July 1972

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The World Chess Championship tournament between Bobby Fisher (USA) and Boris Spassky (Soviet Union) in Iceland, July 1972. Original b/w photo via Sovfoto/UIG. Spectators surround the window of a chess shop in Wenceslaw Square in Prague, where a chess board displays the latest moves of the two Grand Masters. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/ https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/noartistknown/the-world-chess-championships-between-bobby-fisher-and-boris-spassky-in-iceland-july-1972/photograph/asset/3900790

The World Chess Championship tournament between Bobby Fisher (USA) and Boris Spassky (Soviet Union) in Iceland, July 1972. Original b/w photo via Sovfoto/UIG. Spectators surround the window of a chess shop in Wenceslaw Square in Prague, where a chess board displays the latest moves of the two Grand Masters. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/ https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/noartistknown/the-world-chess-championships-between-bobby-fisher-and-boris-spassky-in-iceland-july-1972/photo/asset/3900789

July 01, 1972

During a championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland, Bobby Fischer went to a tailor to buy two suits. In the shop, there...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Monday, March 16, 2020

During a championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland, Bobby Fischer went to a tailor to buy two suits. In the shop, there was a photograph of Rudolph Valentino, the silent screen star. https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/06/19/nyregion/20110619VISUALss/s/20110619VISUALss-slide-UIVV.html

• New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 01 — Chess World Argues Fischer's Actions by Martin Arnold —Bobby Fischer's posture toward the world chess championship has touched off a wave of debate and discussion in New York and Moscow as well as Reykjavik, Iceland, where his match with the defending Soviet champion, Boris Spassky, is scheduled to open tomorrow. Tass, the Soviet press agency, said Fischer was motivated by “a disgusting spirit of gain.” ([No more than Soviet system subsidizing its athletes to unfairly monopolize world titles to promote the mythical idea of the Soviet's almost hitleresque “Übermensch”…]) “Whenever the matter concerns Fischer, money comes first while sports motives are relegated to the background,” the agency asserted. ([Ditto!]) “Characteristically, his confidants are not chess players, but lawyers to whom he entrusted all his chess affairs.” ([The Soviet thru coercion of FIDE officials gave Fischer an ultimatum to agree to a contract, he had neither read nor knew the particulars of its contents, forced to agree blindly, or forfeit his rights to challenge for the title. Apparently, Fischer did not consult enough legal advise, as that loaded contract was devised to set off a chain of events which led to Fischer being hounded with a 3.3 million dollar lawsuit by Fox inc years after the match.]) Col. Edmund Edmondson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation, said he did not think anyone would know until game time if Fischer would play. “He's putting on some kind of an act—for what I don't know,” Colonel Edmondson said, adding that he thought the odds were 2 to 1 that he would not play. In Iceland, many people seemed to be outraged by Fischer's actions, while others passed the time spreading rumors.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 8 — Conferences in Iceland by Harold C. Schonberg — NYTimes. Reykjavik, Iceland, June 30—Mr. Davis arrived here this morning and immediately disappeared into a series of conferences with officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation and Fred Cramer of Milwaukee, Fischer's representative here. None of the participants was available for comment. If Fischer arrives on Sunday morning, after an all-night flight, the chances are that he will be in no physical condition to play a game at 5 P.M. Under the provisions of the 24-game match, which could last two months, he is entitled to three postponed games for reasons of health if he can supply a medical certificate. Most likely, Fischer will take advantage of that provision, thus putting the start of the match off to Tuesday, Thursday or even next Sunday. What the Russians think of this, nobody knows. Spassky and his entourage of three companions keep very much to themselves. They are affable, but they do not appear in public much, and they never speak to the press except at a full-scale news conference. So far they have been models of decorum, raising no objections and showing no temperament. It was learned from a private source, however, that the Russians believe Fischer is acting the way he does because he feels the match will be difficult. “Of course,” the source said, “Spassky does not show it, but he is also nervous.” Tonight, an imposing ceremony is being held at the National Theater to inaugurate the chess match. The President of Iceland, the Lord Mayor of Reykjavik, and the Russian Ambassador are among those scheduled to speak. (CAPTION) Sports Hall Tour: Boris Spassky, center, checking lighting in Reykjavik hall where chess tournament is to be held. With him are Gudmunder Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, left, and Fridrik Olafsson, an Icelandic grand master. Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 20 — Chess Puzzle — Two theories have been put forward to explain Bobby Fischer's erratic behavior on the eve of the scheduled beginning tomorrow of his world championship match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik. One view is that he is simply acting out an old chess tradition, waging psychological warfare against Spassky, creating uncertainties and tensions for the Soviet titleholder that he hopes will weaken Spassky's play when the battle actually begins. The second theory is that Fischer has become unduly money-conscious after a lifetime of relative poverty, and really may endanger the Reykjavik match and his chance for the title by insisting upon a greater financial return than he had originally agreed to accept. ([Third theory (not offered by NY Times): What Fischer actually ended up doing with the money. He gave most of the prize money away to the cult. It was “urgent urgency,” the church “needed” it, doomsday alarms and all. What Bobby didn't give, Stanley Rader, stepping in to act as Fischer's lawyer, took. Bobby reported in 1976 he was left with nothing but a few assets.]) Whatever Fischer's motives, his failure to show up in Reykjavik and his belated demand for a share of the gate receipts have projected a less than desirable image to the worldwide public fascinated by the title contest. Predictably the Soviet press has begun denouncing Bobby as some sort of money-hungry monster — neglecting to mention, of course, that Fischer and other American chess stars must live by their own earnings and are not subsidized by their government as are Soviet sportsmen. Nevertheless if Bobby Fischer is creating the present chaos for monetary reasons, he is making a mistake from his own point of view. He may lose the chance to win the world championship, and that chance may never return. If he plays in Reykjavik and wins—as he has an excellent chance of doing—his prospective earnings would make the amount he is arguing about now seem infinitesimal. For his own sake—as well as for the sake of chess—Bobby Fischer ought to get on the first plane, fly to Reykjavik and settle down to playing the best chess of his life. Read More

• The Central New Jersey Home News, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 1 — Progress Seen in Negotiations For Fischer Chess Matches —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Considerable progress was reported Friday night in 11th hour negotiations over Bobby Fischer's demand for more money from the world chess championship with Boris Spassky of Russia.
  Officials of the sponsoring Icelandic Chess Federation met with Andrew Davis. Fischer's lawyer and confidant, but said there was still no guarantee that the 29-year-old American would show up. The 24-game match starts Sunday.
  Meanwhile, Fischer missed a flight Friday to Reykjavik. He booked a reservation and checked his baggage, but after holding the plane up for two hours demanded his luggage back and disappeared from New York's Kennedy International Airport.
  This apparently leaves only one flight late tonight which would put Fischer in Reykjavik in time for the start of the match.
  Fischer's faith, the Church of God, observes Saturday as the Sabbath and Fischer will not fly between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.
  The financial dispute with the Icelandic Chess Federation involves Fischer's demand for 30 per cent of the gate receipts at the 2,500 Sports Palace where the matches will be held. Tickets are $5 apiece.
  A federation spokesman said Davis was seeking a compromise over the money snarl.
  But Gutmunder Thorarisson, ICF president who talked with Fischer's representatives in the United States for much of Friday night, said later that “nothing had been settled.”
  By previous agreement, Fischer and Spassky are to divide the $125,000 purse, with the winner getting five-eighths, and receiving 30 per cent of the sales of television and film rights.
  The Soviet news agency Tass blamed the uncertain condition on Fischer and said, “Wherever Fischer is, money ranks first, pushing aside all sporting motives.”
  
  Caption: “ANGRY FISCHER— An angry Bobby Fischer rushes past admirers and away from newsmen at Kennedy Airport last night. Fischer held a reservation for a flight to Reykjavik, Iceland, but missed the flight.” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Journal and Courier Lafayette, Indiana Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 13 — Fischer Hasn't Moved Toward Chess Match by Stephens Broening — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Organizers of the world chess championship were unable today to report any break-through in their deadlock over money with Bobby Fischer. On the eve of Fischer's scheduled challenge match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia, officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation said they still had no assurances that Fischer would appear. Almost at the last minute the 29-year-old American grand master sent word that he wouldn't play Spassky in Iceland unless a new condition was met: 30 per cent of the gate receipts for the 24 games in addition to a share of a $125,000 purse and a piece of television and film income already contracted for. Chess Federation officials met until nearly midnight with Andrew Davis, Fischer's friend and attorney, who arrived Friday to negotiate for his client. The 25-game match is supposed to start Sunday.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 11 — Engames People Play — Chess Correspondent, Leonard Barden, sizes up the contestants and tactics on the eve of the Spassky-Fischer world championship.

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 7 — Bobby Fischer at the Summit by Al Horowitz — When Robert Fischer, many times United States chess champion, sits down to play the first game of his world championship match against titleholder Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union, in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Monday, it will be the first time in 71 years that an American has participated in a face-to-face match for the highest title. No American has faced a reigning world champion in a direct confrontation for the title since Frank J. Marshall suffered a humiliating defeat by Emmanuel Lasker in 1901. Those 71 years represent a long period of hope and frustration for American chess fans; and it is little wonder that, now, when a fellow countryman is to play for the title, and is regarded a heavy favourite as well, they should await the event in a fever of enthusiasm.
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• Johnson City Press-Chronicle Johnson City, Tennessee Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 20 — Variety of Programs on Outlook — The Public Broadcasting Service and Channel 2 will carry simulated play-by-play color coverage of the first game of the Historic Spassky-Fischer World Championship Chess Tournament beginning tomorrow at 1 on Channel 2. The first game in the Reykjavik, Iceland Tournament between Chess Grand Masters Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, will take place tomorrow. The entire game, which could go as long as five hours, will be covered without interruption. Read More

• The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 14 — Bobby Fischer's New Tactics? — Bobby Fischer is to chess what Muhammad Ali is to boxing and Joe Namath is to football. He is controversial, talented and unpredictable. Especially is he is unpredictable. Mr. Fischer is scheduled to play a 24-game world championship match with the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky on Sunday in Reykjavik, Iceland. But as of Thursday he had not shown up. In chess terms, that is comparable to having Namath absent as the New York Jets go through their pre-game warmups at the Super Bowl.
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• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 20 — Iceland Says It Cannot Pay Fischer Any More — Reykjavik (Reuter) Iceland's Chess Federation announced Friday it could not pay 29-year-old American Bobby Fischer more money to play his challenge match here against Russian world champion Boris Spassky. Federation Director Gudjon Ingi Stefansson was commenting on reports that the American has demanded 30 per cent of gate receipts for Sunday's match on top of an agreed share of a $125,000 purse. UNDER THE existing arrangements, the winner of the match would receive five-eighths of the purse, and each player would also get 20 per cent of the film and television rights. Stefansson said he had no idea why Fischer appeared to be delaying his flight to Iceland. Fischer reportedly booked a flight on one plane Wednesday and boarded another plane on Thursday, but he has not been seen in the Icelandic capital.
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• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 20 — Tass Hits Fischer's Nerve War — Moscow (AP) The Soviet news agency Tass said Friday there is no certainty that the world championship chess match will be held at all and it blamed the situation on Bobby Fischer, the American who is challenging the Russian titleholder, Boris Spassky. Tass commentator Allan Starodub noted reports that Fischer is asking for more money to play and waging “a war of nerves” by not yet showing up in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the 24-game match.
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• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 3 — Organizers Haggle With Fischer Over Fee As Chess Match Nears — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Organizers of the world chess championship reported considerable progress last night in their negotiations with Bobby Fischer's lawyer over a last-minute demand for more money by the American challenger. However, after an hour and a half session with Andrew Davis, Mr. Fischer's attorney, officials of the sponsoring Icelandic Chess Foundation said they had been given no assurance Mr. Fischer would appear for the beginning of the match tomorrow with Russia's Boris Spassky.
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• Corvallis Gazette-Times Corvallis, Oregon Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 18 — Money Conflict — Andrew Davis, second from left, attorney for United States chess star Bobby Fischer, speaks with Chester Fox, after Fox met Davis at Keflavik Airport outside of Reykjavik, Iceland, Friday. Davis arrived in Iceland from New York on a flight that was to have carried Fischer to the world chess championships set to begin Sunday with Russian Boris Spassky. Organizers of the event now say that the whole match depends on eleventh hour negotiations between them and Fischer's lawyer on a new demand for more money. (AP) ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 30 — Weekend TV: World Championship Chess Tourney Set — Chess fans will get their chance this weekend. The Public Broadcasting System, Channel 28 at 10 a.m. Sunday, will present five hours of World Championship Chess Tournament play. Russia's Boris Spassky, the champion, matches the moves of Bobby Fischer, the challenger from the United States. These two have met five times previously, with Spassky winning three and tying twice. The tournament will last 8 weeks, and is originating in Reykjavik, Iceland. For this first telecast, PBS has arranged for chess expert Shelby Lyman—who will be in a New York studio—to monitor wire reports from Reykjavik and duplicate and analyze the moves by Spassky and Fischer on a huge chess board. Channel 28 carries a half-hour review of the day's match at 5 p.m. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 1 — Bobby Fischer Fails to Leave U.S. — New York, Friday. — An Icelandic Airlines flight to Reykjavik, Iceland, scene of the world championship chess match set for Sunday, left New York early today without the American challenger, Bobby Fischer aboard. Fischer, whose unpredictable behaviour has frayed nerves in official chess circles, was seen at the airport late last night. While a bodyguard blocked a photographer, Fischer hurried from the building, ran across a car park, and disappeared. He was expected in Reykjavik days ago, but several times canceled plane reservations. In Amsterdam, the president of the World Chess Federation, Dr. Max Euwe, said yesterday that Fischer could lose his rights to play for the world title “not only this time but perhaps forever” if he failed to show up. (The match begins at 2 a.m. Monday, Sydney time.) Almost overlooked as the Fischer drama unfolds, world titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union is waiting and ready in Reykjavik. Waiting also in Reykjavik is a $A53-a-day hotel suite, and, if Fischer wants them, the loan of a $42,000 house, the hotel chess, the best automatic transmission car on the island, and a refrigerator full of apple juice, yoghurt, ginger ale and bananas. Read More

• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 14 — Superbowl of Chess — For the past several months 29-year-old Bobby Fischer has been spending about eight hours a day in rigorous physical exercise and another eight hours in deep mental concentration. Yet, unfortunately, few Americans are aware of the two-man superbowl he has been training for. There won't be any pretty cheerleaders or live TV coverage when Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky face off over a chess board Sunday. In the United States chess ranks just a cut above Scrabble as a quiet pastime. But the young American challenger certainly deserves a good measure of support from this country. He is beginning a 24-game series for the world championship against a Russian grandmaster who counts chess as his national sport. The Soviets have dominated the ancient game throughout this century, while the United States has never had a player who could even reach the finals. Bobby Fischer has not only earned the right to play the Soviet Union's champ but has done it all alone with little financial or moral backing. This title match has been his goal since he became the U.S. champion at age 14. It will take 12 and a half grueling wins to beat Boris Spassky. The pressure of tournament play requires physical stamina and mental alertness that exceeds the performance many Americans admire so much in champion athletes. Bobby Fischer may be playing on “neutral” territory in Iceland, but the Russian spectators undoubtedly will outnumber the Americans. That is an advantage U.S. citizens ought to make up in well-wishes for the challenger. Read More

• Florida Today Cocoa, Florida Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 4A — Bobby Makes His Move — Can a lone American successfully challenge a product of the Soviet Union's time-tested chess machine? Can a perfection-seeking genius keep his cool through the grind of a 24-game championship series? Can Bobby Fischer, America's challenger, end a 25-year reign for the U.S.S.R. as world chess champions? We'll start getting the answers Sunday when Fischer — Brooklyn's now-grown-up child prodigy — faces world champ Boris Spassky across the 64-square board. The championship match has attracted widespread interest in this nation, which has tended to regard chess as a dull, slow, sedentary game that intellectuals play. Aficionados know better. It's a game that demands great physical stamina as well as superior concentration when played at the international grandmaster level. Bobby's youth was credited in part with his victory in the challenge round over the Soviet's former world champ, Tigran Petrosian. At 43, the one-time Russian “tiger” is over the hill. Bobby's lopsided victories in the preliminaries have excited great interest in this nation, with a parallel rise in chess set sales. Bobby — who trains as strenuously as any athlete (mainly bowling, swimming and table tennis) — has indirectly led many Americans to the game of chess. They have discovered that the game not only is interesting and challenging, but just plain fun. For Fischer and Spassky, the match promises to be a grueling challenge. If we were a gambling man, our money would have to go on Bobby. It's your move, Boris … Read More

• Springfield Leader and Press Springfield, Missouri Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 7 — Chess Board — This is the chess board on which Bobby Fischer of the United States is scheduled to play defending Soviet champion Boris Spassky, beginning Monday. But there was no guarantee today that Fischer would show up in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the match. ★ Read More

• The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 26 — Chess Wizard Still “Hiding” — New York, June 30.—Unpredictable chess genius Bobby Fischer remained undercover here with only 60 hours to go before the scheduled start of his world championship challenge against Russia's Boris Spassky, in Iceland.

• The Call-Leader Elwood, Indiana Saturday, July 01, 1972 - Page 1 — World Chess Match — Reykjavik (UPI)-If Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in the world championship match starting here Sunday, he will become the second American to rule as world champion. A victory for Spassky, the ruling world champion from the Soviet Union of the game which has lasted since 1927 when Alexander Alekhine took the title away from the legendary Jose Raoul Capablanca of Cuba. F.A. Philidor, a French composer of many talents, became known as the world's best chess player in the middle of the 18th century. But the world title was not introduced until 1851 when Adolf Anderssen, a 30-year-old German professor, won the first major international tournament in London and was given the title.
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July 02, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 31 — Iceland Chess Unit Tries To Curb News Coverage —Special to The New York Times, Reykjavik, Iceland, July 1 — The Icelandic Chess Federation pressed its efforts today to prevent television stations and chess clubs around the world from staging play-by-play reconstructions of the world chess championship matches while they are under way. Some television stations had planned to offer simultaneous recreations and analyses, using news agency accounts filed during the course of the matches. Virtually all 85 newsmen as signed to cover the matches here, except for correspondents of The New York Times and The Associated Press, have signed an agreement declaring that they will limit their coverage to three reports during each game.
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In Earlier Match, Boris Spassky, left, of the Soviet Union, and American Bobby Fischer, are shown in a match at the World Chess Championships in Siegen, Germany, on September 20, 1970. Spassky is reigning World Champ.—AP Wirephoto. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/02/1972-07-02-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="In Earlier Match, Boris Spassky, left, of the Soviet Union, and American Bobby Fischer, are shown in a match at the World Chess Championships in Siegen, Germany, on September 20, 1970." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/02/1972-07-02-004-600.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></a></div>

• Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 38 — In Earlier Match — Boris Spassky, left, of the Soviet Union, and American Bobby Fischer, are shown in a match at the World Chess Championships in Siegen, Germany, on September 20, 1970. Spassky is reigning World Champ.—AP Wirephoto. ★

• Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 38 — American Chess Genius Meets Russian Champion In Bid For World Crown —By Mary Ellen Myrene, Associated Press Writer — When he won his first U.S. chess championship at the age of 14, Bobby Fischer observed with nearly galling relish, “I like to see ’em squirm.” Now 29 and facing Russia's Boris Spassky for the world title, Fischer remains one of the most controversial—and most successful—players in the game's history. While his actions outside tournaments may be unexpected and perplexing, his game inside is legendary—an aggressive strategy dotted with ferocious attacks that have left his opponents exhausted. Bobby Fischer wants—no more and no less—to win. And he has done so with incredible consistency, winning a total of eight U.S. championships and dominating recent international play. Described by chess master Anthony Saidy as “the most rounded chess genius of all time,” Fischer now seeks the only title that has ever eluded him—the world championship held by the Russians since 1948, and by Spassky for the past three years. Fischer, a solidly built 6'-2" bachelor, was born in Chicago and, after his parents were divorced, moved to Brooklyn with his mother and an older sister in 1949. His first contact with chess came a short time later when his sister brought home a small, dime store chess set and taught him the moves from an instruction sheet. Joining the Brooklyn Chess Club at 8, Fischer earned a Reserve Rating in the strong Manhattan Chess Club by the time he was 12 and had played in his first national tournaments. He burst into the big time one year later, winning the U.S. Junior chess Championship and having one of his competition games acclaimed by elder chess statesman Hans Kmoch as “the game of the century.” At the age of 14—turned out in a T shirt, dungarees and sneakers—he won his first national championship. At 15 he became the youngest chess competitor in history to win the rating of grand master.
  
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  In the years that have followed, Fischer has done more than any man before him to popularize the sport of chess in the United States, and single-handedly, has generated more controversy. Over the years, Fischer has complained about the lighting, the scheduling, the spectators, the air conditioning, the living conditions and the purses of his matches, and he quit some of them. He refused to compete in the last two world championships eliminations, charging that the Russian players had rigged the tournaments by playing for draws against one another and for wins against Westerners. As a result, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has tightened its rules on tournament draws and changed the challengers' competition from round-robin to man-to-man elimination.
  
  “SENSE OF MISSION”
  Now mounting his first real bid for the world title, Fischer appears to have tempered his quarrels with officials to pursue what he calls “a sense of mission to win the championship.”
  I'm tired of being the unofficial champion,” he said. As he faces the opening game in Reykjavik, Iceland, Fischer is riding a wave of victories unprecedented in the history of chess. In the first of three elimination matches to determine the challenger to Spassky, Fischer defeated Soviet grand master Mark Taimanov by the starting score of 6-0—the first time in chess history that one grand master had shut out another without a single drawn game. Two months later, Fischer attacked Denmark's brilliant Bent Larsen like a computer steamroller and won again, 6-0; it was the equivalent of pitching back-to-back perfect games in baseball.
  
  19 STRAIGHT WINS
  With 19 consecutive victories in grand master play, Fischer then secured his right to play Spassky for the title, defeating former world champion Russian Tigran Petrosian, 6½ to 2½. No chess player in history could show a record like it. Now primed mentally and physically for probably the most important match of his career, Fischer has no doubt about the outcome. “It's nice to be modest, but it would be stupid if I did not tell the truth,” he says, “I should have been world champion ten years ago.” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 31 — Fischer Seeks a Postponement by Harold C. Schonberg —NYTimes, Reykjavik, Iceland, July 1—Bobby Fischer has asked for a two-day postponement for his chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, according to Andrew Davis, Fischer's lawyer. Thus the match—and there is no certainty that the international chess tournament will be held—would start on Tuesday instead of 5 P.M. tomorrow. There was no immediate reaction from the Russian delegation. It was learned that Mr. Davis—in a meeting with officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation the referee, Lothar Schmid; Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation; and Fred Cramer, who is acting for Fischer—pleaded fatigue on the American chess player's part. The officials will meet tomorrow to discuss the request by Fischer, who failed to board the last regularly scheduled flight to Iceland tonight from Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Fatigue, Mr. Davis said, is an impediment to playing, and he pleaded that the American challenger was thus not medically fit to start the match. Fischer, who has delayed his trip here several times, is now expected to arrive tomorrow morning. Asked by Mr. Schmid why the challenger had not arrived earlier, Mr. Davis contended that reporters had spotted Fischer at Kennedy International Airport on Thursday night and had “prevented” him from leaving. He added that Fischer would not travel from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday for religious reasons.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 65 — Fischer vs. Spassky: Chess Masters Hold Their Breath by Harold Dondis, Globe Chess Columnist — Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer will be sitting down today (at least this was the plan as of yesterday) at the Sports Palace at Reykjavik, Iceland, before a breathless audience of Grandmasters, chess votaries and amateurs. The atmosphere will be as highly charged as any chess encounter in history because Bobby Fischer is an unparalleled phenomenon and Boris Spassky is an extraordinarily gifted player of immense scope. Fischer must be favored despite three losses and two draws against Spassky and although Grandmasters know the games of Fischer and Spassky in microscopic detail, it is probably on the basis of past performance that they and the whole world must predict the result. One can recognize a single move as brilliant, but chess performance is like a chain which must have healthy links every step of the way. By this test, Fischer will be the victor by a four or five point majority. This is the prediction of Arpad Elo, the rating expert. Fischer has an early triumphant first in the qualifying round—perfect scores against Taimanov and Larsen and an overwhelming win against Petrosian. Spassky's performances in Canada and Moscow were mediocre. His win of the title was by a slight margin over Petrosian. The question is whether Spassky with his indirect, complex style, with his waiting game, his penchant for the obscure, can by some vital force overcome the straight-forward, no-nonsense attacking game of Bobby Fischer. Now we must see. Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 79 — Tempers Will Run Hot In Iceland by Charles Fraser — THE CHESS match which will decide who is the best player in the world looks all set to erupt into a war of nerves unheard of in this usually scholarly game. Russia's champion, Boris Spassky (right), will be accompanied by a team of tacticians, plus his own doctor and chef. U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer (left) fights alone — to prove what he has been saying for years: that he is the supreme champion. TODAY, THE normally quiet little Icelandic capital of Reykjavik is due to start what one of the contestants has already called “probably the greatest sports event in history…bigger even than the Frazier-Ali fight.”
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 20 — Chess Championship Opens and Absent Fischer Asks Delay by Joe Alex Morris Jr., Times Staff Writer — Reykjavik, Iceland — The world chess championship was formally declared open Saturday night despite the fact that American challenger Robert J. (Bobby) Fischer was nowhere in sight. And the likelihood that the American challenger would appear in time for the scheduled 5 p.m. (10 a.m. PDT) start of the first game of the 24-game match appeared even dimmer when Fischer's lawyer asked to postpone the match until Tuesday. Lothar Schmidt of Germany, the chief referee, said early today he didn't recognize the legitimacy of the request made by Andrew Davis, Fischer's lawyer. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 20 — Fischer Fans Gain in Numbers, Confidence by Isaac Kashdan, Times Chess Editor — Bobby Fischer will be the challenger in Reykjavik, Iceland, when he faces world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the title. It should be the other way around, in the opinion of Fischer and a growing coterie of supporters. They feel the boy (now a man of 29) from Brooklyn should have been champion 10 years ago. While this is an old story to chess buffs, what matters now is that the match is on, with 24 grueling games to go. How do you assess their chances? Look at the record. They have met five times, and Spassky has three wins. Two games ended in draws.
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• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 6 — Chess Champ — Boris Spassky, center, world champion of chess receives a toast from American Charge d'affaires Theodore Tremblay at the opening ceremony of Iceland's National Theater in Reykjavik. At left is Russian Ambassador Sergei Astayin. AP Wirephoto Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 177 — Oh, Ploy! Bobby's Late and Boris Fires an Aide by Robert Byrne, Special Correspondent of THE NEWS — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 1—With barely 24 hours to go before he has to make his opening move against world champion Boris Spassky in the 24-game match to settle the world chess championship, Bobby Fischer, the 29-year-old challenger, still had not arrived here. There still is time for Fischer to reach the Reykjavik exhibition hall, Laugardalsholl, by 5 p.m. tomorrow, but how he expects to ready himself for a grueling five-hour playing session against Russian Spassky is the question. After the transatlantic flight, and the four-hour time change, a traveler needs acclimation, but that's out of the question now. If this delay is a ploy aimed at unnerving Spassky, Fischer is in for a surprise.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 52 — Spassky-Fischer World Championship Chess Tournament — Duplicated play-by-play coverage featuring chess master Shelby Lyman, chess writer Frank Brady, and experts from the Marshall Chess Club of New York.

• The Wichita Eagle Wichita, Kansas Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 3 — Spassky, Right, Awaits Chess Foe — American Bobby Fischer to meet Russian.

• The Observer London, Greater London, England Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 5 — Fischer non-move Baffles Icelandic Chessmen by Roy Perrott — Reykjavik, July 1 — WAITING for the elusive Bobby Fischer to arrive here to make his challenge for the World Chess Championships has become a severe test of patience as well as nerve. Some think that the 29-year-old prodigy from Brooklyn may be using delaying tactics to unsettle the Russians. If so, it is not affecting the primary target too noticeably, though causing much confusion. The champion, Boris Spassky, looks outwardly in beamingly good form, playing a little tennis, putting in some restful afternoon naps, no doubt taking comfort in having the massive resources of the Russian chess world behind him. In the evenings Spassky goes into a private huddle over the practice board with his three expert aides when, we suppose, they try to analyse any flaws in Fischer's past games and prepare some devilishly ingenious surprises for him.
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Iceland's Gudmunder Thorarinsson, Jul 2, 1972 Florida Today, Cocoa, Florida

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 189 — Chess: Spassky Psyched and Well Studied for the Onslaught of Bobby Fischer by James Yuenger, Chief of Moscow Bureau — BORIS SPASSKY took a chess-playing psychologist along when he flew to Iceland to complete preparations for defending his world chess championship against Bobby Fischer. The presence of the psychologist is one indication of the importance the Russians attach to keeping Spassky in top mental shape for the titanic emotional struggle scheduled to open today in Reykjavik's 5,000-seat Sports Palace. At a press conference in Moscow a couple of weeks ago, Spassky appeared in superb physical condition and was poised almost to the point of blandness as he fielded questions from newsmen. He said he was eager for the long-awaited title match, he felt fine, he was prepared. Spassky is almost never put on public display as he was then. Many earlier requests for individual interviews had been ignored. And there was something in the atmosphere that led some people to suspect that the press conference had been carefully staged as a ploy to shake Fischer up long-distance. There was, for instance, Spassky's comment that the 29-year-old American challenger—judging by his insistence that the Russians were trying to avoid him and his thinly-veiled charge that they cheat— had “some sort of persecution complex.”
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 55 — Here's How to Play Chess--Then Practice, Read, Watch Pros by Richard M. Weintraub, Globe Staff — With a growing interest in the game of chess, spurred by the Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky world championship match, here's a brief primer outlining the basics of the game for those who have never played. […] Now you know what to do — and why ” all that's left is to find an opponent. Oh yes, there's one other thing — strategy. That comes in three ways: practice, reading a good chess book, and watching two real pros like Fischer and Spassky. Read More

• Pensacola News Journal Pensacola, Florida Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 47 — Chess Club Set July 13 — With interest rising in chess due to the world championship matches between American Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky, a group of Pensacolians have decided to organize a chess club. An organizational meeting is planned July 13 at John Waite's home, 1813 Maxwell St., at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in becoming a charter member can call Mike Henderson. Read More

• Argus-Leader Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 2 — American Chess Master Missing At Time Of Flight — New York (AP)—American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer failed to show up at Kennedy Airport here Saturday night for passage on the last commercial airline flight that could have taken him to Reykjavik, Iceland, in time for the scheduled Sunday start of his world chess title match with Russian Boris Spassky. The Icelandic Airlines plane departed on schedule without Fischer, and an airline spokesman said the next flight to Reykjavik would not be until 6:30 p.m. EDT Sunday. Fischer's first game with Spassky was scheduled to begin at noon, CDT, Sunday. There was some speculation that Fischer, who fled reporters when they spotted him at Kennedy Airport Thursday night, might have taken a flight to another European city and planned to go to Reykjavik from there. In the past week, Fischer repeatedly canceled his passage on flights to Iceland reportedly because he was dissatisfied with financial arrangements for the match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 70 — ABC Sports To Telecast Chess Event — ABC Sports has acquired the exclusive rights to televise the World Chess Championship between challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States and champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The coverage on ABC will be the only telecasts of the competition available in the United States. Highlights of championship games, possibly as many as 24 in all, will be seen on “ABC's Wide World of Sports.” The championship will run a maximum of eight weeks; the first telecast will air at 4 p.m. July 8. The World Chess Championship will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, a country of devoted chess aficionados. This marks the first time in history the matches will be played outside the Soviet Union. The first game will be played Sunday, July 2; the second on Tuesday, the third on Thursday. Thereafter, games will be played every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday for eight weeks. A maximum of 24 games will be played. As soon as one competitor earns 12½ points, the championship is decided and play is terminated. One point is awarded for a victory, a half point for a tie. Defending champion Spassky needs only a 12-12 tie to retain his world title. Fischer, a prodigy who stunned the world by winning the United States national championship at the age of 14, has faced Spassky only five times in his career and has never won, losing three games and tying twice between 1960 and 1970. Yet, following his relatively easy succession of triumphs in preliminary competition, Fisher is probably the favorite. Spassky is the latest tin a long line of Russian champions. A representative of the Soviet Union has held the World Championship for the past 23 years. ★ Read More

• Playground Daily News Fort Walton Beach, Florida Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 2 — Iceland Awaits Chess Champion — Reykjavik (UPI) - Icelandic officials waited nervously Saturday for U.S. chess Grand Master Bobby Fischer, who is scheduled to start his world championship match against Russian Boris Spassky here Sunday. Chess sources said the International Chess Federation will presumably disqualify Fischer from world championship play if he fails to show up for the first game at 5 p.m. Lothar Schmidt, the German Grand Master serving as official arbiter at the match, said the first game may be postponed if the official match physician finds a medical reason for Fischer to ask for a postponement. The 29-year-old challenger three times postponed his departure from New York without giving any explanation. Some chess sources said he was playing a game of nerves, trying to upset the 35-year-old champion, who has been in Iceland since June 21 preparing for the marathon match which will include 24 games. Others said Fischer was stalling because he was not happy with the money offered. The Icelandic organizers have put up $125,000 in prize money with five-eighths going to the winner and the rest to the loser. The sources said Fischer suddenly demanded an additional 30 per cent share of the gate receipts but the Icelandic Chess Federation rejected it. ★ Read More

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 6 — Fischer Arrival Still Awaited in Reykjavik — New York (UPI) — American chess champion Bobby Fischer kept his Russian opponent waiting and the world watching Saturday, less than 24 hours before the scheduled start of their world championship match 2,600 miles away in Iceland. Three times Fischer postponed his departure for Reykjavik mysteriously at the last minute, risked permanent disqualification from world championship play if he was not on a plane Saturday night. As a member of the Church of God, a Protestant sect which observes the Sabbath on Saturday, Fischer, 29, prefers not to fly until sundown Saturday. That would leave a 9:30 p.m. EDT Icelandic Airlines flight out of Kennedy International Airport as the only direct connection.
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• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 50 — Chess Match Officially Open Despite Absence of Fischer by Ian Westergren — Reykjavik (UPI) — Officials Saturday formally declared play ready to begin Sunday in the world chess championship even though U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer had not yet shown up for his opening bout with champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. However, Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), said in the opening ceremony in Iceland's national theater he was convinced Fischer would arrive in time for the match at 4 p.m. (12 p.m. CDT). He said it was possible under FIDE's rules to have the first of the 24 games postponed until Tuesday if Fischer wanted it. However, other sources said Fischer could be disqualified if he does not show up for the first game. Lothar Schmidt, the German Grand Master serving as official arbiter at the match, said the first game could be postponed if the official match physician finds medical reason for Fischer to ask for a delay.
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• Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 6 — Chess Group Seeks Limit On Coverage of Tourney — NYTimes News Service. Reykjavik, Iceland — The Icelandic Chess Federation was engaged Saturday in a battle to prevent television stations and chess clubs around the world from staging play-by-play reconstructions of the scheduled world chess championship matches as they are under way. Of 85 reports seeking accreditation to cover the matches, only the Associated Press and the New York Times were believed to have refused to sign an agreement demanded by the federation, to limit coverage to not more than three reports per game, and to prohibit their use for simultaneous move-by-move reconstructions. The Associated Press, it was understood, made a verbal agreement with the federation to hold down its dispatches to five during each game. With this understanding, it was not being required to make the pledge to bar unauthorized reproductions. A correspondent for the New York Times was informed that he would be barred from using communications facilities in the sports palace. The Times had refused to sign the agreement on the ground it involved prior restraint on reporting.
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• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, July 02, 1972 - Page 3 — Bobby Fischer Asks Chess Match Delay — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer's lawyer has asked to postpone the start of today's world championship chess match until Tuesday, but neither the organizers appeared willing to grant the request. Lothar Schmidt of Germany, the chief referee, said early today he didn't recognize the legitimacy of the request made by Andrew Davis, Fischer's lawyer. Schmidt said Davis carried no written credentials authorizing him to act in the American grand master's name. But Schmidt said something might can be worked out if Fischer shows up on time for the scheduled start of his match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The likelihood the American challenger would appear in time for scheduled 1 p.m. EDT start of the first game of the 24-game match appeared dim, however. Fischer failed to board the last scheduled commercial airline flight that could have taken him from New York to Iceland for the start of the world's richest chess match. The Icelandic Airlines plane departed without Fischer, and an airline spokesman said the next flight to Reykjavik would be 7:30 p.m. EDT—6½ hours after the game was to start.
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July 03, 1972

