The International Chess Federation decided to postpone the game for two days. Fischer was the top-ranked player in the world but Russian player Boris Spassky was the defending champion. He did not, however, call off the hugely anticipated match-up between representatives of global superpowers in the midst of the Cold War. "I then arrived 15 minutes late for the opening, had no speech prepared and didn't know what to say on stage," Thorarinsson recalled. Fischer was demanding that the players receive 30% of the proceeds from the television rights and the box office, in addition to a prize haul of $125,000 (€118,000).īut in vain: There was no commitment from the chess grandmaster from New York. "I had negotiated with Fischer's lawyer until the last minute - it was always about money," wrote Thorarinsson. Thorarinsson, now 82 years old, remembered the scene in his 2022 book, "The Match of All Time." And someone else is missing: Gudmundur Thorarinsson, the young head of the Icelandic Chess Federation. Robert ("Bobby") Fischer, the challenger from the USA, is not there. The hall where the "Match of the Century" is to open is mostly full, but one seat remains empty. Where is Bobby Fischer? It is July 1, 1972, and the National Theater in Reykjavik is getting restless.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |