During the closing ceremony of the Candidates’ final Karpov addressed to the FIDE President the following message:
“I should like to take advantage of the courteous attention you have paid our match by your presence here, to appeal to you, and in your person to the whole chess world. Before finding myself here in this highly esteemed role, I played sixty games in elimination events These were the Interzonal Tournament, and the three Candidates’ Matches against the top players of the time In my opinion this is an extremely severe test, to which the strongest grandmasters in the world are quite unjustly subjected, especially since all sixty games were played during an incredibly short period.
During the course of the present three-year cycle, the regulations for the World Championship Match have already been changed, a fact which has undoubtedly provoked regret. But I would like to express the hope that, in the coming match with the World Champion Robert Fischer, everything will be subordinated to the interests of chess.”
Euwe was asked what he would do, if on the expiry of the stipulated time Fischer had not accepted the Pretender’s challenge. The FIDE President replied:
“If by 1st April 1975 Fischer does not announce that he is accepting the challenge, I will interrupt my three-month tour of African countries, which is planned for the spring, and will fly to Moscow to proclaim Karpov the twelfth Champion of the World”.
June 20 1974. The FIDE Congress in Nice had to pass a final decision. Through Mr. Cramer, the World Champion R. Fischer USA sent to FIDE the following telegram:
“The world champion should be the world’s best player, and a long match is necessary to reach a just result with nearly absolute certainty. For this reason I propose that the match be won by the first player to win ten games, with no limit on the total number played”, says Fischer in his telegram, among other things.
“The provision for a drawn mach with the score nine won to nine, and with the champion retaining his title and the prize fund split equally is consistent with the longstanding tradition of giving a small advantage to the champion. Yes those who have long enjoyed this advantage now wish to abolish it. Propaganda emanating from a certain country has falsely implied that I am seeking an unprecedented advantage. These critics say that it is unfair to require a two point margin of ten won to eight in order for the challenger to win match, yet only in this way can the champion’s advantage be fairly preserved when there is no limit on total games…”.
Following the letter of Fischer received four days ago, the Congress decided to play the World Championship title match in 1975 for 10 wins. It is also voted to limit the number of games to 36. Should neither player score ten wins then the title would go to the first player to take the lead after the 36th game. In the case of a draw, the World Champion would retain is title.
On 27 June, Fischer sent a telegram to the President Euwe:
“As I made clear in my telegram to the FIDE delegates, the match conditions I proposed were non-negotiable. Mr. Cramer informs me that the rules of the winner being the first player to Win ten garnet, draw not counting, unlimited number of games and if nine wins to nine match is drawn with champion retaining title and prize fund split equally were rejected by the FIDE delegates. By doing so FIDE has decided against my participation in the 1975 world chess championship. I therefore resign my FIDE world chess champion title. Sincerely, Bobby Fischer”.
At its session on June 29, the FIDE Congress was acquainted with the Contents of Fischer’s telegram and voted on whether to alter the passed decisions and again discuss the regulations for the match. With a majority vote (35 : 17 with 11 abstentions), the delegates decided not to alter the decisions and not to reopen the issue. The Congress decided to send a telegram to the world champion:
“YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, COMPETITIVE SPIRIT, AND OUTSTANDING SKILL HAVE THRILLED ALL DURING THE YEARS YOU FOUGHT TO ATTAIN WORLD CHAMPION SHIP. FIDE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASKS THAT YOU RE CONSIDER POSSIBIL OF DEFENDING TITLE UNDER REGULATIONS ADOPTED HERE. ONLY BY SUCH A DE FENCE CAN YOU DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD YOUR TRUE AND HIGH QUALITIES. REGARDS, FIDE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.”
According the regulations should the World Champion withdraw, the winner of Karpov USSR – Korchnoi USSR will be World Champion.
The leaders of FIDE were not immune. After the General Assembly at Nice had ended, President Euwe held a quiet, informal meeting with the three Deputy Presidents. (Florencio Campomanes of the Philippines, Bozidar Kazic of Yugoslavia, and John Prentice of Canada.) Mr. Campomanes said he would try to determine whether or not there was even a remote possibility of Mr. Fischer’s changing his stance. Mr. Prentice volunteered, in case Mr. Campomanes should have any success, to “try to persuade the USSR Chess Federation to agree to some reasonable modifications.”
The USCF was of course very active. Their aim was clear; try to convince Fischer to drop some unacceptable conditions. His delegate Ed Edmondson wrote to the Champion as follows on October 1, 1974
Dear Bobby, every Middle Ages nor Ancient Times in order to exactly emulate their long- ago predecessors. History provides valuable guideposts to the future only when one Is prepared to learn from the mistakes of the past, not to repeat them. Some things we take as our own from history, others we discard for a better way.
You have absorbed chess history for many years. Earlier this year, you spent months laboring with Cramer over proposed regulations for the next World Championship Match. You incorporated certain worthwhile concepts from old-time matches into your proposals, and those proposals included much you had learned from your own experiences at Reykjavik and elsewhere. Cramer and 1, together with your friends from other countries, fought hard at Nice to obtain everything you sought; we were iuccessful on about 90% of the issues, but missed out on two important ones.