Waits for Next Move 03 Jul 1972, Mon Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, Wisconsin) Newspapers.com

• The Kingston Daily Freeman Kingston, New York Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1 — Tuesday Deadline For Bobby Fischer — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer's time runs out at 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Fischer, the 29 year old Brooklyn chess genius, must turn up in Reykjavik by then or lose the right to challenge Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for the world championship, a match that has generated wider interest than any chess game in history. Fischer, apparently bargaining for more money, was hiding out in New York while the great debate of “will he show up or won't he?” raged.
  The 24-game series was to have started Sunday. But when Fischer didn't show the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Dr. Max Euwe, announced that he was postponing the deadline until noon Tuesday (8 a.m. EDT). If Fischer does not appear for the drawing of lots scheduled for that time, he will be disqualified and lose his right to challenge the 35-year-old Russian for the world chess title.
  An Icelandic friend of Fischer, Freystrinn Thorberbergsson, flew to New York Sunday to try to persuade the American grand master to return with him. He said he was acting as “a friend of Bobby Fischer” and said only “I know where to find him.”
  Fischer, who has kept the Icelandic organizers nervously rushing to Keflavik international airport to meet every flight from New York for a week, simply did not show up Sunday.
  Officially there was no explanation. He has not been in touch with the Icelandic Chess Federation or FIDE since he sent a cable through the U.S. Chess Federation some time back saying he would show up for the match “under protest.”
  Four times since then, Fischer has canceled bookings on flights to Iceland.
  The Icelandic federation, which stands to lose much money if the match does not come off, pleaded for Fischer Sunday and convinced Euwe to postpone the start of the match 48 hours to give Fischer a last chance. ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Title Match Put Off Two Days On Plea by Fischer by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 2—The president of the International Chess Federation has granted Bobby Fischer a two-day postponement of his world championship match with Boris Spassky, which was supposed to begin here today. But the president, Dr. Max Euwe, warned the American grandmaster that if he did not show up by noon Tuesday, he would forfeit the match. Dr. Euwe, a Dutchman who was the world champion from 1935 to 1937, was pessimistic. “I think there will be no play at all,” he said. Informed at breakfast that Fischer was still in New York, Spassky looked shocked and said: “This is bad for chess.” As usual, neither Spassky nor any of those who accompanied the Soviet chess star here were available for direct comment on the decision to postpone the match. Dr. Euwe said the Russian had neither agreed nor disagreed with the ruling, but Spassky was quoted as saying that he had waited for more than a week and that he could wait another two days for the start of the 24-game match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Daily News New York, New York Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 181 — Bobby Gets It Off His Chess: Money Stalemating Game by Robert Byrne — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 2—Rejecting alibis put forward by his own agents that illness caused by fatigue brought the two-day postponement of the world championship chess match, Bobby Fischer said today that he will not appear here unless his financial demands are met by the organizers. Robert James (Bobby) Fischer, the “enfant terrible” of the chess world, who has called himself the “unofficial world champion” for nearly a decade, said in an exclusive interview by phone from his New York hide-away that he is standing behind his demands for 30% of the gate receipts for the 24-game match with champion Boris Vasilyevich Spassky. Heretofore Fischer's demand had been flatly rejected by Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation. But Thorarinsson said that he still believed that “financial differences could be overcome.”
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• The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 4 — Drama — Not many years ago a chess tournament was a perfect place to be if you wanted to be completely ignored by the press and the other media. Nobody but chess players was interested. Terrible-tempered and money conscious Bobby Fischer, America's chess champion and quite possibly one of the great players in the history of the game, has changed all that. The tournament scheduled in Iceland Sunday between Fischer and Russia's world champion Boris Spassky is getting more publicity than any in recent history, thanks to Fischer. Before he moved his first pawn on the board, he caused an uproar by not appearing in Reykjavik when expected and stirring rumors about demanding 30 per cent of the gate over his share of the $125,000 purse. If the drama on the chess board is as intense as the drama around it, chess enthusiasts are in for an exciting tournament indeed. Read More

• Fort Lauderdale News Fort Lauderdale, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer, Chess Unit Deadlocked — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The world chess championship was threatened with collapse today 24 hours before Bobby Fischer's deadline to show up or forfeit his match with Boris Spassky of Russia. Fischer, the American chess champion, was reported sticking to his demand for more money. He told the New York Daily News he wouldn't yield. The six-man board of the sponsoring Icelandic Chess Federation was reported unanimously opposed to paying Fischer the extra money. One board member call Fischer's gambit “a blatant attempt at extortion.” The board met until the early hours today with Fischer's lawyer, Andrew Davis. A spokesman said there was no progress. As the deadline approached, the board met again and decided not to concede to Fischer's demands for more money.
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• Muncie Evening Press Muncie, Indiana Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 9 — Chessman Fischer Fails to Check In by Ian Westergren — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) - Bobby Fischer's time runs out at 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Fischer, the 29-year-old Brooklyn chess genius, must turn up in Reykjavik by then or lose the right to challenge Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for the world championship, a match that has generated wider interest than any chess game in history. Fischer, apparently bargaining for more money, was hiding out in New York while the great debate of “will he show up or won't he?” raged. The 24-game series was to have started Sunday. But when Fischer didn't show the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Dr. Max Euwe, announced that he was postponing the deadline until noon Tuesday (8 a.m. EDT). If Fischer does not appear for the drawing of lots scheduled for that time, he will be disqualified and lose his right to challenge the 35-year-old Russian for the world chess title.
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• Victoria Advocate Victoria, Texas Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Disaster Looms by Joe Alex Morrison, Jr., Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service. — Reykjavik, Iceland — The ballad of Bobby Fischer has already been written. Here is Iceland, the classic form of epic poem is called the saga. And Bobby Fischer himself is in the middle of creating one. He's getting some notable assistance from an incredible cast of characters, mostly Americans, but no one can challenge his top billing in turning what should have been an epic-making match into an epochal disaster. The 29-year-old American challenger for the world chess crown is playing no show. His tactics have made a shambles of what was supposed to be the most exciting chess match of the century, or perhaps ever. The first of 24 matches against Boris Spassky, the 35-year-old Russian world champion was to start at 5 p.m. Sunday (local time). Instead, a hastily pencilled sign on the glass door of Lagurdur Hall said simply: “No Match Today.” And the burning question was: Will there be a match after all?
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• The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 35 — Tomorrow Deadline for Fischer — New York - (UPI) - Bobby Fischer, the American chess champion who was scheduled to begin play for the world title in Iceland remained in seclusion in New York yesterday while his lawyers tried to work out better financial terms. The International Chess Federation (FIDE), which had threatened to bar Fischer, 29, permanently from world championship play if he failed to appear for the first game against Russian world champion Boris Spassky yesterday at 1 p.m. EDT, relented at the last minute and gave him a two-day extension. An Icelandic friend of Fischer's, Freystein Thorbergsson, was flying to New York last night to try to persuade him to go to Reykjavik and play the match. Fischer changed his mind at the last minute about boarding a flight to Reykjavik last week and was not on the last direct flight to the Icelandic capital Saturday night. Whether Fischer would meet the Tuesday deadline might well hinge on whether his representatives in Iceland could come to terms with the Icelandic Chess Federation, sponsor of the match, on his share of the take, chess sources said. The original agreement was for the winner to get five eighths of a $125,000 prize plus 30 per cent of television, but Fischer recently asked for 60 per cent of the television money and an additional 30 per cent of the gate. Fischer's whereabouts were not disclosed but he was reported earlier this weekend staying with a doctor in the New York borough of Queens. Read More

• The Burlington Free Press Burlington, Vermont Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 24 — Chess King Fischer Must Decide by Tuesday — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) - Bobby Fischer was given a Tuesday noon deadline to appear for the world chess championship or forfeit his chance for the title. The ultimatum, announced Sunday by Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, meant a two-day postponement of Fischer's encounter with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The match was to have started at 5 p.m. Sunday, Iceland time. Euwe said a friend of the American challenger was leaving for New York “to talk with him.” “He will try to convince him to appear. I can't say who it is,” he added. Fischer refused to play the match after officials of the Icelandic Chess Federation balked at his last-minute demands for more money, in addition to a record purse already contracted for. Fischer and Spassky were to have a guaranteed share of $125,000 — the winner taking five-eighths — plus 30 per cent each of income from the sale of film and television rights. This alone was 10 times greater than any prize money ever paid to a chess player. ([Not failing to mention, Australia offered $225,000 and Mexico bid $175,000 but the Soviet delegation were seeking to censor coverage of the match to salvage their prestige at the expense of the game and good sportsmanship. In other words, they're sore losers, poor sportsmanship.]) Fischer wants additional 30 per cent of the gate receipts. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Absent; Chess Opener Postponed 2 Days —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) - Bobby Fischer failed to appear for the opening game in his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union Sunday but the match was postponed for two days to give the American challenger one more chance to play. “The simplest and maybe correct way to deal with this would be to disqualify Fischer from championship play,” Dr. Max Euwe, president of the (FIDE), said in announcing the postponement.
  THE POSTPONEMENT was made primarily to protect the Icelandic financial backers of the match and to preserve the image of the game itself, Euwe said. Robert Byrne, an American grandmaster, by phone from Reykjavik Sunday. “He said he was not fatigued and he was not sick,” Byrne said. “He won't come because they (the organizers) are not meeting his financial demands.” Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said he still believed that the “financial differences could be overcome.” He said Fischer also had demanded very strong security measures to protect him from newsmen and fans.
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• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 5 — Chessmen Refuse Fischer's Demands — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) - The Icelandic Chess Federation refused today to meet U.S. chess challenger Bobby Fischer's demands for more money to play the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky for the world championship. “A dangerous precedent would be created if we gave in to Fischer. He is threatening to kill the game of chess by insisting on his own conditions,” ([Nonsense. Chess has never been so popular or profitable. Stubborness is not a badge of honor.]) said Gudmundur Einarsson, a member of the Icelandic organization committee. The 24-game Fischer-Spassky match was scheduled to start Sunday but was postponed until Tuesday by Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Fischer, 29, is hiding out in New York, apparently in a move to force the sponsors of the match to pay him more money for playing Spassky.
  ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Honolulu Star-Bulletin Honolulu, Hawaii Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 7 — Bulletin — London (AP)—A British banker said today 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.

• El Paso Times El Paso, Texas Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 7 — Fischer Given Chess Match Extension — NYTimes, Reykjavik, Iceland - Bobby Fischer, who still has not arrived here for his championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, has been granted a two-day extension, until noon on Tuesday, to appear here. If he does not show up by then he will be disqualified from the match, which had been scheduled to start Sunday at 5 p.m. local time. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The La Crosse Tribune La Crosse, Wisconsin Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 17 — Chess Match Postponed — by Stephen Broening, Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) - The International Chess Federation gave Bobby Fischer two days' grace Sunday to appear for the world chess championship as a friend of the reluctant challenger flew to the United States in an attempt to coax him to Reykjavik. Fischer was believed in New York when Dr. Max Euwe, the international federation's president, announced the postponement. The first game in Fischer's 24-game match with world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union was set back from 5 p.m. Sunday—1 p.m. EDT—to the same time Tuesday. Euwe said Fischer must show by noon Tuesday or risk forfeiting his chance at Spassky and the title. Freystrinn Thorberbergsson, an Icelandic chess player and longtime friend of Fischer, flew to New York on Sunday night to try to persuade him to show up in time for the Tuesday match. Thorberbergsson, arriving at Kennedy Airport without luggage, was reluctant to talk about the trip. He said only that he expected to remain in the United States two or three days and that he had come to see Fischer “as a friend” in an effort to persuade him to meet the deadline. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 3 — British Banker Offers $130,000 Deal To Entice Fischer To Play Spassky For Chess Title — London (AP)—A British banker today offered Bobby Fischer a deal worth 50,000 pounds—$130,000 at official parity—to entice Fischer to play his Soviet rival Boris Spassky for the world title. James D. Slater, an investment banker, said in making the offer, “Fischer has said that money is the problem. Well here it is. What I am saying to Fischer now is, ‘Come out and play.’” Slater's offer was made through Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, and was immediately relayed to Fischer in New York, a spokesman for Slater said. Fischer faces a noon Tuesday deadline to be in Reykjavik, Iceland, for his match with Spassky. The American champion was reported as saying he would not appear in Iceland unless his financial demands were met by the tournament organizers. Slater, chairman of Slater Walker Securities, which has worldwide business affairs, has proposed a package containing several alternative offers. One is to double the match's prize money, which is now $125,000. The winner would get $78,125 under present terms. An increased prize would mean that the winner gets $156,000 and the loser $104,000. “The money is mine,” said Slater. “I hope the offer is being considered this afternoon. I like chess and have played it for years. Many want to see this match and everything has been arranged. If Fischer does not go to Iceland, many will be disappointed.” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Charlotte News Charlotte, North Carolina Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 18 — The Chess Connection: Chess World Awaits Fischer's Arrival — It's no coincidence that foreign policy impresarios like Henry Kissinger often look upon big power negotiations as if they were moves in a giant chess match. For when contestants who really are professional chess players come to glare across the table at each other, all the world itself might as well be at stake. Such was the case this weekend, when enthusiasts around the world followed the eleventh hour hold-out of chess wizard Bobby Fischer, who was scheduled to begin yesterday the long-awaited world championship series against reigning champion Boris Spassky of Russia. Fischer's last-minute refusal to arrive at the Icelandic playing site on time is typical of the tense brand of psychological warfare that is conducted in pre-match maneuverings.
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• The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 14 — Fischer Given Two Days to Get to Iceland by Harold C. Schonberg — NY Times Service, Reykjavik, Iceland — Bobby Fischer, who still has not arrived here for his championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, has been granted a two-day extension until noon Tuesday, to appear here. If he does not show up by then, he will be disqualified from the match, which had been scheduled to start Sunday at 5 p.m. The decision to grant Fischer an extension was made by Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam, President of the International Chess Federation. Euwe, the world's chess champion from 1935 to 1937, was pessimistic. “I think there will be no play at all,” he said.
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• The Herald Jasper, Indiana Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 12 — Awaits Challenger — Russian champion Boris Spassky, left, chats with American chess grandmaster Robert Byrne, right, in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sunday. Byrne said he spoke with American chess champion Bobby Fischer by phone Sunday and “he said he was not fatigued and he was not sick. He won't come (to Iceland) because they (the organizers) are not meeting his financial demands.” (United Press International) Read More

Sets Deadline 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) Newspapers.com

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 2 — Sets Deadline — Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, announces that American Bobby Fischer must appear by tomorrow or forfeit the match.

Chess Mates 03 Jul 1972, Mon The News Leader (Staunton, Virginia) Newspapers.com

• The News Leader Staunton, Virginia Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 8 — Chess Mates — Chess pros Boris Spassky, left, of the Soviet Union and American Bobby Fischer ponder moves in separate matches. Spassky and Fischer were to have met Sunday in Reykjavik, Iceland for the world chess championship, but Fischer failed to show up. The International Chess Federation postponed the start of the championship series until Tuesday. The American champion was believed still in New York. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the federation announced that if the American challenger failed to show up by noon Tuesday he would risk forfeiting his chance at the title. ★ Read More

So Far Still Champion 03 Jul 1972, Mon The Independent-Record (Helena, Montana) Newspapers.com

• The Independent-Record Helena, Montana Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 3 — So Far Still Champion — Boris Spassky of Russia, present world champion, holds thumb up outside his hotel in Reykjavik, Sunday. Challenger Bobby Fischer of the U.S. 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 Tuesday noon to show up or risk forfeit. (Photofax) Read More

• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 10 — Checkmate Before You Move — Whether or not Bobby Fischer has arrived/disappeared/hijacked an airliner/wrecked the Reykjavik national theater will be found by referring to our news pages. It is possible, during most emergencies, to keep leading articles up to date as the night goes on: but the strain of doing so tells on our staff, and in any case it is not safe to assume that the latest twist and turn in this new Icelandic saga is what it appears to be. Fischer is said to have an IQ of 184 ([more of a myth than fact, and Fischer himself denies ever being provided the score by Erasmus Hall, during his Dick Cavett interview, where this myth arose is anyone's guess. Bobby didn't like discussing it during that interview. In the words of Stephen Hawking, 'Only losers brag about their IQ.'). The Guardian's collective IQ is also fairly high, although for security reasons it is not possible to state a precise figure. We should be misleading readers, however, if we pretended that it was high enough to anticipate every move in the pre-chess game that has now been going on for several months. Boris Spassky may have a shrewd idea of what his opponent is likely to do next, but he is keeping his own counsel. So far his performance in the pre-chess, aided no doubt by his yoga exercises, has been impeccable. Every nerve-fraying move that Fischer has made has been met with a calm and measured response. At one time it seemed possible that Fischer had counted on so confusing the Soviets about the meeting place that Spassky would not turn up, thus allowing the championship to pass into Free World hands by default. The naïveté of such a ploy among masters soon ruled it out of serious consideration. Whatever game Fischer is playing it is far deeper than this. But even if Fischer were to complete the scheduled series of games, and even if he lost them all--and both suppositions must be extremely unlikely--he is the first man to have added a new dimension to the game since it first broke away from its obscure Asian origins. Hitherto the game has begun when two players sat down at a table and one of them moved a pawn. In future such a view of chess will be regarded as amusingly antiquarian. What used to be regarded as openings, like the Ruy Lopez, or the Queen's gambit declined, are now no more than the beginning of the end-game. It is a sad reflection on the world's press, we fear, that the first chess match which it has attended in such force should be almost over before the first pawn is pushed. For when Fischer and Spassky face each other across the table only the formalities remain. Read More

• The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 8 — Good Luck, Bobby! — Bobby Fischer, 29-year-old American who has startled the chess world with the brilliancy of his play, is scheduled to compete for the world's championship against the title-holder, Boris Spassky of Soviet Russia. Fischer has irked the Russians, not only by beating them regularly at what they consider their own game, but by accusing them of ganging up at international tournaments. At Curacao, in 1962, he charged thaty they consulted one another in order to defeat non-Soviet players. But Fischer really shook up the Soviets when he questioned the femininity of their sportswomen. Said Bobby, “They cheat in other sports (besides chess as well. The funniest--if you think its funny--is with their track athletes. Some women -- they take male hormones.” Determined to bring the chess title to America, Fischer said, “The Soviets have been committing international crimes for so long--spreading lies and political propaganda all over the world, cheating at sports--someone has to stop them ... I intend to teach them a little humility.” ([No source citation for direct quote provided]). If he does, more power to Fischer. Read More

Euwe 03 Jul 1972, Mon El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas) Newspapers.com

• El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 29 — Reykjavik, Iceland, Dr. Max Euwe, left, the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) told newsmen in Reykjavik that the world chess championship match between American champion Bobby Fischer and Russian champion Boris Spassky has been postponed until tomorrow. Fischer has been threatened by FIDE that he will be barred from world championship play if he fails to show up for the match tomorrow. (UPI Photo) Read More

• The Miami News Miami, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 39 — Soviets Protest Chess Delay — (AP) — The Soviet Chess Foundation, protesting the postponement of the world chess championship in Iceland, said today American challenger Bobby Fischer merits disqualification because of his demands for more money (just as Belgrade demanded an illegal 35K guarantee?) In a statement distributed by the official news agency Tass, the Soviet federation also assailed the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and its president Max Euwe. Read More

• The Miami News Miami, Florida Monday, July 03, 1972 - Page 39 — $125,000 Bonus Offered to Lure Fischer — Reuter — Jim Slater, one of London's youngest self-made millionaires, today offered $125,000 from his own pocket to entice U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer to play against his Soviet rival Boris Spassky. Fischer has been given until noon tomorrow to sign on at the world chess championship arena at Reykjavik, Iceland. So far he has shown no sign of keeping his engagement, the reason apparently being that he is dissatisfied with the amount of cash at stake. The prospect that the Fischer versus Spassky match might have to be called off has upset chess enthusiasts throughout the world. Slater, head of the Slater Walker Securities Investment group, London's fastest growing financial empire, has turned to chess as a relaxation. Today he offered through the International Chess Federation to double the match prize money. Slater said, “I like chess and have played it for years. In the hope that this match can be saved, I am offering to boost the prize money. “The money is mine. I hope my offer will help remove the problem of money from Fischer so that the match can go ahead,” he said. Read More

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July 04, 1972

The chess table and chairs, which are to be used by Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky for the international chess crown, sit empty in the vast Laugardalsholl Hall on Tuesday, July 04, 1972 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Original photo by AP Photo/Johann. https://apimagesblog.com/historical/2022/9/1/50-years-since-bobby-fischer-won-international-chess-crown

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, November 15, 2019

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance. (Caption Source: Brady.) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-000-600.jpg" width="600" height="436" /></a></div>

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, November 15, 2019

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance. (Caption Source: Brady.) https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-american-chess-player-bobby-fischer-arrives-iin-reykjavik-iceland-81697797.html <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-001-600.jpg" width="600" height="397" /></a></div>

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, November 15, 2019

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance. (Caption Source: Brady.) https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-american-chess-player-bobby-fischer-arrives-iin-reykjavik-iceland-81698483.html <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-002-600.jpg" width="600" height="398" /></a></div>

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer Bobby Fischer arrives at Keflavik Airport in Iceland to meet Boris Spassky in the world chess...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, November 15, 2019

July 04-05, 1972 Fischer Bobby Fischer arrives at Keflavik Airport in Iceland to meet Boris Spassky in the world chess championship. https://www.shutterstock.com/es/editorial/image-editorial/bobby-fischer-1972-reykjavik-iceland-7324478a <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="Fischer arrives from New York for his match against world champion Boris Spassky and emerged from the plane just hours before forfeiting the game for non-appearance." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/05/1972-07-05-003-600.jpg" width="600" height="403" /></a></div>

• The Evening Sun Hanover, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 17 — The Very Late Bobby Fischer — American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer steps from plane Tuesday in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he is scheduled to meet Soviet counterpart Boris Spassky in the world chess championship. Fischer arrived 10 hours prior to his scheduled meet with Spassky after a long holdout over prize money. (AP Wirephoto) ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• 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) ★ / ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1-14 — Fischer Leaves for Iceland After Briton Adds to Prize by Peter Kihss — A chess-playing London investment banker offered $125,000 yesterday to double the world championship chess purse, and Bobby Fischer, the American challenger, agreed to fly to Iceland to meet Boris Spassky for the title. Fischer told newsmen at a home in Douglaston, Queens, that while he had not studied the offer by the banker, James D. Slater, in detail, he had decided to go on with the matches because “there's an awful lot of prestige of the country at stake.” After saying he would probably take a private plane, Fischer made his way with three companions by back roads to Kennedy International Airport. There he transferred to an Icelandic Airlines station wagon and, at 9 P.M., was in effect smuggled aboard an airliner. The flight, scheduled for 7:30 P.M., took off at 10:04. This would take it into Reykjavik at 7:30 this morning—11:30 A.M. Iceland time and five hours before the start of the rescheduled first game. Fischer had said he would probably be able to play right away, but would see how he felt.
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• Valley Morning Star Harlingen, Texas Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 7 — Bobby Fischer May Play Chess — Reykjavik (UPI) — Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said Monday night he was 95 per cent sure U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer would arrive in Reykjavik, Tuesday morning to play world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union for the world title. “I have it from very good sources—sources which I trust—that Fischer will come Tuesday,” Thorarinsson said. He said he had received word, from sources he would not identify, that Fischer had accepted an offer from a wealthy British banker doubling the prize money from $125,000 to $250,000. (In London, the Independent Television News (ITN) quoted Fischer's lawyer, Paul Marshall, in the United States, as saying the American champion had accepted the offer made by Jim Slater, chairman of Slater-Walker securities.) “I am 95 per cent sure he will come before noon Tuesday,” Thorarinsson said and then added a note of caution: “But of course with Fischer you never know. You know he was at the airport in New York once but never got on the plane.” Icelandic radio also reported Monday that Fischer had accepted Slater's offer.
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• Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 23 — Fischer Flies To Chess Championship — $130,000 Added To Pot. New York (AP) — Bobby Fischer, who held out right down to the line for more money for his world championship chess match in Iceland, got it from a British banker Monday and flew to Iceland with only hours to spare. As Fischer was airborne from Kennedy Airport a few minutes after 10 P.M., he had just 10 hours to make the five-hour flight and prepare himself for the noon (5 a.m. Tucson time) deadline for the start of preliminary activities before beginning the match in Reykjavik with Soviet champion Boris Spassky. The 29-year-old Fischer, whose dislike of press coverage and photographs is well-known, was sneaked aboard the plane a half-hour before the scheduled 9:30 P.M. (EDT) takeoff. It was not explained why the plane was a half-hour late getting into the air. While about 50 newspaper, radio and television newsmen waited for him at the airport, airline personnel drove Fischer and a party of four others to the plane in a station wagon. He was unsmiling.
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• The Evening Sun Hanover, Pennsylvania Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 6 — Banker Says Fischer OKs Chess Deal — 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. Investment banker James D. Slater said he had received a telephone call from Fischer's lawyer saying the American challenger was flying Monday night to Reykjavik for the tournament. It was Slater who offered the extra money as an inducement to Fischer to meet Spassky. He said at the time: “Fischer has said that money is the problem. Well, here it is. What I am saying to Fischer now is ‘come out and play.’” The Russians, from Spassky here in Iceland to the Soviet Chess Federation in Moscow, protested the fact that the World Chess Federation — FIDE — granted a postponement of Fischer's appearance until Tuesday. The match had been scheduled to start Sunday. The day saw these developments…
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• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Added Prize Of $130,000 Luring Fischer To Chess? — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) Bobby Fischer was reported ready last night (Monday) to meet Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for the world chess championship and a prize pot sweetened by $130,000 from a London banker. Paul Marshall, a lawyer in New York for Fischer, said the 29-year-old American challenger had accepted banker James D. Slater's offer of the extra prize money and would be in Reykjavik by today's noon deadline. Earlier yesterday, 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 today, postponed from the same time Sunday at Fischer's request. The Russians, from Spassky here in Iceland to the Soviet Chess Federation in Moscow, protested the fact that the World Chess Federation (FIDE) granted a postponement of Fischer's appearance. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Tribune Scranton, Pennsylvania Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 2 — Report Fischer Okays Spassky Chess Match — Reykjavik (UPI)—Icelandic Radio Monday night reported American challenger Bobby Fischer had accepted a new money offer from a British banker and would be prepared to come to Iceland to play world champion Boris Spassky for the chess world championship title. However, Icelandic officials and Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), said they could not confirm the report. (Fischer boarded a plane in New York Monday night and was expected to arrive in Reykjavik at 7:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. EDT) today.) The radio said Fischer's lawyer, Paul Marshall, had contacted wealthy British investment banker Jim Slater, who offered earlier Monday to double the prize money to $250,000 to entice the 29-year-old, unpredictable American to play the 24-game series against the Russian world champion.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Stakes Doubled, Fischer Heading for Chess Match by Harold Dondis, Globe Correspondent — Reykjavik, Iceland — Thanks to the extra inducement of $130,000 put up yesterday morning by a wealthy British banker, reluctant Bobby Fischer decided last night to show up, after all, for his summit chess match here against Boris Spassky of Russia. He flew from New York last [night] after accepting, through his attorney, the offer of investment banker James D. Slater to double the pot for the once-delayed meeting between the American challenger and the present world champion. It ended, for the moment, a day of off-again, on-again bulletins and charges and counter-charges. Fischer had said he wouldn't show up unless the Icelandic Chess Federation, sponsor of the 24-game match, met his demands for 30 percent of the gate receipts. Then, a delay was granted and Fischer was given until this noon (8 a.m. EDT) to get here or forfeit the match. It was originally scheduled to begin Sunday and Fischer was due here Saturday. He refused to leave New York and another type of “chess game” was on.
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• The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 6 — The Great Chess War: Now Spassky Walks Out on Fischer —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Russian chess champion Boris Spassky refused today to play American challenger Bobby Fischer in a 24-game world championship match until the International Chess Federation (FIDE) punishes Fischer for “insulting me personally…and the USSR.” Match officials postponed the opening of the tournament for the second time but did not set a new starting date. Spassky said he would not yet leave Iceland and left the door open to a possible solution. “I still want to play the match if there is a solution,” Spassky said. “I will not play today. I will make my decision in the next few days.” In a statement, datelined in Reykjavik, Tass, the official Soviet news agency, quoted Spassky as saying Fischer broke the rules by refusing to show up for the opening ceremonies last Saturday. “By this, Fischer insulted me personally and the chess federation of the USSR which I represent,” Spassky said. Fischer delayed the tournament for two days while he haggled for more money. He finally agreed to play after a British banker agreed to double the prize money. It was not clear exactly what effect Spassky's refusal would have on the match, which was scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EDT today. Spassky earlier stalked out of a meeting set to determine who would get the first move in the opening game. Fischer, who did not arrive in Reykjavik until early today, did not attend the meeting. He stayed in his hotel room to sleep to prepare for the game.
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• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Boris Checks Chess Match — Reykjavik (AP) — Hours after Bobby Fischer ended his holdout and gave the world chess championship new life, Russian Boris Spassky put the match in doubt again today. Spassky lodged a formal protest objecting that Fischer, the American challenger, “has violated the rules of the match,” by failing to appear in Iceland for its scheduled start on Sunday. The world champion told Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation, that his decision to allow a postponement in Fischer's favor to today was unacceptable. Fischer arrived Monday night. Then Spassky and his aides, who were expected to draw lots for tonight's match, staged a glum-faced walkout. Spassky, asked whether there was a chance for a game today, said: “It is not known.” Speaking to reporters after the Russian walkout, Euwe was much more forthright. Asked whether he considered the Russian move threatened to wreck the whole match, he replied: “Certainly.” Representatives of the American grandmaster later conferred with Spassky and his aides in search of some compromise to what the organizers termed “complications.” Tass news agency said Spassky accused Fischer of violating rules and wanted him punished. Less than two hours before the match had been scheduled to begin, Spassky and his second, Yefim Geller, drove to the Soviet Embassy, presumably to consult with authorities in Moscow. This supported the sentiment that Spassky's belated protest after a week of complications caused by Fischer was on Moscow's orders. A new starting date for the 24-game series was given on Thursday.
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• The Charlotte News Charlotte, North Carolina Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 4 — Fischer's Chess Holdout Is Over — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Ending his holdout which threatened to wreck the world chess championship series, American grandmaster Bobby Fischer arrived in Iceland today about 10 hours before he was scheduled to meet Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky for their first game. The 29-year-old American challenger flew from New York after accepting London banker James D. Slater's offer to match $125,000 purse put up by the Icelandic Chess Federation. Now the winner of the 24-game match will get $156,25 and the loser $93,750.
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• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — White Knight Shows Up! — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — U.S. grand master Bobby Fischer, finally wooed to the board by a British banker's offer to double the prize money, arrived in Iceland today hours before the opening match in his chess showdown with world champion Boris Spassky. Fischer arrived aboard an Icelandic Airline flight from New York delayed more than one hour for him. The controversial American challenger, who won a two-day postponement in the world championship while he bartered for more prize money, was driven down the runway to the airplane in New York to avoid newsmen. Fischer, wearing red trousers, a blue sports shirt and a brown suede jacket, was met aborad the plane by a nervous Fredrik Olafsson, an Icelandic grand master and friend of the American challenger. A crowd of newsmen and photographers waited for Fischer at planeside but when the challenger finally deplaned he bounded down the stairs and jumped into a waiting limousine. Reykjavik police surrounded the limousine and pushed newsmen away. Fischer left without a word. Spassky, who won the world championship in 1969, has been in Iceland two weeks preparing for the 24-match world championship.
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• The Times-News Twin Falls, Idaho Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 18 — British Banker Offers More Money for Fischer — Reykjavik (UPI) — A wealthy British investment banker offered to double the prize money Monday to convince American challenger Bobby Fischer to go through with his world championship chess match against Russian Boris Spassky. “This money is more than the 30 per cent of the gate receipts Fischer has asked for in addition to the prize money and I do hope that he will now decide to come here and play,” Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), said. The offer was communicated to Paul G. Marshall, a lawyer representing Fischer in New York where the 29-year-old chess star was in hiding, Icelandic Radio said. Marshall was not immediately available for comment there. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Pensacola News Journal Pensacola, Florida Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 31 — 'I Gotta Accept It' -- Bob Fischer — New York (AP) — “It's a stupendous offer! I gotta accept it.” That is how chess star Bobby Fischer is reported by his lawyer to have reacted to $130,000 offered by a British banker if Fischer would show up in Iceland and play Boris Spassky in a world championship match. The lawyer, Paul Marshall, said Fischer planned to leave New York for Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday night. The first scheduled match is Tuesday. The offer of 50,000 pounds—or $130,000 at official parity—came from James D. Slater Monday morning. Slater put up his own funds because he wanted to solve Fischer's reported money questions and get the match under way. “What I'm saying to Fischer, now is, ‘Come out and play,’ Slater said in making the offer. Marshall said he called Fischer as soon as he got word of the offer at 8 a.m. New York time and it took Fischer about six hours to decide, calling Marshall back with his acceptance at about 2 p.m. “Fischer thought the offer was incredible and generous and brave,” said Marshall. “His only negative comment was that he felt the English were assuming the Icelandic responsibility.” Fischer accepted after previously requesting and receiving a two-day postponement of the match. Why did Fischer accept?
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 7 — Fischer Ends His Boycott as Prize Money Is Doubled by Joe Alex Morris, Jr. — Reykjavik, Iceland—American challenger Bobby Fischer decided Monday night to end his boycott of the world chess championship and fly here for the first match today against Russia's Boris Spassky, the Icelandic Chess Federation president said. Fischer boarded Icelandic Airways Flight 202A bound for Reykjavik Monday evening at New York Kennedy's International Airport. It's the Englishman who did it,” said Gudmunder Thorarinsson, the Icelandic chess official. By this he meant the dramatic offer by British banker Jim Slater to double the prize money if Fischer would end his holdout. Thorarinsson was somewhat less than jubilant, however. “Fischer made it to the airport before,” he pointed out. The 29-year-old American fled from hordes of waiting photographers at the airport when he originally was scheduled to fly to Iceland last week.
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• The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City, Utah Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 16 — Television Today by Harold Schindler, Tribune Television Editor — …Tuesday when Bobby Fischer decides to stop psyching the Russians and begin destroying Boris Spassky on the chess board … Not only has Fischer managed to make chess almost as much of a household word as Spiro T. Agnew, but the young grandmaster from Brooklyn is entitled to behave in whatever fashion suits him; he managed to reach Reykjavik on his own and earned the right to be the master of his own destiny…PBS also will carry game action via telephone each Sunday for five hours during the 24-game match … See it on KUED Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Read More

America's Bobby Fischer (center) is Greeted by Gudmunder Thorarinsson 04 Jul 1972, Tue Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com

• Calgary Herald Calgary, Alberta, Alberta, Canada Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Bobby Fischer (Center) Arrives in Reykjavik Early Today . . . greeted by Gudmundur Thorarinsson, right, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation. ★

• The Star Press Muncie, Indiana Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Banker's Bid Lures Fischer to Iceland —New York (UPI) - Chess whiz Bobby Fischer, lured out of seclusion by a British banker's offer to double the world championship prize money, flew to Iceland Monday night, just hours before the start of his match with the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky. Avoiding newsmen at Kennedy International Airport, Fischer, accompanied by three associates, was driven directly onto the runway and boarded Icelandic Airways Flight 202 through a rear door. Fischer, unsmiling and wearing red slacks and a blue blazer, got on the plane shortly after 9 p.m., more than an hour and a half after the flight was scheduled to take off. The plane finally left at 10:04 p.m. The Icelandic DC8 was expected to arrive in Reykjavik at 7:30 a.m.
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• Edmonton Journal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 8 — Bookies Favor Fischer — London (Reuter) — Ladbrokes, the London bookmakers, today quoted Bobby Fischer as a 5-to-2 favorite to win his world championship challenge in Reykjavik against Russia's Boris Spassky.

