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Bobby Fischer Tilts• lt;At Chess *s WindmillBy JAMBS WARDSOLINGEN, Germany (UPI) - Chets World Champion Bobby Pitcher it fighting hit favorite windmill again rThe InternationalChest Federation (FIDE).This time the stakes could not be higher—the crown Fischer won as the first American with his defeat of Boris Spassky in the chess match of the century two years ago in Iceland.Leu than 12 months before Bobby's first scheduled title defense, FIDE President Prof. Max Euwe of Hollandsaid he feared Fischer wouldnever move a pawn as world champion.very pessimisticabout the whole thing, said the former world champion in an interview. “We all know how stubborn Bobby can be when he feels his principles involved “Once again Fischer is campaigning against officialdomand went as far as to resign his title in a letter to FIDE inprotest against the match rules the chess body agreed upon for the June 1, 1975 play-off against Viktor Korchnoi or fellow-SovietGrandmaster Anatoly Karpov.Korchnoi and the up-and-coming Karpov clash in Moscow on Sept. I for the right tochallenge Fischer.But Euwe pointed out the American has until April 1. 1975 to change his mind.'if by that date Bobby hasnot changed his mind or no compromise has been reached, he will be stripped of his title, Euwe said. Ichances than 30-70 per cent An almost fatherly figure of 73. Euwe has repeatedly gone out of his way to prevent a clean break between chess and its young sorcerer, who has walked out of moretournaments and bent more rules than any other player on record.It was Euwe's peacemaking efforts that saved ihe match against Spassky in Reykjavik when Fischer's tantrums before and after hisarrival enraged and upset the Soviet camp to the extent that Moscow at one stage ordered Spassky back home. Herefused and eventually went down to defeat after 21games for Fischer to become the first American to win theworld title.This time the dispute w FIDE is over the numbergames to be played and won.FIDE's General Assembly decided on 10 wins out of amaximum of 39 games with draws not counting in the official score as they did in Reykjavik.Frorom his seclusion in Pasadena, Calif., Fischer vehemently objected and sent a letter to FIDE insisting he wanted an unlimited number of games with the champion retaining his title in case of a 9-9 points draw. The prize money would then be split, but Fischer remain champion.Euwe is having none of that.iiWe want a dearcut win's the more sporting decide a championship, he said. If we can talk Bobby out of his fixed idea about the draw, we might agree on other points as well.As always communications with the shy American are almost nonexistent.I have not talked with Bobby the last y Euwe admitted. “I don't know if he is actually studying chess or devoting his timeto his religion (Church of God)Recalling the Fischer made a fortune out of his title win, Euwe saidhope Bobby realizes what is at stake .. His title, his reputation as the world's number one and allthe material goods he madefrom his winIt's not the first time aworldiichampion orchallenger has been at odds with FIDE, Euwe said.“I personally suffered from a weak organization when as • challenger I played (Soviet World Champion) Alexander Alekhine in the 1930's. Then FIDE was weak, today we are strong Although correspondence with Fischei is conducted through his lawyer, Euwe said he had a per•iofficialV0: BSTAKT0■y
Newspaper Details
Harrisburg Daily Register
Harrisburg, Illinois, US
Sat, Aug 17, 1974
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 25 Jan 2023
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