Studying Fred’s article in the October CHESS LIFE & REVIEW, pon dering the negative vibrations frequently given off by others at Nice and since, I began to sense the one and only basic issue on which we foundered. Reading Frank Skoff’s historical background article in the October issue heightened my awareness of the problem, but it wasn’t until I read your own reply to Larry (flow typeset for the November Issue) that the light dawned bright and clear.
The 19th Century saw the birth of match and tournament play. It was the Ancient History of chess, and the years before World War II were the Middle Ages. Some ideas from those times still ring true and should be part of modern play. Others, however, are examples from which we should learn that change is in order.
Bobby, you are absolutely right that draws should not count in determining the outcome of a match. We must remove any limit on the number of games to be played. However, the mistake you made was in not listening to yourself. The period during which you strove to become World Champion is Modern History, and the judgments you formed then were entirely lucid in the most vital area.
When you aspired to the title, you rightly crusaded for longer match es, drawn games not to influence the final outcome, and equal opportunity for both players. In this last regard, you were especially vehement against the one-game advantage conferred upon the Champion by a match of limited length in which drawn games counted and he retained the title on an equal score of 12-12. Yes, a match was drawn with such a result, but the Champion retained the title—and that was unfair because the TITLE is what a match is all about.
Early on at Reykjavik, there was danger that Spassky would be given the first point by forfeit. Added to the already unfair situation which existed with the one-point edge the Champion had in a 24 game match, this was too much. You perceptively appealed to Spassky’s sportsmanship on this issue and won your point hands down.
Now, Bobby, comes a question which only you can answer, from deep within yourself. Are you any less of a sportsman than Spassky? I fought for you tooth and nail in the past because I think you are the greatest chess genius who ever lived and because I considered you to be an honest and forthright sportsman in the highest meaning of that word. Now that you are World Champion, don’t be untrue to your own code—don’t deny the spirit of fair play which you lived by for so long. Do you really think that you—who as a Challenger fought against the rules which then gave the Champion a one-game edge in retaining his title—wish now to insist that the Champion to be given a two game edge simply because the shoe is on the other foot?
Search your soul for your answer to the above question. If you do that, I am confident your honesty will assert itself and the clouds of confusion Ancient History brought to this issue will roll away. Then you will say to me, ‘Ed, I was right five years ago and a draw would not be satisfactory. Let’s look for another formula. Together, Bobby, I’m confident we can gain a just resolution of the present problems. With a bit of a change in this draw situation I’ll go to work with our friends in FIDE and get an unlimited number of games. Then you will go on to defeat Karpov by being first to score ten wins, thus demonstrating to all what you and I have known all along. You are not a one-shot World Champion—you are the greatest chess player of all time.”
Ed. Edmondson didn’t get a reply to his letter. On October 8, Fischer told him by phone: ”I am agreed with everything but I am not going to back down”
FIDE Bureau met in Penang, Malaysia on December 15. Ed Edmondson had some private talks with the USSR’s Boris Rodionov. He resumed it in CLR:
1. In every field of competitive endeavour, the USSR proclaims its legions — and its individual competitors — to be paragons of good sportsmanship. No one argues that good sportsmanship is the reason why Fischer insists upon retaining the title should a 9-9 draw occur. But why should the Chess Federation of the USSR, or FIDE, be concerned by this condition? Will a 9-9 draw ever occur? Of course not! Then why make an issue of this theoretical but unreal point?
2. The world awaits a sporting gesture from the Soviet Union. The greatest such gesture possible would be for Karpov to agree to meet Fischer on Fischer’s own terms. Furthermore, all involved could agree — as Bobby now suggests — that World Championship Matches from 1978 on be played with no advantage whatsoever accruing to the Champion. That is, to a given number of wins, an unlimited number of games, and to a decision (no drawn match possible).
3. Now the way shall have been cleared for another Great Match. With those who were antagonists during the 1974 FIDE General Assembly at Nice finally in accord, no FIDE member federation would object to a declaration by President Euwe that we go ahead on these terms.
4. By its magnanimity, the USSR shall have proved its true sportsmanship to all the world. We will thus be assured that Karpov is not, in truth, afraid of Fischer.
5. And what of the World Champion? He will have everything he proclaims to want. Then he must play. If he does not — if he raises new demands — then Anatoly Karpov shall have done everything possible to bring about the Match and thus would deserve to be proclaimed World Champion.
I felt that Mr. Rodionov had almost certainly been sent to Penang with inflexible instructions which left him with no bargaining leeway. If so, and assuming we made no progress in these meetings, there was always the faint hope that our talks might bear fruit before April 1.
In conversations with several of the other Bureau Members, I emphasized the following.
1. The decisions at Nice were made in an atmosphere of tension and emotional conflict. With the elections and other difficult issues of that General Assembly now behind us, it is vital that the World Championship Regulations be reconsidered calmly and objectively.
2. Regulations should be based upon realistic appraisals. Probabilities indicate — especially where Fischer is involved — that one player would win ten games long before forty games were played. Likewise, odds against a 9-9 draw occurring are millions to one. Therefore, why not consider rewriting two small passages of the Regulations as the Champion wants them? (A course far preferable to accepting his resignation.)
3. In 24 games against Korchnoi, Anatoly Karpov barely eked out a one-point victory in his Final Candidates Match. (Drew 19, won 3, and lost 2.) Compare this with the previous Candidates Matches, in which Fischer demolished all three of his opponents in only 21 games. (Taimanov and Larsen each 6-0, Petrosian 5-1 with only 3 draws.) In view of this comparison, we could not expect universal acceptance of a FIDE declaration that Karpov had replaced Fischer as World Champion without ever meeting him.