At The Soccer Match 04 Jul 1972, Tue The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.com

• The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 37 — At the Soccer Match — Reykjavik, Iceland — Boris Spassky, left, from Russia, and present world chess champion, strides towards Municipal Stadium in Reykjavik, Iceland, Monday, on his way to watch a soccer match between Denmark and Iceland. Spassky is awaiting the arrival of American Bobby Fischer to begin the World Chess Championship scheduled to start last Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at noon on Tuesday. (AP-Journal Wirephoto by Cable from Reykjavik). Read More

Icelandic Police Move Crowd Away From Fischer's Car 05 Jul 1972, Wed The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) Newspapers.com

• The Jackson Sun Jackson, Tennessee Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Breaking Through the Crowd — Icelandic policemen moved back the crowd to make way for Bobby Fischer's auto as he departed Iceland's Keflavik Airport today. Fischeer arrived in Iceland to meet the Russian titleholder Boris Spassky in the world chess championship series slated to begin later in the day. - (AP Wirephoto) ★ Read More

• Longview Daily News Longview, Washington Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 20 — American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, center, arrives in Reykjavik, Iceland, to meet Russian champ. (AP) and Icelandic policeman clears way for Bobby Fischer's auto. (AP)

• The Herald-Journal Logan, Utah Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 2 — A New Crisis For Chess — Reykjavik (UPI) — The world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and World Champion Boris Spassky ran into a new crisis Tuesday when the Russian left a meeting with Fischer's representatives after lodging a protest over Fischer's behavior. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), said he was not sure himself what the situation was. “What happened was that Spassky lodged a protest against the fact that Fischer did not arrive in time Sunday and he walked out of the meeting,” Dr. Euwe said. He said the Russian walkout, which he felt was ordered by Moscow, put the match in danger again. “The situation is critical. I don't know if the match will be played at all,” Dr. Euwe said.
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• Daily News New York, New York Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 3 — Bobby Takes Sterling Move: He'll Play For Bundle From Briton — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 3 (Special)—Confronted with an ultimatum to show up by noon tomorrow or forfeit his bid for the world chess title, Bobby Fischer was reported tonight to have accepted a bid by a British buff of the game to almost double the pot. Fischer was believed to be at a New York City hideaway, but in London, the buff, British investment banker James D. Slater said Fischer's attorney had accepted the offer, and Fischer was preparing to fly to Reykjavik. Slater said Fischer's lawyer had telephoned him acceptance of the offer. The six-member Icelandic Chess Federation board, sponsor of the 24-game match, turned down Fischer's demand for 30% of the gate receipts in the match against Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Present terms call for the winner to get $78,125 and the loser $46,875, with each taking a 30% cut of TV and photo sales income. Slater, president of the philanthropic group Friends of Chess, offered to put up $130,000, which would roughly double the previously agreed purse, thus giving the winner about $156,000. As an alternative, Slater said, the entire $130,000 could be tacked onto the winner's share, making the first prize total some $308,000. Slater said: “The idea is to remove the problem of money from Fischer and see if he has any others.”
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 1 — Slater Saves Chess Match — Bobby Fischer, the American challenger for the World Chess Championship, last night left New York by air for Reykjavik to take part in the championship against Boris Spassky. Mr. Paul Marshall, Fischer's lawyer, said that he would do so because of the offer of the British financier, Jim Slater, to put up £50,000 to be added to the contestants' share of the gate money. Fischer was “overwhelmed by the gesture and challenged by the terms,” he told the Guardian's chess correspondent, Leonard Barden, who conveyed the Slater offer to the Americans. Mr. Barden, a former British champion, who was telephoned by Mr. Slater yesterday morning and asked to get in touch with Fischer's lawyers and the President of the International Chess Federation, said that Fischer had taken an hour to think over the offer. He had then decided that the £50,000 should be split between winner and loser rather than on a winner take all basis because, his lawyers said “he wanted Spassky to go home with something.”
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• The Springfield News-Leader Springfield, Missouri Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 3 — Soviet Chess Group Protests Postponement — Moscow (AP) — The Soviet Chess Federation, protesting the postponement of the world chess championship in Iceland, said on Monday American challenger Bobby Fischer merits disqualification because of his demands for more money. ([Whilst the Soviet Federation protested and agitated ceaselessly for a reduction in prize money, as low as possible! then approved of an illegal 35,000 USD extortion fee “guaranteeing” Fischer would turn up in Belgrade. Doesn't that equally warrant total disqualification from chess, forever?])
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• The Crowley Post Herald Crowley, Louisiana Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 13 — Bobby Fischer Apologizes For Delaying Chess Match — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer apologized today for delaying the start of his $300,000 chess match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The American, whose dispute over prize money forced organizers to postpne the world championship round, said he had the greatest respect for Spassky as a man and as a player. The statement, prepared by Fischer's lawyers, was read to newsmen by Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation—FIDE. It was not known whether this would be sufficient to overcome Russian objections to starting the match. In a statement Tuesday, Spassky said he would consider starting play only if Fischer paid the penalty for his behavior. Spassky told The Associated Press Tuesday afternoon he still did not know whether the match would begin Thursday. He said there would be an announcement by the Russian delegation later. Read More

• The Charleston Daily Mail Charleston, West Virginia Tuesday, July 04, 1972 - Page 9 — World Title Bout by Bill Smith — CHECKING ON a great event. “This is your famous sports announcer Coward Hosell coming to you from that great sports capital of the world—Reykjavik, Iceland. REYKJAVIK? That's pronounced Reykjavik! It is famous for … Well it's famous for … Well, ice for one thing. “Now it will go down in the pages of history as the great city where two men—one a champion, the other a challenger—clashed in mortal combat. “These two greats—perhaps the greatest of all time—are a contrast in styles. One is a man of almost fierce intensity. A veteran of combat.
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July 05, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 01, 34 — Spassky, Refusing to Play, Asks Fischer Be ‘Punished’ by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 4 — The world championship chess match, moved thousands of miles, postponed and then postponed again because of the protests of Bobby Fischer, was delayed once more today—this time because the Russian title-holder refused to play. The champion, Boris Spassky, showed up at a meeting at which lots were to be drawn for the right to make the first move in the first game, which was to begin today. Fischer, who was said to be asleep in his hotel room, was represented by his second. Instead of drawing lots, Spassky tossed down a statement and stalked out of the room. The statement, in a translation supplied by Tass, the Soviet press agency, said: “Fischer broke the rules of holding the contest by refusing to come for the ceremony of opening the match. By this, Fischer insulted me, personally, and the Chess Federation of the U.S.S.R., which I represent.
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• New York Times, New York, New York Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 34 — Mover in Finance and Chess: James Derrick Slater by Bernard Weinraub — London, July 4—Promptly at 10 A.M. a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce glides to a halt at a building in the shadow of St. Paul's Cathedral. The car door opens and Jim Slater, a lean, dapper figure steps out quickly to move into a waiting elevator that takes him to his office round of phone calls—to bankers in Hong Kong, Industrialists in South Africa, investors in Australia and, to chess experts in London. The London phone calls clearly pleased the 43-year-old investment banker. He was assured that Bobby Fischer had finally flown to Iceland for the world championship match against Boris Spassky—a move spurred by Mr. Slater's offer of $125,000 to double the chess purse. “I'm very delighted that Fischer has accepted my financial offer and I hop that the match will now proceed,” the millionaire said in a statement this morning. “I'm sure it will be a very interesting and exciting championship.” The subdued words were a sharp contrast to yesterday's comment to Bobby Fischer, who was demanding more money. Mr. Slater said simply: “Fischer has said that money is the problem. “Well, here it is—my message to Fischer is: ‘Come on out and play.’”
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• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Russian Russian Delays Chess Match — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Now it's Boris Spassky's turn to say no—and the world chess championship is off again. The Russian titleholder launched his counterattack yesterday with a stern protest, some sharp criticism, a walkout and a demand for a two-day postponement of the start of the match with American Bobby Fischer. Mr. Fischer slept through it all. He arrived in the morning from New York and went straight to bed to rest up for the first game, set for 5 P.M. When Mr. Fischer woke up he found that the title series was put off until tomorrow at the earliest. It was to have begun last Sunday. Summing up the day, Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said: “When Mr. Spassky is here Mr. Fischer doesn't come. As soon as Mr. Fischer comes Mr. Spassky runs away.” The Russians turned up in force at noon for what was to be a drawing of lots to decide who would play white, and have the first move, in the opener. They refused to draw with Mr. Fischer's second, the Rev. William Lombardy, a Catholic priest, and read a statement calling Mr. Fischer's delaying holdout intolerable. They protested Mr. Euwe's decision to tolerate it. When Mr. Fischer failed to appear Sunday as he should have, Mr. Euwe allowed him until noon yesterday to show up in Reykjavik or forfeit his shot at Mr. Spassky.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — It's Spassky's Turn for Temper by Harold Dondis, Globe Correspondent — Reykjavik, Iceland — The most eagerly awaited confrontation since Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier is still just that — eagerly awaited — as a tumultuous day in Iceland ended with Russian chess champion Boris Spassky throwing a temper tantrum of his own. Consequently, the Chess Match of the century will start no sooner than tomorrow, if it ever starts at all. Bobby Fischer, American one-time boy wonder, showed up here yesterday, just in time for Spassky to refuse to play until Fischer is punished for delaying the match. ([Wrong Mr. Dondis. Soviet are making these decisions from Moscow. Mr. Spassky is simply following orders. The Soviet was throwing temper tantrums all along. The press simply chose to ignore them.])
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 15 — Political Circuit by David Nyhan — “Bobby sounded calm and reasonable,” said a man who talked to him Sunday when the chess world wondered why he hadn't yet shown up in Iceland, “his demands are entirely financial.” That's something we can all understand, right? Fischer is the Via Blue of the cranium-cracking chess set. It's the old hold-out gambit, the one they don't have in the chess books. And it worked. Read More

• The Tampa Tribune Tampa, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 41 — Boris Vasilevich Spassky: A Cool World Champion — (UPI) Boyish Boris Spassky stays cool when those around him sweat and squirm. He sits on a Moscow stage under boiling klieg lights, surrounded by a hundred newsmen. His future is at stake. A powerful and determined man wants his job. In a soft and nonchalant voice, he says: “I do not know who will win, but I am sure it will be an interesting and important event.” Boris Vasilevich Spassky, 35, of Leningrad, Russia, is the world champion at the game of chess. HE COULD NOT be more unlike America's Bobby Fischer, the cocky and controversial chess genius who is challenging for Spassky's title and boasting he will win. Spassky, who defeated fellow Soviet player Tigran Petrosyan for the world title in 1969, looks more like a 25-year-old track and field star than a 35-year-old chess champion. He sounds more like the nice boy next door than a celebrity.
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• The Tampa Tribune Tampa, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 41 — Paul Morphy: Brilliant Master —UPI — Bobby Fischer has said that the chess player he admires most is Paul Morphy, whose short but brilliant career in the mid-18th century made him the first and only American ever recognized as world champion. While Fischer's precocious ability on the board has stunned the chess world, Morphy's feats, though less well known, were even more imposing. Born in New Orleans, in 1837, Morphy was taught the game by his father and when he was 12 years old defeated the Hungarian J. Lowenthal, then recognized as one of the world's best. Fischer was 14 years old when he won the United States championship. At 22, Morphy traveled to Europe, defeating there a series of International Grand Masters, and was generally recognized as the world's best played in 1858-59. Fischer will be a 29-year-old world champion if he defeats Spassky.
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• Kenosha News Kenosha, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Bobby Fischer Apologizes but Chess Ruckus Continues — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—American chess challenger Bobby Fischer apologized today for delaying the start of the world championship match with Russian Boris Spassky but a demand from the Soviet chess federation threatened to cancel the 24-game series. The Russian chess group cabled Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), demanding that Fischer be ordered to forfeit the first game because he did not abide by an agreement which said both players must show up within one hour of the scheduled game time. “If the Russians insist on this penalty I believe the whole match is off,” said Euwe. “We are sorry that the world championships were delayed. The problems causing the delays were not with world champion Spassky who I respect as a player and a man,” Fischer said. “If grandmaster Spassky or the Soviet people were inconvenienced or discomforted I am indeed unhappy for I had not the slightest intention of this occurring,” Fischer said. Officials hoped the twice-postponed tournament could get under way Thursday but earlier representatives of both Fischer and Spassky broke off talks, casting doubts on the possibility the match would be held.
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• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 122 — Bobby's Acquaintances Repeat Soviet Propaganda Because They Don't Know Enough, To Know the Difference by Dave Hirshey and William McFadden — Bobby Fischer, the chess grandmaster, is in danger of losing ([very few, a minority, Americans loved Bobby, the others, were already dangling from Soviet propaganda arm]) many of whom deplore his tactics ([they deplore his aggressive stylistic approach to life, on and off the chessboard? They don't appreciate how greatness operates. Can't have one without the other. That is why Bobby became a national sensation, a celebrity and they are… well, merely, acquainted with him]) in the current brouhaha in Iceland. But Fischer is still revered as the most masterful chess player the world has ever produced.
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• The Herald Statesman Yonkers, New York Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Hartsdale Chess Master Sees Personality Dispute in Iceland by Lee Richards III — Hartsdale — “I've known Bobby Fischer since he was in knee-pants, but what I can't be sure of is what he feels about the chess championship at this moment.” On what was supposed to be the even of the long-awaited Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship match, Arthur Bisguier, former U.S. chess champion, sat in the small study of his Hartsdale home, puzzling over the mystery of Fischer and the patient confidence of Spassky. The championship, which was to begin in Reykjavik, Iceland this past weekend, was postponed on Fischer's request by International Chess Federation president Max Euwe.
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• The Pensacola News Pensacola, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 2 — Keeping Track of the Moves by Fred Brown — HAVE YOU been keeping track of the moves in the world chess championship which was to have begun Sunday? It's been a riot so far. First, the American Bobby Fischer (sometimes known as the enfant terrible), says there wasn't enough money in Reykjavik, Iceland, whatever that might be, to force his presence. A measly $125,000 record pot wasn't enough for our boy. Then the present world champ, Boris Spassky got tired of the challenger's challenges and walked out. ([Actually, that's the childish, immature Soviet Chess delegates ordering Spassky to obey their scripted-in-Moscow “stunt”]).
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 51 — Fischer Apologizes, But . . . Spassky's Turn to Stall — Reykjavik, Iceland — American challenger Bobby Fischer issued a qualified apology today for his late arrival here to play Russian Boris Spassky for the world chess title — but there was no immediate sign that it would break the deadlock holding up the start of play. The long-awaited 24-game series was due to start yesterday but the opening game was postponed when the Soviet titleholder refused to play, saying that Fischer's arrival two days after the opening ceremony was an insult for which the unpredictable American should be punished. Spassky today restated this position in a revised version of his previous comments read to the press by Dr. Max Euwe, Dutch president of the world Chess Federation.
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Stage Set . . . But Players Missing For Championship 05 Jul 1972, Wed The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) Newspapers.com

Palladium-Item Richmond, Indiana Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 10 — The Stage Is Set, but the players are missing. Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky were to use these chairs and the table for their world championship chess match scheduled to begin Sunday in Reykjavik, Iceland's Laugardalsholl Hall, but first Fischer was late, and secondly Spassky walked out. Maybe they'll start play Thursday (AP Wirephoto) ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Kingsport Times Kingsport, Tennessee Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 14 — Russians Walk Out, Chess Championship May Be Off — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The Russians broke off their talks with representatives of American chess challenger Bobby Fischer today, throwing serious doubts on the possibility the twice-postponed world championship match with the USSR's Boris Spassky would ever be held. “This is a very bad development and I am now very pessimistic about the match,” said Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The reason for the breakup was not immediately disclosed but representatives of Spassky, the reigning world chess champion, said they would explain later at a news conference. “The Russians said today they don't want any further talks with the Americans,” Euwe said. The talks between representatives of Fischer and Spassky started Tuesday after Spassky triggered the second postponement of the scheduled 24-game series, saying Fischer had insulted him by not showing up for the pre-match ceremonies. He said he would not play until FIDE punished Fischer and Fischer personally apologized. Officials hoped the match could start Thursday.
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• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 10 — Spassky Turns Tables, Demands Punishment — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) Russian chess champion Boris Spassky stalked out of a meeting Tuesday, charging he and the Soviet Union had been insulted by Bobby Fischer and demanding the American challenger be punished before they play for the world title. ([And who will “punish” the Soviet Union for months and years of meddling, maneuvering off the chessboard, disruption of many, many chess tournaments through false and misleading published reports and misrepresentations of players in the press? Arm twisting, to gain personal advantage, to monopolize a large cross-section of sports titles?]) Spassky's walkout forced another postponement of the world championship match until Thursday, at the earliest. The match is worth a total prize of $250,000 to be apportioned between the two contenders. The winner is to get $150,000 and the loser $100,000.
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• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer Sorry; Chess Match Set Thursday — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)— Bobby Fischer apologized today for delaying the start of his $300,000 chess match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The American, whose dispute over prize money forced organizers to postpone the world championship round, said he had the greatest respect for Spassky as a man and as a player. The statement, prepared by Fischer's lawyers, was ready by Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation. It was not known whether this would be sufficient to overcome Russian objections to starting the match. Euwe said later however, the Soviet Chess Federation had cabled him demanding that he call the first game a loss for Fischer because of the American's late arrival. This would give Spassky a significant but not insurmountable advantage at the outset of the 24-game match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 28 — The Chess War — It's hard to avoid the impression that Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky have learned something from Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. What they've learned is how to behave in a way to rivet international attention on their imminent contest for the world chess championship. Spassky is being Frazier—taciturn, confident, the champion. Fischer is Ali: petulant, elusive, provocative. The site of their clash is to be Reykjavik, Iceland, a gloomy, cloud-covered city, perfectly suited to the cloudy temperament of these two chess titans. At last report, the match has been postponed again, for two days this time, until Mr. Spassky recovers from the pain of insult inflicted upon him by Mr. Fischer, who has been responsible for most of the delays until this one.
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Boris Spassky Leaving Aborted Pre-Match Rite 05 Jul 1972, Wed The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) Newspapers.com

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — His Turn — Boris Spassky leaving aborted Pre-Match rite.

• Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Makes Front Page! by Malcolm Johnson —Musing and muttering over the news— Imagine! Chess getting front page space in American newspapers—and for NOT being played, yet, in Reykjavik! But that off-and-on world title match between our Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky has all the elements of news — international competition, suspense, big cash pot, human contrariness. Everything but the pretty girl, and don't bet one of them won't get into the act before it ends. Some will sneer that newsmen are accentuating the negative here. But reader demands make news, not newsmen. They only know what folks want to read (or we suppose we do.) Anyway, this U.S.-U.S.S.R. standoff makes more sense than most of the diplomatic impasses we've had with them for the past quarter century. It would be odd if an obscure chess player should turn out to be the one American who could beat them at their waiting game. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Burlington Free Press Burlington, Vermont Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 5 — Chess Players Call Fischer Publicity-shy, Spassky Usually Calm by Thomas Kent — (AP) Two top chess players from Connecticut and New York Tuesday described American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer as frightened of publicity and Russian Boris Spassky as a normally calm player who has seemed nervous only once; the last time he played Fischer. Fischer was scheduled to challenge Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the world championship, but the match was postponed Tuesday after Spassky protested Fischer's behavior and walked out of a meeting with the match organizers. Martin Harrow, of North Haven, Conn., the 1967 New England chess champion, said Fischer “was taken advantage of” by reporters who quoted him on many subjects far removed from chess when Fischer was young. “When he was 13 or 14 he was already in a sense world famous,” Harrow said, “He wasn't too worldly then.” Harrow, who is a Yale University psychologist, added, “People have profited at his expense. He has some basis for worrying about being taken advantage of.”
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• Statesman Journal Salem, Oregon Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Finally Is Ready to Play Chess -- So Spassky Says No — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Now it's Boris Spassky's turn to say no—and the world chess championship is off again. The Russian titleholder launched his counterattack Tuesday with a stern protest, some sharp criticism, a walkout and a demand for a two-day postponement of the start of the match with American Bobby Fischer. Fischer slept through it all. He had arrived in the morning from New York and went straight to bed to rest up for the first game, set for 5 p.m. When Fischer woke up he found that the title series was put off until Thursday at the earliest. It was to have begun last Sunday. Summing up the day, Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said: “When Spassky is here Fischer doesn't come. As soon as Fischer comes, Spassky runs away.” The Russians turned up in force at noon for what was to be a drawing of lots to decide who would play white, and have the first move in the opener. They refused to draw with Fischer's second, a Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. William Lombardy, and read a statement calling Fischer's delaying holdout intolerable. They protested Euwe's decision to tolerate it.
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Boris Spassky of U.S.S.R. Holds Car For Other Members 05 Jul 1972, Wed The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 12 — Boris Spassky of U.S.S.R. holds car for other members of Russian delegation when they walked out of the Reykjavik, Iceland meeting held by the Chess Federation Tuesday. (AP Wirephoto)

• The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 4 — Computer Aid for Fischer? by Ian Westergren — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The official Soviet news agency Tass said today American chess challenger Bobby Fischer planned to use a computer to try to beat world champion Boris Spassky ([complete with 5G, Intel inside and time travel attachment… no? because computer chess programs that could actually defeat grand masters level of play hadn't been invented in 1972. However, chess programs could accomplish a sweeping defeat if playing against a grand master of either Spassky or Fischer's level of skill. Again, the Soviet is depending upon credulity of their listeners, for the success of their rumors to spread]) if the on-again-off-again match ever gets underway. The match was postponed for the second time Tuesday after Spassky said Fischer insulted him by not showing up for the pre-match ceremonies. Fischer, who won a two-day postponement, did not attend because he was in New York bargaining for more prize money. If a solution is worked out, the 24-game series could start Thursday. “It has been learned in journalist circles here that Fischer's patrons have worked out rather original playing tactics for the match in which they were not guided by chess interests,” Tass said. The news agency said Fischer's followers had worked out an arrangement with a computer center to transmit each move and the computer would calculate a counter-move. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Vancouver Sun Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, July 06, 1972 —Reykjavik, Iceland (TPS) — “We like Americans here, not Russians,” the pretty telephone operator said. ([What kind of question is that? Why wouldn't a normal, free western nation “like Americans”? With 10% of your population professing Soviet Bolshevism as their party affiliation spreading myths in their Anti-American publications, I can buy how ‘You like Americans,’ or so you say. Does that include black American service men who were forbidden on your racist soil?])
  “But we don't like your Mr. Fischer. We will be rooting for Spassky.” ([Of course you will root for the Soviets.]) Read More

• Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque, New Mexico Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 2 — Boris Spassky Takes Turn At Stalling — Reykjavik (UPI) — World chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union Tuesday took his turn at stalling the twice-postponed championship match with his unpredictable American challenger, Bobby Fischer. The Russian champion, perturbed when Fischer failed to show up for the drawing after his flight from New York Tuesday morning, delivered a protest to chess officials and stomped out of the room, followed by his advisers. Fischer, 29, tired from the flight, was sleeping in a villa provided by the Icelandic organizers. Spassky's walkout forced another postponement of the world championship match until Thursday, at the earliest. The match is worth a total prize of $250,000 to be apportioned between the two contenders. The winner is to get $150,000 and the loser $100,000—if they play.
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• The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 02 — Chess Match in Doubt; Spassky Orders Apology by Joe Alex Morris, Jr. —Reykjavik, Iceland — The stalled world chess championship was further jeopardized Tuesday by a Russian demand that American challenger Bobby Fischer apologize before his first match with titleholder Boris Spassky. The Soviets, criticizing the way the match has been handled, stepped up their attacks shortly after the 29-year-old American arrived. They demanded — and got — a second delay in the opening game, and it was not completely clear whether they would agree to play Thursday. If not, International Chess Federation President, Dr. Max Euwe warned, “I shall have to take measures” against the Russians, and he spoke of an ultimatum to get Spassky to the chess board. Fred Cramer of the American team here indicated Fischer would not give in to the Russian demand. “I can not see Fischer apologizing.” he said. “He feels he's done nothing wrong.”
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 11 — Pawns In A Panto from Michael Lake — Reykjavik, Tuesday — Bobby Fischer's arrival in Iceland to play for the World Chess Championship was not the sort of stuff for which Handel wrote, “See the conquering hero comes.” The television team with the exclusive world rights to film, missed his leap from the aircraft steps into his car because the cameraman was doing up his jacket. Then Fischer found that someone had removed many of the curtains from his private villa where he was to sleep. In the harsh permanent Icelandic daylight this was not good.
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• Florence Morning News Florence, South Carolina Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 4 — For Chess a Capitalistic Turn — Americans, addicted as they are to more bruising sports, have difficulty whipping up a lot of enthusiasm for a chess match — even if it is the world championship match pitting against Russian titleholder Boris Spassky. If and when the match finally gets underway, it's hard to envision a contest that will exceed the drama of the preliminaries, even for avid chess fans. The first game was scheduled to begin Tuesday in Reykjavik, Iceland, but Spassky accused Fischer of violating the rules and refused to play. That was only the latest of a series of hitches that have threatened to cancel the match entirely.
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• St. Cloud Times Saint Cloud, Minnesota Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — About People - James Slater — At London, James Slater, the man who put up the money which apparently persuaded Bobby Fischer to fly to Iceland for the world champion chess matches, expressed dismay Tuesday when he learned the Russian champion Boris Spassky would not agree to start play. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Florence Morning News Florence, South Carolina Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 4 — For Chess a Capitalistic Turn — Americans, addicted as they are to more bruising sports, have difficulty whipping up a lot of enthusiasm for a chess match — even if it is the world championship match pitting against Russian titleholder Boris Spassky. If and when the match finally gets underway, it's hard to envision a contest that will exceed the drama of the preliminaries, even for avid chess fans. The first game was scheduled to begin Tuesday in Reykjavik, Iceland, but Spassky accused Fischer of violating the rules and refused to play. That was only the latest of a series of hitches that have threatened to cancel the match entirely.
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• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 24 — Apology by Fischer May Be Too Late by Star Wire Services —Reykjavik, Iceland — Bobby Fischer has apologized to Boris Spassky for delaying the start of their $300,000 match, but Fischer's change of heart may have come too late to save their world championship battle. Fischer said he had the greatest respect for Spassky as a man and a player, but the championship series now hinges upon resolving the Soviet Chess Federation's demand that Fischer forfeit the first of 24 games to the reigning world champion. “If the Soviets insist on this penalty I believe the whole match is off,” said Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). “The Soviet demand came in a telegram to Euwe and cited one paragraph of the agreement to play signed by both Fischer ([no, I really don't think so, says an article from the New York Times, dated July 03, 1972, Chess Title Match Put Off Two Days On Plea by Fischer by Harold C. Schonberg, “The 29-year-old American has never signed a contract—he never signs anything—but he did send the International Chess Federation a telegram saying he would play the match in Iceland, under protest. That telegram would constitute legal acceptance, in the opinion of Dr. Euwe. The Icelandic Chess Federation stands to lose at least $75,000 is the match is not held.”]) and Spassky in which they agreed that a player who does not turn up within one hour of the game time forfeits the game.
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Waits But The Ploys Go On: Russians Insist That Fischer Apologize Before First Match by Joe Alex Morris, Jr. — Reykjavik, Iceland—The stalled chess championship was further jeopardized Tuesday by a Russian demand that American challenger Bobby Fischer apologize before his first match with titleholder Boris Spassky. The Russians stepped up their attacks on the way the match has been handled shortly after the 29-year-old American arrived. They demanded —and got— a second delay in the opening game, and it was not completely clear whether they would agree to play Thursday. If not, International Chess Federation President Dr. Max Euwe warned, “I shall have to take measures” against the Russians, and he spoke of an ultimatum to get Spassky to the chessboard. Fred Cramer of the American team here indicated Fischer would not give in to the Russian demand. “I cannot see Fischer apologizing,” he said. “He feels he's done nothing wrong.” It was not clear whether the Russians were simply adopting new tactics to regain the psychological edge for the 35-year-old Spassky. The Americans had asked for the postponement of the first of 24 matches for the world crown last Sunday.
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 2 — Outlook for Match Brighter: Russians Prepared to Accept Chess Apologies by Fischer — (Reuters) Reykjavik—The Russians said tonight they would be ready to accept apologies for the way their world chess champion Boris Spassky has been treated by his challenger Bobby Fischer, and there seemed a real chance that the twice-postponed title match would begin Thursday. The Russian delegation spokesman, chess grandmaster Ewfim Geller, said they had dropped a demand that Fischer should forfeit the first game as a penalty for his absence last weekend when the chess encounter was scheduled to begin.
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• The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 31 — Chess Pains Continue — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — World chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union yesterday took his turn at delaying the twice-postponed championship match with his unpredictable American challenger, Bobby Fischer. The Russian champion, perturbed when Fischer failed to show up for the drawing after his flight from New York yesterday morning, delivered a protest to chess officials and stomped out of the room, followed by his advisers. Spassky's walkout forced another postponement of the world championship match until Thursday, at the earliest. Although the contents of Spassky's formal protest were not immediately known—they were written in Russian—informed chess sources said the documents demanded that the International Chess Federation punish Fischer for his failure to turn up for the first scheduled game Sunday and demanded a personal apology from Fischer.
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• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 105 — Chess Furor: Spassky's Move -- He Walks Out — Knight Errant? American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer ignores the crowd as he leaves plane at Reykjavik, Iceland, airport yesterday shortly before he was set to meet Russia's Boris Spassky. As Bobby ended his holdout, Spassky walked out. If international chess officials can sooth Boris, world championship play may start Thursday. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Soviet Temperament — Reykjavik, Iceland (NYT) — After a day of silence from Bobby Fischer, a display of temperament from the Soviet delegation, yet another postponement of the world's championship chess match, charges and counter charges, it looks as if the opening game might take place on Thursday, barring, of course, the unforeseen. ★ / ★ Read More

• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 40 — Bobby Fischer may be the first holdout in the history of chess. Hard to say, because it's often difficult to tell whether a chess player is or isn't playing.

