosts.”
Thirty minutes later the Russian titleholder stopped his clock and offered his hand to Fischer. Spassky had resigned the eight game on the 37th move.
The challenger accepted Spassky's hand then got up and walked quickly off the stage. He had scored his fourth win in six matches and taken a two point lead.