4. I have spoken with Fischer several times in recent months. I am convinced of his determination not to play under FIDE auspices unless the Regulations are as he has outlined.
5. More than one member federation has indicated a willingness to sponsor a Fischer title defense outside of FIDE. More than one player would be available as a challenger. As a FIDE Bureau Member, I would hate to see such a match because I believe it might eventually result in FIDE’s splitting into two or more separate organizations.
In the formal meetings, the Bureau came to the last unanimous decision it would ever reach on an important aspect of the proposed match.
In February 1975 the Philippines Government and Philippines Chess Federation represented by F. Campomanes bided SFR 13,000,000 to organize the World Championship match between B. Fischer and A. Karpov USSR. This higher bid for a match ever made in the chess history. In FIDE HQ in Switzerland, the following offers for the organization of the World Championship Match were announced: Milan ITA SFR 1,100,000; Mexico City (MEX) SFR 1,000,000; Manila PHI SFR 13,100,000.
From March 18—20, 1975 in Bergen the FIDE Congress held his first extraordinary Congress at the request of 35 national federations.
Before the Congress began its business, Max Euwe was handed an open letter from
Mikhail Botvinnik, of which the following were the most important points:
“Dear Professor, you and I are the last Mohicans from the tribe of Champions which was active in the first half of this century, and it is doubtful whether anyone understands better than we do the dangers now threatening the chess world…
I once happened to read the story by Mark Twain about the unfortunate bridegroom, who on the eve of his wedding invariably suffered an injury, which each time involved an amputation. Here a philosophical question arises: how much of a cripple should a man become before his fiancée (who loves him very dearly) finally refuses to marry him? In similar fashion one can ask: how many years should a Champion (for whose talent everyone has a high regard) not appear in any events, before the chess world finally realizes that general interests far outweigh any egotistical ones?
Formerly, when we sat opposite each other at the chess board, Professor, I was sometimes thrown into confusion by your unexpected moves. I hope that now too you will find a move which will meet with the approval of the chess world, and will regain for you the sympathy and confidence both of your colleagues, and of chess fans (including both Soviet, and American). In this just cause you can always count on the assistance of your old friend.”
FIDE proposed to discussed and approve two changes in the regulations for the world championship match adopted in Nice in 1974. First, that the number of match games be unlimited (in Nice it had been decided to play for ten wins but to limit the match to a maximum of 36 games). Second, it was proposed that at a score of 9 wins to 9, the clause on a tied match be accepted (“If each player achieves nine victories and the score is tied at 9 : 9, the match is terminated as drawn. The world champion shall retain the title”).
The two-day debate produced arguments pro and con. A difference of views was especially pronounced with respect to the 9 : 9 clause. Some felt that this is the only possibility which guarantees the world champion retention of his title in the case of a draw. Others, however, were of the opinion that this would give a large advantage to the world champion, for the challenger would have to win with a two point difference (10—8) in order to win the world title. Some pointed out that it is FIDE’s sovereign right to determine the regulations of the match, while others stressed that what was important was to hold the match, etc.
On March 19, 37 : 33 votes adopted the proposal that the match be played with an unlimited number of games and that the winner be the first player to score ten victories. The 9 : 9 score clause was rejected, however, by a 35 : 32 vote with three abstentions. With the limit on the number of games lifted, the new decision did not include any provision concerning a drawn match whereby the champion would retain his title. This was the first time in the history of world championship matches that such a provision was missing. It is worth mentioning that the two proposals were voted on separately and that one was adopted while the other was rejected.
After the Congress, Fischer expressed to Campomanes his refusal to play in Manila and defend his title.
Euwe set up a deadline to the players to inform him of their readiness to take part in the match. Karpov answers on time.
From L. Evans column in the Sunday Washington Tribune: “Soviet chess master Salo Flohr writes; “Is Fischer quite sane? Requiring the challenger to win by a two-game margin is not sportsmanlike. If Fischer is ill, we sympathize and wish him a speedy recovery, But if he is well and behaving like an offended prima donna, expecting his challenger to capitulate to him unconditionally and accept all his terms, he is deluded,” Even Robert Byrne in NY Times calls Fischer’s proposals: “Absolutely stark-naked cheating … I think Bobby would rather retire undefeated than risk the possibility of losing.”
Karpov adds: To play until 10 victories is awful. The match can last 3 or 4 months… cease being art and turn into forced labor – – Fischer’s terms are ungentlemanly and unfeasible.” “If Fischer will play me in Europe, declared Korchnoi I will play under his ma condition.” But his loss nullified this brave concession. Bobby nurses a grudge for Russians dating to 1962 when they colluded against him at Curacao, setting back his title hopes ten years. Yet he would sooner forfeit the title then play under ground rules he dislikes. “Everyone knows I’m best, so why bother to play?” he once said. Now Karpov claims “Fischer is unsure of himself”.
Bobby told friends he was surprised that Karpov beat Polugaevsky in the first round, and astonished when he crushed Spassky next. Russia patiently has groomed young Karpov for this ineluctable clash with the temperamental Fischer.
I think Bobby will win if some way can be found to get him to the chessboard, where he belongs. Years ago Hans Kmoch sighed, “Finally America produces its greatest chess genius, and he turns out to be just a stubborn boy!”