• The Miami News Miami, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 29 — No Language Barrier in Iceland: Today's Heartburn by Herb Rau —Reykjavik, Iceland — For Americans, the Icelandic language is an impossibility. There are 33 letters in the alphabet, the language is similar to Danish (which is also an impossibility to American tourists), and even the popular historian Sigurdur Magnusson of Icelandic Airlines comments: “It is singular that the Icelanders should have kept alive a tongue whose fundamental significance among Scandinavian nations is equivalent to that of Greek and Latin among others.” … Fortunately, most Icelanders either speak or understand English, so an American tourist will find no language barrier here. Even the 6 p.m. news on radio is broadcast in English, via flawlessly-accented commentators … But Iceland, with its mere 200,000 inhabitants, is an odd little independent nation. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, its summers are mild … One TV station broadcasts from 7 to 11 p.m., except on Thursdays when it's dark, and for an entire month in the summer when its staff vacations … There are no nightclubs, but several dancing places.
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• Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 4 — Fischer's Most Excellent Performance — American chess master Bobby Fischer has a reputation as a feisty, immature and self-centered person. ([Yes, because the Soviets weren't fond of losing their titles. Such things were said of their own champions in official Soviet media outlets, when their players failed to bring home the crowns to the USSR]). Fischer is living up to that image as he prepares to meet Boris Spassky in Iceland in an attempt to wrest the world championship away from the ([Soviet Union's vast worldwide network of human machinery]). The match had been scheduled to open Sunday, but Fischer refused to board an airplane for Iceland until ([not the sponsor. The author of this column hasn't gathered a correct set of facts to go upon to form a proper opinion]) an investment banker, and chess benefactor in Britain offered him more money. ([But the problems were much deeper than simply money, and Fischer only agreed to play in Reykjavik, Iceland “under protest” and never offered so much as a formalized contract to do so.])
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• Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Shows Up In Iceland, Goes to Bed; Now Boris Is Mad by Harold C. Schonberg — (NYTimes) — Reykjavik, Iceland — Bobby Fischer arrived here Tuesday morning, said nothing, and went to bed. He slept through a day that saw another postponement of his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky, a display of temperament from the Russian delegation, and a good possibility that the opening game will take place on Thursday. NOW THAT the financial aspects of the match have been settled, it appears that the issues separating both parties are personal. The Russians are objecting to what they regard as Fischer's high-handed behavior, and are also calling Dr. Max Euwe's competence into question. Euwe is president of the International Chess Federation.
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• The Parsons Sun Parsons, Kansas Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 10 — Fischer Is ‘Sorry’ For Chess Delay — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer apologized today for delaying the start of his $300,000 chess match with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The American, whose dispute over prize money forced organizers to postpone the world championship round, said he had the greatest respect for Spassky as a man and as a player. The statement, prepared by Fischer's lawyers, was read to newsmen by Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation— FIDE. It was not known whether this would be sufficient to overcome Soviet objections to starting the match. Euwe said later, however, the Soviet Chess Federation had cabled him demanding that he call the first game a loss for Fischer because of the American's late arrival. This would give Spassky a significant but not insurmountable advantage at the outset of the 24-game match.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Spassky's Turn To Object from Michael Lake — Reykjavik, July 4. There was a further delay in the start of the World Chess Championship here tonight, but there is every likelihood that the match will start on Thursday evening, five days late. After this morning's belated arrival by the American challenger, Bobby Fischer — he spent the rest of the day sleeping in a private villa — the Soviet world champion, supported by the Soviet Chess Federation, accused Fischer and the president of the International Chess Federation, Dr. Max Euwe of “wrecking” the match. This evening, however, Dr. Euwe announced that both sides were willing to play. He also said that he would be ready to intervene on Thursday if either man refuses to play without a medical certificate. The rules governing the start of the battle have been abandoned so that Fischer could be persuaded with more money to come to Iceland. The Russians have no shown their disapproval of this. Their statement at lunchtime today had all the earmarks of Soviet propaganda. It said that unless the rules were again being obeyed by noon everything was off. It appeared that Spassky — who is on a very tight rein from Moscow — had been told to await Fischer's arrival before threatening to walk out or actually leaving. The Russians blamed Dr. Euwe for failing to disqualify Fischer when he did not arrive on Sunday and they apparently asked that he be disciplined — although how this exercise should be carried out was not made clear. Read More

• Edmonton Journal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 4 — Dangerous Sport — Chess has hit the headlines, just like riots and warfare — which it increasingly resembles. As Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky posture, maneuver and vituperate in terms reminiscent of international political exchanges at the height of the cold war, the Western public is somewhat startled by the plethora of unaccustomed news bulletins tracking the tumultuous course of events. (In the Soviet Union chess has long been big news, but perhaps not for quite the same reasons as present.) Those unacquainted with the world of serious competitive chess have tended to cherish an image of the chess player as a kindly relaxed old boy, not given to much verbal self-expression, but puffing placidly upon his friendly pipe while satisfyingly sunk in profound meditation. They picture him — like the angler — as being of a contemplative and philosophic turn of mind, and breaking his impressive silences only to utter occasional phrases of deep and affecting wisdom and significance.
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• The Post-Star Glens Falls, New York Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Match Off Until Thursday — New York (AP)—The director of the U.S. Chess Federation said Tuesday if either Bobby Fischer or Boris Spassky fails to show up for their world championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland, Thursday the title should go to the other by default. And if neither shows up, said Col. E.B. Edmondson, “the title should be declared vacant and they should start all over.” Edmondson said he was expressing his opinion not as executive director of the U.S. federation but as a member of the five-man advisory board of FIDE, the international chess federation. Edmondson delivered his opinion after Spassky, the Russian champion and current world title holder, walked out on the scheduled start of the world championship match Tuesday. The match already had been delayed since Sunday by Fischer's early failure to go to Reykjavik in a holdout for more money. Spassky said his walkout was to protest failure of the international federation to punish Fischer for violations of its rules. Edmondson said he believed that Spassky “never would have refused to play today of his own volition,” adding that “it's quite obvious they (the Soviets) don't want the match to occur.” “But regardless of the motives of the two players,” he added, “This has gone far enough. You cannot go on with this kind of charade.” Asked what he meant by starting all over if both players failed to appear Thursday, Edmondson said details would have to be worked out by the international federation. Read More

• Hattiesburg American Hattiesburg, Mississippi Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 8 — Fischer, Spassky Chess Match to Start Thursday — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky now is scheduled to start Thursday afternoon following another postponement, this one demanded by the Soviet champion. After holding out for more money and getting it, the American challenger came to Iceland for the postponed opening match Tuesday. But Spassky walked out of the noon drawing to decide who would move first because Fischer was not present. He had sent his second, a Roman Catholic priest. Officials announced a new 48-hour postponement of the opener, originally scheduled for last Sunday. They hoped both players would be ready to meet on Thursday. Fischer arrived in Reykjavik early Tuesday. The Icelandic Chess Federation had rejected his demand for 30 per cent of the gate receipts, but he agreed to come after a London investment banker doubled the $125,000 purse which he and Spassky will divide.
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• Fort Lauderdale News Fort Lauderdale, Florida Wednesday, July 05, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Chess Match May Not Be Played — Reykjavik (UPI)—The Soviet Chess Federation today demanded that the International Federation (FIDE) rule that Bobby Fischer forfeit the first game in his world chess championship match against Boris Spassky by failing to show up Sunday, FIDE president Dr. Max Euwe said. Dr. Euwe said “The Soviets did not object Sunday when I postponed the game and now I cannot make such a ruling. If the Soviets insist on this penalty I believe the whole match is off.” He received the cable from the Soviet Chess Federation in Moscow, demanding that Fischer forfeit the game, shortly after Fischer had broken his silence and regretted that he had been late arriving in Reykjavik. The Soviet cable referred to paragraph five of the so-called Amsterdam Agreement for the Fischer-Spassky game in which the parties agreed that a player who does not turn up after one hour of the game time has expired forfeits the game and the point to his opponent. The Soviet decision to break off the talks earlier in the day threw serious doubts on the possibility the match would be played. “This is a very bad development and I am now very pessimistic about the match,” Euwe said. ★ Read More

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July 06, 1972

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Thursday, May 6, 2021

Reykjavik, Iceland, July 6, 1972. Bobby Fischer, "Surly After Loss to Boris Spassky" (AP) Bobby Fischer strides out of the Laugardalsholl Hall this evening after losing the chess draw against Boris Spassky. (AP Wirephoto) Green-Rider. https://rmyauctions.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=33519

• AP Wirephoto, Bobby Fischer strides out of the Laugardalsholl Hall ★ / ★ / ★

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 31 — Some Fans in U.S. Deserting Fischer by Peter Kihss — An American professor who developed the system of ranking the world's chess players said yesterday that Bobby Fischer appeared to be losing fellow players' sympathy in what he called “a war of nerves” between Fischer and the delegation of his Soviet opponent, Boris Spassky, the world champion. Prof. Arpad E. Elo, whose system has been accepted officially by the International Chess Federation, said in Brookfield, Wisconsin, that “the chess world is getting a little fed up,” based on reactions he found during the Fourth of July Western Open Tournament in Milwaukee. There was “a general attitude of impatience” with Fischer among the 120 participants, Professor Elo said. Lubomir Kavalek, one of three masters currently tied for the United States championship, said in Washington that Fischer and Spassky “have to sit down and play because there is nothing to discuss any more.”
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 01-31 — Fischer Apologizes to Spassky; Plans for Match Still Unsettled by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 5 —Nobody in Iceland—neither the contestants in the scheduled world chess championship match, nor their advisers or assistants, nor officials of the International or Icelandic Chess Federations — knew tonight when the match would begin, or whether it would be held at all. Confusion seems to be the only consistent theme on a day on which Bobby Fischer, the American challenger, apologized to the Soviet champion for delaying the match, and Dr. Max Euwe, the president of the International Chess Federation, apologized to the Russians condemned Fischer and admitted his own error in granting postponements. The Russians, who had demanded the apologies—and in writing—had no comment. Since it was, in effect, their move, the status of the match remained uncertain.
  Dr. Euwe, in an attempt to break through what has become a denser and denser impasse, proposed that the 24-game match be postponed for a week and that it be split—with six to eight games to be played elsewhere later this year.
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• The Record-Gazette, Banning, California, Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 10 — Chess Tourney to Get Started — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) said today the much-postponed match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky may finally get under way Sunday. Dr. Max Euwe, president of FIDE, said “The match will start on Sunday or at the latest Tuesday.” He said he felt the major outstanding differences had been settled at a meeting between FIDE, the Icelandic organizers and Spassky's advisers early today. But Lothar Schmid, the FIDE referee for the match, wasn't so optimistic. “This is if everything goes according to plan,” he said. “Things can still go wrong.”
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 31 — Russians Disdain Fischer For Concern With Money — Moscow, July 5—A Soviet newspaper editor buttonholed an American at a reception today and said: “It is a money-grubbing society like yours that produces a Bobby Fischer. If anything like this ever happened in the Soviet Union, the pressure of public opinion would never stand for it.” The Russian was commenting on the impasse in Reykjavik, Iceland, where the long-awaited 24-game world-chess championship match has been held up, first by the United States challengers delayed arrival and then by the refusal of the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky, the world champion, to start playing.
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• The Newark Advocate Newark, Ohio Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 19 — Dawdling Chessmen to Play . . . Sometime — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — International chess chief Max Euwe proposed another delay Wednesday night in the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky world championship match as the maneuvering and confusion continued in Reykjavik. There was no immediate response from Fischer or the Russians, and it was not known whether the twice-postponed match would start today. Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, said he didn't penalize Fischer for his late arrivals in Iceland because the American challenger is “living in another world.” ([Indeed he is, and that world he naively believes in, promotes at the forefront of national law, concepts like “Freedom” and “Justice” a thing the Soviet has long forbidden to its own citizens. Speaking of Capitalism, for the Soviets “Winning is Everything” no expense spared, including endangering the lives of their athletes, maneuvering for unfair advantage against their opponents, and at what high costs? and who pays?]) He said Spassky, the Russian world title holder, was “very upset” and that he would like to give him another week before the first game.
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• The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 15 — Start Of World Chess Championship Reset — Reykjavik (UPI) — The Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer, world chess championship match will open Sunday or Tuesday at the latest, the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) said early Thursday. FIDE President Dr. Max Euwe said he felt the major outstanding differences had been settled at a meeting between FIDE, the Icelandic organizers and Spassky's advisers ending early Thursday. “The match will start on Sunday or at the latest Tuesday,” Dr. Euwe told newsmen. But Lothar Schmid, the FIDE arbiter of the match, warned that “this is if everything goes according to plan. Things can still go wrong,” he added. Schmid said the draw of lots to decide who is to play white in the first of the 24 games in the $250,000 match will be held at 8 p.m. (4 p.m. EDT) Thursday. Dr. Euwe said a new meeting, also involving Fischer advisers, would be held Thursday.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts, Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 53 — Fischer Contrite, Chess Match Set (Starts Sunday or Tuesday) by Harold Dondis, Globe Staff —Reykjavik, Iceland — Another in the endless lines of hurdles has been crossed and the world chess championship will start either Sunday or next Tuesday. Lothar Schmid, arbiter of the match said the draw of lots to decide who is to play white in the first of the 24 games in the $250,000 match will be held at 8 p.m. (4 p.m. EDT) today. Bobby Fischer, the late arriving American who is recognized by most experts as the world's greatest player, in a rare show of humility apologized to world champion Boris Spassky, the disgruntled Russian.
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• Redlands Daily Facts Redlands, California Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 7 — Fischer Apologizes, Chess Match May Start on Sunday —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — American chess challenger Bobby Fischer apologized in writing to the Soviet's Boris Spassky today for delaying the start of their scheduled 24-game world championship match and suggested they get on with the twice-postponed tournament without delay. The action apparently cleared the way for the match to begin Sunday, one week behind schedule. “I am still waiting for a telephone call from Spassky's camp that all their conditions have been met, but I am quite sure the match will now start Sunday,” said match referee Lothar Schmid. Earlier reports that Fischer hand-delivered the note to Spassky were incorrect. “Fischer and Spassky have not yet met in person,” said a Fischer aide. “Please accept my sincerest apology for my disrespectful behavior in not attending the opening ceremony. I have offended you and your country, the Soviet Union, where chess has a prestigious position,” Fischer's note said.
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• The Danville Register Danville, Virginia Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 1 — Further Postponement Suggested: Fischer Apologizes For Chess Delay But Russians Want It in Writing — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer apologized Wednesday for delaying the start of the $250,000 world championship chess match, but the Russians demanded apologies in writing. With the confrontation threatening never to reach the checkered board, President Max Euwe of the International Chess Federation—FIDE—took some of the blame and suggested a further postponement until next week for the dust to settle. Euwe said he had allowed Fischer's tardy arrival—he got here Tuesday—because “Fischer is quite another person. He's living in another world.” Euwe said he realized titleholder Boris Spassky was “very upset” and would like to give him a week before the first game.
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 22 — Chess Match Could Start Next Week; Russ Seek Game Point by Joe Alex Morris, Jr. — Reykjavik, Iceland — The president of the International Chess Federation sharply condemned American challenger Bobby Fischer Wednesday. But after a midnight conference he said that the controversial world championship match probably could start Sunday or Tuesday. Certain important problems still remained, not the least being a demand by the Russians that Soviet world champion Boris Spassky be awarded one point and the first game because they say Fischer defaulted. The Russians reiterated this demand in the late evening after appearing earlier to accept the viewpoint that it not be made a major issue. Another problem was an apology Fischer made to satisfy Russian demands. The Russians want it in writing, and they want Fischer's signature on it, said arbiter Lothar Schmid. Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, earlier had complied with Soviet demands he issue a sharp rebuke to the 29-year-old American challenger who arrived two days late for what has been billed as the chess match of the century.
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• The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 5 — Fischer Irks Icelanders by Joe Alex Morris, Jr., Star-The Los Angeles Times — Reykjavik, Iceland — “We like Americans here, not Russians.” the pretty telephone operator said ([they do not like Russians, but they love the Soviet Union and its Anti- American bigotry. They also, do not like black personnel and have a secret agreement with U.S. Military to limit the number of black Americans, allowed to serve on the NATO base at Keflavik.]) “But we don't like your Mr. Fischer. We will be rooting for Spassky.” ([Of course they root for Soviets, whilst Pro-Soviet, Anti-American, Anti-Fischer. This is WHY USSR chose Iceland, with their overt, flagrant racism against Black American personnel, and decades of Anti-American publications circulated by the 10% Soviet Icelandic population. History this “Chess Mafia” worked in concert to cover-up.]) For many Icelanders, Bobby Fischer has become the latest version of the ugly American. The 29-year-old challenger for the world chess crown and his team of advisers have been collecting bad publicity ever since Fischer missed his first plane to Iceland a week ago. ([And Fischer made a brilliant move, by rebuffing months of Soviet maneuvers and meddling.]) Fischer has done it with his obstinate and — to some — arrogant demands for more money. ([How grieved was Moscow, at the thought, Fischer inherit a red dime for breaking their monopoly.])
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• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 10 — New Delay in World Chess Title Match Suggested after Fischer Apologizes to Champ —(UPI) Reykjavik — Bobby Fischer surprised even his own advisers yesterday by formally apologizing to Russian Boris Spassky for delaying their world championship chess match. But the president of the International Chess Federation admitted he was in the wrong, too, and said he would ask for a one-week postponement. Dr. Max Euwe announced he would ask for another postponement during a news conference in which he agreed to Soviet demands to condemn Fischer's behavior and admitted that he violated chess federation rules in allowing two earlier postponements. “It would damage Spassky, who is very upset by what has happened in the last few days, if he were forced to play today.” Euwe said in announcing that he would seek another delay in the 24-game match.
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• The Minneapolis Star Minneapolis, Minnesota Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 22 — Fischer Apologizes; Chess Start Scheduled — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer sent a written apology to Boris Spassky today. Organizers of the world chess championship match said the two will meet for their first game Sunday night. The American challenger, in a letter delivered by hand this morning to the world chess champion from the Soviet Union, apologized for his “disrespectful behavior.” Fischer, whose delayed arrival doubled the prize money for both him and Spassky but also started an avalanche of confusion, asked the Russian to “accept my sincerest apology.” “I simply became carried away by my petty dispute over money with the Icelandic chess organizers,” he wrote. The written apology was a chief condition posed by the Soviet before Spassky would play.
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• Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 1 — Strict Rules Guide Chess Championship —Reykjavik (UPI) — A world chess championship match is played under strict and detailed rules issued by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The match includes 24 games with the winner getting one point for each game won. In a draw, the players get half a point each. No point is given for a loss. The match is discontinued when one of the players has reached 12.5 points. He is then the world champion. The defending world champion retains his title in case of a 12-12 tie.
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• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 12 — Getting Rooked — Interoffice communication from Carl V. Roberts of The Daily News news desk: “Si: The Fischer-Spassky chess hoopla sort of makes you yearn for an old-time, honest drum beater like the late flight promoter, Tex Rickard, doesn't it? “It makes me laugh to see the straight-news types, who scoff at sports page gullibility, going for this buildup--hook, line and sinker. (ABC must be tickled pink.)” It does have a touch of rassling. [The authors thought the back-forth disputes were merely “staged”.] ★ Read More

• The Courier-News Bridgewater, New Jersey Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 30 — Sports: Another Holdout by John Belis —Did you ever think you'd see the day when a chess player was a holdout? Bobby Fischer, the American chess wizard, proved that anything can happen when he failed to show up on time this week for his world championship match against titleholder Boris Spassky of Russia. Reportedly, Fischer first balked because he objected to the site for the showdown—Reykjavik, Iceland. A later report said that Fischer was holding out for more prize money. And when a British banker offered to add $150,000 to the post, Fischer caught the next flight to Iceland. While many idealists expressed surprise and dismay over Fischer's behavior, I wondered how the hard corps chess enthusiasts regarded the situation. I decided to ask my friend Fred, a genuine crusader for the game (in chess circles he's known as the Checkmate Kid).
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• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 3 — Match Widens Interest in Chess by Andrew C. Miller — A month before Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky arrived in Iceland for the international chess championships, chess devotees at The Chess House here were hashing over the match. “Interest in the game as a whole is mushrooming,” said Jack Winters, the proprietor of the new chess store and playing room at 3909 Main. “I think Spassky is kind of upset. I think they'll settle their differences and if they play, I think Fischer will win decisively.” From the back of the room, Elliot Winslow, 20, the Missouri champion, interrupted. He was sitting among the eight chess boards at the new Chess House, alternately replaying games on a pocket chess board and plucking at a guitar. Read More

• York Daily Record York, Pennsylvania Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 32 — Fischer 'Sorry' But Match Still Uncertain — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer apologized. He told Boris Spassky and the Soviet people Wednesday he was sorry if he insulted them by disrupting the world chess championship. But the word from Moscow was tough, and Thursday's scheduled start of the matches remained uncertain. The Soviet Chess Federation demanded that the American challenger forfeit the first game of the 24-game match because he didn't show up for its scheduled start on Sunday. Fischer's holdout, however, has brought the winnings—and even the losings—to the highest amount ever in any world championship chess match. The winner will get $231,250 and the loser $168,750. A few thousand dollars and prestige went to previous world champions.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 2 — Apology Brings Truce in the Chess Cold War from Michael Lake — Reykjavik, July 05 — The world chess championship, fraught with fury and recrimination, looks like getting off to a start once again — but perhaps not until Sunday or even Tuesday — because the Soviet champion, Boris Spassky, is so distressed by the uproar over the behavior of the challenger, Bobby Fischer.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 26 — Chess On Tube? It Must Be Real by Leigh Montville — The headline on the wall of the Boston Chess Shop explained the situation better than anything. SPASSKY'S MOVE— HE WALKS OUT The words were black and bold and from an unexpected source. The New York Daily News had discovered chess. The New York Daily News? Yes, by God, the New York Daily News. The crookedness of Fun City had been pushed inside with the Treasury balance. Chess had commandeered the front page and the big headlines.
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• Albany Democrat-Herald Albany, Oregon Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 4 — Even Chess Is Bloody — Eugene's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials aren't the only big athletic events this week. Just look at what's happening in Iceland. Yes, the jousting and warm-ups there apparently give almost as good as show as the Olympic trials. The chess match won't begin until Sunday at the earliest. But it seems American chess champ Bobby Fischer has been prepping like an Olympian for his series with world titleholder Boris Spassky of Russia. Fischer drank nothing stronger on his flight from New York City than a glass of milk. Upon his arrival in Iceland, he promptly went to bed.
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• The Journal Herald Dayton, Ohio Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 4 — Chess Anyone? . . . Fischer and Spassky Display Gamesmanship — Things almost never go smoothly when East and West try to get together over a table. This time Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union are the negotiators, and chess is the name of the game. At stake is someone's version of the world championship and total prize money of $250,000.
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• Pacific Daily News Agana Heights, Guam Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 19 — Russians Ask Fischer To Apologize — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—In Iceland yesterday U.S. chess champ Bobby Fischer and Soviet world champion Boris Spassky drew lots to see who gets first move in their world chess championship match. Fischer finally agreed to come to Reykjavik, Iceland, for the match, but only after a British banker offered to double the prize money. The differences between Spassky and Fischer were still unsolved last night after a two and a half hour negotiation session in which Fischer's lawyer Paul Marshall and Father William Lombardy, his official second, met two of Spassky's advisors.
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• The Daily Tribune Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 20 — Big Chess Match on for Tuesday — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer lost the draw Thursday night, giving Boris Spassky the first move, and the world championship chess match will finally start next Tuesday. Unless the American challenger or the Soviet champion pleads illness and gets another postponement. The confusion of the past week was summarized by the old woman selling c*g*r*tt*s who asked in the beginning: “Fischer come?” Near the end it was: “Spassky go?” “I'm very pessimistic,” Dr. Max Euwe said at 10 a.m. At noon: “It's a very delicate situation.” At 7 p.m., the president of the International Chess Federation sighed: “There's hope.”
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• The Leaf-Chronicle Clarksville, Tennessee Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 8 — Around the Circuit with Gene Washer, Sports Editor — Bobby Fischer has made a strategic move similar to castling and the world chess championship hasn't even begun yet. In addition to make a full and penitent apology to Boris Spassky today, Fischer's entire moves for the past month have brought more attention to the world chess championship than Red China did to ping pong.
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• Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 8 — The Pre-Match Play-by-Play — Let's see whether we're up to date on the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky thing. Fischer went to the International Chess Federation's Q4, then sat there, refusing to move farther. While Spassky paced angrily back and forth from his QB3 to his QB4, James Slater, the British financier, moved $130,000 to Fischer's KR1, where it was locked in the keep. Then Spassky castled while Fischer slept. During all the foregoing, the president of the International Chess Federation made wry comments.
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World Chess Championship Is Old Stuff 06 Jul 1972, Thu The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.com The Great Hide-And-Go-Seek Championship 15 Jul 1972, Sat Spokane Chronicle (Spokane, Washington) Newspapers.com

• Press-Telegram Long Beach, California Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 32 — The Great Hide-And-Go-Seek Championship ★ / ★

• The Daily Journal Fergus Falls, Minnesota Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 4 — The Bobby and Boris Show — Finally, the long-awaited confrontation had been set. The chess world was holding its breath. Bobby Fischer, America's prodigy and grandmaster, had played his way into a match with Boris Spassky, the Russian who is the present world titleholder. Could the brilliant American handle the experienced Spassky? There were overtones in the competitive lineup of country against country, almost like the days of the space race when the U.S. and the Soviet Union each toiled to be Number One. The place was Reykjavik, Iceland. the time Sunday, July 2. But hold everything. Bobby Fischer, our pride and joy, failed to show up at the appointed time and place. he was not satisfied with the financial arrangements of the match and was holding out for more money. A British financier agreed to sweeten an already record pot with an additional $130,000 and Bobby said he'd play. He arrived in Iceland a few hours before a deadline for forfeiture set by the International Chess Federation. He went straight to bed to rest up for the first game, but he woke up to find it was all off again. Mr. Spassky, in protest to Bobby Fischer's holdout tactics, had demanded a two-day postponement. It appears that they may start play today.
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• The News-Palladium Benton Harbor, Michigan Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 2 — Anyone For Chess? — The time line between a sport turning from an amateur into a professional status or a combination of both is the marketplace rule of thumb of how many people will pay to watch the activity or bet on its outcome. In the U.S. the oldest professional sports probably are horse racing. Professional boxing and baseball came on the scene a century ago. Play for pay in football, basketball, and golf emerged following World War I. Hockey moved down from its Canadian homeland at the same time. Wrestling or the Broadway version of it started in the late '20s. Professional tennis started up in this period but only in recent years has it approached the financial stability necessary to stabilize it as a going concern. Auto racing has pre-World War I roots. Roller skating derbies are a TV byproduct. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list, but is representative of a professional sport's basic requirement of sufficient spectator money being available so that the players and promoters foresee the opportunity to make at least pork chop and money laundry from their endeavor.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 1-32 — Chess Match Starts Tuesday; Spassky Wins Draw, 1st Move by Harold Dondis — Reykjavik, Iceland — With the nerve-rasping preliminaries of psychology and diplomacy cleared away, Russia's Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, the reluctant American, are set for the chess match of the century. That much was settled yesterday, but in keeping with the patient patterns of the ancient game, Boris and Bobby aren't exactly rushing into anything, even now. The two masters allowed, with courtly deliberation, that they will be prepared to make the first moves on the board next Tuesday at 1 p.m. EDT). The agreement between the rival geniuses lifted the state of tension among officials of the International Chess Federation as well as the seemingly irritated Icelandic organizers, who expected confrontation to take place last Sunday.
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• Times Colonist Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 14 — Chess Match Financier Led Chequered Career — London (CP) — Jim Slater, the millionaire investment banker whose $125,000 contribution saved the world chess championship from an early collapse, is a master of the game himself. Slater, 43, is already a legendary figure in British financial circles after an astonishing rise during the 60s from an obscure position in industry to chairman of Slater Walker Securities—an international investment banking firm. He established himself as an outstanding chess player at age 11 when he captured the British boys' championship and drew with the adult champion, Sir George Thomas. “But I gave up chess after that; it was too all-consuming and I wanted to become an accountant, and it wasn't until the last five years or so that I started playing again,” Slater said in an interview.
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Bobby Fischer's Chessmen 06 Jul 1972, Thu Red Deer Advocate (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada) Newspapers.com

• Red Deer Advocate Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 1 — Bobby Fischer's Chessmen — 'They're the same chessmen Bobby Fischer uses!' ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• The Decatur Herald Decatur, Illinois Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 6 — Bobby, Boris and Leo — THE MOVES of the players themselves are getting as complicated as any chess strategy. First the American, Bobby Fischer, balked at getting to the world chess championship match in Iceland. Then the Russian, Boris Spassky, decided to protest Fischer's delay of the match by delaying it further. One suspects that the match already has started with Boris and Bobby each doing his best to “psyche” the other. It's as if they think they can checkmate the other guy before even a pawn is moved on a board. Sounds as if it's the opening of an American baseball season. Who says chess is a game for gentlemen? Leo Durocher would feel right at home in company of Bobby and Boris. Read More

• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 14 — B & B On The Rocks — Considering that cold war going on between Bobby and Boris, it seems appropriate that they will square off — or might square off — or might not square off — in Iceland. American Bobby Fischer, who obviously doesn't want to get rooked either by his chess opponent or by the purse that goes along with the 24-game match, riled up Russian Boris Spassky by showing up late and not appearing for the draw to determine who would play white in the first game. So Boris gets all huffy. He says Bobby broke the rules, insulted him and the Soviet Chess Federation, and that he must be punished. This crisis comes on the heels of other match postponement threats.
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• St. Joseph News-Press/Gazette St. Joseph, Missouri Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 10 — Status Symbol — For a status symbol it is hard to beat the announcement: “I can't be with you tomorrow afternoon as I have to watch that chess championship game on TV.”

• Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 31 — Checks and Mates — Another note from the world of culture (see above editorial): While the world awaits the start of the will they, won't they Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky world championship chess match let's take a look at the stakes. There's the title, of course. And then there's that loot. With the pot increased at Fischer's insistence, the winner will get $156,250 and the loser $93,750. Also each player will get another $75,000 from TV and film rights. Now we know that Fischer the American has an obvious rich streak of that “Wall Street Materialism” the Soviets are always harping about. But we wonder what will Spassky, the devoted Communist, do with all those rubles? ([Correction: Spassky reportedly was not a “devoted” member of the Soviet Bolshevik/USSR party. Fischer, gave almost all the prize winnings away to his church.])
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• The Miami News Miami, Florida Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 51 — Chess Match Starts Sunday — Reykjavik, Iceland — The chess match of the century between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer is on at last, with the drawing of lots tonight and play expected to start on Sunday. Tournament officials said the Soviet champion and his American challenger were expected to appear in person at the exhibition hall here tonight to draw lots to decide which shall play white in the opening game. Officials said that after Fischer had apologized to Spassky by letter this morning for missing last Saturday's opening ceremony, all problems holding up the much-delayed match had been satisfactorily resolved. Read More

• The Bangor Daily News Bangor, Maine Thursday, July 06, 1972 - Page 33 — Speaking of Sports by Owen Osborne — Not since the ping pong match with the Chinese has an international match caused such a stir. The Olympics have taken a back seat. The Wimbledon finds people asking, “Who's Wimbledon?” The world trembles in anticipation. A Yank and a Russian have a chess match. We're not quite sure hour it has affected your life but for some, they've even lost interest in soap operas. For women this is serious because they could miss chapters of As The Stomach Turns. This chess match is going to be a fight to the finish, a death match. Not even Chief Strongbow and Turo Tanaka in their tag tussle with the Mad Russians can compare with it. Competitors tell how they must prepare for such a match, the physical exercise needed to get in condition, the mental mood needed to match wits. This is the greatest thing to hit Iceland since the Ice Age.
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• Headliners, Television Listings and Combined Wire Services — ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

July 07, 1972

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 1-32 — Chess Match Starts Tuesday; Spassky Wins Draw, 1st Move by Harold Dondis — Reykjavik, Iceland — With the nerve-rasping preliminaries of psychology and diplomacy cleared away, Russia's Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, the reluctant American, are set for the chess match of the century. That much was settled yesterday, but in keeping with the patient patterns of the ancient game, Boris and Bobby aren't exactly rushing into anything, even now. The two masters allowed, with courtly deliberation, that they will be prepared to make the first moves on the board next Tuesday at 1 p.m. EDT).
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, July 7, 1972 - Page 01,14 — Chess Play Will Start Tuesday; Spassky Wins Draw for White by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 6 — After months of bickering and battling, protests and postponements, the world championship chess match formally began today. The champion, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, and the American challenger, Bobby Fischer, met, shook hands and drew for the right to play white, and make the first move in the first game, now scheduled to begin Tuesday. The ceremony, at which Spassky won that right, took place after Fischer wrote and delivered by hand an apology to Spassky. “Please accept my sincerest apology,” the letter said, “for my disrespectful behavior in not attending the opening ceremony.”
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, July 7, 1972 - Page 14 — Chess Is Game of Skill — With Some Luck by Richard Roberts — Unlike poker, craps, Monopoly, bridge or love, chess is absolutely devoid of the element of chance. Or so most people think. It is a game of skill, all skill and nothing but skill; cool, absolutely, totally logical. A game in which two minds meet and clash in a never-never land of pure reason. And so it is—up to a point.
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• Tucson Daily Citizen Tucson, Arizona Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 7 — Fischer Hopes To Pass Spassky Some Bad Checks — Reykjavik (UPI)—Bobby Fischer's big dream comes true Tuesday when he sits down at the checkered board to play world chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The American chess genius considers the 24-game world championship match a mere formality. He has said time and again that if he just gets a shot at the 35-year-old champion, he is certain of defeating him. Even since he learned to play chess in Brooklyn at the age of six, the lanky American grand master, now 29, has cherished one big dream — to become the world champion in the oldest and most sophisticated of games.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, July 7, 1972 - Page 14 — Text of Fischer's Apology — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 6 (UPI) — Following is the text of Bobby Fischer's letter to Boris Spassky: Dear Boris, Please accept my sincerest apology for my disrespectful behavior in not attending the opening ceremony. I simply became carried away by my petty dispute over money with the Icelandic chess organizers. I have offended you and your country, the Soviet Union, where chess has a prestigious position. Also, I would like to apologize to Dr. Max Euwe, president of FIDE [Federation Internationale des Echecs] to the match organizers in Iceland, to the thousands of chess fans around the world and especially to the millions of fans and the many friends I have in the United States.
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• Pensacola News Journal Pensacola, Florida Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 38 — Repentant Bobby Fischer Offers His 'Sincerest Apology' to Spassky — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Repentant Bobby Fischer offered his 'sincerest apology' in writing to Boris Spassky on Thursday for “disrespectful behavior” that threatened to torpedo their $300,000 match for the world chess championship. The American challenger's apology was delivered to the Russian champion during the morning in an unblocking move that opened the way for the start of the 24-game series, plagued by delay, confusion and bad feeling.
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• Daily News New York, New York Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 250 — Bobby and Boris Show Tuesday — Reykjavik, July 6 (UPI) — The world chess championship match between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Soviet world champion Boris Spassky will start Tuesday with Spassky playing the white pieces and making the first move in the opening game. The drawing followed Fischer's written apology to Spassky for his “disrespectful behavior” in delaying the match. Fischer, 29, the chess genius from Brooklyn, and Spassky, 35, the world titleholder from Moscow, met face to face for the first time tonight to arrange the start of their match after Fischer attributed the delay of his “petty dispute over money.”
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• The Chico Enterprise-Record Chico, California Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 6 — Fischer, Spassky Agree: Chess Competition to Begin Tuesday —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — After two weeks of behind-the-scene diplomacy and much talking, Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky have agreed to get down to their real business —playing chess. The match for the world title now held by the 35-year-old Russian will begin Tuesday in the Icelandic capital. The winner gets $150,000 and the loser $100,000. Spassky, a handsome Leningrad journalist who makes a living playing chess the year around, will make the first move. He won the draw Thursday night and will play white, meaning he will make the first move. The 29-year-old American will play Black in the first game. In succeeding games they alternate. Despite the charges and counter-charges exchanged between the two camps there was no sign of personal animosity between the two. When Spassky was introduced at the draw, Fischer applauded. And when the challenger, dressed in a green suit and red tie, was presented, Spassky gave him a big hand.
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• The Paducah Sun Paducah, Kentucky Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Apologizes; Chess Match Will Begin Tuesday by Stephens Broening — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer apologized in writing Thursday to Boris Spassky for “disrespectful behavior” that threatened their world championship chess match. Subsequently, Moscow's Tass news agency said “all demands of the Soviet delegation have been satisfied.” It was announced that the first game would be played Tuesday. Fischer, the American challenger, and Spassky, the Soviet world champion, met Thursday night to draw for the first move in the $300,000 series of 24 games. Fischer drew the black pawn, giving Spassky the first move with white and a slight advantage.
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• The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 18 — Your Move, Boris — Bobby Fischer, the chess wizard from Brooklyn, is catching a lot of flak these days. He's being called a “money-grubber” for demanding a bigger cash prize for his world championship match with the title-holder, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Also, he is being put down for “bad sportsmanship” and “sullying the lofty game of chess” by arriving two days late for the contest in Reykjavik, Iceland, which upset Spassky [to] no end.
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Boris Spassky Signals for Photographers to Stop Taking Pictures in Reykjavik. (AP) 07 Jul 1972, Fri The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

• The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 1 Boris Spassky Signals for Photographers to Stop Taking Pictures in Reykjavik. (AP) ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

Chess Masters Meet to Determine Who Moves First (AP) 07 Jul 1972, Fri The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 3 — Chess Masters Meet to Determine Who Moves First — As world champion Boris Spassky draws, Bobby Fischer watches closely. (AP Wirephoto) ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ /

