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Chess Tue, Apr 4, 1972 – Page 13 · The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Settled At Last
Although the Russians protested FIDE president Dr. Max Euwe's decision to allot the world championship match between champion Boris Spassky, USSR, and challenger Bobby Fischer, U.S.A., to Belgrade, Yugoslavia (games 1-12) and Reykjavik, Iceland (games 13-24), they have had to finally accept the conditions.
Their original protest was based on the climatic conditions in Belgrade in summer, and the fact that previous championship matches under FIDE control had all been held in one city. They demanded a meeting of the FIDE Bureau in Moscow at the beginning of March. The Bureau pointed out that they did not have the constitutional power to make a decision, and that President Euwe alone had that right, when no agreement could be reached between the principals. Dr. Euwe, on his tour in the Far East (Japan, East Asia and Australia) stopped off at Moscow for discussions with Russian officials. They suggested switching the games to Bled, a holiday resort in North of Slovenia (which had bid $100,000 for the match), but Dr. Euwe stuck to his original decision. It was then decided to hold final talks at Amsterdam, March 18-19. Ed Edmondson, U.S.A. director, came over to represent Fischer's interests and Russia sent Ewfim Geller, senior GM. Others present were Rabell-Mendez (Puerto Rico) Deputy FIDE President, and delegates from the organizers in Belgrade and Reykjavik. Talks lasted for 14 hours. Iceland had earlier expressed some doubts of the value to them of the last 12 games, with the prospect of fewer than that being played. The Yugoslavs pointed out that it was in Reykjavik that the match would be decided and the champion crowned.
So the best of 24 games match will start at Belgrade on Thursday, June 22, with other sessions (4-9 p.m.) on Sundays and Tuesdays. Any unfinished games will be completed in between. The match will be moved to Reykjavik on Aug. 6, with play on the same days of the week (5-10 p.m.) To win, Fischer must score 12½ points, and in case of a 12-12 tie Spassky will retain his title. Lothar Schmid, German master, will referee. He handled that chore in the Fischer-Petrosian match at Buenos Aires.
