AAustin American-Statesman, Austin, Texas, Thursday, August 31, 1972 - Page 33
Tourney May See Chess Foes
San Antonio, Tex. (AP) — Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, the chess kings now vying for the world title, may be the star attractions of an international chess tournament here, organizers say.
San Antonio business executive George Church, sponsor of the tournament set for Nov. 18-Dec. 11 said Spassky may appear as a player and Fischer as a narrator for a television network.
Church said Spassky has accepted an invitation to the tournament, but he still must receive official approval from the Soviet Union.
Russia has promised to send two grand masters here, he said.
Church also confirmed an announcement from New York that negotiations are under way for Fischer to narrate the competition.
According to the announcement, Spanish International Network of New York has acquired world rights to the San Antonio tournament, and network president Rene Anselmo is conducting talks with Fischer's representatives.
The network said it will televise the tournament live and will videotape it for future distribution world-wide. It said this will be the first time an international chess tournament will be telecast in its entirety.
Sixteen players, including two Russians are to compete in the tournament.
Among the U.S. players expected are Larry Evans, Lubomir Kavalek, Dr. Anthony Saidy, Kenneth Smith and Robert Byrne.
Foreign players scheduled to compete include Walter Browne of Australia, Mario Compos Lopez of Mexico, Svetozar Gligoric of Yugoslavia, Zlostmil Hort of Czechoslovakia, Julio Caplan of Puerto Rico, Enrique Mecking of Brazil, Bent Larsen of Denmark, Lajos Portisch of Hungary and Duncan Suttles of Canada.