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer's Apology Is Accepted; Chess Matches Start Tuesday — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI). — After more than a week of psychological warfare ([From the Soviet Empire's side. Fischer knew the value of the match and the Soviet attempted to strong-arm a devaluation to approximately HALF the value, {i.e., Australia offered bid at $225,000, Mexico's bid at $175,000} as part of their “psychological warfare” campaign against Fischer. No empire is innocent, especially a power-frenzied behemoth like the U.S.S.R. and it was, after all, the U.S.S.R. with its worldwide network of rabble rousers in media networks, vs. the wits of one soul, Robert J. Fischer who couldn't even be quoted correctly half the time, whose words were either taken out of context or words following the Soviet narrative, put in his mouth]), chess geniuses Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky met face to face Thursday night with the Soviet champion drawing the white pieces which will give him the first move in their world championship showdown.
  Spassky, 35, the Soviet titleholder, and Fischer, the American challenger, play the first game in the $250,000 contest Tuesday.
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• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 38 — Russian World Champion to Make First Move: Spassky Drops His Demand for Forfeit, Chess Match With Fischer Begins Tuesday — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Russian Boris Spassky has agreed to drop his demand that American Bobby Fischer be penalized one game for delaying the start of the world championship chess match, U.S. chess sources said today. Fred Cramer, a vice president in the U.S. Chess Federation, said Spassky and Fischer worked out the details of their agreement in a backstage room in Reykjavik's main sports hall yesterday a few minutes before the two met publicly to draw lots to see who would get the first move. Before the meeting, the Russian Chess Federation had demanded that Fischer be ordered to forfeit the first game because he caused the initial postponement. At that time the match was scheduled to begin July 9, one week late.
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• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 4 — Spassky Will Play First Tuesday — LA Times News Service. Reykjavik, Iceland—The world chess championship competition formally opened last night after a five-day delay and a comedy of errors which often threatened to reduce the noble sport to a $250,000 farce. The opening ceremony was as unorthodox as the preliminaries were unprecedented. It consisted of a draw for the right to play white, or first, in the opening game between defending world champion Boris Spassky of Russia and American challenger Bobby Fischer. Spassky won. He also won the apparent last battle in the struggle for cash, position, and prestige which has waxed hot here since the preliminaries began a week ago. The champion refused to play the first of 24 scheduled games Sunday, and said he would begin Tuesday. Fischer, who had wanted to play Sunday, did not object.
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• Chippewa Herald-Telegram Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 1 — Go Get Him, Bobby! — “The number of times we have pulled for a Russian over an American can be chalked up with a zero,” the Wisconsin State Journal said in its editorial columns yesterday. But regardless of this admirable record, the Madison newspaper is admittedly pulling for Russian Boris Spassky in the world championship of chess over American Bobby Fischer. Editorializing somewhat noisily, the State Journal editorial claimed (a little pompously, we think), “A good share of the public is getting tired of the arrogant attitude many of our ‘sports figures’ have been displaying lately, and happily will welcome a comedown for them.” “Bobby Fischer,” the editorial continued, “has epitomized all that is worst about the erroneous American image abroad — the greedy, money-grabbing ‘sportsman’ who plays the game only for what it pays him.” “So,” the State Journal trumpeted, “we're in your corner now, Boris, and we know enough to be quiet.” Quiet? Calling the greatest chess talent in the word (and Bobby Fischer will prove this if Spassky ever finds the fortitude to play him) greedy and arrogant is quiet? We hope that the State Journal isn't serious about backing the Russian simply because Fischer has enough business acumen to demand and get adequate pay for his work. Fischer was born with a machine-like mind, and he has developed his thinking process to the point where he can out-maneuver any other human being on a chessboard. Sure he is outgoing, demanding—and, perhaps, just a little bit arrogant. And in our estimation, he should be.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 4 — Spassky and Fischer Brought to Heel for Opening Game from Michael Lake — Reykjavik, July 6 — The International Chess Federation today took a firm grip on the Spassky-Fischer world championship and issued clear instructions for the contest to begin. The relief in Reykjavik was immediate and infectious. The game of chess once more became a respectable contest between two great minds instead of a vicious tiff. Tonight the two grand-masters met for the first time at the beautifully lit theater where they decided with little argument that the first game would not be played until Tuesday. Then they appeared on the stage and were applauded. Fischer, in a greenish suit, immediately approached the chess board and began playing with the chess men. He behaved like a boxer dancing on his toes before the fight of his life. Spassky in a tweed jacket and white slacks was much more relaxed before the draw.
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• Rutland Daily Herald Rutland, Vermont Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 1 — The Seconds — Times News Service. Reykjavik, Iceland—At the eye of the storm that has been swirling all week around Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky is a group of quiet men whose mission it is to soothe the protagonists, fight for their man with the International Chess Federation, interpret rules and rulings, act as seconds, and in general act for him as best they can. In the American's group are a Roman Catholic priest, a psychologist, a lawyer, an athlete, and a gaggle of grandmasters. The Soviet world champion came here last June 21 with a delegation of three. All are chess players. They are grandmasters Efim Geller and Nikolai Krogius, and international master Ivo Nei.
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• Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 18 — Local Expert Likes Fischer by Lee Daniels — Dr. Leroy Dubeck, president of the American Chess Federation, thinks U.S. chess phenom Bobby Fischer will win the world's chess championship in twenty games. The match, in which Fischer is to face champion Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union, is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Reykjavik, Iceland, after being postponed once for Fischer and again for Spassky in separate disputes. “Bobby is a chess genius,” Dubeck, a Temple University physics professor said. “He throws every ounce of himself into a chess game, Boris does not. That's all I'd care to say publicly.”
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• Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fort Worth, Texas Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 9 — Chess Match to Finally Get Going — Reykjavik (Reuter) — Russian title holder Boris Spassky and his American challenger Bobby Fischer, having ended their battle of nerves, now begin the task of disciplining their minds in preparation for next week's opening game in the world chess championship. The two players, men of contrasting personalities, have five days in which to achieve the mental equilibrium essential in top flight chess. Spassky drew white last night and will have the advantage of the first move. Fischer wanted to begin the disrupted match on Sunday but finally agreed to Spassky's request for two extra days, which means the contest will get under way on Tuesday — nine days behind schedule.
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• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 12 — Coach Rates Fischer As Sure Winner —University Park, Pa. (AP) — The coach of Pennsylvania State University's chess team predicts “Bobby Fischer is going to be the world's new chess champion.” Donald Byrne, who said he has played Fischer six times — losing four and drawing two—said the American challenger should handily defeat Boris Spassky, the Russian world title holder, in the championship match at Reykjavik, Iceland. “Spassky's good, but Fischer's terrific,” said Byrne, who is an assistant professor of English at Penn State. He said he made the judgment on the basis of world tour statistics, first-hand observation and past experience.
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Spassky Signs Autographs For Reykjavik Children 07 Jul 1972, Fri The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) Newspapers.com

• Victoria Advocate Victoria, Texas Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 19 — On The Line — World chess champion Boris Spassky, of the Soviet Union signs autographs for children in Reykjavik, Iceland, Thursday, after a tennis match with his compatriot Jivo Nei. Spassky is scheduled to defend his title against American grandmaster Bobby Fischer (AP). ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 6 — The Readers Write: World Chess Non-Championship — Editor, Town Talk: It's true, the U.S. Chess Federation didn't ask me when they were looking for someone to refuse to play Boris Spassky, the Russian who is world chess champion. But then, Bobby Fischer was already hiding out in New York City, or California, or somewhere in-between. So I guess they decided it was more convenient to let him not-play for the world championship of chess.
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• The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 5 — 'Psst, Boris: Hoosier Won' by Philip Allen — Even if Bobby Fischer loses to Boris Spassky in the world championship match next week in Reykjavik, Iceland, Fischer already has captured the imagination of Hoosier “wood pushers” With all the pregame publicity, Fischer has popularized the ancient game that stresses intuitive ability, concentration and a powerful memory. But the American grandmaster won't lose the match, contend several Hoosiers who are “following the game.” And they're not speaking vicariously. They played the chess genius at the hall of the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1504, 6501 Massachusetts, in 1964. Fischer, 21 then, played 50 games simultaneously and he beat all but two opponents.
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• Oakland Tribune Oakland, California Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 22 — World Chess Championship — If baseball this year could survive both the players' strike and the Vida Club cause celebre, perhaps chess will yet recover from the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky ordeal. The uncompromising genius of the two acknowledged chess masters have at last apparently been mollified and the oft-postponed World Chess Championships are scheduled to get under way in Reykjavik, Iceland Tuesday. Fischer, New York's 29-year-old grandmaster, delayed the scheduled July 2 opening match by demanding more prize money. When Fischer got what he wanted, it was Spassky's turn. Claiming he had been insulted, the 35-year-old Russian champion demanded a postponement of his own. He got that plus a formal apology from Fischer.
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• Daily News New York, New York Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 326 — Spassky to Go 1st Tuesday by Robert Byrne — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 6 — Bobby Fischer, debonair in a pale green suit, pointed to Boris Spassky's closed left hand tonight ([other reporters claim it was the right hand)] and discovered he had selected the black pawn concealed in it. That meant that Spassky, who smiled slightly as he opened his hand, will have the first move in the first game Tuesday of the 24-game world championship match.
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In this corner, America's Bobby Fischer, sauna-bathing away his pre-matching worries 07 Jul 1972, Fri The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii) Newspapers.com

• The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 21 — Chess Club Members Here to 'Compete' Against Players in World Title Match — The Cenla Chess Club will hold world championship instant-replay matches while the Fischer-Spassky Tournament for the chess championship of the world is going on, Tom Heston, club president, said today. One player in a game will be allowed to use a cribsheet with the moves made by either Fischer or Spassky in their battle for the chess title. The other will use nothing but his own brains to respond.
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• The Gastonia Gazette Gastonia, North Carolina Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 12 — College Professor Remembers Playing Champ of Chess by Tom Williams — Although Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union have decided on whom will make the first move in a $400,000 world championship chess match, one professor at Gaston College remembers the time when he played the national chess champ of Turkey to a stalemate… ★ Read More

• The Pensacola News Pensacola, Florida Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 5 — Games People Play — Bobby Fischer is still wondering if he'll move the king or queen in Iceland but USO is getting it all together and having a chess tournament Saturday … Players from Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Eglin and USS Lexington are expected to pay a $1 entry fee at USO by Friday night … Who knows, Fischer's successor may be in the tournament. ★ Read More

• Fort Lauderdale News Fort Lauderdale, Florida Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 88 — ABC Sports has acquired the exclusive rights to televise the World Chess Championship between challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States and champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, it was announced today by Roone Arledge, president of ABC Sports. The comprehensive coverage on the Television Network will be the only telecasts of the competition available in the United States. Highlights of championship games, possibly as many as 24 in all, will be seen on “ABC's Wide World of Sports.” The championship will run a maximum of eights weeks; the first “Wide World” telecast will air Saturday (5 to 6:30 p.m.) on channels 10 and 12.
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• Fort Lauderdale News Fort Lauderdale, Florida Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 4 — It's Our Opinion: On Again, Off Again Chess Match Serves As Light Touch Amid Gravity — What started out as a healthy feud has turned into an international incident. The lines seem to be drawn, and the worst could happen. Involved once again are the Soviet Union and the United States. The outcome of the conflict could be a crucial matter between the two giants. What are we talking about? The world championship chess match in Reykjavik, Iceland, of course. That on-again, off-again, on-again chess match of the century between the world title holder, Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, and American grandmaster Bobby Fischer. The whole business appears to be a real good comedy, progressing according to a script written by somebody who hates chess. But appearances can be wrong. While we appreciate the comic relief the situation affords in times of war, political campaigns and poor economic conditions, we feel all good things must come to an end.
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• The Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 6 — World Chess Championship: Play Will Begin Tuesday — Reykjavik, Iceland (CP) — World chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States agreed Thursday night to begin their long-disputed world championship match Tuesday. The chess match became a reality when the Soviet champion and his American challenger met face to face to draw lots on who should play white in the opening game of the 24-game series. Spassky won the draw, and will have the first move in the first game. Tournament officials feared further disaster when the 29-year-old challenger kept the Russian champion waiting for more than a half-hour at the exhibition hall where the draw took place. The champion arrived 10 minutes before the appointed time and Fischer more than 20 minutes late. But the Russian appeared in an almost jovial mood as he and Fischer inspected the Icelandic stone chessboard on which the crucial matches will take place. Fischer looked cool in a powder-green suit despite a harrowing experience on his arrival at the hall when he had to be rescued from reporters and fans who surrounded his car.
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• The Morning Record Meriden, Connecticut Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 6 — The Ruckus in Reykjavik — There is plenty of hot water in Reykjavik these days and not all of it is in the city's famed thermal springs. A good deal of heat has developed around the world championship chess matches impending between Boris Spassky, Soviet Union, title holder, and Bobby Fischer, his American challenger. The series of rages and outrages — Fischer's late arrival; his sulking over the size of the purse ([and justifiably so! considering Soviet tactics to cut the prize in half, by forcing Euwe to go back on his word to offer a “first come first serve” bid to other nations when Belgrade backed out, and Australia stepped up to the plate with a generous offer of $225,000 — with only 25k going toward organization expenses, with 200 grand in prize funds!]) the generosity of a London investment broker who donated $125,000 to swell the purse; Spassky's umbrage over what he considered Fischer's outrageous conduct ([Spassky was being used as a mouthpiece of the Soviet tyrants in Moscow. Either act the part of the puppet, or get “dragged on the carpet” along side Petrosian and Taimanov, which was inevitable, anyway]) — all of these incidents contributed to the heat and confusion and brought the championship series to the brink of cancellation.
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• The News Paterson, New Jersey Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 13 — Even in Chess There's a Quarterback Option Play by Walt Keogh —Editor's Note—With a growing interest in the game of chess, spurred by the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky world championship match, here's a brief, somewhat light primer outlining the basics of the game for those who have never played. You should see the moves these two pros can make. They can make moves all day, each trying to fake out the other, but never getting off their chair. It's not that they're riding the bench, it's just the way these two pros play the game. And the name of their game is chess.
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• The Capital Times Madison, Wisconsin Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 37 — Chess Championship Highlights on Channel 27 — Highlights of the World Championship Chess Tournament between challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States and champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union will be telecast on ABC's “Wide World of Sports” Saturday at 4 p.m. on Channel 27. The championship games, which will run a maximum of eight weeks, are being held in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is the first time in history the matches will be played outside the Soviet Union. A maximum of 24 games will be played. As soon as one competitor earns 12½ points, the championship is decided and play is terminated. One point is awarded for a victory, a half point for a tie. Defending champion Spassky needs only a 12-12 tie to retain his world title.
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• The Montgomery Advertiser Montgomery, Alabama Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 4 — The Chess War — IN THE LONG cold war between American chess player Bobby Fischer and defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, the world has seen in microcosm just how difficult international diplomacy is. There have been charges of capitalistic chicanery against Fischer, wounded pride on both sides, silly arguments, disputes over protocol and agenda, boycotts, etc. The funniest aspect of the imbroglio was the charge in Moscow that a group of Americans had set up a computer in New York to assist the 29-year-old U.S. star.
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• Press-Telegram Long Beach, California Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 51 — Chess May Never Be Quite The Same by Loel Schrader — Throw away your rooks and your pawns, your bishops, knights, queens and kings. Chess will never be the same, not with television moving into the act. Television devours a sport, chewing it and shaping it to the limitations of its appetite, then spits it out, lifeless and devoid of soul. There was a time when chess could be used as an excuse to polish off a friendly fifth, all the while appearing to be immersed in a deep thought. No longer.
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• The Lowell Sun Lowell, Massachusetts Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 6 — Letters To The Sun: Blaming the Russians — Lowell — Recent press coverage of Robert Fischer, an American, in his challenge for the title “World Chess Champion” has struck this American as biased. Fischer, after all, is an individual, materially disadvantaged, a challenger unsupported by any group or government, bargaining against:
  1. The Russian Government (we all know Spassky doesn't make “a move” without first consulting his government).
  2. The Icelandic Government (are they truly neutral?)
  3. FIDE—the international chess federation (known to be Russian dominated).
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World Chess 07 Jul 1972, Fri The Brattleboro Reformer (Brattleboro, Vermont) Newspapers.com

• The Brattleboro Reformer Brattleboro, Vermont Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 4 — World Chess — 'Mr. Fischer seems to be ready now … Shall we commence, Mr. Spassky?' ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• Statesman Journal Salem, Oregon Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 4 — Free Punch? — A few days ago, the Statesman chided Bobby Fischer for his poor sportsmanship in refusing to honor his earlier agreement to participate in the World Chess Championship in Iceland ([Not true. Fischer never made any formal, signed contract with the organizers, beyond a simple, agreement to play “under protest.”]) In response to Fischer's goading, however, Boris Spassky, the Russian world champion, has not only asked Fischer for a written apology but demanded that he forfeit the first game. This begets a plague-on-both-your-houses response. In the past, the pre-fight jockeying between boxers have been used to drum up public interest, but never has one fighter suggested that his opponent forfeit one round or permit him a free punch. Read More

• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 114 — Scratch Chess As A 'Game' — THESE days, not even so cerebral and sedentary a game as chess can be played without a thunderclap or two. Chess had seemed so noble a pastime, suited to long periods of staring and thinking, conducive to grand strategies and great wars within but a nutshell of space. Armies could be sacrificed even while a yawn was savored and extended to its satisfying limit. Now the trumpets must sound across the checkered board too. The money-changers and politicians want the proper proportions of coin and propaganda. For Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, the register must ring and national pride must unfurl. Like the other games, chess as they now will play it becomes something less than a game; not a delight but another grim part of survival. We lament the passing of true games, in Iceland and elsewhere, on the checkered board and off, and in particular regret the passing of that sense of noble luxury that came as international chess masters bent with joy to the task of being wastefully and irrelevantly clever. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Friday, July 07, 1972 - Page 8 — Long-Awaited World Chess Championship — The long-awaited world chess championship match set to begin Sunday between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky even has Windsorites involved. Or at least those Windsorites who shop at Smith's of Windsor. A bell was rung with the announcement that the argument over money was settled when British financier James Slater offered to sweeten an already record pot with a donation of £50,000—roughly $130,000. Fischer responded by saying he would play. Within recent months, Smith's of Windsor, along with the other 39 stores in the Gordon Mackay and Stores Ltd. chain, has become part of the United Kingdom-based holding company, Slater, Walker of Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Slater-Walker of Great Britain. Read More

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July 08, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 22 — Chess Champions' Aides Fill Many Roles by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 7 — After a week of confusion over the championship chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, Reykjavik is returning to its normal activities. When the champion and his challenger met last night to draw for the first game on Tuesday, and the match was declared officially under way, there was a huge collective sigh of relief. No longer is the name of Bobby Fischer — or “Bubby Fissa,” as it is generally pronounced here — on everybody's lips. Speculation still runs high, however, about the outcome of the match. And, as the champion and challenger settle in for a long siege, attention has also been directed at their entourages — the groups of quiet men who were in the eye of the storm around the match for a week.
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• Press and Sun-Bulletin Binghamton, New York Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 5 — Master Bobby Fischer Defended: It's Hard to Judge Chess 'Genius' by Tom Muller — The criticism of American chess master Bobby Fischer for his actions at the world chess championship is unwarranted because “geniuses are not properly judged by the ordinary mortal's standards.” That is the opinion of Harold C. Evans of Binghamton, a former president of the New York State Chess Association and former New York State Amateur Chess Champion. Fischer has been strongly criticized by some U.S. chess enthusiasts for his failure to show up at the scheduled world chess championship with Boris Spassky of Russia at Reykjavik, Iceland, last week.
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• Daily Press Newport News, Virginia Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 4 — Bobby Fischer “Antics” — Bobby Fischer jeopardized his chances at wresting the world chess championship away from the Russians by delaying the start of the matches in Iceland and in the process made himself the villain of the piece. ([Among the very long list of offenses of villainy by Eastern organizers who were unleashing a flood of false reports in earlier months to support their plots to disqualify Bobby Fischer, and replace with Tigran Petrosian, along with their refusal to any direct communication to iron-out pre-match details…demanding Fischer orally agree to new arrangements he'd neither seen nor read when Belgrade dropped the first half of the matches and Euwe then reneged on his word to offer the first half of the matches “first come, first serve”; Australia bidding a whopping $225k -- with a mere 25k going for organization expenses and Mexico bidding $175k! et cetera]) The Soviet demand that the first match be forfeited ([further of the most un-sportsmanlike conduct!]) to titlist Boris Spassky could have been heeded and even the entire series conceivably was in the balance. There was in fact no real precedent for the chess world to handle such misconduct as that of the always irrepressible American grand master.
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• The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 3 — Blood-Thirsty Chess: Check These Moves, Mate — New York (AP) —The insulted egos and white-knuckled tensions before the Fischer-Spassky chess match may seem to be a blazing battle, but pale beside the tales of blood-thirsty games in Medieval Iceland. Chess boards in the 12th and 13th Centuries were often the center of treachery, revenge, intrigue and murder, according to sagas of the time. Games were often interrupted because somebody was getting hacked to pieces. When a certain King Louis lost a chess game to Rognvald, he stood up in a fury, shoved his chess men into a bag and smashed his opponent in the face with it, leaving him a bloody mess. “Take that!” exclaimed the king.
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Not Playing 08 Jul 1972, Sat Nanaimo Daily News (Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com

• Nanaimo Daily News Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 1 — Not playing checkers till you apologize. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 4 — Disputes Left Match in Doubt Before Drawing —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Disputes all day Thursday left in doubt until an hour before they drew lots that Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer would play for the world chess championship, informed sources reported yesterday. Telephone calls from the camp of the Russian champion and the American challenger confirming that play would start Tuesday reached the organizers at about 7 P.M., or 50 minutes before Mr. Spassky reached the playing hall for the draw. He won the draw—giving him the important first move.
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• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 4 — Slater Plays Business as Chess -- Fanatically — London (AP)—James Slater, the British businessman who helped finance the Fischer-Spassky chess championship duel, built up a worldwide business empire with the skill of a chess master whittling away an opponent's defenses. “Chess and investment both require the same mixture of science and art, intuition and analysis,” he once said. Mr. Slater should know—he is a chess fanatic who once was expected to be a schoolboy champion. Checks got the better of checkmate, but he still plays and gets his kicks subsidizing tournaments in Britain.
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• The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 48 — Pre-Draw Deal Saved World Match — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Boris Spassky gave up his demand that Bobby Fischer forfeit the first game of their world championship chess matches in return for Fischer's agreement to postpone the game until Tuesday, U.S. chess sources said yesterday. The compromise was worked out in a backstage room of Reykjavik's main sports hall Thursday night a few minutes before the American challenger and the world champion from Russia appeared on stage to draw lots for the first move, the sources said.
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• Evening Standard London, Greater London, England Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 7 — Chief Chess Arbiter Flies Home — Reykjavik, Saturday. New complications which might further delay the start of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess match arose today when the chief arbiter left Reykjavik. Lothar Schmid, a West German Grand Master picked by the International Chess Federation as arbiter said he was going home because his son had been injured in a traffic accident. Meanwhile, Fischer has changed his headquarters to the royal suite of the luxurious Loftleider Hotel after a clandestine move from his rented villa on the other side of the capital. He made the move yesterday after complaining that he was unable to sleep properly in the daytime because of the noise made by building workers nearby. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 8 — The Chess Match (Yawn) Is Set — The world championship chess match at long last is set to start Tuesday ([these arrangements would have been worked out long before, if Eastern and European organizers had bothered to consult, man-to-man, with Bobby Fischer during the Spring season of 1972, but they refused]), and one wonders how even the greatest chess enthusiasts, by now can really much care. The match was supposed to start a week ago, but the preliminaries unfortunately resembled the hassles to which one is accustomed before, say, a Muhammad Ali fight.
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• Spokane Daily Chronicle Spokane, Washington Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 20 — New Chess Woes Crop Up — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—The Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess championship match, already delayed for nine days, ran into new problems today when the chief arbiter left Iceland. U.S. chess sources said Fischer, the 29-year-old American challenger, is “at peak form and raring to go” into the first game Tuesday against the world champion, Russia's Spassky. But the sources said there might have to be another postponement—until Thursday—since chief arbiter Lothar Schmid will not be back in town until then.
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• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 26 — Seeing Spots? — By way of warning for Bobby Fischer, U.S. chess superstar scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart Tuesday; Soviet Life reports the creation by a dedicated artisan in that country of a set of microscopic chess pieces, paralleled in size and detail only by another Soviet first—a supply of “horseshoes” for fleas. Read More

• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 26 — The Moves Began Before the Match — After much fancy international footwork and three postponements, the great world chess championship between America's Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky is finally (or should one say tentatively?) to begin Tuesday. The inclination of the average onlooker is to conclude that both principals, to differing degrees have forfeited some of the public respect heretofore accorded them for their supremacy in this sport of mental acuity.
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• The Californian Salinas, California Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 2 — New Complications Arise In Fischer-Spassky Match — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—New complications, which might further delay the start of the world chess championship match between Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and American Bobby Fischer, arose today when the chief arbiter left Iceland. Lothar Schmid, a West German grand master picked by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as arbiter, flew home this morning and said he would not return until next Thursday—when the second game is scheduled to be played.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 11 — Pawns In Time by Michael Lake in Reykjavik — THERE was a breathless moment last night when the two greatest chess players in the world faced each other over the table on the stage — where the world's championship is to begin on Tuesday — and both of them lifted a pawn. At this instance the air seemed to quiver. One of them was going to thrust his pawn down the board and the other would reply. Both men were oblivious to the crowd and to the officials addressing us. Fischer, bursting with energy was so tempted. Had he moved there is no doubt we would all have been hooked.
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• Edmonton Journal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer, Spassky Rest Up for Match Start Tuesday — Reykjavik (Reuter) — Bobby Fischer, U.S. challenger for the world chess title, and Soviet defending champion Boris Spassky plan to spend most of their time resting to get in mental trim for the start of their match on Tuesday. While Spassky leaves his hotel only for two daily games of tennis on a court specially set up for him, the American chiefly occupies himself with sleeping and studying chess, sleeping, eating and sleeping some more, according to his second, Rev. William Lombardy.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 25 — Iceland Quiet as Chess Kings Hibernate — Reykjavik, Iceland—Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer settled down yesterday to five days of preparation for their world chess title clash, which begins on Tuesday. Disputes all day Thursday had left the opening of the match in doubt until an hour before they drew lots. Spassky won the draw giving him the first move. The young American challenger spent most of the day resting and studying in the luxury villa rented for him, while across the capital Spassky emerged from his hotel suite only for the games of tennis which are part of his daily routine.
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• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 26 — Comments — “Ping Pong brought America and China together, chess is keeping Russian and America apart,” noted Harry Herschfield. Publicist Bernie Kamber said Bobby Fischer's press agenting and promotion of himself and chess was greatest in world history — and he's not even a press agent. … Bobby Fischer's a great “Pawnographer,” says Mike Manuche with the worst pun of the year … ★ Read More

• Muncie Evening Press Muncie, Indiana Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 1 — Check! — Chess experts Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and Boris Spassky of Russia may make more money in their world's championship match next week, but these boys are just playing for fun, in an all-day chess tournament at the Muncie Mall, Murry Newcomb (left), Northside High School student, faces two young opponents, Bryan Ramsey, 7, (second from left) and Kip Rupprecht, 12. A couple of other youngsters look on. — Evening Press Photo by John Crozier. Read More

• The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 22 — Courtly Charisma — The chill July weather has produced some heated competition in events usually treated coolly by the bulk of the populace. After a series of unlikely gambits Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union have apparently agreed to spend a month or so facing each other across a chess table, a meeting that drew advance press coverage enough to rival a summit coverage. The interest in the meeting of chess titans was as unlikely as the enthusiasm which greeted the tennis match between Evonne Goolagong of Australia and Chris Evert of the United States played in London… Read More

• The Daily Reporter Greenfield, Indiana Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 6 — Checkmate — American Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky have apparently ended their war of nerves and will now sit down to the main event — the chess world championship. Fischer is seeking to become the first non-Russian in many years to hold the title. His chances appear to be good. The maneuvers and threats of not showing up by both players beforehand appear to be no more than attempts to upset the other. It also added some excitement to a drab sport and attracted a lot of attention. Read More

• The News Paterson, New Jersey Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 18 — What a Line! by Rudy Neuman — Genius Bobby Fischer is one of few High School dropouts who can chuckle at that billboard slogan: “Drop Out Now … Pay Later.” The 29-year-old Erasmus High (NYC) quitter stands to make as much as half a million the the much publicized world championship chess showdown… Read More

• The Progress Clearfield, Pennsylvania Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 4 — The War — Mr. Bobby Fischer and Mr. Boris Spassky finally proclaimed a truce in the U.S.-Soviet chess conflict, which was fought in Iceland, Long Island, Moscow and especially in the newspapers. The temporary truce will end Tuesday at the start of a series of quiet battles in which the American player will counter Mr. Spassky's moves with protective reaction strikes against the Soviet pawns . . . Impartial observers will see to it that neither side rooks the other out of a move . . . Read More

• Iowa City Press-Citizen Iowa City, Iowa Saturday, July 08, 1972 - Page 6 — The Real Game — If Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky ever sit down to play for the world chess title, the moves on the board will be elementary compared with those which preceded the match. Even now, with play scheduled to begin Tuesday and Spassky having won first move, only someone who would leave his king unprotected would wager much on play actually starting. Read More

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July 09, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 172 — Chess: Apology From a Knight Errant by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik—On-again, off-again. For days the participants in the Spassky-Fischer world championship chess match maneuvered into positions more complicated than the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Now—though no game has yet been played—it appears to be officially on. Bobby Fischer, the 29-year-old American challenger, was not here for the scheduled start last Sunday, and the opening was postponed for two days. He wanted more money, and the British industrialist, Jim Slater, obliged by adding $125,000 to double the purse. That brought Fischer flying over.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 30 — Referee To Miss First Chess Game. Goes Home to Injured Son - Will Officiate Thursday by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 8—Lothar Schmid, the referee of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer championship chess match, will not be able to officiate at the first game on Tuesday. Mr. Schmid today flew to his home in Bamberg, Germany, upon receiving news that his 10-year-old son had been injured in a bicycle accident. The injury was reported not to be serious. The assistant referee, Gudmundur Arnlaugsson of Iceland, will replace Mr. Schmid, who expects to be here for the second game on Thursday.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 88 — ‘Chess, Anyone?’—In Queens, That Is By Julia Schreier — As Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky prepare to lock horns in Iceland this week, the whole chess world will be watching. Among the most engrossed spectators will be the 40 members of the Queens Chess Club...

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 30 — Fischer Furor Sparks Big Run on Chess Sets — Bobby Fischer may have created controversy in Iceland, but in chess stores and studios he is also creating sales. According to store buyers and studio managers, the world championship match, has generated increased demand for chess books, sets and lessons. Here is a rundown on some of the items most widely recommended by the experts… Read More

• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 31 — Green Light In Big Chess — Reykjavik, Sat (AAP). — There was no major obstacle to endanger the start of the world championship chess match, US chess sources said yesterday. They said Boris Spassky had given up his demand that Bobby Fischer forfeit the first game in return for Fischer's agreement to postpone the game until Tuesday. The compromise was worked out in a backstage room of Reykjavik's main sports hall a few minutes before the American challenger and the world champion from Russia appeared on stage to draw lots for the first move.
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• The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 8 — Fischer, Spassky Set To Do Battle by Bob Quincy — Two men with viewpoints and a dedication to excellent have made a chess match the most exciting “sports” event of the week. Chess, indeed, is a game. In the past month it has become a sport, commanding headlines the size written for Wimbledon tennis and Olympic qualifications. Until Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky came along, a championship chess match rated no more than a couple of paragraphs on the third page. On second thought, why not peddle the results to the entertainment editor?
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• Battle Creek Enquirer Battle Creek, Michigan Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 16 — Fischer's First Moves — Most everyone is down on Bobby Fischer these days. Chess buffs around the world are impatient with the 29-year-old U.S. grand master for his behavior in demanding more cash before playing the Soviets' Boris Spassky for the world championship. And somehow Fischer's attitude runs counter to the American “for-the-love-of the-game” philosophy of participation in sports. But there is something to be said on Fischer's side, if not in excuse then at least in explanation.
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• Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fort Worth, Texas Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 118 — W.W. Norton and Company has two books riding heavily on developments in this week's news. As Bobby Fischer enters World Chess Championship play Tuesday, chess writer Svetozar Gligoric will be writing the play-by-play for a book scheduled by the firm in August. The type will be set as the play proceeds. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Kingsport Times-News Kingsport, Tennessee Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 30 — Bobby Fischer A Little Cocky — You have to hand it to Mr. Bobby Fischer. He is the first player of chess who made the headline writers take note of him. He is putting chess on the map and people who do not know a pawn from a bishop or a knight from a castle, are following his career. The Great International Chess Match is getting more build up than the Olympic Games. There has been nothing like it since the days of the heavyweight championship fights.
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• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 47 — Fischer a Bush-League Capitalist by Jim Fiebig — Phoenix — Bobby Fischer's successful demand for higher stakes before agreeing to meet Russia's Boris Spassky for the world champion chess title has Soviet citizens calling him a “money-grubbing capitalist.” That changes the complexion of the 24-game match. What originally would have been just another championship series is now an intellectual showdown between Soviet communism and good old American money-grubbing capitalism. That being the case, the United States is fortunate to have a Fischer to carry its ideological colors. He is more than a phenomenon at chess — he is a phenomenon in a country that ranks the game right up alongside tiddlywinks in national importance.
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Chess 09 Jul 1972, Sun The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) Newspapers.com

• The Star Press Muncie, Indiana Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 42 — Chess Club Members Prove You Got to Work Within the System by Susan Bonnell —Chess is a game with systems of plays and anyone who knows the systems can beat anyone who doesn't know them. With this basic statement as their assurance the Ball State Chess Club challenged anyone willing to engage in a game of chess on the concourse of the Muncie Mall Saturday and beat almost everyone who took them on. Their record at the end of 12 hours of chess was better than 115 wins, seven losses and three draws.
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• The Observer London, Greater London, England Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 40 — Masterstroke — Our chess correspondent, Harry Golombek, who has taken over from Dr. Max Euwe the frightful responsibility in Reykjavik for solving any future problems likely to prevent Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer actually getting to the chess board, was telling us about the status of chess correspondents abroad.
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Sports: World Chess Championship 09 Jul 1972, Sun Newsday (Nassau Edition) (Hempstead, New York) Newspapers.com

• Newsday (Nassau Edition) Hempstead, New York Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 178 — Sports - World Chess Championship — Move-by-move coverage of the competition between Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of Russia, emanating from Iceland. A mock chess board will reflect the play-by-play status of the match, with expert commentary by chess master Shelby Lyman. Extended afternoon coverage will be provided, as well as brief evening wrap-ups. (3 hrs.) Read More

• The Daily Advertiser Lafayette, Louisiana Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 26 — What do you know about chess? Not very much? The publicity given the Fischer - Spassky match may encourage members of your household to learn the game. While watching Tuesday's evening news filled with the chess controversy, one local woman commented, “I've always wanted to learn how to play chess.” And her husband, the man she thought she knew everything about replied, “Well, why didn't you ask me to teach you?” (So she didn't really know everything.) We guess this chess match is encouraging a better knowledge of husband and wife — at least in one case. Read More

• The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, July 09, 1972 - Page 46 — To Russia from America by Merrill Dowden — What surely must rate as one of the most exquisite chess sets ever created was presented as a gift of state to the SOVIET people by President and Mrs. Nixon on their recent visit to the USSR. ([The Racist Impeachable traitor Nixon is notably absent of any such honors to our champion following Fischer's victory, not affording so much as a dinner invitation!])
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July 10, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 19 — Fischer's Favorite Chair Flown To Reykjavik for Chess Contest — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 9 (UPI)—Bobby Fischer's favorite chair arrived by air freight from New York today to help assure his comfort in his match against Boris Spassky for the world chess championship. The players must still give their official approval of the playing conditions, but Spassky said yesterday before going salmon fishing that he would not argue about the conditions or the selection of a board and a chess set.
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• The Daily Chronicle De Kalb, Illinois Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer's Chess Chair Arrives — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess match can begin—Fischer's favorite chair has arrived. The swivel chair in metal and black leather was flown from New York to Iceland and put on the stage in the Reykjavik chess hall Sunday. Spassky's Russian advisers arrived shortly after the much talked about chair and studied it suspiciously. Then they left without comment. Now the Icelandic organizers face a new problem: Where to find a similar chair in Iceland? “It would look better if both Spassky and Fischer had the same chairs,” said Gudmundur Thorarinsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation.
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• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 20 — Will Chess Become Great Spectator Sport? by Joel Tiumak — Chess has all the ingredients of a great spectator sport — for the edification of sceptics who view tomorrow's television re-creation of the Fischer-Spassky world chess championship without much fervor. True, there are some drawbacks — but if you're objective, you cannot fail to see that chess is on its way competing with football, baseball, basketball and tennis as one of America's top sports attractions. Like football and baseball, chess is readily accessible to sport fans — except chess is cheaper, even free. Just go to the Golden Gate Park recreation tables at Stanyan and Page Streets and you'll see chess matches free of charge — minor league, of course, but some of the players are so fascinating to watch.
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• The Herald Statesman Yonkers, New York Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 30 — Fischer: A Muhammad Ali of Chess, But With Less Talk by Kathie Beals — When Bobby Fischer, challenger of world champion Boris Spassky, played against members of the Westchester Shore Chess Club last January, new memberships increased five-fold and many of the recruits were teen-agers. Now the club numbers more than 100 as against 30 a year ago. Nationally, chess club memberships have jumped from 30,000 to 60,000. The former child prodigy of chess — he was U.S. champion at 14 — reminds some fans of a prize fighter. “HE'S THE MOHAMMAD ALI of chess,” said Nick Percival of Chappaqua as he took time out from a game at the Mamaroneck Free Library where the Westchester Shore Chess Club meets Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.
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• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 43 Spassky Tried Money Gambit by Robin Adams Sloan — Question: I know that Bobby Fischer, the chess great, can be pretty difficult about money, but what about the Russian Boris Spassky? Does he play for the glory of Russia?—D.G., Painesville, Ohio. Answer: Spassky is just as prickly as Fischer about money. The 35-year-old Soviet player just caused a huge scandal by splitting with his long-time coach, claiming creative and business differences. The rumor in chess circles is that Spassky thought that as the world champion he ought to be getting more money than Fischer. Right now the Russian earns about $350 a month from his job as a chess coach at a Moscow club plus about $1,800 yearly for tournaments abroad. The official viewpoint is of course that the honor of being world champion ought to be enough and Spassky shouldn't be so crass. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 1 — U.S. Chess Master To Analyze Match by Dr. Leroy Dubeck, President, U.S. Chess Federation — THE CHESS MATCH between grandmasters Robert Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union will commence in Reykjavik, Iceland, either tomorrow or Thursday. Commentators have referred to this as the match of the century. This is the first time that the Soviets have been challenge by the United States for the world chess championship since they won the title immediately after World War II. All world championship matches since then have been between two Russian Grandmasters. The prestige of the Soviet Chess Federation, with its three or four million members, is at stake. The Soviets have claimed that their chess superiority is an indication of their general cultural superiority over other countries ([do I smell Fascism?]) These past boasts will return to haunt them if Fischer becomes world chess champion.
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• Council Grove Republican Council Grove, Kansas Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 1 — Can't Agree On Chess Board — (AP) With the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky chess match due to get underway belatedly Tuesday, workmen are rushing to finish the board on which they'll play. Sigurdur Helgason, a stone mason in Reykjavik, Iceland, did not leave the job until the last minute. But the first board he made was considered too shiny and the second too light. The third was rejected by both the U.S. and Soviet grand masters as having squares that were too big. Now, Helgason and his crew are making another board of marble and slate, and hope everyone will be happy. Read More