In an interview give to a journalist after the Congress, Karpov commented on the “impossible” match: “Well, the match with Fischer may not in fact take place. But all the same I will make very thorough preparations. Whatever happens this work will not be in vain. The study of Fischer’s games will most likely enable me to improve and enrich my play”.
Q: But are you nevertheless nervous?
“What point is there in being nervous now? I had reason to be worried when the extraordinary congress had not yet been held, and I thought that absolutely all of Fischer’s demands might be adopted there. If this had happened, I decided with myself, I would then simply not have had the moral right to play the match. But when I learned that the congress had not proceeded at Fischer’s bidding, I calmed down instantly. It was then clear that either the match would take place, or else I was immediately Champion of the World. What was there to worry about?”
L. Evans from the US: “What a pity if Bobby Fischer fails to defend his title! Yet neither FIDE nor his Soviet challenger, Anatoly Karpov, has yielded to his harsh terms. Despite $5 millions at Manila and last-minute compromises the match won’t be official until Bobby actually shows up. In a letter to my column in Chess Life Bobby defended his proposal that the challenger win by a two-game margin, “The champion must also win by at least 2. When the champion gets 9 points the match isn’t automatically over, although at that stage his title is secure. It continues until he wins 10 games unless the challenger wins 9 first to tie him …Then the money would be split equally and the match declared a draw.”
Bobby seems to forget that the title is more important than the purse, in 1951, when the best-of-24 games took effect, Mikhail Botvinnik retained his
crown by drawing with David Bronstein. He did the same against Vassily Smyslov in i954.
Despite Soviet objections Bobby persuaded FIDE to return to the old system with no fixed limit. The first player to win 6 games, draws not counting, was
to be declared the victor,
Finally, for the first time in history, conditions were absolutely equal and the champion had no edge whatsoever. Perfect.
After two years of inactivity, Bobby again had the rules changed to 10 wins just in case he got off to a bad start. But FIDE refused to approve his 9-9
tie clause and set a 36-game limit (this means draws count),
Even though Bobby now enjoys the same edge as every Soviet titlist before him, he balks.
An unlimited match might become a battle of endurance.
Karpov won only 3 out of 24 against Korchnoi; the same ratio would require 80 games to get 10 wins — at least 26 weeks (3 games per week plus postponements, etc.
‘‘No champion is interested in the good of the game; only in the good of himself,” observes syndicated columnist Sydney Harris, “As a contender, each player has always clamored for a chance to play the champion, accusing him of delay, timidity, and downright cowardice Then upon attaining the title the new champion engaged in precisely the same stalling tactics.
Although Bobby promised to be a fighting champion he hasn’t faced anyone since Spassky. Indeed, will the enigmatic American show up now?”
On April 2 Euwe announced that he had received no news from the World Champion by the set deadline 7:00 AM GMT. He said that deadline will be extended to April 3 10:00 AM GMT in view of the possibility that a telegram may have been sent on time but not yet reached FIDE headquarters.
The April 3rd at 11:00 GMT FIDE issues the following statement:
FOLLING YESTERDAY STATEMENT BY FIDE PRESIDENT MAX EUWE, THIS MORNING AT 11 AM NO HAVING RECEIVED A CABLE FROM MR. FISCHER, HAD TO DECLARE THE WORLD CHAMPION NOT AVAILABLE per article 2.3 OF THE REGULATIONS FOR THE MATCH FOR THE MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. IN ACCORDANCE WITH article 2.3 OF THE REGULATION, FIDE PRESIDENT EUWE FIRMALLY DECLARE THE CHALLENGER GRAND MASTER ANATOLY KARPOV WORLD CHAMPION 1975.
Nathan Divinsky, Canadian delegate and also redactor of Chess Chat analysed the situation:
FISCHER stripped of World Title.
FIDE took his title away from him when he refused to play under the FIDE rules. There was a great deal of heat and tension generated by the controversy and we fear much damage may have been done to the amicable and effective leadership of FIDE.
Fischer demanded two things: the match should be played until one player won 10 games WITH NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER of games; and if the score ever reached nine wins each, the match should be declared drawn and Fischer would retain his title. On the first point FIDE first agreed to extend the old 24 game match to 36 games. Then under severe pressure, FIDE agreed to a match with no limit as Fischer demanded. We personally disagree with this because the match could conceivably go on for a year or more. That is too great a drain on the organizers and it puts too great a demand on physical stamina. Surely an intellectual sporting events can be settled in three months! Besides, one might say “I was a young man when this match began.” But FIDE in its wisdom agreed to go along with this demand. They also selected the site (Manila) that Fischer selected (Karpov chose Milan) and they selected the referee that Fischer selected “and was not even on the list submitted to Karpov).
The final crisis arouse over Fischer’s second demand – the 9 –9 rule. There is precedent for this. The Tarrasch- Tchigorin match of 1893 had this 9-9 rule and in fact the score reached 9-9 and the match was declared drawn. Also Alekhine- Capablanca 1927 was to go to the player who won 6 games with the proviso that should the score reach 5-5, the match would be drawn. Besides, how else can a match with no limit on the number of games ever be drawn?
