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Chess Sat, Jan 8, 1972 – Page 31 · The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Bids In For Big Match
Belgrade, Yugoslavia, with a bid of $152,000, leads the list of 10 nations and five cities bidding for the forthcoming world championship match between champion Boris Spassky, USSR, and official challenger Bobby Fischer, USA. Canada's bid of $75,000 was topped also by Iceland, $125,000, Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, $120,000; Argentina and Chicago, $100,000 each; West Germany, $92,000; Brazil and Holland, $80,000 each. Greece was next with $52,000. No others are mentioned in the press release. The bidding produced the largest cash prize offer in the history of the championship. The winner of the best of 24 games match will receive approximately two-thirds and the loser one-third of the prize fund. Fischer said the bids were “not bad — they'll have to do,” to one veto from each player.
Expenses of staging the match, which might last two months, would run around $50,000, mostly covered by the expected gate. The highest bid will not necessarily be accepted by the principals, but if they agree on a first choice the matter is settled, if not, negotiations will continue with Dr. Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), and if these prove fruitless, he will select the site, subject and declined further comment.
The original deadline for bids was set at Dec. ?, 1971, but a confusing statement appears in the current issue of 'Chess,' the British magazine, in an interview with Dr. Euwe at Buenos Aires by Yugoslav journalist, Dimitrije Bjelica, the president is reported to have said, “The match could take place in a neutral country. The last day for offers to stage the match to be in the hands of the International Chess Federation is Feb. 1, 1972. The match will probably take place in May or June.” This requires confirmation, as otherwise the whole affair could turn into an auction, with bids still open.