• El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer 'Unhappy' With Conditions - Chess Match Set for Tomorrow Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Challenger Bobby Fischer expressed dissatisfaction today with some of the arrangements in the hall where his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union is scheduled to begin tomorrow. “Fischer does not like the lighting, the board and the pieces, the location of the television cameras and some other minor details,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. Cramer said the “minor details” included the thickness of the window drapes used in the hall. Fischer prefers heavier drapes, he said. “THESE THINGS are troublesome but not critical,” Cramer said. “The organizers are already doing something about it.”
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• Star-Phoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Unhappy — Reykjavik (Reuter) — Chess genius Bobby Fischer paid a surprise visit early today to the hall where he will play Boris Spassky for the world chess championship and emerged after a two-hour inspection apparently unsatisfied with a number of arrangements. ([Omission of the opening, which is a repetition of Soviet fabrications; labeling a man “temperamental” because he kept the Saturday Sabbath and refused to break it, while in the lead, walked out. Antisemitic reporters claimed Fischer was “Eccentric” & “Controversial” and Sam Reshevsky, an orthodox Jew was labeled “The Reshevsky Problem” by Soviets. Soviet USSR chose Racist and Anti-American Iceland who forbid blacks, for the match to achieve censoring coverage. Much more to tell.])
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• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 2 — Shades of Boris and Bobby — While Bobby Fischer was preparing to meet Boris Spassky in Iceland for the match that will decide the world's chess championship a less publicized tournament was taking place in Chicago to decide a lesser but still worthy prize. The tournament was the semi-annual Greater Chicago High School Chess Championship and it took place over two days Saturday and yesterday in an airless hall overlooking the tracks at 538 S. Wabash Ave. The winners of the tournament were Paul Clarke, 16, a junior at Evanston Township High School and Mark Bartusek, 17, a senior at Lyons Township High school. They tied for first place and will each be awarded half of the combined first and second prizes, $62.50. Eight participants who tied for third place will divide the $25 third place prize. Read More

• Orlando Evening Star Orlando, Florida Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 12 — 'Pass The Check, Mate' — A 100 Proof Spoof, Star Satire, by Emmett Peter — On the very eve of the so-called world chess championship in Iceland, it can be revealed there is no such person as Bobby Fischer. The “eccentric” young American chess master and all the circumstances of the challenge and match are figments of the imagination of an eccentric, reclusive American writer. The practical jokester, Clifford Irving, accepted the challenge of creating a bogus person and foisting him on the world through carefully manipulated press releases. TO GIVE “FISCHER” verisimilitude, Irving characterized him as a boorish, inarticulate New Yorker who had learned the game in a Greenwich Village chess den and then, in rude language, hurled challenges at the “acknowledged masters,” themselves having been invented as part of the hoax.
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• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 6 — Technicians Take Turn Before First Chess Move — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Sigurdur Helgason cuts up his days into neat marble squares. A stone mason whose business usually runs to gravestones, Helgason has been in the chess board trade the last few weeks. Today he's on his fourth chess board, the one on which Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky will play for $300,000 in prizes. The first board Helgason made was too shiny for Fridrik Olafsson, an Icelandic grandmaster acting as technical adviser to the organizers. The second was considered too light, Helgason said. It lacked the proper contrast. The third seemed all right until yesterday.
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• Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fort Worth, Texas Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 22 — Fischer Gets Special Chair — Reykjavik (Reuter) — The world chess championship is expected to get under way Tuesday now that a special chair for U.S. challenger Bobby Fischer has been flown in from New York. ([So-called western journalists seem more mentally distressed by Bobby fetching his own chair from N.Y., suitably built to accommodate his 6'2" stature, than the suspicious Soviets who reportedly looked it over and left with no comment.]) All that remains to irritate Fischer is the Icelandic stone chessboard which he apparently does not like, preferring a wooden one. However this problem is not seen as a major one. The 29-year-old grandmaster, who meets world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, also has commented on the overhead lighting in the hall of play. But Fred Cramer, a vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation and a lighting expert, says it is probably the best Fischer has ever seen. ★ Read More

• The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City, Utah Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 18 — Television Today — And in far-off Iceland, Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky are beginning to circle the chessboard for the kill. Bobby is confident, and the world waits for the answer: Is Boris good enough? Match play begins Tuesday with Spassky making the first move. ABC will cover the battle of intellects on Wide World of Sports next Saturday and each succeeding Saturday until one of the two grandmasters has been defeated.
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• The Times Streator, Illinois Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 4 — The Day Arrives — After a tremendous publicity build-up the world championship chess game is scheduled to begin tomorrow—if there is not some other excuse devised to stall it longer. One could understand the reams of publicity coverage, if the match were to be played in an American stadium ([POIGNANT OBSERVATION as to why the Soviets would want to move the match to the north pole and far away as possible from modern communications and satellite broadcasting technology…hoping the American people would “look away” from the Soviet as recipient of an ego-shredding defeat felt across the world]) with 75,000 watching, but it is being played at Reykjavik, Iceland which is about as far off the beaten path as possible to go ([and strategically selected by Moscow's propaganda think tank.])
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• The Leader-Post Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 23 — Fascinating Game of Chess — If you were to have asked a group of average citizens only a few days ago what was the most mind-bending global drama afoot that day, the answers might have ranged all the way from the French nuclear tests in the South Pacific, to the pollution crisis, to the bloody military tug-of-war still proceeding in battered Vietnam. Chances are nobody would have mentioned the game of chess. Yet today thousands of eyes are turned figuratively north to Reykjavik in chilly Iceland where an American and a Russian chess master face each other across the serried knights and rooks and pawns.
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• Democrat and Chronicle Rochester, New York Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 32 — Ted Williams, manager of Texas Rangers — Asked to comment on current events he said: “I hope that Fischer beats that (censored) Russian (in chess).” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

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July 11, 1972

Tuesday, July 11, 1972

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, November 15, 2019

Arriving at Laugersdalholl for the first game, Fischer is besieged by a barrage of well-wishers and media personnel. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/11/1972-07-11-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="Arriving at Laugersdalholl for the first game, Fischer is besieged by a barrage of well-wishers and media personnel." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/11/1972-07-11-002-600.jpg" width="600" height="389" /></a></div>

July 11, 1972. Bobby Concentrates. Bobby Fischer from Brooklyn, N.Y. studies the chessboard before making his move...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, October 11, 2019

July 11, 1972. Bobby Concentrates. Bobby Fischer from Brooklyn, N.Y. studies the chessboard before making his move against the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky, left, Tuesday in Laugardalsholl Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland. The action came during the first game of the 24-game match. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37029688/bobby_concentrates/ <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/12/1972-07-12-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=_blank><img alt="Bobby Concentrates." title="Bobby Fischer, Chess News Articles: 1972" border="0" src="https://vindication-of-bobby-fischer.co/images/1972/july/12/1972-07-12-003-600.jpg" width="600" height="468" /></a></div>

• New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 32 — Play May Be Televised — Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky match will be covered on television by W.N.E.T. Channel 13 and by the Teleprompter Corporation on Cable Channel 10, barring legal troubles. Both channels have been planning to re-create the play in Reykjavik, Iceland, by having a chess expert in a local studio make the moves on a large board, using move-by-move information from the wires of The Associated Press. However, the Chester Fox Corporation, the organization that has a contract for exclusive television rights to the chess match, has threatened the two stations with legal action ([the Soviet hand as predicted by Fischer, to bury coverage of the match in Iceland which didn't even possess satellite communications…this obstruction to free press was one of the issues raised by Bobby Fischer's lawyer during his “holdout”]) if they broadcast running, move-by-move reports of the match. Fox has also told The Associated Press that it would attempt to limit the number of moves the news service may put on its wire during a given time.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 32 — Chess Champions Poised for Match by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 10—Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, like two high-strung athletes—which in a way they are—tapered off their training today and are ready to face each other tomorrow for the chess championship of the world. The match is to begin at 5 P.M.—1 P.M. New York time—in Exhibition Hall. Spassky, the titleholder, will play white, and thus has the first move in the first game. The 35-year-old Soviet star, who has been world champion since 1969, played tennis this morning and then disappeared from public view. His 29-year-old American challenger swam last night and, as is his custom, slept through most of the day. Spassky was reported tense but confident. He is more volatile than Fischer, and it was said that he was undergoing a last-minute bout of nerves. Fischer was reported relaxed and happy. In a way the match resembles a prizefight. Each player has long been in training for the event, which carries a purse of $250,000, the winner to get five-eighths, and both are surrounded by trainers and advisers.
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• The Bismarck Tribune Bismarck, North Dakota Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 10 — Minnesotan Beat Fischer at Chess — Minneapolis, Minn. (AP) — A suburban Hopkins man who beat Bobby Fischer at chess says it was the first game Fischer lost “that he didn't cry.” Milton Otteson, a three-time Minnesota champion, recalled Monday that he played Fischer in 1957 in the Western Open in Milwaukee. Fischer was only 14 at the time.
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• Kenosha News Kenosha, Wisconsin Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 8 — Spools, Knobs and Spoons Accorded Royal Stature by Margo Hammond — While Bobby Fischer was deliberating about chairs, chess boards and chess sets before his $250,000 match today, he might have looked to Kenosha for one of the more colorful chess sets around. Carol Karps, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Karps, 3127 60th St., has made one out of wooden spools, door knobs and spoons. The black, white and red 32-piece set and board were recently completed by Carol after almost five years of gathering the needed materials. “I saw a magazine article which described how to make the chess set and so I began to look around for wooden spools,” said Carol, “I asked my mother who sews to start saving them for me.”
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• The Times-News Twin Falls, Idaho Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 5 — Another demand made before chess play starts — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The $250,000 world championship chess match between American Bobby Fischer and Russia's Boris Spassky was still go today, but Fischer made a last minute demand to stop televising the first of the 24-game series. “There will be no TV filming tonight, but we hope some other arrangements can be made so they can film later during the match,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation. Fischer said the television cameras, hidden behind cloth-covered scaffolding above the stage where the players will sit, would distract him.
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• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 2 — No Cameras At Matches — Reykjavik —(UPI)— The film and picture rights for the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess match have been bought by an American company and all other still and film photographs are banned from the hall. Chester Fox, Inc., of New York bought the rights from the Icelandic Chess Federation. ([Chester Fox, just another Soviet subversive in U.S. media helping the Soviet Empire realize it's goal to bury coverage of the match and preserve the illusions of Soviet invincibility and fascism. One of the chief complaints mentioned by Paul Marshall, Fischer's lawyer, during the holdout in New York was this bad move, bad faith on the part of the Icelandic Chess Federation, unconstitutional limitations on free press and coverage of the match.]) ★ Read More

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 2 — Moves Listed In World Chess Play — Reykjavik (Iceland) — (AP) — Here are the moves of defending champion Boris Spassky and challenger Bobby Fischer in the opening game of their 24-game match for the world chess title. ★

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Late for 1st Move — Reykjavik — American chess challenger Bobby Fischer showed up eight minutes late today for the start of the $250,000 world championship match with Russia's Boris Spassky. Spassky, the reigning world champion and playing white, had already made the first move — the queen pawn — before Fischer walked into the sports arena. Fischer walked up to Spassky and the two shook hands. Fischer studied the board for two minutes and moved his king knight to king bishop three. Spassky made his move promptly at the start of the clock at 5 p.m. and spectators watched the clock tick away until Fischer appeared.
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• The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 23 — Chess? It's Booming With Fischer by Ken Kobayashi — Bobby Fischer: The Great American Hope. He can bring to America a world championship that the Soviet Union has dominated for 35 years (and some say always will should he lose). And he can bring to chess what Ali brought to boxing, Palmer to golf, Namath to football: a hero image which would add flesh to that intellectual game and give it the popularity boost chess players have been long yearning for.
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• Spokane Daily Chronicle Spokane, Washington Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 16 — Who Gets It? — Moscow (AP) — What can Russian Boris Spassky do with the money he gets for playing Bobby Fischer in the world chess championship in Iceland? The winner will get something in the neighborhood of $180,000, including a cut on the sale of television and movie rights. The loser will take home around $120,000. The normal procedure for a Soviet citizen who comes into a wad of dollars is for him to exchange them for certificates that enable him to buy in special Soviet stores. He also can open a foreign bank account or import Western commodities.
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• The Fresno Bee The Republican Fresno, California Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer Arrives Late For World Chess Match Start — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The world championship of chess got under way today without Bobby Fischer, the American challenger. He showed up seven minutes after Russian titleholder Boris Spassky made the first move. It seemed another one of those psychological ploys that chess masters often use in an attempt to unsettle their opponent ([or being modest, that Fischer is unnerved by the distraction of ceremonial fanfare so typical at event openings, or maybe, he was just being fashionably late]).
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• Standard-Speaker Hazleton, Pennsylvania Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 1 — Finally, Chess Match On — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — American Bobby Fischer and Russian defending champion Boris Spassky finally squared off today for the world championship of chess—the riches and most publicized match of all time. Spassky had the first move. The match is 24 games and could last two months. Fischer needs 12½ points to win; Spassky 12, or a draw, to retain his title. A player gets one point for winning a game and a half-point for a draw.
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• Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 8 — He Objects to Journal's Support of Soviet “Anti-American” Political Invective and Smear Campaign — Sirs — I am happy to see that The Wisconsin State Journal has decided to back Boris Spassky in the up-coming chess match of the century. I was becoming worried that I might agree with something the Journal supported. It is evident that you fail to realize that chess is and always has been Bobby Fischer's (sic) profession, and that only he can judge how much this tournament is worth to him.
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• Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 8 — Chess Match Merits Front-Page Coverage —Sirs—Recently I have overheard criticism of The Wisconsin State Journal for giving front-page coverage to the Bobby Fischer affair. I am glad to see chess at last receiving the attention it deserves.
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• The Missoulian Missoula, Montana Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 13 — Let The Match Begin — American Bobby Fischer, left, and Russian Boris Spassky will square off in the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tuesday at 1 p.m. EDT. Fischer, the challenger, drew black, leaving Spassky, the present champion, with white and the first move (AP Photofax) ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 23 — Fischer Gets Experts' Nod by Ian Westergren — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Despite some last minute complaints about the playing conditions, Bobby Fischer was reported in a “Go, go, go” mood for the first game of his World Championship chess match with Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union today. “Fischer does not like the lighting, the board and the pieces, the locations of the television cameras and some other minor details,” said Fred Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation.
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• Florence Morning News Florence, South Carolina Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer's Demands Met; Chess Tourney Set Today — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer didn't like the site, the money or living with the Chinese. ([Neither did the Soviets. That huge $225,000 bid by Australia and Mexico's $175,000 sent shivers up the Soviet's Draconian authoritarian spines … “Chinese???”. It's a historical fact, Fischer married a woman of Asian ancestry, however, the Icelanders are feverishly racist, and forbid entry of anyone considered a darker shade of brown, for “fear of living with” them..]) He objected to the lighting and the playing table.([so did the Russians.]) He demanded a German sports car with an automatic transmission ([because the Soviet-spawned Icelanders think a mule-drawn cart, or perhaps a nice pair of walking shoes should suffice more suitably for the American, whilst their own champion demanded the extravagance of a four wheel drive]).
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• The Herald Statesman Yonkers, New York Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 8 — Fischer-Spassky Chess Duel Opens-Finally — American challenger Bobby Fischer and Russian defender Boris Spassky finally begin play today in the richest and most publicized world chess championship of all time — unless some new snag develops. Last minute adjustments were being made on the stage of Reykjavik Iceland's 2,500 seat sports hall. The playing table was shortened, the green-and-white marble chessboard constructed for the fourth time, and the overhead lighting changed. Spassky, 35, drew the white chessmen and with them the first move. Fischer, 29, of Brooklyn, had the black pieces. One game will be played each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
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• Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Parallels Other Sports, with 'Line', 'Backfield' — How grown men can agonize for hours over funny-looking pieces on a checkerboard is beyond many people. Due to the genius of Bobby Fischer, the U.S. champion, the world chess championships that start today in Iceland are drawing nationwide attention. In many ways, though chess parallels more popular games and sports
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• Valley Morning Star Harlingen, Texas Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 8 — What Is A Sport? by Bob Lapham — JUST WHAT are these things human beings go for that they refer to as sports? “I'll tell you one thing … if I don't smell no sweat, it aint no sport,” one erudite advocate of the Jock Jungle's more basic philosophies might answer. And maybe he's right. But the word “competition” is the backbone of “sport”, since that's what it is all about. Of course competition can run from one businessman trying to cut another out of the trade both seek, to wars between giant nations.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 33 — Fischer, Spassky Play Chess -- Finally — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Unpredictable American challenger Bobby Fischer turned up late for the opening of the world chess championship today, but made his first move in response to title-holder Boris Spassky's opening play. The 29-year-old American was not in the hall when Spassky formally opened the 24-game match by moving his white pawn to queen four. Icelandic officials at first said Fischer was staying away because they had not met his demands about moving back some seats in the audience. But Fischer walked on to the stage seven minutes after Spassky's opening move, and replied by moving his knight.
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• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 33 — Chess Move by Move — Reykjavik, Iceland — Here are the moves of defending champion Boris Spassky and challenger Bobby Fischer in the opening game of their 24-game match for the world chess title. The opening was curious blend of unusual Manhattan defense with ubiquitous Nimzo-Indian.
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• The Sedalia Democrat Sedalia, Missouri Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 1 — Late Again, Fischer Now Plays Chess — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — The World Chess Championship began today without Bobby Fischer, the American challenger. Champion Boris Spassky of Russia arrived exactly on time at 5 p.m., waited a minute, then calmly pushed his queen's pawn forward two spaces. Referee Lothar Schmid of West Germany pushed the button on the time clock and the match had begun. Fischer sometimes chooses to be late to tournaments and matches. It was not known where he was. Then seven minutes after Spassky began the game, Fischer appeared from offstage left.
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• Democrat and Chronicle Rochester, New York Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 17 — 'Best Games Ever' — While most people were dismayed and surprised by Bobby Fischer's on-again, off-again antics before his world championship ([I'm not, after reading the newspapers and learning of the Soviet antics, as Fischer's friend Ken Smith called it “old hands”. For instance Belgrade/Reykjavik organizers refusing to communicate with Fischer pre-match, in spite of Edmondson's pleas. Or tell of Belgrade's illegal 35K USD guarantee the USCF refused to shell up because as Edmondson confirmed it was ILLEGAL. The Soviet/European counterparts had no respect for contractual obligations. After Belgrade withdraws, Euwe makes an offer, worldwide, “first come, first serve” and Australia's and Mexico's whopping bids of 225K and 175K were snubbed by the Soviet via pressure on Euwe to renege on his word, because the Soviet had no respect for contracts, or, USSR picking the fiercely Anti-American, notoriously racist, Iceland to demoralize Fischer. Plots to maneuver a blackout on media coverage, and schemes to get Fischer disqualified and replace Fischer with USSR's Petrosian. Not surprised at all that Fischer retaliated]) match with Russian champ Boris Spassky in Iceland, a local chess expert was amazed things have gone so smoothly.
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• The Daily Reporter Greenfield, Indiana Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 6 — Sports Whirled: Bobby and Boris By Paul Nussbaum, Reporter Sports Editor — Today, hopefully, finally, the world's super chess match is going to begin with Russia's Boris Spassky and the United State's Bobby Fischer facing each other in Reykjavik, Iceland. Despite all the pre-competition excesses — Fischer's demands for more money and a different chair, Spassky's request that the postponed first match be forfeited to him — the scheduled 24 game work championship should be worth the wait and the expense (Fischer and Spassky are playing for $250,000). As every semi-literate person in the world must know by now, the contest shapes up to be the classic conflict between Communist and capitalist ([WRONG! One man, Robert J. Fischer vs. the Soviet Empire]), experienced champ and one-time boy wonder.
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• The Vincennes Sun-Commercial Vincennes, Indiana Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 4 — Youth Revolt? — The mention of chess invokes visions of bearded patriarchs bending over checkered boards in gilded drawing rooms. The high rank for chess players of “grand master” status has some indication of old age. Yet the focus of the chess world today is on the world championship match between Bobby Fischer, age 28, and the defending champion Boris Spassky, age 35, while the British financier and chess wizard who bankrolled the match out of its early controversy is Jim Slater, age 43. Which recalls that 50 years ago the Vicennes YMCA was sponsoring annual chess tournaments for teen-age players. Current interest in the Fischer-Spassky affair likely will bring a renewal of interest in the ancient game. “Pawn to Queen's Four” may come to have meaning to more and more Americans as the months pass.
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• The Index-Journal Greenwood, South Carolina Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 9 — South Carolina Chess Champion Thinks Fischer Should Beat Spassky by Jim Cornwell — American interest in chess is growing, largely through the sparks generated by the Fischer-Spassky match slated to begin in Iceland. Chess expert Otto Estenger of Greenwood speaks with some knowledge of the game as South Carolina's champion. Estenger believes that Fischer should win. According to Estenger, chess is a game requiring great concentration for long hours at a time. “Fischer is younger and knows more moves,” he reasons. “He's in better condition and should win.” Estenger won't venture to guess how the game would begin. The standard move often used by Spassky would be pawn to Queen's bishop 4. However, Fischer, who has been studying Spassky's moves, should be alert enough to counter.
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• The Holland Evening Sentinel Holland, Michigan Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Match Uses Chairs From Zeeland —Zeeland — Thanks to a Zeeland firm, the international chess match in Iceland will continue with matched chairs. Herman Miller Inc. is supplying a matching conference chair for use by the Russian chess player, Boris Spassky. The chair is to be flown from New York by Icelandic airlines to Iceland with arrival scheduled at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Iceland time.
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• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 14 — The Right Move at Reykjavik — By the time Russian Chess Champion Boris Spassky makes the first move today, all the tempestuous antics leading to his 24-game match with Bobby Fischer, the American challenger, will have been forgotten. The two men will go on, one hopes, in silence. For that is the way good chess was meant to be played.
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• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Tuesday, July 11, 1972 — 'Dynamic Duo From Daytona' Clear Palm Beach Chess Boards by Michael Castengera — Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky look out. There are other chess players on the way to the top. Two Daytona Beach chess players, calling themselves the 'Dynamic Duo from Daytona' recently won first and second place in the Florida experts tournament in Palm Beach [...] The two anticipate a second and first scoring again, but almost as important for them is the coming chess competition between Bobby Fischer, of the United States, and Boris Spassky of the U.S.S.R. Read More

• Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 29 — Let's Hear It For Fischer! — Today we present our semi-annual awards for exceptional performances in the field of athletic endeavor, or imagination in the art of making a buck. United States chess master Bobby Fischer walked off with our two most prestigious citations. First, Bobby gets the P.T. Barnum Tub-Thumping Trophy for superb advance work in publicizing his world championship match against Boris Spassky. ([He didn't need to. The Soviets were so busy putting their worldwide network of saboteurs into motion unleashing vitriolic Pro-Soviet attacks, it was all the “publicity” Fischer could handle.])
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• Orlando Evening Star Orlando, Florida Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 32 — How Did Iceland Get The Match? by Melvin Durslag — Los Angeles — The first question to be asked is how Iceland put the gaff on the World Chess Championship. ([Easy answer: Soviet strong-arm tactics! and their worldwide network of saboteurs are putting the “hush” on the fact it has one of the longest histories in the world of being staunchly Pro-Soviet, Anti-American, and Racism that would make Hitler blush with pride. Not a word mentioned in American papers that Iceland's professional class sympathized with the Nazi regime during the WWII era.]) Only about a fourth of the country is habitable, and the population runs less than a quarter-of-a-million. When Icelandic committee men made their presentation before the chess league, did they promise to black out Reykjavik? “Will boat-rockers bring suit, demanding the match be shown locally on TV?” they doubtless were asked. “WE CAN ASSURE you the blackout will be enforced,” they answered. “And the biggest paper in town, the Daily Dagbladet-Thingevellum, has promised not to run a story asking who needs the title chess match in Reykjavik.”
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White's Move - Drawing Shows Bobby Fischer, Right, and Boris Spassky 11 Jul 1972, Tue Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) Newspapers.com

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 2 — Spassky's Taxable Winnings — Q — If the Russian Spassky wins the chess championship of the world when he plays against the American Fischer, how much of the prize money will he be allowed to keep? — M.A. Belmont. A — Boris Spassky goes into the match as world champion. If he keeps the title, he will be a rich Russian. The winner's share of the prize is $100,000. If Spassky wins, he will pay an income tax of $1300 — 13 percent. If Fischer wins he is liable for an income tax of $53,000 — roughly 53 percent. Read More

• The Daily Capital News Jefferson City, Missouri Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 4 — Breathless Chess Match — The on-again, off-again, on again international chess match has left us a little breathless awaiting its ultimate outcome. Throughout the preliminary ballyhoo, the ([protest and boycotting]) of American challenger ([over multiple Soviet offenses, ploys and manipulative off-the-board tactics]), Bobby Fischer, have been making headlines on an almost daily basis.
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• The Argus Moline, Illinois Tuesday, July 11, 1972 - Page 18 — Popularity of Tennis — The popularity of the sport hasn't been damaged in recent weeks by complimentary remarks from stars in other fields. Jack Nicklaus, considered the world's premiere golfer, recently told a writer that when he gets up-tight, he plays tennis to relax. “I wouldn't play golf if I didn't get paid,” he said, “but I'd play tennis.” Chess master Bobby Fischer, interviewed the other day in Reykjavik, Iceland, site of the marathon world championship chess tournament against Russian world champion Boris Spassky, lamented that the small town had only two tennis courts. Where, he wondered, was he going to unwind from the rigors of the match? The tennis boom is most accurately reflected locally by the sales of tennis equipment, and not just rackets and balls. “My sales are up considerably,” said Roy Turner of Rock Island Sport Shop, “particularly in the area of clothes. Until the past couple of years nobody was interested in buying tennis shorts or shirts…or even hats. “A player figured all he or she needed was a racket, a can of balls and tennis shoes. But now the whole line of tennis equipment is going big.” Read More

• Headliners, Television Listings and Combined Wire Services — ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

July 12, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 48 — A Fischer-Spassky Chair by Rita Reif — A mate to Bobby Fischer's chess chair was flown to Iceland last night so that Boris Spassky could, if he wanted, have the same swivel-based, leather-covered Charles Eames design that the American chess challenger played in during yesterday's opening game for the world championship. The first chair was flown to Reykjavik on Friday after Col. Edmond Edmundson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation, an aide, and representatives of Icelandic Airlines spent several busy hours tracking down the chair at Mr. Fischer's request and getting it to the airport. Yesterday Colonel Edmundson recalled how satisfied the American chess challenger had been last October with the same Eames design when he defeated Tigran Petrosian in the elimination tournament in Buenos Aires.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 26 — TV Here Brings New Dimension To Chess Contest and Kibitzing — The switchboard at educational television station WNET, Channel 13, was jammed yesterday by chess enthusiasts intent on kibitzing the studio-recreated play of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer game. “We stopped counting the calls when they passed the 300 mark,” a station spokesman said. “We were inundated.” WNET, using the state educational network studio in Albany, had a camera trained on a large chess board. Using play-by-play moves transmitted by wire by the World Chess Network and The Associated Press from Reykjavik, Iceland, Shelby Lyman, a chess master, moved the pieces.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 1,26 — Edge Is Given to Spassky In Adjourned First Game by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 11—The first game of the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky match for the world chess championship was adjourned tonight after 40 moves. Although the consensus of experts gave the Soviet champion the edge, it was felt that his American challenger still had good chances for a draw. The game is to resume at 5 P.M. tomorrow—1 P.M. New York time. The game started quietly enough. Spassky opened, as many had expected, with P-Q4, and Fischer adopted a Nimzo-Indian defense, and for a while it seemed as though both players were heading toward a routine draw. Then, on the 29th move, the game exploded. Spassky offered a pawn that, in the opinion of the experts, could not be taken. It was what is known as a “poisoned pawn,” for if Fischer took it his bishop would probably be trapped.
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• The Bismarck Tribune Bismarck, North Dakota Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Additional Chess Prize Money Placed in Check — London (AP) — British financier James Slater has been stalled in his efforts to get the $120,000 prize money he put up for the world chess championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in Iceland. Under Britain's foreign exchange control regulations, he cannot get the money out of the country until the Bank of England says so.
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• The Times-News Twin Falls, Idaho Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 14 — American firm buys film rights —Reykjavik (UPI) — The film and picture rights for the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer world chess match have been bought by an American company and all other still and film photographers are banned from the hall. Chester Fox Inc., of New York bought the right from the Icelandic Chess Federation for an undisclosed sum of money. The action drew strong criticism from the Icelandic press several weeks ago and a special deal was worked out enabling Iceland's five daily newspapers to buy pictures from Chester Fox Inc.
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• The Oshkosh Northwestern Oshkosh, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 13 — Fischer's Brashness Admired —by Milton Richman, New York (UPI) — “Do you play chess?” “No,” said Wes Parker, first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and owner of one of baseball's more active minds, “but I'm interested in the game.” “You mean the world championship going on in Iceland now?” “Yes, I'm following it.” “Because of this guy Fischer?” “He's the main reason, I suppose.” “How do you feel about him, do you like him or not?” “I like him.” “Why?” Wes Parker mulled it over awhile. “I like him because he has —s.” said Parker, using a word which is perfectly okay in a baseball clubhouse but not in a family newspaper, a word meaning not only brass but much more, and one which describes Bobby Fischer, the pensive, seemingly strange chess genius from Brooklyn perhaps better than any other word you can think of.
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• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Spassky Repels Fischer Assault in 1st Chess Game by Stephens Broening — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Bobby Fischer made his opening assault on the Soviet chess fortress Tuesday night, but world champion Boris Spassky repelled it and left the American with a tough fight for a draw when their first game was adjourned. The first game of history's richest world chess title match was called after 40 moves and 3 hours and 34 minutes of play. It will resume Wednesday at noon CDT, or 5 p.m. Reykjavik time. When play was called off for the night, there was little let on the board; a king and five pawns for Fischer; a king, three pawns and a bishop for Spassky. U.S. grandmaster Robert Byrne said: “Fischer is going to have trouble making a draw. I don't see how Spassky can lose.” Svetozar Gligoric the Yugoslav grandmaster, commented: “It is doubtful whether black can save a draw.” Fischer is playing the black pieces and Spassky the white, which means the Russian had the first move.
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Boris Spassky (left) and Bobby Fischer 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Moves in First Spassky-Fischer Chess Match — Boris Spassky (left) and Bobby Fischer are shown at chess table in Reykjavik, Iceland, during the first game of their battle for the world chess title. The game was adjourned after 40 moves and will resume at noon today. (AP Wirephoto by cable from Reykjavik.) Here are the moves of defending champion Boris Spassky and challenger Bobby Fischer in the opening game of their 24-game match for the world chess title. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• Lansing State Journal Lansing, Michigan Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 14 — Spassky Rated Edge: Fischer's Risky Move Changed Chess Picture by Stephens Broening —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Defending champion Boris Spassky was favored by the experts to beat American challenger Bobby Fischer in the opening game of the world chess match when play resumes this afternoon. The opener of the richest chess competition in history adjourned Tuesday night after 4 hours and 34 minutes of play and 40 moves by each player.
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• The Morning Record Meriden, Connecticut Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 3 — Local Chess: Quiet But Persistent by Gertrude Sternberg — Trying to find out how much real concern and botheration the Spassky-Fischer chess matches, which may or may not be about to begin …

• The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 12 — Russian Spassky Favored in First Match — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Caught in a hopelessly drawn game, American challenger Bobby Fischer took a chance to bring some life into his first world chess championship game. In that moment, Boris Spassky proved why he is the world champion in the noblest of games. He immediately pounced on Fischer's bishop—left trapped after capturing one of the Russian's pawns—and the game turned distinctly in Spassky's favor. Spassky asked for adjournment after 40 moves and 4½ hours play.
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• The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Wednesday, July 12, 1972 Page 8 — Quiet In Russia — Moscow (AP)—Moscow's Central Chess Club, usually buzzing with kibitzers for big chess matches, was quiet Thursday night as the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky began defense of his world title against America's Bobby Fischer. No arrangements had been made to get a move-by-move report on the match in far-off Reykjavik, Iceland. Soviet grandmasters, masters and millions of ordinary chess fans were waiting until today for an account of the play.
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• The Sacramento Bee Sacramento, California Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 13 — Fischer Concedes: Spassky Takes First Game In Title Series — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — World champion Boris Spassky won the first game Wednesday in his world title chess series against American Bobby Fischer. Fischer, in a hopeless position, resigned. He stood up, folded his score sheet and walked out of the Reykjavik sports palace. The decision confirmed the judgment of the experts who considered Fischer was in a difficult position when the game was adjourned after 40 moves Tuesday night. The victory gave Spassky a 1-0 lead in the 24-game match and an important psychological advantage. Fischer has never beaten Spassky. His winless streak against the Russian now stands at six games. With Bobby Fischer struggling to escape with a draw, Spassky resumed play Wednesday night in their adjourned first game, further reducing Fischer's forces with a pawn exchange. The opening game of the world championship was adjourned Tuesday night after 40 moves.
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• The Bismarck Tribune Bismarck, North Dakota Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 Spassky Wins Opener: Fischer Pulls Chess Blunder — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — World champion Boris Spassky won the first game Wednesday in his world title chess series against American Bobby Fischer. Fischer, in a hopeless position, resigned. He stood up, folded his score sheet and walked out of the Reykjavik sports palace. The decision confirmed the judgment of the experts who considered Fischer was in a difficult position when the game was adjourned after 40 moves Tuesday night. The victory gave Spassky a 1-0 lead in the 24-game match and an important psychological advantage. Fischer never has been Spassky. His winless streak against the Russian now stands at six games. The opening game of the world championship was adjourned Tuesday night after 40 moves.
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Spassky (left) and Fischer Shake Hands 12 Jul 1972, Wed Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon) Newspapers.com

• Messenger-Inquirer Owensboro, Kentucky Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 10 — A Hand Shake Between Boris Spassky (left) and Bobby Fischer came seven minutes after Spassky made the first move to open the World Chess Championships in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tuesday. Fischer, arrived late for the match due to being held up in traffic because the Icelandic Chess Federation was failing to deliver on its promise of offering official police protection. This is the SECOND of such reports of Icelandic police failure, which have made its way to western newspapers. The first incident occurred the night of the official opening and drawing of colors. Fischer then, arrived, reportedly with his suit rumpled from being accosted by a mob of fans, waiting for his arrival and police failed to protect him. (AP Wirephoto)
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His Move 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) Newspapers.com

• Press and Sun-Bulletin Binghamton, New York Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 12 — Immersed — Concentrating, Brooklyn's Bobby Fischer studies the chessboard Tuesday while Soviet opponent Boris Spassky, left, awaits his move. The first game of 24 in the world chess title match, was continued this afternoon. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• The Province Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — It's Spassky's Move — Here are the moves of Spassky and Fischer in the opening game of their 24-game match, Spassky-white, Fischer-black. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 65 — Spassky, Fischer Adjourn Chess Match to Today —Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)— World champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union capitalized on an error by U.S. Grand Master Bobby Fischer and gave him only hope for a draw Tuesday night when the opening game of the world championship chess match was adjourned after 4½ hours of play. The adjournment until 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) today came after 40 moves off the first game of the 24-game match and gave Spassky, 35, who was playing white, a slight advantage with a bishop and three pawns. Fischer, 29, had five pawns on the board. Fischer appeared calm when he arrived eight minutes after the start of the $250,000 match and was welcomed by the capacity crowd of 3,000 with a 30-second ovation. But as the game progressed, Fischer appeared angry with himself.
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• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 23 — He's Only A Pawn But He Takes Up Fischer's Lead by Jeremy Heymsfeld — “So you want to learn about chess. “What do you know about it?” “Nothing.” “Oh.” Leroy Dubeck, associate professor of physics at Temple University, president of the U.S. Chess Federation and 36th-ranked player in this country, sighed. He had hoped to eat a quiet lunch at his Cherry Hill home contemplating the world championship which finally opened yesterday in Reykjavik, Iceland. “You know, I learned this game when I was 10, maybe 11,” he said staring at the 32-year-old novice. “But I guess you could pick it up.”
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• The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach, Florida Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 23 — ‘I Saw Greatness in Him’. Fischer's Former Teacher Rooting for Pupil. By Bill Schnitt, Post Staff Writer — Carmine D. Nigro, a retiree living in West Palm Beach, predicts his former chess pupil Bobby Fischer will wrest the world chess championship from Russian Boris Spassky. “Bobby's a genius — there's no question about it,” says Nigro. “He's the greatest player that ever lived.” Nigro predicts Fischer will rout Spassky 12½ points to 9½ points. “Bobby has worked hard at it, and I hope he wins. I wish him the best,” says Nigro, a resident of Century Village. Fischer's 97-page book entitled “Bobby Fischer's Games of Chess” is dedicated “To my chess teacher, Carmine Nigro.”
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• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 4 — Russian Gets Chess Jump on American — (UPI) Reykjavik, Iceland — World champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union capitalized on an error by U.S. grand master Bobby Fischer and gave only hope for a draw tonight when the opening game of the world championship chess match was adjourned after 4½ hours of play. The adjournment until this afternoon came after 40 moves of the first game of the 24-game match and gave Spassky, 35, who was playing white, a slight advantage with a bishop and three pawns. Fischer, 29, had five pawns on the board.
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• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Spassky, Fischer Adjourn Championship Chess Match: Expert says Spassky Has Better Position by Isaac Kashdan — Los Angeles (AP) — The Soviet titleholder, Boris Spassky, has good prospects for a win in the first game of his world championship chess match with Bobby Fischer. After 40 moves and five hours of play, Mr. Spassky is a bishop ahead. The American challenger has five pawns to Mr. Spassky's three and his king is better placed. This may prove to be sufficient compensation.
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• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 26 — Money-Grubber or No, Fischer Is a Chess Genius by J.A. Livingston, Inquirer Economics Columnist — “Product of a money-grubbing society.” That's how a Soviet editor characterized Bobby Fischer for his failure to appear on time for his chess match with Boris Spassky. Inference: ([Soviet-Bolshevism]) “Communism(TM)” is beautiful, capitalism is degrading— it destroys human beings. But does it? True, Bobby Fischer is a product of American society, as are Richard M. Nixon, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, James A. Michener, Gloria Steinem, Martha Mitchell, George McGovern, James Baldwin, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Portnoy's Complaint. But Bobby, like Portnoy, is not an American prototype. He's an adolescent at 29. Perhaps that's why he's usually referred to as Bobby.
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• Newsday (Nassau Edition) Hempstead, New York Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 85 — An Analysis — Since Fischer is known for his predilection for the Grunfeld Defense, it was a little surprising that he drifted into the Nimzo-Indian opening. Maybe he feared use of the Grunfeld again after his loss to the world champion at the Siegen Olympiad in Germany in 1970. At first the experiment appeared rewarding at least as far as the draw was concerned. Early exchange of the queens was followed first by the exchange of minor and then by the exchange of major pieces, so that very rapidly the game came down to a level bishop-and-pawn ending. Surely this was going to be a draw, we all thought. Suddenly, there came a most astonishing twist to the game. Against all expectations, Fischer captured a rook pawn with his bishop and doomed the bishop to destruction. Could the grandmaster have overlooked something or had he seen deeper than the rest of us?
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• Newsday (Nassau Edition) Hempstead, New York Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 85 — First Game: It Looks Like Spassky's —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—Bobby Fischer made his opening assault on the Soviet chess fortress last night, but world champion Boris Spassky repelled it and held the only chance of victory after 3½ hours' play when the first match was adjourned until today. Fischer, who arrived eight minutes after the start of the game, could only hope to settle for a draw after losing his last bishop for two pawns. Spassky still had a bishop and three pawns to Fischer's five pawns when the two adjourned after 40 moves.
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View After Adjournment in First Chess Clash 12 Jul 1972, Wed Newsday (Nassau Edition) (Hempstead, New York) Newspapers.com

• Newsday (Nassau Edition) Hempstead, New York Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 85 — Board at Adjournment in First Chess Clash — When the players adjourned after 40 moves each, this was the view from Fischer's side; A king and five pawns (black) against Spassky's king, three pawns and a bishop (white). UPI Photo.