The answer seems to be that though a 24 game match, or 36 game match, may very well end in a draw, there is no reason why a match must have a drawing possibility! With a no limit match, it is true that there is no way it can be drawn but that in fact is quite acceptable if not even desirable. If the 9-9 rule were imposed it would in effect mean that a challenger would have to beat the champion by TWO games to dethrone him and that is manifestly unfair to any challenger.
The other hypothetical possibility is that white will win every game and the match will end at 10-9 with the loser not having had a chance to play his 10th game as white. This is of course rather unlikely but the champion might be sufficiently protected if he was guaranteed white in the first game. However Fischer insisted on the 9-9 rule, FIDE voted (by a narrow 3 vote margin) against it and Fischer refused to accept it.
We agree with FIDE. We would have had more sympathy for Fischer if he had played even one tournament game during the three years of his world championship. We are disappointed with his absence from the tournament arena for such a long time and we are very disappointed with his refusal to play under these new FIDE rules.
Here is the English master Harry Golombek’s view on the situation:
The recent extraordinary congress of the world chess federation at Bergen in the Netherlands was worthy of its special adjective. It abounded in dramatic incidents and coups de theatre and, if its angry men tended to be old rather than young, it made up for this anachronism by specializing in the more surrealist type of modern drama. Pirandello, Beckett and Pinter would all have delighted in the rather mad atmosphere. Seventy countries were represented and, with many of these having counselors, one could confidently say there were at least 70 – odd characters in search of an author.
True, there was no lady buried to the neck in the ground. But most of the delegates were encompassed, from the neck up, in a kind of cocoon composed of self or national interest, almost infinite prejudice in a little room and, alas, ignorance.
These are harsh words but they are fully justified by the sad fact that once again the old terrible quandary of choosing between the two mighty opposites, the United States and the USSR, afflicted us and perplexed in the extreme those who believe that the true objective of FIDE should be to further the course of chess throughout the world and not to favor any particular block o countries.
It goes without saying, as the French put it in their cock-eyed Irish way, that this pendulum of doubt was enhanced and widened by the main object of the Extraordinary Congress, which was to device some means of inducing the world champion, Bobby Fischer, to play his match against the challenger, Anatoly Karpov. Ostensibly there were five items on the agenda: the 1976 Olympiad for which no bids had been submitted; the FIDE’s financial situation – which was appalling; the regulations for the 1975 World Championship match which had been settled at last years FIDE Congress but not to the world champion’s satisfaction in two particulars; the 1975 World Junior Championship which likewise had been settled at the Nice Congress but which the Puerto Rican organizers rightly thought to present certain difficulties, and, finally, the 1975 World Student team Championship that could find no home anywhere.
Four of these items were more or less satisfactorily settled. The Iran Chess Federation will hold the 1976 Olympiad for men and women if its government provides the necessary two million dollars; the dues each country has to pay as its subscription to FIDE were raised by 25%; the 1975 World Junior Championship at Puerto Rico will be played on the Swiss System with 13 rounds in 21 days, and the United States, provided there is a World Championship match this year, will essay to run the World Student Team Championship.
Bobby Fischer’s two demands were bitterly contested and in the end a compromise was reached. His wish that the number of the games in the match should be unlimited was granted but, by a small majority, his stipulation that if both the players had obtained nine wins the match would be drawn and the champion would retain his title, this almost medieval idea which was a Dark Ages conception that meant the challenger had to obtain a two point margin in order to gain the title was, I am happy to write, defeated.
Does all this sound reasonably lucid? The Soviet delegate must have thought so since he remarked to me at the end that it was nie plokhi congres, which means that it was not a bad congress…
In other words, the congresses of our fathers were worse than those of our grandfathers. Ours are more wicked than theirs and even more corrupt will be whose of our offspring.
In support of this, consider the remark that Colonel Edmondson, the United States delegate, made apropos of the Soviet delegation’s last minute (actually later than last minute since it was made after the president had declared the Congress closed) proposals about the World Championship Match. It started: “It’s a dirty trick, such a dirty trick that I am amazed.” I in turn was struck with amazement – was the worthy Colonel about to confess that he was a Master of dirty tricks? But alas to the anticlimax he went on to say:” I am accustomed to be at the receiving end of dirty tricks from the Soviet Chess Federation.”
The net result of our deliberations was that, on being informed of their nature by Philippines delegate the world champion said: “It’s all over.” Perhaps it is just as well. We shall miss some fine chess, but, when I think how the last match destroyed such a great player as Spassky, I am reluctant to put Karpov through that grimmest of two-handed engines.
The Editorial from the London Times:
That Bobby Fischer has ceded his title as world chess champion by default is a sad disappointment. Fischer’s play, ever since he burst into fame with a performance known to this day as the game of the century, has delighted chessplayers the world over. His originality, his command of every aspect of technique, his vision which gave so many of his games their artistic content, above all his incessant determination to attack, have never been surpassed.
If Fischer’s withdrawal is confirmed -and, though nothing can be taken for granted in the fraught atmosphere of world championship chess, it seems certain – a measure of sympathy is deserved by the player himself. Perhaps today “player” is the wrong word, for Fischer has not played competitive chess since his famous victory over Boris Spassky at Reykjavik in 1972. His isolation reflects something of the strange behavior of his great predecessors and fellow countryman, Paul Morphy, over a century ago. He was acknowledged at the time to be the leading master in the world, a man of extraordinary gifts. But Morphy’s career went into a sad decline, in which he finally abandoned the game and any interest in chess whatever.
