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Chess FIDE Organization Sat, Jun 10, 1972 – 6 · Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Chess: FIDE Organization
By H. Mather
Considerable publicity has been given to the impending world title match between the present champion and challenger Bobby Fischer of the U.S.A. Much of this has centered around the objections raised by Fischer regarding location and financial arrangements and a few brief comments are in order. However, in order to comment meaningly on this situation to the average reader it is highly desirable to first devote some attention to the role played by the world chess federation. In the final analysis, it is this organization which controls the playing conditions.
The 'Federation Internationale des Echecs' (FIDE) was founded in 1924 at Paris by Pierre Vincent and annual congresses were held up until the Second World War. In 1946 FIDE was reorganized with Mr. Folke Bogard of Stockholm as president, who held office until the present incumbent—Dr. Max Euwe of the Netherlands—took over the presidency four years ago. To those acquainted with the controversies involved in the selection of world chess champions 30 or 40 years ago, the emergence of such a central organization appears to be a step forward. Prior to this time, champions could (and did) play when they felt like it—or they could refuse to play. Now there is an international code which hopefully curtails these individual whims and at least brings some sense of order in the selection of world champion. Detailed description of the workings of FIDE is of course not possible in this brief article, but suffice it to say that it is organized on a geographical basis. Canada, for example, is a separate zone with representation on the central governing body, and is entitled to one entry in the scheme of competitive chess. Mr. John Prentice of Vancouver is our FIDE representative, and the national championship now being played in Toronto will select our candidate for the next world championship three years hence.
With this brief background of the organizational situation, readers will be in a better position to understand the somewhat controversial picture arising out of the Spassky-Fischer match to be discussed in our next article.