• Delaware County Daily Times Chester, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Delco Expert Says Fischer in Trouble — “I would like to see Bobby Fischer win the match, but he's starting at a significant disadvantage,” said Lawrence J. Schramm Jr., one of Delaware County's foremost chess fans…

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 26 — Spassky Wins Opener With Poisoned Pawn — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 12 — World champion Boris Spassky won the first game in his world title chess series against American Bobby Fischer. Fischer, in a hopeless position, resigned. He stood up, folded his score sheet and walked out of the Reykjavik sports palace. The victory gave Spassky a 1-to-0 lead in the match and an important psychological advantage. Fischer has never beaten Spassky. His winless streak against the Russian now stands at six games. Fischer's resignation came after he had walked out once, apparently in objection to move cameras in the back of the hall. He stormed offstage and did not return for 30 minutes. Then a while later, Fischer indicated he had given up by reaching over and stopping the clock. Park bench players usually do it by turning their king on its side.
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• Lancaster New Era Lancaster, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 46 — Spassky's Next Move Sealed in Envelope — Boris Spassky, left, hands sealed envelope containing his next play to Lothar Schmid, chess referee, at end of Tuesday's session, for continuation of the chess game today as Bobby Fischer waits. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• The Post-Crescent Appleton, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Little Excitement in First Match by Isaac Kashdan — Los Angeles (AP)—Soviet titleholder Boris Spassky had good prospects for a win when the first game of the world championship chess match between the Russian and Bobby Fischer of the United States was adjourned Tuesday. Actually, until near the end, it was one of the dullest championship contests on record. It was no surprise when Spassky, who had the white pieces and made the first move, started with advance of his queen pawn. After 40 moves and five hours of play, Spassky was a bishop ahead. The U.S. challenger had five pawns to Spassky's three and his king was better placed. This may prove to be sufficient compensation. When the game was adjourned, Spassky wrote down his 41sty move and sealed it in an envelope which he gave to the match referee, in accordance with regulations.
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• Lancaster New Era Lancaster, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 46 — Spassky Reduces Fischer's Forces —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — With Bobby Fischer struggling to escape with a draw, Boris Spassky resumed play here today in their adjourned first game, further reducing Fischer's forces with a pawn exchange. The opening game of the world championship was adjourned Tuesday night after 40 moves. Fischer and the defending champion from Russia left the table with the American in a difficult position.
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Opening Move, and Bobby's Missing Due to Failure of Icelandic Police to Clear Passage Thru Traffic 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Lexington Herald (Lexington, Kentucky) Newspapers.com

• The Lexington Herald Lexington, Kentucky Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 14 — Opening Move, and Bobby's Missing Due to Failure of Icelandic Police to Clear Passage Thru Traffic — Boris Spassky, defending world chess champion from Russia, makes his opening move Tuesday in this year's championship match with challenger Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland. Fischer wasn't around to see it, arriving seven minutes later but in plenty of time to make his first move. (AP Wirephoto). ★ / ★ Read More

• The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Match Is Adjourned With Spassky In The Lead — Reykjavik, Iceland — The first game of the world chess championship adjourned Tuesday night with defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union holding a formidable lead over challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States. After 4½ hours and 40 moves, Spassky held the only chance for victory in the first of the 24 games. The most Fischer can reasonably hope for is a draw when the game is completed today at 1 p.m. EDT.
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• The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 7 — Checking on the Grandmasters — Spokane Chess Club champion Peter Torkar, left, and Richard Totusek play out the move of the Fischer-Spassky world championship chess match. The board shows the adjourned position of Tuesday. Game will be concluded today in Iceland. Read More

• Livingston County Daily Press and Argus Howell, Michigan Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 23 — Double Dribble — In chess, Bobby Fischer of the U.S.A. and Boris Spassky of Russia are finally beginning their world championship match. This most intellectual of games demands both physical and mental conditioning. The two geniuses will be playing the best of a 24 game series. On Sunday afternoon, ABC plans to televise the highlights of the first three games. We will be watching. It should quite a change from the Miami Beach circus scene which has dominated TV this week. Read More

• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — 1st Game to Spassky -- Fischer Protests TV — Reykjavik — (UPI) — World chess champion Boris Spassky of Russia defeated Bobby Fischer in the first game of their $250,000 championship match today, putting the unpredictable American one point behind in what could be a 24-game series. Fischer, who had stopped play in the game for 35 minutes to protest the presence of two closed circuit television cameras high above the contest stage, conceded to the Russian on the 56th move. He gave up when he saw he could not prevent Spassky moving his only surviving pawn to Fischer's side of the board, thus turning it into a queen, the most powerful piece in game. Fischer stood up, made a helpless gesture to the audience and walked off. The second game was scheduled for tomorrow.
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• Evening Standard London, Greater London, England Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 13 — Spassky's Next Move—Sealed Up by Leonard Barden — BORIS SPASSKY slept peacefully in Reykjavik last night while his seconds Ewfim Geller and Ivo Ney analysed the unfinished end game in the world chess match. Seconds in international chess are on the payroll just so that a player can rest and be shown the winning or drawing moves before the game is resumed. Squads of masters in Moscow's Central Chess Club are also analysing the position and working out ways to beat Bobby Fischer. Fischer analyses on his own or with his second, Grand Master William Lombardy. Can Spassky win? It all depends whether his king and bishop can stop and catch the black pawns on the king's side. Spassky put his 41st move into a sealed envelope ready for the resumption at 5 p.m. this afternoon.
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• Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Walks Off Stage In 2nd Chess Meeting — Reykjavik, Iceland —(UPI)—Unpredictable American chess challenger Bobby Fischer made three swift moves in the second round of his first game with world champion Boris Spassky today, then stalked off the stage. There was no immediate indication where Fischer went or if he would return. The two players arrived moments before the scheduled 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) starting time and played quickly. SPASSKY and Fischer traded pawns and then each player made two more moves before Fischer arose from his special leather and metal swivel chair, whispered something to the arbiter and stalked off the stage.
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• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 28 — Fischer Can Only Get A Draw: Spassky first game victory possible by Harry Golombek, Special to The Windsor Star —Reykjavik—The first game in the World Chess Championship match between champion Boris Spassky and challenger Bobby Fischer was adjourned Tuesday in a position which holds out unclear winning possibilities for the champion, but only drawing chances for Fischer. The game is scheduled to be resumed today at 1 p.m. EDT, when Spassky's 41st move, sealed into an envelope at adjournment, will be revealed.
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Larger Than Life 12 Jul 1972, Wed Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) Newspapers.com

• Longview Daily News Longview, Washington Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 13 — Larger Than Life — World champion Boris Spassky and challenger Bobby Fischer are dwarfed by the giant screen above them as they meet in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tuesday for the world's chess title. The board shows the moves as they are made and the clocks record the time left for each player. (AP Wirephoto). ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 30 — Running at a Draw by Jack Dulmage, Sports Editor — WELL, THEY ARE OFF and running at Reykjavik. And Boris Spassky is still ahead. Spassky was ahead before they started the clocks because he requires only 24 draws to keep his world chess championship while Bob Fischer must do better if he is to take the title from him. This could be a long, drawn-out affair involving a lot of draws. Russian players, working behind an edge, are known to play for drawn positions. Spassky may be no different. Fischer has a history of win-at-all-costs play which sometimes has resulted in poorer tournament finishes than he might otherwise have readily achieved. But, it has also resulted in brilliance which has sometimes won tournaments and staggered the world's leading players.
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• The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 4 — Cartoon — The Democrats Could Use Bobby Fischer

• Battle Creek Enquirer Battle Creek, Michigan Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 9 — Michigan Chairs Offering Comfortable Chess Tourney — Zeeland (AP) — Thanks to a pair of unusual Michigan chairs, Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky will have a comfortable world's championship chess match. The chess champions began their match in Iceland Tuesday seated in identical Herman Miller chairs. Fischer had ordered a metal and black leather chair flown in from New York Sunday. In the interests of fair play, the company ordered an identical one flown from New York last night for Spassky.
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Bobby Fischer Arrives 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Item (Sumter, South Carolina) Newspapers.com

• The Sumter Daily Item Sumter, South Carolina Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 3 — Bobby Fischer Arrives At Last — Is this after police allowed Fischer's entourage to become delayed by heavy traffic with no escort... as is customarily afforded to any celebrities.

Chess Cartoon 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii) Newspapers.com

• The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 44 — Chess Cartoon — Fails to elaborate on the finicky, overbearing demands and complaints of European organizers who refused for months to sort out details before match. Belgrade's illegal demand of 35K USD “guarantee” refused by USCF! Australia's legal $225K bid snubbed by Russia, threatening they ‘would not play’. USSR selecting Anti-American, Racist Iceland who restricted entry of blacks and news coverage. Schemes to disqualify Fischer and replace with Petrosian, etc. Read More

Deep In Thought 12 Jul 1972, Wed The Independent-Record (Helena, Montana) Newspapers.com

• The Independent-Record Helena, Montana Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 20 — Deep In Thought — Bobby Fischer, hands to his face and the side of his head, was deep in thought during the opening session of the world chess championship. (Photofax) ★ / ★ / ★

• The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 12 — Letters To The Editor: 'Stifle That Yawn' — In your editorial of Saturday, July 8 — The chess match (yawn) is set — you wondered if chess enthusiasts care about the world championship chess match between Spassky and Fischer. As a director in one of the many mushrooming chess clubs in the area I can assure you that the chess community is looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime match with great excitement. You said that chess is genteel as ladies' tennis. Chess can also be as explosive as boxing, as emotional as basketball, as fierce as football, as boring as baseball or fast as hockey! Now about Bobby Fischer — let's not overlook his achievements:
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• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 321 — Boris Grasps Edge; Bobby Calls Recess by Robert Byrne — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 11—Bobby Fischer is in trouble. The brilliant 29-year-old challenger for Boris Spassky's world chess crown adjourned tonight the first game of the 24-game title match with the Russian holding the advantage of a bishop for two pawns. A stiff uphill battle faces Fischer when the game is resumed tomorrow at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. New York time) in the Laugardalshoell, Reykjavik's sports exhibition palace. The first game of history's richest world chess title match was called after 40 moves and 3 hours and 34 minutes of play.
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• Daily News New York, New York Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 288 — Few Men Left, Bobby and Boris Adjourn Game —Reykjavik, Iceland, July 11 (UPI)—After 4½ hours of play, the first game of the 24-game chess match between world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and Bobby Fischer was adjourned. Forty moves were made before adjournment. Rules call for the game to be completed tomorrow. (At the time of adjournment, Fischer's position indicated he would have to fight for a draw, the Associated Press reported.) At adjournment, Spassky had a bishop and three pawns, and Fischer had five pawns. Each player, of course, still had his king. Fischer arrived eight minutes late for the start, ([due to delays in traffic, which could have been prevented had the promise to offer police protection, including escort in traffic been kept]) well under the hour allowed under the rules, and Spassky had already made his first move.
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• Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 12 — Fischer Was Making Psychological Move — Sirs—It is certainly the prerogative of The Wisconsin State Journal to support whomever it wishes in the world championship chess matches, and I won't say a thing about that. But the editorial in the July 6 edition shows that the newspaper has at least one editorial writer who knows very little about championship chess matches. Chess is very much a war of nerves. Anything one player can do to shake the confidence of the other or put him at a psychological disadvantage is generally done. In a short match, say seven games, one played each day, if one player happens to win the first two games he has a very good chance of winning the entire match whether he is actually that good a player or not. Bobby Fischer summed it up well one time when he said “I like to make them squirm.” ([“I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.” — Robert Fischer. Bobby accomplished that with his chess moves, not psychological tricks and mind games which the Soviets were quite fond of using to gain unfair leverage over competitors.])
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 20 — Cautious Start In Iceland by Leonard Barden —The first game of the world chess championship match in Iceland was ambling towards a peaceful draw last night although, Fischer may have to struggle. The game was adjourned after 40 moves and five hours' play. Fischer gambled in a drawn position by sacrificing a bishop for two pawns. His liking for pawn captures is notorious—he is the top specialist in an opening variation called the “Poisoned Pawn”
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• The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 8 — 'Fischer Will Win Where It Counts' — To the Editor: Regarding the recent articles on the Fischer-Spassky protocol fiasco in Reykjavik: Certainly the personality game the Icelanders (and others) expect from the two contenders will hardly affect the outcome for the world chess title. Spassky can arrive on time for the ceremonial puppet shows, swap trinkets with the local heads-that-be, and further his public image (and Russia's) with smiles of mock sincerity. And it's obvious that Fischer's concern as an unofficial agent of U.S. diplomacy—well, Bobby could give a barf.
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• The Guardian London, Greater London, England Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer's Opening Gambit — Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer finally made it to the world championship chessboard tonight and there was an almost palpable sense of relief throughout the auditorium at the sports stadium here that chess had at last taken over from the ballyhoo. Yet Fischer was late ([due to characteristic failure of the promised police protection “traffic escort” which resulted in Fischer being seven minutes late to the match]). Promptly at 5 p.m. Spassky walked on to the stage accompanied by the West German referee, Herr Lothar Schmid, who had raced back to Iceland from his son's car crash in West Germany.
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• Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz, California Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 2 — Spassky Wins Opener —Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—World champion Boris Spassky won the first game Wednesday in his world title chess series against American Bobby Fischer. Fischer, in a hopeless position, resigned. He stood up, folded his score sheet and walked out of the Reykjavik sports palace. The decision confirmed the judgment of the experts who considered Fischer was in a difficult position when the game was adjourned after 40 moves Tuesday night.
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• Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 56 — Letters To The Editor: Bobby's Antics — Editor the Star: We were amused to read your recent editorial deploring the antics of Mr. Robert Fischer on the eve of his epic battle for the world chess championship. Perhaps to an outsider, Bobby's conduct appears inexcusably coarse and unsportsmanlike, but it is this same high-handed arrogance which has catapulted him to within a hairsbreadth of breaking the 25-year long Russian stranglehold on world chess. During his 16-year “checkered” career, Bobby has not only bested an impressive array of international grandmasters in dazzling over-the-board play, but as a young boy, he weathered the sordid smoke-filled atmosphere of all-night chess emporia, withstood physical brutality at the hands of “sore-losers” seeking revenge, and yet mustered the courage to expose corrupt and unfair practices commonplace at chess competitions here and abroad. The chess world's “enfant terrible” has accomplished singlehanded what all others failed to do - namely, to challenge and excel against the Soviet conglomerate at their own national pastime.
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• The Columbus Telegram Columbus, Nebraska Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 7 — Bobby versus Boris — It's hard to make front-page news out of brain waves, but precisely that trick appears to have been accomplished by an American and a Russian. Their names are Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. Envision, if you will, two men seated. Between them is a small square board. On the board are figurines, some of which are alike and some of which are different. From time to time each of the two men reaches over and moves one of the figurines. Each move provides occasion for a period of solemn thought. Brain waves, nothing but brain waves.
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• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 3 — It's Your Move — Play along as Bobby Fischer challenges Boris Spassky for the world chess championship. Make your moves with this folding magnetic chess set while you watch the matches recreated on Channel 13. The board-box measures 9½x9½” open, 9½x4¾” closed and holds all 32 pieces neatly inside. The kings are a full 2” tall. Just one from our chess collection… Read More

• The Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 6 — Bobby Fischer Defended — To The Editor: If Bobby Fischer were subsidized by our government, as Boris Spassky is by his …

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July 13, 1972

• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 31 — Schmid Makes No Moves, But Rules Chess Match — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 12—Last Thursday, as soon as Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer shook hands, Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation, turned to Lothar Schmid. “Now,” he said, “it is all yours.” Dr. Euwe, who had suffered through harrowing negotiations, postponements and protests, who had mediated, cajoled and apologized, was bowing out. All responsibilities for the world championship chess match now devolved on Schmid, the referee.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 31 — Amusement and Then Sadness Reign at Marshall Chess Club by Martin Arnold — The blunder he made in the first game doomed Bobby Fischer so magnificently that the members and visiting kibitzers at the Marshall Chess Club actually laughed when he made it Tuesday. But by yesterday, when they were again filling into the old brownstone at 23 West 10th Street, the laughter had turned to a certain sadness that the great Bobby — the mighty Casey — had impetuously (could there be any other explanation?) struck out.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 31 — Fischer Walks Out, Comes Back, Loses by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 12 — Bobby Fischer lost the first game of his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky tonight after staging a 35-minute walkout. Later, Fischer was reported to have said that he might not play tomorrow's scheduled second game. The first game, adjourned after 40 moves, resumed at 5 P.M. An hour and five minutes later, in a hopeless position at the 56th move, the American challenger stood up and offered his hand. Spassky, the champion, took it, and the game became history.
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• The Escanaba Daily Press, Escanaba, Michigan, Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Wants Cameras Expelled — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer today was reported threatening to break off his world championship chess match with Boris Spassky unless all move cameras are removed from the playing hall. “It's quite serious. He may not play at all,” said a member of Fischer's entourage who asked not to be identified. Fischer was scheduled to meet the world champion from the Soviet Union later today — at 1 p.m. EDT—for the second game of their 24-game match. The American challenger lost the first game Wednesday night. Fischer staged a 30-minute walkout shortly after the play began Wednesday, complaining that a movie camera 150 feet away was making him nervous. The camera was hardly visible in the dimness outside the lighted player's circle, and it could not be heard by Fischer, but aides said the knowledge of its presence unnerved him.
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• The Atlanta Constitution Atlanta, Georgia Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 6 — Georgian Lost to Fischer by Bob Geurink — A Milledgeville textile executive who looks at his opponents “like a snake” was beaten by U.S. champion Bobby Fischer in Argentina back in 1959. That's from Richard Haas, president of the Southern Chess Association last year. He said Wednesday that Milledgeville's Ruben Shocron won the association's tourney last July 4 and said Shocron looked like this as he beat a field of 156 others:
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• Evening Standard London, Greater London, England Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 6 — That Move—Was There More To It? by Leonard Barden —THE fatal pawn snatch on move 29 which cost Bobby Fischer his first game with Spassky will be a talking point among chess Grand Masters for years to come. Spassky trapped Fischer's bishop which made the capture simple by a spider's web net operation to be found in any elementary textbook. The human machine showed himself as fallible as a gas board computer sending out a bill for £10,000 instead of £10.
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• Albany Democrat-Herald Albany, Oregon Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 1 — Bobby's Boycott Results in Forfeit; Disqualification Looms for Yank — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer forfeited his chess game with world champion Boris Spassky of Russian on Thursday by failing to appear at the playing hall. Fischer boycotted the game because he objected to the presence of movie cameras in the hall. The forfeit gave Spassky, who beat Fischer on Wednesday, a 2-0 lead in the scheduled 24-game series. It was uncertain whether the match would survive. Chief referee Lothar Schmid gave Fischer the hour provided by the rules to make his first move.
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• The Missoulian Missoula, Montana Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 16 — Spassky-Fischer Chess Moves — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Here are the remaining moves of the adjourned first game of the world championship chess match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

• The Charlotte News Charlotte, North Carolina Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 11 — Fischer Biggest Gambit by Bill Ballenger —Sixteen years ago, at age 13, a tousled kid in a striped tee-shirt burst on the stage of international chess. In an interview in a national news magazine “The Kid” told his interrogators that his destiny was to become the greatest chess player in the world. That was Bobby Fischer, at that time a truant from the public schools of New York. But his brilliance was not in the classroom. It was on the interlocked squares of a chessboard. And one year later, before his voice had fully changed, the kid in tennis shoes won the U.S. title.
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• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 33 — Knights and Rooks by Dick Nolan — In The Examiner's magnificent wire room cascades of news, data, commentary and statistics stream in an endless flow from the pulsing Teletype machines, chunka-chunka-chunka-rappity - tap - tap - tap. Nothing of slightest note happens anywhere without word of it inching into the wire room letter by letter, line by line. So, in the middle of the fascinating Democratic convention, what are impatient Examiner readers phoning our wire room about? The Spassky-Fischer chess match, is what.
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• Hattiesburg American Hattiesburg, Mississippi Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 14 — Fischer Boycotts Chess Tournament — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) Bobby Fischer informed the organizers of the world chess championships today, that he is boycotting further play unless three hidden movie cameras are removed from the hall. A call was made to the organizers at 10 minutes before the scheduled start of Fischer's second game with Boris Spassky of Russia. It said Fischer wasn't coming. Lothar Schmid, the chief referee, said Spassky would have to sit at the chess table by himself for one hour. Then the game would be forfeited by Fischer.
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• The Province Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 2 — Soviet Nit-Picks From Obsolete Contract Fischer Never Signed, Hoping To Blow Fischer's Concentration —(UPI—Reuter) Reykjavik, Iceland—Unpredictable Bobby Fischer, one game down in his bid for the world chess championship, threatened early today to stay away from the second game unless all television cameras were removed from the auditorium. International chess sources said Fischer, who lost the opening game to world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union on the 56th move Wednesday, made his demand known at a closed-door meeting with representatives of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Icelandic organizers of the $250,000 match and American companies owning the rights to televise the games.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 31 — Experts Expected Fischer Defeat at Adjournment by Isaac Kashdan — Los Angeles, July 12 (AP) — When Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky resumed play in the second session of their first match game for the world chess championship. It was clear to the experts that Spassky should win. Fischer continued the game today for 15 more moves, then resigned. He might have carried on for a few more moves, or resigned earlier. There was no longer any hope for a draw. Spassky's task was not particularly difficult. He had gained a bishop late in the first session because of an error by Fischer. Fischer had two pawns as compensation for the bishop, but they were separated and weak. The pawns soon fell as a result of Spassky's good coordination of his king and bishop.
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• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 4 — Russian Beats Fischer in First Game —(UPI) Reykjavik, Iceland — World Chess Champion Boris Spassky of Russia defeated Bobby Fischer in the first game of their $250,000 championship match yesterday, putting the unpredictable American one point behind in what could be a 24-game series. Fischer, who had walked off the stage for 35 minutes to protest the presence of two closed circuit television cameras high above the contest stage, conceded to the Russian on the 56th move. He gave up when he saw he could not prevent Spassky moving his only surviving pawn to Fischer's side of the board, thus turning it into a Queen, the most powerful piece in game.
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• The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 4 — Chessmen Huddle Across U.S.--Experts Analyze Dilemma of Fischer — (AP) New York — Bobby Fischer's clock was running out of time when a fellow member asked the Marshall Chess Club's champion player how things were going for the world championship challenger. “It looks bad,” said George Kane, 23, vainly seeking a solution to Fischer's dilemma. “Looks bad.” Elsewhere in Manhattan — and in Boston, Kansas City, Birmingham, and San Francisco — chess enthusiasts huddled over chess tables to analyze Fischer's losing play. The question arose again and again: Why did one of the world's greatest chess players fall victim to an apparently ploy by taking Boris Spassky's so-called poisoned pawn on his 29th move?
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• The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 8 — Kibitzers Puzzle Over Fischer's Fatal Move No. 29 by Jim Mitchell, Observer Staff Writer — Charlotte chess fanatics played out the first of the Boris Spassky-Bobby Fischer championship chess matches Wednesday night and they just couldn't understand how Fischer had made the move that cost him the game. “I just can't believe Fischer making such a simple mistake,” said Grady Brown, president of North Carolina Chess Association.
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• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 5 — Analysis by Expert: Fischer's Attention to Distractions Seen as Advantage for Spassky by Dr. Leroy Dubeck, President, U.S. Chess Federation —It is apparent that Bobby Fischer blundered on his 29th move and the loss of his bishop for two pawns led eventually to the loss of the game. Yesterday, Fischer apparently was upset by the position of a TV camera. ([Not so much as the man, operating it, and making a commotion that was visible.]) In the past, Fischer has been much more sensitive to playing conditions than most grandmasters. ([Autism Spectrum has that effect on people born that way.])
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• Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 5 — Fischer Threatens Walkout Over TV — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer, already one game down in his drive for the world chess championship, today threatened to walk out on the second match with titleholder Boris Spassky unless all television cameras are removed from the hall. Fischer's demands were presented by Fred Cramer, a vice president of the U.S. Chess Federation, at a closed meeting with representatives of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Icelandic organizers and representatives of U.S. companies owning the television rights to the match, international chess sources said. The referee of the match, Germany's Lothar Schmid, said Fischer will lose the second game by default if he does not turn up for the scheduled start today. Schmid also said organizers will not keep spectators from the first two rows of seats in the hall as they did during the first game on Fischer's request.
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• The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 1 — Russians Happy — Moscow (AP)—The Soviet press today cautiously savored Boris Spassky's victory yesterday and awarded him a psychological edge. Tass said “observers” in Iceland had noted that “Fischer brought off victories in all the preceding opening games in the tournaments of contenders. And now he has lost.” But the official news agency quickly added, “the main struggle is ahead, although the world champion must be congratulated on his well-deserved success.” Read More

• Canarsie Courier Brooklyn, New York Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 10 — They're Checking Mates For Chess — Now that world interest has turned to Iceland for the Fischer-Spassky chess showdown, Canarsiens too have caught the chess mania. Since the beginning of this month, Canarsiens by the dozens have been studying classic moves. The area between Rockaway Parkway and E. 102nd St. on Seaview Ave. is a good example “Grandmaster” Steven Gold has declared that he will face anyone in the area. As of now, only two fellow Canarsiens have accepted this challenge by Gold-Fred Blummer and Raymond Jacobs. (The deadline for applying is July 14.) If these two are still the only challengers by the deadline, they will play a series on July 15 and July 16 for the right to meet Mr. Gold. Read More

• The Jackson Sun Jackson, Tennessee Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer Forfeits Second Game To Spassky — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Bobby Fischer forfeited his chess game with world champion Boris Spassky of Russia today by failing to appear at the playing hall. Fischer boycotted the game because he objected to the presence of movie cameras ([more specifically the noisy and visible camera-men crews, knowingly making a distraction to disrupt Fischer's focus and concentration, resulting in matches being thrown in favor of the Soviet]) in the hall. The forfeit gave Spassky, who beat Fischer on Wednesday, a 2-0 lead in the scheduled 24-game series. It was uncertain whether the match would survive. A call was made to the organizers at 10 minutes before the scheduled start of Fischer's second game with Boris Spassky of Russia. It said Fischer wasn't coming. Lothar Schmid, the chief referee, said Spassky would have to sit at the chess table by himself for one hour. Then the game could be forfeited by Fischer.
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• The Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 4 — Chess: Fischer the Underdog — Reykjavik, Wednesday. — Bobby Fischer, the fiery U.S. challenger for Boris Spassky's world chess title, found himself the underdog when the opening game was adjourned last night. The Soviet title-holder withstood a final test of nerves—Fischer came to his place at the chessboard seven minutes after Spassky had made his opening move—and went on to exploit a risky capture by the American. He ended the evening with a chance to win today what is otherwise likely to be a drawn game. Fischer has no chance of victory. The turning point came when Fischer thrust across the board with a bishop to capture a pawn. It was a risky venture and he was duly punished by the loss of the bishop.
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Championship Match Cartoon 13 Jul 1972, Thu Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

• Public Opinion Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 28 — Championship Match Cartoon

• The Dispatch Moline, Illinois Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 2 — Fischer Refuses To Play Chess Before TV Cameras — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer's representatives met with officials of the TV company broadcasting the $250,000 world chess championships today to try to prevent the challenger from walking out. Fischer, who held up the first game for 35 minutes Wednesday because he objected to its being filmed on closed circuit television, said he would not show up for today's game with the world champion Boris Spassky of Russian unless all the TV cameras were removed from the hall.
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Bobby Fischer Returns to the Laugardalsholl Hall Wednesday 13 Jul 1972, Thu The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

• The Times Shreveport, Louisiana Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 4 — Bobby Fischer Returns to the Laugardalsholl Hall Wednesday to continue unfinished chess game against Boris Spassky. The game was won by Spassky. (AP Wirephoto)

• The Chico Enterprise-Record Chico, California Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 3 — Fischer Forfeits Second Chess Match to Spassky — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI)—Bobby Fischer forfeited the second game of his world championship chess match with Russian Boris Spassky today. Fischer failed to show up for the game and an aide said he was asleep. The forfeit give Spassky a 2-0 lead in the match. He needs only 12 points to retain his title while Fischer needs 12½ to win. The next Scheduled game is Sunday. Spassky arrived about two minutes before the scheduled starting time and walked slowly around the stage with referee Lothar Schmid, waiting for Fischer. The audience sat silently in the hall watching the empty stage and Fischer's black swivel chair which he had flown in from New York for the match.
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• The Orlando Sentinel Orlando, Florida Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 4 — Spassky Team Finds Fischer Flaw by Harry Golombek — Reykjavik — Although when play was adjourned Tuesday night after 40 moves the result seemed unclear and champion Boris Spassky's winning possibilities uncertain, an overnight analysis by his assistant trio of grandmasters—Efjim Geller, Nikolai Krogius and Nej — showed that challenger Bobby Fischer's position was not really tenable in the first game of the world chess championship.
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• The Kansas City Times Kansas City, Missouri Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 40 — Play by Play — Following the first game of the Fischer-Spassky world championship chess match as the moves came over the news wires yesterday were two players who had set up a small chess board outside The Star newsroom. At left is John Tomas, Chicago, who is visiting here and who said he was a 4-time Nebraska state chess champion, and Elliot Winlow, 4012 McGee, Missouri state chess champion. Read More

• Newsday (Nassau Edition) Hempstead, New York Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 119 — Chess Makes Its Move — Chess players never had it so good. For all those years hardly anybody in the United States knew or cared about the game they play so passionately. Now suddenly it's all over the newspapers and television, very big. “Bobby Fischer has done a great thing for American chess,” said Howard Osterman, a bearded CCNY student. He was one of a score of buffs who gathered yesterday at the Marshall Chess Club to seen the windup of Fischer's first game against defending world champion Boris Spassky of Russia. The club is a big, airy, austerely decorated room on the second floor of a red brick building on West 10th Street in Greenwich Village. All around the room members had set up boards matching the positions when play was suspended Tuesday. They tried move after move, trying to figure some way Fischer could salvage a draw.
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• The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 11 — A Bishop Puts The Champion Ahead by Bill MacLean of the Melbourne Chess Club — When Bobby Fischer met Boris Spassky in 1970 he played one of his favorite defenses — the Gruenfeld defence. But with his second move in this first game he showed he would test Spassky's preparation by adopting the Nimzo-Indian defence and played pawn to king three. In a natural development by both players in the initial moves Fischer tried to apply pressure in the center but weakened his position when he captured pawn with Queen pawn in move nine. He realized his slight disadvantage and tried to equalize by a Queen exchange on move 11 which took a major piece off the board.
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One Down 13 Jul 1972, Thu The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) Newspapers.com

• The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 5 — One Down — Boris Spassky, left, and Bobby Fischer shake hands after the Russian won the first game. (AP Photo) ★ / ★