Fischer’s decision not to defend his title against Anatoly Karpov, the Soviet challenger, is not really a surprise. Nor can the decision of the International Chess Federation be a surprise to him. Fischer was insisting on changes in the rules which no champion would seek, nor any rules body sanction. In effect he wanted the challenger to have to win by a margin of two clear points, which was obviously quite unacceptable. On his other demand, that the number of games in the match should not be limited, he was given his way. But there clearly was a point beyond which the federation could not go in its desire to bring Fischer to the table. In that the Soviet Union and its supporters were in the right.
Anatoly Karpov is a worthy successor, though he would doubtless have far preferred to have earned his crown over the board against the former champion. Karpov has won the Soviet championship, he has trounced Spassky, he has fought a difficult but none the less effective battle to overcome his main rival in the candidates tournament, Victor Korchnoi. His play, though less exciting than Fischer’s, is a model of balance and clarity. In his overall mastery, he perhaps resembles Capablanca more than anyone else in the line of world champions. As to whether he would have beaten Fischer that remains an open question, and one of the most tantalizing in the whole history of chess.
L. Evans of United States: “For the first time in history a champion was crowned without pushing a single pawn. When no word passed from Bobby Fischer by the deadline, FIDE had no choice but to give the title to his challenger Anatoly Karpov.
“Next to the genius of Fischer, Karpov is a dull, plodding student,” said Ed Edmonson of the USCF. “What we are getting now is Russian propaganda designed to convince the world that he really is a worthy champion: but in his heart Karpov knows he is not champion because he never met Fischer and defeated him.”
“Paper champion?” replied the 24-year-old Russian. “I think that term more adequately describes Fischer, who has not played game of chess in 3 years. I still don’t understand why he refused to defend his title. It is hard for me to tell how strong he is, but I am not convinced that he is capable of playing chess at this time
“Besides splendid chess performances, Fischer introduced into our creative world such fuss and confusion that chess masters suddenly were in urgent need of diplomats, spokesmen and lawyers. Earlier we could reach an understanding in our own language, and now this has become almost impossible.”
Karpov made it clear he is willing to play Fischer a match, but not for the title. Moreover, there would have to be a 24 or 30 game limit instead of Fischer’s demand for 10 wins and no limit.
“That would be a marathon which would risk my health and sanity,” said Karpov also calling into question the sanity of Fischer who turned down $5 million–the second largest purse in the history of sport.”
And from Muscovite press:
Karpov said today that he was glad the chess crown had returned to the Soviet Union but regretted that he did not get to play Fischer for it.
He said he could not understand why Fischer did not play the match. “I wanted this match to take place very much and I think I have done all I could for this.”
He had the impression that Fischer was looking for a pretext not to play. “I think he just was not ready to play”.
Karpov said that the American had “attempted to strangle me even before the match to gain a great psychological advantage.” But he was willing to give Fischer a chance to win back his title in a completely new match in which the two contenders would be in reverse positions, and which would have FIDE’s approval.
Karpov said in an interview published in Moscow he would like to see “seeded players” introduced into the finals of the world chess championship tournament.
He said there should be 12 challengers playing in two rounds with the winner having the right to play the champion. “Among those 12 there should be vacancies, let’s say three, four or even six, for the leading world grandmasters,” he said.
From the USA, Colonel Edmondson, the executive director of the US Chess Federation said:
“Poor Fischer won’t have his title, Karpov will have a paper title, and the world won’t have its match. We’re all losers.”
He became sharper in his views about Karpov:
“The Russian is an unsportsman like “little mouse” who is “whistling in relief” because he did not have to play against Bobby Fischer.
Edmondson said it was “utterly ridiculous grandstanding” for Karpov to say he was ready to play Fischer, but at the same time question whether the American was now “mentally capable of playing chess.”
Edmondson said Sunday in a telephone interview from his Newburgh, N.Y. home that “next to the genius of Fischer, Karpov’s talent is that of a dull, plodding student rather than that of a true world champion.
“Why didn’t this little mouse roar like a lion when it might have taunted Mr. Fischer into playing?” Edmondson said, referring to Karpov.
“Why does he only speak when it’s too late? It’s a typical Soviet sportsmanship- be sure to kick the man when he’s down.”
“What we are getting now is Russian propaganda designed to convince the world that he’s really a worthy champion, but in his heart Karpov knows he is not a champion because he never met Fischer and defeated him.”
We can understand Edmondson’s disappointment but we believe he is being unfair to young Karpov (at 23 the youngest world chess champion ever.)
Fischer’s future is obscure. It is rumored that he had plans to play matches outside the FIDE arrangements. Color is lent to this by this terms in which he resigned the world title in a telegram to the FIDE congress at Nice last year.
We would be pleased to hear views on this controversy from our readers.”
On April 11 in Moscow Anatoly Karpov, the new world chess champion, challenged Bobby Fischer, his American predecessor, to a match under conditions to be decided between them personally.
Karpov said that in an interview with Soviet Sport that he wanted to enter into direct negotiations with Fischer and to cut out the International Chess Federation (FIDE). He mentioned Milan as a possible venue for the match.
Karpov was declared champion last week when Fischer refused to defend his world crown against him in a match billed to begin in October in Manila. Fischer’s withdrawal followed FIDE’s rejection of his demand that the 23-year-old Soviet player should beat him by at least 10 games to eight to take the title.
