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.
Officials of the International Chess Federation —FIDE— said they “hope” the match could begin on Sunday. Harry Golombek, a member of FIDE's central committee, said Tuesday should be the latest time for a start.
Fischer delayed the opening of the match, which was to have begun last Sunday, in a holdout for more money. The stakes then were an official purse of $125,000 and a share of TV and film receipts.
He decided to come—arriving Tuesday—only after British financier James Slater stepped in with a donation of $130,000 to sweeten the prize pot.
It totals $255,000 of which the winner will take five-eights and the loser three-eights. In addition, the players will get a share of the sale of TV and movie rights, estimated at perhaps $27,500 each.
In his letter to Spassky, who demanded a written apology for Fischer's conduct before he would sit down at the chess board, the American champion called his attempt to grab a share of the gate as “my petty dispute over money.”
“I have offended you and your country, the Soviet Union, where chess has a prestigious position,” Fischer wrote.
Nevertheless, he took issue with a demand by the Soviet Chess Federation that he be penalized with the loss of the first game for his tardy arrival.
“If this forfeit demand were respected,” Fischer wrote, “It would place me at a tremendous handicap,” he added that he didn't believe “the world's champion desires such an advantage in order to play me.”
The Russians says Spassky probably wouldn't accept a forfeiture.
“I know you to be a sportsman and a gentleman, and I am looking forward to some exciting chess games with you.” Fischer concluded.
The letter was the second apology Fischer had offered Spassky in as many days. In a statement read to the press Wednesday Fischer said he was “sorry” the match had been delayed and that Spassky had been “inconvenienced.” This acceptance of responsibility was apparently not enough to satisfy the Russian.
The note to Spassky, couched in conciliatory language, began: “Please accept my sincerest apology for my disrespectful behavior in not attending the opening ceremony (July 1). I simply became carried away by my petty dispute over money with the Icelandic chess organizers.”
Described Wednesday as being “very upset” by the tangled prelude to the match, Spassky appeared calm and fit Thursday as he played his daily round of tennis with Russian companion Jivo Nei.
He joked with photographers, signed autographs for kids and demonstrated that the postponement had allowed him to improve his tennis game.
Fischer remained out of view, apparently sleeping, at one of the hideaways provided him by the organizers.