• Alabama Journal Montgomery, Alabama Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 18 — State Chess Players Keep Close Tabs On Title Match by Hoyt Harwell — The relatively few chess players in Alabama, happy over the surge of interest in the game, are keeping a close watch on the world chess match for various reasons. And most of them are pulling for American Bobby Fischer in the match in Iceland against Russian Boris Spassky. Members of the four clubs in Alabama — at Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile — are doing their best to keep up with each move of the Russian champion and his challenger. “We all hope to learn something,” John Dohne of Birmingham said today in an interview. He is past president of the club and a director of 15 tournaments. “Some of us may even have a bet on the match,” he said. Another club member, Charles Smith, said the match “will be great for national chess. It has created a wonderful springboard of interest and chess has a way of being its own attraction once you can get someone to try.
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• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 17 — Fischer Defense Fails in Face of Bishop. Pawn Held Down. by Isaac Kashdan — World chess champion Boris Spassky won as expected Wednesday in the adjourned session of his first chess game with challenger Bobby Fischer of the United States. Fischer continued the game for an additional 15 moves, then resigned. There was no longer any hope for a draw. Spassky's task was not particularly difficult. He had gained a bishop late in Tuesday's session due to a serious error by Fischer. Fischer had two pawns as compensation for the bishop, but they were separated and weak. The pawns soon fell due to good strategy by Spassky. There were then two defensive methods open to Fischer. The one he chose was to attack Spassky's rook pawn. Spassky had no objection, and he moved toward Fischer's queen-side pawns as the quickest way to win.
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• Daily News New York, New York Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 53 — Opener Goes To Spassky in 56 Big Moves by Robert Byrne —Reykjavik, Iceland, July 12—Boris Spassky, 35, world chess champion, won the opening game of his 24-game title match with challenger Bobby Fischer in 56 moves here in the Laugardalshoell Sports Palace tonight.
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• The Charleston Daily Mail Charleston, West Virginia Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 4 — Chess Is War; All Is Fair by Jack Seamonds — “Atta babe, Bobby, put one over the ‘ole left field wall.” A raucous, lung-stretching roar, aimed, you imagine, at some limber, gum-popping, bat-swinging Casey as he strolls to the home plate. Like, 9 to 9 in the top of the ninth, or something like that. Actually, the “Bobby” we refer to is none other than Bobby Fischer, U.S. grand master of the chess board who has the dubious accolade of having infuriated Russia, Iceland, the prestigious Federation Internationale des Echecs (sort of a Supreme Court of chess) and various sundry commentators. I can not help feel that, had the public paid attention to the game before, Fischer's actions in Reykjavik would have been predictable if not understood. The key to it all, I believe, is a statement Fischer made some time ago to reporters after winning an American tournament. “I like” he remarked, “to see them squirm.” And other grand masters have agreed, at least in principle, with this intellectually bloodthirsty sentiment. “The most beautiful moment of all,” another grand master, a Russian-American, once told a close friend, “is when I make my final move, look into my opponent's eyes, and watch the suffering. He simply has no where to go.”
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• The World Coos Bay, Oregon Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 5 — Fischer Doesn't Show Up — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — American chess champion Bobby Fischer failed to show up at the scheduled starting time today for his second game in the $250,000 world championship match but he had one hour to beat the clock. His aides said he was still asleep. If he does not show up by 6 p.m. (2 p.m. EDT) he forfeits the game to world champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Organizers of the match earlier said they would remove one of the television cameras ([which includes the disruptive camera men that Fischer had directed his actual complaints]) from the hall if Fischer would play Spassky.
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Boycotts Chess Match 13 Jul 1972, Thu The Journal Times (Racine, Wisconsin) Newspapers.com

• The Journal Times Racine, Wisconsin Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 1 — Boycotts Chess Match Over Disruptive Camera Men — American Bobby Fischer peered through his fingers during his first chess game Wednesday with Russia's Boris Spassky in Iceland. Fischer lost the contest. They were scheduled to play again today, but Fischer informed the organizers of the world chess championship that he is boycotting further play unless three hidden movie cameras ([this report, oddly, makes no mention of the disruptive camera man who was located on the roof, training a camera on Fischer, that was trespassing and ejected by police at the request of the official Fred Cramer. Detailed by international chess master Harry Golombek, see “Spassky Team Finds Fischer Flaw” by Harry Golombek]) are removed from the hall. Lothar Schmid, chief referee, said Spassky would have to sit at the chess table by himself for one hour. Then the game would be forfeited by Fischer. At what point Fischer would be disqualified from the championship series would have to be decided by the International Chess Federation, Schmid said. —AP Wirephoto. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 39 — The Public Speaks: Is Chess Becoming Popular in the U.S.? — How You Voted. Yes: 75% No: 25%. Sample ‘Yes’ Comments. “It took Bobby Fischer to make it popular” … “We're finally catching up with the rest of the world” … “It's about time” … “Especially if Fischer beats the Russian” … “It's a worthwhile game and should be played by everyone” … “It's one sport that is inexpensive to play” … “I think it has always been popular.” Read More

• Clovis News-Journal Clovis, New Mexico Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 8 — Station Attendant Remembers Long-Ago Chess Competition — Los Lunas, N.M. (UPI)— A Los Lunas gas station attendant teaches a small chess class, used to write a chess column and remembers a pickup chess club in this small central New Mexico community. But Guilles Levesque vividly remembers a pickup chess match he got into some 20 years ago while stationed at Bolling Field, near Washington, D.C. “I was just sitting in the Officers' Club when this young fellow, who looked about 8 or 9-years-old, came in and asked me if I played chess,” Levesque said. “I told him I played at it, so we played a game.”
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Rehashed Soviet Anti-American Invective to Turn Public Interest Away From Fischer's Defeat of USSR 13 Jul 1972, Thu Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) Newspapers.com

• Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 58 — Rehashed Soviet Anti-American Invective to Turn Public Interest and National Support Base Away From Fischer's Defeat of USSR — Fails to elaborate on the finicky, overbearing demands and complaints of European organizers who refused for months to sort out details before match. Belgrade's illegal demand of 35K USD “guarantee” refused by USCF! Australia's legal $225K bid snubbed by Russia, threatening they “would not play”. USSR selecting Anti-American, Racist Iceland who restricted entry of blacks and news coverage ([says Archie Waters: “Then, the camera panned the huge crowd for reactions and, for one heart-stopping moment — my daughter exclaimed — it settled on the only African-American in the auditorium, or anywhere near the auditorium — me. I was applauding. I had been on Fischer's management team for three vacation weeks in an Iceland city, with its one-story, pastel-colored roofs and mostly blond, blue-eyed residents.” —Archie Waters, El Paso Times El Paso, Texas Sunday, August 22, 1993.])([says Fischer, “…they had these characters there, who instead of having, some kind of video tape film that didn't make any noise, just, nobody around to operate them, just sort of stationless and they just had guys there with film cameras that were worrying, and they were all around me. Making a racket. A nuisance. Too much noise, and visually you could see them moving around…I was more disappointed than anybody that this thing wasn't televised because, you know, there was a lot of publicity and a lot of money involved and I wanted the people to see me in action. - Robert J. Fischer on Johnny Carson, November 1972]) Schemes to disqualify Fischer and replace with Petrosian, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera on the Fascist Nixon sending a prize gift of an exquisite chess board to Soviet officials, prior to the match, further reports of meetings between Nixon, Kissinger and Soviet officials relaxing with dinners and entertainment, in private, to sort out “trade deals” and plotting further war on Asia, and alas, to appease the Soviet officials the antisemitic Nixon never sent an official White House dinner invitation to Robert J. Fischer. Much like Jesse Owens, Gold Medal Olympian, was snubbed by the racist U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who likewise, was consorting with Stalin, making “trade deals” to purchase Ukrainian grain, while an estimated 7-14 million Ukrainians were starved in Stalin's man-made famine, the “Holodomor,” during his term as president. Read More

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July 14, 1972

Reykjavik, Iceland, July 14, 1972. Victor by Forfeiture - Boris Spassky of the U.S.S.R. leaves Laugardalsholl hall in Reykjavik, Iceland, Thursday after Bobby Fischer failed to appear for the second game of the world chess championship match. Fischer's forfeiture gave Spassky a 2-0 lead in the scheduled 24-game match. All attempts to get Fischer to appear at the chess table failed, incuding an appeal based on his responsibility as a 'folk hero of the Americans.' The next game is scheduled for Sunday. (AP Wirephoto via cable from Reykjavik)

• AP Wirephoto via cable from Reykjavik — Victor by Forfeiture — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 14, 1972. Victor by Forfeiture - Boris Spassky of the U.S.S.R. leaves Laugardalsholl hall in Reykjavik, Iceland, Thursday after Bobby Fischer failed to appear for the second game of the world chess championship match. Fischer's forfeiture gave Spassky a 2-0 lead in the scheduled 24-game match. All attempts to get Fischer to appear at the chess table failed, incuding an appeal based on his responsibility as a 'folk hero of the Americans.' The next game is scheduled for Sunday. ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 29 — Counsel for Fischer Will Fight Forfeit by Martin Arnold — Bobby Fischer's attorney flew last night to Iceland to try to get chess officials to lift yesterday's forfeit against the American grandmaster. If he does not succeed, the attorney said, he will sue to force them to lift the forfeit. The attorney, Andrew Davis, said that he did not know whether Fischer would agree to continue in the world championship chess match with Boris Spassky if the forfeit—imposed because Fischer failed to show up for the game—is allowed to stand. He left last night at 9:30 on an Icelandic Airlines flight from Kennedy International Airport.
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• New York Times, New York, New York, Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 1-29 — Fischer Stays Out, Forfeits 2d Game; Appeal is Expected by Harold C. Schonberg — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 13—Bobby Fischer remained in his hotel room today, refusing to show up for his scheduled game with Boris Spassky. He was declared the loser by forfeit and the score of this strange world championship chess match became 2 to 0 in favor of the Soviet titleholder. Fischer's lawyer was expected here tomorrow to press for a reversal of the forfeit. He said before leaving New York that if chess officials refused to wipe the forfeit off the books he would sue to force them to do so.
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• The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 2 — Cameras Bug Him: Fischer Stays Away, Forfeits 2nd Match —Reykjavik, Iceland — (AP) — Bobby Fischer forfeited yesterday's chess game with world champion Boris Spassky. He stayed in his hotel room, because of disruptive cameras crew men in the playing hall. His balk for the second in a 24-game schedule left the score 2 to 0 in the Russian's favor. This gave Spassky a powerful psychological advantage over Fischer, who has never beaten the champion. Fischer knew before he came to Iceland to play for the world title that the match would be filmed. And Chester Fox, the promoter who owns the three cameras, said they were out of Fischer's sight and hearing.
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• Austin American-Statesman Austin, Texas Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer's Chess Appeal Rejected by Officials — Reykjavik, Iceland (AP)—An appeals committee rejected today Bobby Fischer's protest against his loss of Thursday's world championship chess game by forfeit. The four-man committee supported the decision of chief referee Lothar Schmid to award the game to Boris Spassky because Fischer failed to appear ([in protest to disruptive camera man such as the disruptive man operating a camera, present on the roof reported by Golombek; camera men from the side of the stage according to Schonberg of NY Times, while other reporters state Fischer's complaint was in relation to disruptive camera men located at the back of the hall, among other locations described and varying number of camera operators, Fischer's lawyer also reports a 3-man crew was posted 15 feet away from Fischer, within plain view, and heard by the contestants. According to Fischer, “…characters there, who instead of having, some kind of video tape film that didn't make any noise, just, nobody around to operate them, just sort of stationless and they just had guys there with film cameras that were worrying, and they were all around me. Making a racket. A nuisance. … Too much noise, and visually you could see them moving around.”])
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Soviet Chess Master Boris Spassky Waits in Vain While Fischer Boycotts Disruptive Camera Men 14 Jul 1972, Fri The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) Newspapers.com

• The News and Observer Raleigh, North Carolina Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 3 — Soviet Chess Master Boris Spassky Waits in Vain While Fischer Boycotts Disruptive Camera Men — Soviet chess master Boris Spassky waits in vain for Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland. ★ / ★ / ★

• The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 13 — Fischer Charges Conspiracy As He Forfeits Second Game by Ian Westergren — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — Charging there was “a conspiracy against me,” U.S. grand Master Bobby Fischer locked himself in his hotel room Thursday and refused to come out for the second game of the $250,000 world championship chess match, forfeiting the game to Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Despite last minute attempts by organizers to get him to the hall before the 6 p.m. (2 p.m. EDT) deadline, Fischer refused to listen and turned off his telephone.
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• The Odessa American Odessa, Texas Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 4 — Chess Match May At End by Isaac Kashdan — The forfeit by Bobby Fischer in the second game of the world championship chess series with Boris Spassky probably signals the end of the long-awaited encounter. The dispute regarding the ([disruptive operators]) of the television cameras was the latest in a long series of ([entirely avoidable from the Icelandic/Soviet end]) controversies that has plagued the match organizers for months.
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• Star Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 10 — Bobby Fischer Phenomenon — Bobby Fischer is the greatest phenomenon for the propagation of chess interest since Lewis Carroll's “Through the Looking-Glass.” Minnesota has several player who have achieved, or are approaching, master status in chess. Former state chess champion Milton Otteson once beat Bobby Fischer in a tournament chess game. It would help considerably if your newspaper would run a chess column on a regular basis. The public schools could place chess on a letter basis with sports, thus awarding recognition to mental achievement as well as to physical achievement. Such chess programs could aid in giving our youth new direction, away from dope, duplicity and deviation.—William R. Jones,Minneapolis. Read More

The excuse the Icelandic and Soviet officials gave, in refusal to comply with, and brazenly break the rules, according to an AP report on July 14, 1972: “Iceland promised that he [Fischer] would not know there was filming taking place, so he [Fischer] could concentrate. In two inspections prior to the match, he was not shown the television equipment.”
And in spite of the reported July 14, 1972 report by Harold Schonberg, that “At 11:58 P.M., two minutes before the deadline for filing a protest, Fischer's aide, Fred Cramer, handed a formal written protest to Schmid. Cramer said Fischer had not seen the note.” So a formal written protest was indeed submitted, and before the deadline expired.
But according to Isaac Kashdan, who was under the wrong impression that, “Under agreed rules of the match, he ([Fischer]) had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him. But such a protest must be made formally and in writing to the tournament director or to a special appeals committee formed for the match. No protest, formal or otherwise was made in writing and after world champion Boris Spassky appeared on time and waited the required hour for the challenger to appear, referee Lothar Schmid declared the game forfeit. Later, however, officials of the International Chess Federation said they had discovered that Fischer was not aware that the protest had to be made in writing and had assumed his oral protest would be sufficient.”
Yet, it is in fact documented above, by NY Times, Harold Schonberg, that Fred Cramer submitted the written formal request by 11:58 P.M. “two minutes before the deadline expired,” so the formal protest was filed within the deadline.
But Soviet and Icelandic officials chose to simply disregard the rules, and bent their ruling in favor of the Soviet Union, and awarded Spassky the forfeiture point, anyway.

The American delegation had indeed submitted a “formal written protest” two minutes before the deadline expired. Precisely 11:58 p.m. Therefore Fischer's protest, and request to replay the second game, was a valid objection. The Soviets simply ignored it, and broke the rules, to award the Soviet Union the point, illegally.

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 7 — Fischer Boycotts Second Game; Committee to Rule on Forfeiture by Isaac Kashdan — Bobby Fischer apparently forfeited the second game in the $250,000 world chess championship match Thursday when he failed to appear at the auditorium in Reykjavik, Iceland, because of a dispute over ([men disruptively operating]) movie cameras. He had complained during the first game that the cameras ([operated by disruptive men, in crews as large as three men, positioned a mere 15 feet/5 meters from Fischer to disrupt the match while it was in progress]), used for television coverage of the match were distracting him. ([And that's what the Soviet hired those disruptive men to do, and when Fischer demands they're shut down, voila! The Soviet achieves a black out on coverage of its humiliating defeat.])
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• Chippewa Herald-Telegram Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 2 — Off the Beat by Holly Meier — Idols die hard, whether you are 5 or 50! And that's why I can't believe that Bobby Fischer — who is the greatest chess talent in the world — will deliberately let the championship go down the drain because of the advertised petty differences between him and the people staging the match in Reykjavik, Iceland. Even after reading of Bobby's shenanigans in Iceland which threaten to scuttle the world championship chess match ([which is being hidden there behind the pleats of the Iron Curtain, and Soviet propaganda churned into mainstream media, documented Soviet shenanigans not given their due emphasis]), I'm telling myself and anyone else who will listen that the American's open-end ultimatums concerning seating, cameras ([and the very disruptive men who were hired to operate the cameras, disruptively, and blow Fischer's concentration]), noise and probably the price of peanuts in the Icelandic capital are just part of his game plan.
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• The Decatur Herald Decatur, Illinois Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 3 — Looking Like a Young Bobby Fischer — Depending On personal taste, youngsters could select quiet contemplative or raucous slapstick sport at Thursday's Play Day held in Hess Park. Danny Bartels, 10, middle, in top photo, chose to concentrate on chess, looking like a young Bobby Fischer, would champion chess player. Watching Bartels' deliberate moves are John Peters, 12, left, and Betsy Garren, 11, right. Read More

• The Post-Crescent Appleton, Wisconsin Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 2 — Even little Oscar de la Fuenta's Moves Aren't Safe from Being Used in the Soviet's Propaganda War — Instead of focusing on young Oscar Fuenta's day in the limelight and chess exhibition, Soviet hacks for hire, lackeys speckled throughout worldwide media were busy manufacturing an all-out smear and defamation campaign against Robert Fischer, painting him as wrong to make legitimate complaints, while the Soviets were throwing up obstacles at every possible opportunity, and in the press desperately hoping to convince the world (the “bandwagon” argument fallacy) that people around the world really didn't want to see Robert Fischer “whip that G#*@% Russian,” which was actually the case. The 1972 hysteria over the match was due entirely to the fact, that the majority of the world really did dislike the tyrannical Soviet Union, THAT MUCH, and savored the hope of witnessing Soviet arrogance taken down a few notches by the young Robert Fischer. Moscow is desperately attempting to portray Mr. Fischer as “touched” and “a prima donna” and “disturbed” and a vicious onslaught of personal character defamation, as the Soviet throws up its obstacles to demoralize young Mr. Fischer who clearly has no intention of letting up to those bureaucrats, off the board. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 12 — Spassky Moves Into The Lead Commentary by the Melbourne Chess Club — World chess champion, Boris Spassky, finished off the first game of the 24-game match in flawless fashion. He took a 1-0 lead over American challenger Bobby Fischer when he won the adjourned first game of the world chess title series on the 56th move. His team of three analysts had confirmed earlier he had a technically won position at the adjournment and at the resumption of play the Soviet champion took full advantage of it. But Spassky's win was a result of Fischer's uncharacteristic blunder on his 29th move which stunned chess players all over the world. Fischer's miscalculation may be explained by the tension and drama that has surrounded the match. ([Amen])
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• The Hanford Sentinel Hanford, California Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 1 — They Play Chess in Hanford, Too — Although the big money and international intrigue was missing, Hanford's James Walker (left) and Patrick Pugh (right) were enjoying a lively game of chess of their own Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile in Reykjavik, Iceland, America's controversial Bobby Fischer was cheated out of a game by Icelandic officials who refused to acknowledge the formally submitted (written) protest presented at 11:58 p.m. by Fred Cramer, beating the deadline by 2 minutes, and qualified Fischer for redress in favor of total removal of cameras. He was illegally denied a fair hearing and the point awarded to the Soviets. Read More

• The Hanford Sentinel Hanford, California Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 1 — Fischer May Get Request — Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) — The organizers of the $250,000 international chess championship said today they might give in to Bobby Fischer's request to remove closed circuit television equipment from the chess hall, but flatly refused to overturn Referee Lothar Schmidt's decision awarding the second game to Russian Boris Spassky. Spassky also turned down a personal request from Fischer to replay the forfeited second game. The committee, after a two-hour meeting, rejected Fischer's protest against Schmidt's ([ILLEGAL]) decision ([since the protest, in writing, was delivered by Fred Cramer 2 minutes before the deadline, and therefore legally binding]) The committee ruling left Spassky, the reigning world champion, with a 2-0 lead. The group said it would meet again later in the day to take up Fischer's protest against the presence of the ([crews of disruptive men operating]) the television cameras. Fischer boycotted Thursday's game because of the ([disruptive men operating the]) cameras.
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• The Pantagraph Bloomington, Illinois Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 4 — Fischer's Moves Purposeful — Editor, The Pantagraph, I read with interest your comments on the world's chess championship and the American master, Bobby Fischer. There are some important aspects of the game of chess as well as some aspects of Fischer's personality that you may have overlooked. First, chess, as played by International Grandmasters is more than a game. It is an art which requires that conditions for the matches be perfect. Because of the pride the players (most notably Fischer) take in their art, the high prizes now offered (thanks again to Fischer's efforts) and the International prestige on the line, disagreements such as have occurred are not mere quibbling at all.
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• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 1 — Export of Prize OK'd — London—(UPI)—Investment banker James Slater has Bank of England permission to export his $125,000 contribution to the prize money in the international chess championships in Reykjavik, Iceland, banking sources said Tuesday. Slater was unavailable for comment. British law requires Bank of England approval for any resident of the United Kingdom to export more than $750 in one year. Read More

Spassky and Fischer Posed in First Match 14 Jul 1972, Fri Enterprise-Journal (McComb, Mississippi) Newspapers.com

• Enterprise-Journal McComb, Mississippi Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 9 — Spassky and Fischer Posed in First Match — Dwarfed by giant screen above them.

• The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, North Carolina Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 7 — Chess Is Politics, War Condensed Under Rigid Rules —Washington Post-Los Angeles Times News Service Washington—When you know the moves in chess you're almost in the same position as someone who knows the functions of the players on a football team: you don't know much of anything. It is simple enough to learn the moves, but then you discover the real question is “which move when?” Furthermore as in football, you need a special language to talk about it. Here is a little course in that language.
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• The San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, California Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 2 — Chess Row: Fischer Risks Heavy Loss —Reykjavik, Iceland — (AP) — Bobby Fischer charged today that tournament organizers seemed to “upset and provoke me” deliberately ([Well Mr. Fischer, you are trapped in the Soviet's hand-picked, Anti-American Racist haven, so of course they are. That's why Russia selected Reykjavik, Iceland. It's “row” over the NATO base at Keflavik. Maybe the rest of Americans will figure this out in about… 50 years.]), but an appeals committee rejected his request to replay the chess game he forfeited to Boris Spassky of Russia. ([Although the facts are, the valid “formal written protest” as required according to the rules, were in fact, submitted before the deadline and yet, these officials rejected it, out of hand, illegally, because they don't care about fairness or ethics. For Soviets, “Winning” is all that matters.])
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• Edmonton Journal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 61 — Iceland Match Sparks 'Rush' on Chess Sets — Unlike the hula hoop, the yo-yo, or even Monopoly, chess is the sort of pastime that seems to be immune to fads. Nevertheless, interest in chess has picked up in Edmonton in recent weeks — starting about the time the Fischer-Spassky match in Iceland began to receive publicity. Downtown stores selling board games report what might be described as a “rush” on chess sets beginning about a month ago. (In the chess-set business, a rush is a sudden sale of more than two or three sets at any time other than Christmas).
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• Red Deer Advocate Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 17 — No Matter What, Spassky's Rich — Moscow (AP)—No matter what, Boris Spassky is going to return to his Communist homeland a rich man, even by capitalist standards. But the Soviet government and the National Chess Federation have apparently yet to decide whether the Russian chess champion can keep the earnings from his Reykjavik encounter with American challenger Bobby Fischer. Viktor Baturinsky, director of the Soviet Chess Club, said the allocation of Spassky's prize money “has not been decided.” He made it clear, though, that the chess club feels entitled to a good chunk of Spassky's winnings.
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• Alton Evening Telegraph Alton, Illinois Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 3 — SIU Professor Tackles 21 Chess Players by Pat St. Clair. Telegraph Staff Writer — Dr. Cameron Meredith, a psychology professor at Southern Illinois University, played 21 games of chess simultaneously for five hours Wednesday evening at Hayner Public Library and managed to win about half. It may not have been the Bobby Fischer - Boris Spassky contest for the world chess championship now going on in Iceland, but some experienced chess players came for the contest. “I decided to take on the challenge to increase the interest in the new chess books offered at the library,” Cameron said.
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• Beckley Post-Herald Beckley, West Virginia Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 4 — Fischer's Moves Put Chess in Headlines — After months of moves by Bobby Fischer of the United States and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union over where, when and how to hold a chess match as well as the how much — the match itself will be anticlimax. If he has done nothing else, Bobby Fischer has done more for chess than any man since Lewis Carroll. Customarily a chess match raises as much popular interest in this country as the annual meeting of beekeepers or a seminar on the teaching of Esperanto to the Incas. This time there is a difference, and mostly it's been Bobby. The Russians deserve some credit. For years the Soviets haven't just held the title; they've owned it. Until Bobby Fischer came along, a world chess match was truly a case of Russian roulette.
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Robert Fischer Boycotts Second Match in Protest Against Men Hired to Disruptively Operate Cameras 14 Jul 1972, Fri The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com

• The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 1 — Chess Session — Chester Fox, who holds the filming rights to world championship chess games, meets with Bobby Fischer, right, to discuss the U.S. challenger's complaints about movie cameras.([“Under agreed rules of the match, [Fischer] had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him.” -Col. Edmondson, USCF]) ★ Read More

• Belvidere Daily Republican Belvidere, Illinois Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 4 — She Loses Head Over Chess Game — The BDR newsroom may seem a long distance from Reykjavik, Iceland, but Tuesday when Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky squared off for the first game in their world championship match, we were there. Actually, in all honesty, we really weren't physically there, but with the use of a chess board and the AP wire machine, we followed enthusiastically as each move was made. Wednesday, when the first game reached its conclusion with Bobby resigning to Boris in Iceland, Dave was defeating Jane in Belvidere.
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• The Miami Herald Miami, Florida Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 24 — Boris May Live in Style — Win or Lose ([Depending, of course, if his performance appeases Soviet whims… or Nyet]) — Moscow — (AP) — No matter what, Boris Spassky is going to return to his Communist homeland a rich man, even by capitalist standards. But the Soviet government and the National Chess Federation have apparently yet to decide whether the Russian chess champion can keep the earnings from his Reykjavik encounter with the American challenger Bobby Fischer.
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• The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 5 — Action Line — Q: I recently moved to Philadelphia and love to play chess. Do you know of a club where I could play? —Howard Carrasco, Philadelphia. Become a member. The Awbury Chess Club, Ardleigh and Haines sts., in Germantown has extended you an invitation to join. The 20-member club is headed by Thomas J. Arouni, city chess chairman for the Department of Recreation. […] Chess has picked up in popularity throughout the United States in recent weeks due mostly to the publicity being given to the world championship match in Iceland between the American challenger Bobby Fischer and the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky. Others who are interested in joining… Read More

• The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 13 — Here It is Folks — The famous chess chair, Bobby Fischer wouldn't move a pawn until this Herman Miller chair, designed by Charles Eames, was flown to Reykjavik, Iceland, for the match with Boris Spassky for the world's chess championship now in progress. Fischer paid a wholesale price of $471.60 ($524 retail) for it. Mrs. Cheryl Janusek of West Mifflin “models” the chair at Hende-Jon Galleries, Ross Street. Sponsors of the world match have now ordered one for Spassky also. Read More

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Political Propaganda / Smear Campaign: These articles were part of political-motivated smear campaign of Bobby Fischer, spanning 1960's till his death in 2008. Sources cited 1962, Ralph Ginzburg (sued by Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater for defamation); Ron Gross who claimed he ‘moved to NY’ to substantiate sordid, but contradictory rumors about Fischer. (See Chess GM Isaac Kashdan's L.A. chess column which meticulously documents Gross' 1950's-1970's 'Compton, California' residency, etc) etc. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / The lawyer is sorting it out, isn't he? ★ / Lies about “Cameras” being the cause of Fischer's protests, reporters deliberately obfuscate and omit the glaringly obvious fact: “…they had these characters there, who instead of having, some kind of video tape film that didn't make any noise, just, nobody around to operate them, just sort of stationless and they just had guys there with film cameras that were worrying, and they were all around me. Making a racket. A nuisance. … Too much noise, and visually you could see them moving around.” — Robert J. Fischer interview by Johnny Carson, November 1972 The excuse the Icelandic and Soviet officials gave, in refusal to comply with, and brazenly break the rules, according to an AP report on July 14, 1972: “Iceland promised that he [Fischer] would not know there was filming taking place, so he could concentrate. In two inspections prior to the match, he was not shown the television equipment.” And in spite of the reported July 14, 1972 report by Harold Schonberg, that “At 11:58 P.M., two minutes before the deadline for filing a protest, Fischer's aide, Fred Cramer, handed a formal written protest to Schmid. Cramer said Fischer had not seen the note.” So a formal written protest was indeed submitted, and before the deadline expired, but according to Isaac Kashdan, who was under the wrong impression that, “Under agreed rules of the match, he ([Fischer]) had the right to object and to demand removal of the cameras if they disturbed him. But such a protest must be made formally and in writing to the tournament director or to a special appeals committee formed for the match. No protest, formal or otherwise was made in writing (!! UNTRUE !!) and after world champion Boris Spassky appeared on time and waited the required hour for the challenger to appear, referee Lothar Schmid declared the game forfeit. Later, however, officials of the International Chess Federation said they had discovered that Fischer was not aware that the protest had to be made in writing and had assumed his oral protest would be sufficient.” Yet, it is in fact documented above, by NY Times, Harold Schonberg, that Fred Cramer submitted the written formal protest by 11:58 P.M. “two minutes before the deadline expired,” so the formal protest was filed within the deadline. But Soviet and Icelandic officials chose to simply disregard and bend the rules in favor of the Soviet Union, and awarded Spassky the forfeiture point, anyway, and along with it, a barrage of inflammatory denials, alleged ad hominem and character assasinations of Robert J. Fischer, to divert focus away from the fact, the Soviet Union broke the rules, then steals a point for itself: ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / Equal opportunity defamation ★ / ★ / ★ / Certified Quackery ★ / ★ / Fisching for Hype, not investigative journalism (New York (UPI)-Prospects dimmed early today that U.S. chess player Bobby Fischer would show up in Reykjavik, Iceland, where his match against defending Soviet champion Boris Spassky is scheduled Sunday.) The statement that “months of delicate negotiations” were conducted is patently false. Ed Edmondson criticized the breakdown in communications, and chastized officials for not making any reasonable effort to sit down and talk one-on-one with Mr. Fischer. Instead, they opted for months of mudslinging and spreading of rumors, even attempts to create an excuse to disqualify Fischer and replace him with Petrosian. Fischer didn't even learn of a Saturday morning deadline, until it was discovered by third party reports in newspapers. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / This article was not well received by syndicated press and as of 3/27/2021, appears only once in search queries. It's intent was to promote an ideology that was promoted by Adolf Hitler. Mr. Spassky has emphatically denied certain statements made by its author namely, the false claim made by promoters of the Apartheid Israel regime that white European and white Russians, are a separate race from Caucasians. Mr. Spassky is Russian, not Jewish due to simply never being an adherent to the religious faith of Judaism. ★ Sensationalized Hype Which Intensely Projects the Author's own Negativity: by Larry Eldredge “For the first time in history, a chess match is big news all over the world, and the reason isn't very hard to find. In a word, it's Bobby Fischer, an unlettered high school dropout from Brooklyn who may well be the most profound genius the game has ever known…” and clearly written by an author's who's not exactly Harvard material himself … ★ / ★ / Rumor, Recycle, Rehash, Repeat… ★ / Fails to emphasize Belgrade organizers refuse to communicate with Fischer to iron out prematch details. Or, tell about Belgrade's illegal 35,000 USD demand for a guarantee the USCF refused to shell up. Or, that Soviets picked Anti-American, racist, Iceland who forbid black personnel on Icelandic soil, to achieve censoring coverage. Plots to disqualify Fischer based on Soviet rumor mill, replacing with a Soviet. So much more, remained untold by author. ★ / Failure to reiterate how the Belgrade organizers refused to communicate with Fischer man to man, to iron out details. Refusal to tell about Belgrade's illegal 35,000 USD demand for a guarantee which the USCF refused to shell up. Refuses to tell how plots were underway to disqualify Fischer based on Soviet rumor mill, and replace with a Soviet. How the match was put in Iceland to censor coverage. Much and much more, untold by author, such as the contractual trojan horse; 3.3 million dollar lawsuit initiated by Chester Fox post-match to further harass Fischer… a lot remains unsaid ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / The “Anti-American” underbelly was well documented from the 1950's onward, where reporters cited a 10% Soviet population in Iceland, which often spread Anti-American publications. Not only that, but Icelandic government had a secret agreement with U.S. Government to forbid African Americans to serve at the NATO base, and that's only scratching the surface as to the “why” Soviet Union chose this racist haven for the 1972 match. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / James Slater certainly felt Fischer deserved the prize money… and who are these people? ★ / The intent of this article was to promote an ideology advanced by Adolf Hitler. Mr. Spassky has emphatically denied statements made by the author namely, their false claim that promotes Antisemitic theories that white European and Russians, are somehow part of a "separate race" from other Caucasians. Mr. Spassky is Russian, not Jewish, by virtue of simply never being an adherent to the religious faith of Judaism, a religion, NOT a racial group. ★ / ★ / ★ / Regurgitation of Soviet fabrications… labeling a man “eccentric” because he kept the Saturday Sabbath and refused to break it, while in the lead, walked out. Antisemitic news reporters claimed to do so was “Eccentric” & “Controversial” and Sam Reshevsky, an orthodox Jew also was labeled “The Reshevsky Problem” by Soviets. The match was put in Iceland to censor coverage of it. Much and much more, remained untold by author. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / Proof once again, that even Americans are not the brightest bulbs on the shelf, so quick to repeat idle rumors as fact, no more intellectual than say, a parrot, ★ / ★ / Attempt to spread flagrant BOGUS RUMORS Fischer never asked for Spassky's share of the winning. Fischer had the option to choose 100% of the Slater share of the prize, and opted for it to be equitably divided between himself and the Russian. “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” - Carl Sagan ★ / ★ / Inside Chess Circle Smear Campaign The oft repeated fantastical falsehood about cellos. In 1961, a spokesman for the actual committee confirmed the schedule was changed because Irving Rivise, the referee at the Fischer-Reshevsky match desired to make his trip to the U.S. Open in San Francisco, and changed scheduling without Bobby's consent. See Los Angeles Times, Monday, August 14, 1961, “Chess Champ Forfeits by Failing to Appear” Also Lombardy states bullying occurred at the hands of organizers. ★ 1,000,000 bribe offered to “take down” Israel's critics (State PROPAGANDA). In 1980, you could earn as much spreading propaganda, as you could winning a chess tournament! For examples where Chess has been sold out for a political agenda and deception, see ★ and ★ The Hitler “Race Myth” is found promoted in the following political propaganda… This article was not well received by syndicated press and as of 4/06/2021, appears only once in search queries. It's intent was to promote an ideology that was promoted by Adolf Hitler. Both Mr. Fischer and Spassky deny being part of a separate 'race' as was accused by this white supremacist ideology. Spassky's mother and father were not Jewish, nor was Fischer's mother, who refused to circumcize her son. Fischer was part of a Protestant religious affiliation, not Judaism. The author is deliberately negative and doesn't mention the bulk of facts. ★ / ★ / ★ / https://bobby-fischer-1972.blogspot.com/ Citations from Ralph Ginzburg's yellow journalism. Ginzburg was sued by an army of lawyers by Barry Goldwater, and Goldwater won, as it was proven Ginzburg didn't actually care about publishing non-factual information for sensational headlines. The author can't even get Fischer's correct residency in this article, along with pervasive effort to focus on negative descriptions... instead of focusing on Fischer's gift of chess. More of the same baseless, useless rumor mill. ★ /