“There can no question of the old match,” Karpov said “Now I am already world champion, and I want talks only with a view to a new match. If Fischer agrees, I’m ready to play him under fixed conditions that we will both stipulate.”
Karpov said the FIDE rules for the world championship match were “unsatisfactory”. He demanded that they be changed before the next interzonal tournament or at least before the tournament to find his first challenger.
Karpov also criticized Fischer’s behavior in 1970 and 1972 before he won the world title from Boris Spassky in Reykjavik.
Karpov said: “His brilliant victories with impressive scores were not only the result of his superiority in chess, but also of the psychological pressure he exerted on his opponents.”
“Fischer was constantly creating an atmosphere of great nervousness with his protests and complaints. He brought agitation and confusion into our world.”
Chess Informant celebrated the ceremony in one of its publication:
On April 24, a formal ceremony was held in Moscow at which Anatoly Karpov was proclaimed the new world champion. The ceremony was attended by FIDE President Dr. Max Euwe, numerous FIDE officials and representatives of national federations from 15 countries, as well as by leading figures from Soviet chess and physical education organizations. They all gathered in the Hall of Columns in Moscow’s luxurious Doni Soyuz, the site of many chess competitions. It was in this Hall that Karpov played the major part of his final Candidates’ Match against Victor Korchnoi from September to November last year. This same Hall saw part of the 1948 tournament match played here when Botvinnik won the world title. Still earlier, in 1933, S. Flohr and M. Botvinnik played a match here.
In his speech at the formal ceremony, Dr. Max Euwe stressed that FIDE is very pleased with the new champion. He pointed out Karpov’s self-control and sportsmanship conduct and the high results he has scored in his brief chess career. Accompanied by the sound of ovations, the President of FIDE then presented Karpov with the gold medal and traditional laurel wreath which always goes to the world champion.
In his acceptance speech the young title-holder said that his primer concern will be to take part in competitions. “My contribution to chess”, he said, is still minor. Perhaps that is because I am still young. In my opinion, one of my main obligations is to be a world champion who will play. That is why I intend to take part systematically in competitions. My principle goal is to improve my game”.
Karpov received many gifts, including the chess Oscar” as the best chess player in 1974 according to a poll taken by the International Association of Chess Journalists.
After Mikhail Tal, Anatoly Karpov is the youngest champion in the history of world title matches. He won his title from FIDE after Robert Fischer failed to confirm that he would defend his title in a match by the regulation dead-line of April 1, l975. Thus, Karpov became the first champion to win his title without a match. Fischer, on the other hand, is the first champion to refuse to defend his title according to the regulations adopted by the FIDE Congress.
A press conference was held in Moscow on April 25 at which Karpov answered many questions concerning his future plans and spoke of the complications engendered by the unplayed match. He said that he regretted the fact that the match had not been played but that this was not his fault. Elaborating on a statement he made on April 4 to the Yugoslav news agency Tan jug, where he said that he would be willing to play a match with Fischer, Karpov stressed that this would be an un official match, while the official world title match would have to be played in 1978 against the challenger who qualifies according to the FIDE rules. Karpov’s statement hints that
Euwe’s speech at the proclamation ceremony:
“I am happy to be present here on the occasion of this splendid event-coronation of the new World Champion. The World Chess Federation had to solve many problems before we could come to this day. I personally had problems. As you are aware, I had been seriously criticized by your press and although the objective criticism is always necessary in this case to my mind it was rather groundless. For I have always been on the side of the Soviet Chess Federation. Now after the conversation with your Sports and Chess authorities I think this had happened because of some misunderstanding.
Recently FIDE faced a number of obstacles which were to be overcome. Perhaps it was for better. Maybe we could have avoided something but then a feeling would have appeared that we did not do everything dependent on us for the match to take place. Now we can state with satisfaction: FIDE did everything it could.
I am impressed by the self-possession of the new World Champion Anatoly Karpov, his deep decency and sport qualities which he has been performing during all this time, i.e. almost a year long while this story was going on. I am reminding you of all these problems only to once again prove Karpov self-possession and sport skills. In the Rules adopted in Niece many wishes of Fischer were taken into consideration, particularly, a play up to 10 wins – an innovation which was not to the advantage of the Challenger. A. Karpov accepted it. In March this year the Extraordinary Assembly met Fischer’s demands having abolished the games limit. A. Karpov following the best sport ideas agreed to it.
And as you know this Assembly rejected the last Fischer’s requirements – two points advantage. The deadline to take a decision was close. Fischer’s friends did everything possible in order to persuade him to play but in vain. Fischer kept silent and when the deadline was over Karpov was announced to be a new World Champion. Karpov together with chess amateurs in the whole world can regret that the match did not take place and he did not have a chance to prove his right for this title by playing the match. But Fischer had everything to prove his title: the venue, the arbiters were chosen considering his wishes. Fischer’s obstinacy or some other features of his character, which I as well as many other people cannot quite understand, prevented him form using this right and fulfilling his duty towards the chess world.
It’s now high time to say a few words about our charming young champion. His brilliant career started 8 years ago. Being a Dutch man I am proud that this happened in Groningen, Holland. Only to list some FIDE tournaments Karpov participated in will be impressing. In 1967 he is the Champion of Europe among juniors, in 1969 – World Champion among juniors. This gave him the right in the inter-zonal tournament of 1973, which he won together with Korchnoi. As you know Anatoly brilliantly played these matches – with Polugaevsky, Spassky and Korchnoi.
I will tell you why I have summed up this success. Karpov played 80 games and made 3000 moves. However, in 1967 in Groningen I had the honor to make a first move and this means that out of 3000 moves Karpov made 2999 and 1 I did. So, one may say that from that my move he started his brilliant career and I have my part in his Champion’s title. I do not want to go to far by stating that we won this title together, but we can believe me that now I am as happy as Anatoly.
FIDE is very glad with its new World Champion. We are sure that he will be a great and worthy champion and will demonstrate his strength in different tournaments. I hope that after the next 3 year circle I will come here again to congratulate whole-heartedly Anatoly Karpov who will prove his title.”
Karpov’s speech at the ceremony:
“First of all, let me extend my sincere gratitude for congratulations and all warm words that were addressed to me. Let me thank the authorities and statesmen of the World Chess Federation, the representatives of national federations and all foreign guests who have come to Moscow to take part in this evening.
Taking this opportunity, I would also like to wholeheartedly thank all chess amateurs that are present here and those who supported me by sending their warm wishes, sympathy and congratulations during my participation in tournaments and matches. A part of my successes is also their merit because such moral support and attention give rise to your feeling of responsibility and fill you with extra power in the critical moments of a sport struggle.
Of course I am happy that the highest chess title or, as it is accepted to say, “the chess crown”, has been returned to our country rich of historical chess traditions and well known worldwide by its chess culture. Namely these traditions of our national chess school, having brought up a whole number of women and men world champions, helped me master the chess craft and achieve successful results in a comparatively short period of time in the atmosphere of big competition among many outstanding grandmasters.
I would like to express my gratitude towards soviet sport chess organizations, that to this or that extend helped me achieve these results; the Lenin comsomol organization, which helped the formation of my social consciousness, character and aspiration for high targets.
I am very grateful to the honored trainer of the USSR Grandmaster S. A. Furman with whom we have been collaborating already for many years and all other people that were helping me during this long and hard competition of challengers and also in the last months of preparations for the match that did not take place for the reason that did not depend on me.
Certainly, I clearly understand that my personal contribution to the world chess treasure house is not a big one and the reason for that might be explained by the years that are not enough to make a bigger contribution. The title of the World Champion imposes a great responsibility to the champion. I shall try to do my utmost in order to fulfill my responsibilities and duties suitably. I am ready to cooperate with the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in the deed of the fortifying of FIDE unity and authority, further development and chess propaganda in our country and in the whole world.
To my mind, one of the main duties of the World Champion is to be a playing chess player so that people from many different countries in the world could see the champion at the chess board, grandmasters and masters could meet him in the chess struggle, learn and teach him something. That is why I intend to perform in the national and international competitions systematically.
The main task of my chess plans will be further perfecting of the chess skill-which does not have any limits, -having the year 1978 as a perspective, when according to FIDE Regulations I will have to defend my title in the match with the winner of the next cycle of competitions among challengers.
It doesn’t exclude the possibility of other matches with the strongest Grandmasters, Fisher for instance, but not instead of the FIDE harmonious system existing already for so many years that should be strengthened and supported by a World Champion but not destroy.
Let me once again thank you very much for all warm words and wishes, and whatever has been said so to say in advance I shall try to prove in the future.”
The next day after the official ceremony of coronation A. Karpov gave a press conference for soviet and foreign journalists. About 200 representatives of mass media, TV and radio gathered in the Central House of Journalists. The World Champion was asked many questions. It is clear that the main theme of this conference was the match between Karpov and Fisher that did not take place. A. Karpov said: “I don’t know what Fisher’s reasons were that he refused to prove his title. Perhaps he was not ready for chess struggle but it is also possible that he was in such a state that he simply could not sit at the chessboard. However, whatever the reasons were – it is an unprecedented case in the history of chess. I think that the position of Fisher, if someone else did not make up this position, was wrong. The Champion’s Title is an honorable one, it belongs not only to one person, but to the whole world. That is why the Champion should not ignore the chess world and dictate his conditions to the leading grandmasters.
I have made everything for the match with Fisher to take place, I have taken the extreme measures, met almost all his demands. I greed with the venue he proposed, with the candidature of the chief arbiter who was appointed according to the wish of the American grandmaster. At last I was ready to play the match up to 10 wins with no games limit. I consider the last term absolutely unacceptable. Statistics shows that Fisher (so do I) loses lately not more than one-two games a year. One can imagine how long our match would have lasted. It would have been a marathon-exhausting contest as a result of which the chess world could have lost two leading grandmasters. However, I was ready to play such a match.
I personally was preparing for the meeting with Fisher very seriously and had good chances for victory. When I won the Interzonal, I did not think that I would be able to win the challengers’ competition. Although I was confident about my chances I assumed that a small experience of participating in such tournaments and a compete absence of match experience must at last reflect on my play. At that time, I claimed “it was not my cycle” and only in 1978 I would be ready for a serious struggle for the title of the World Champion.
But during that challengers’ tournament especially after the match with Spasski, my opinion had changed. I felt that even then I was ready to fight for the highest title, because I had managed to win one of the most experienced Grand Masters of the world. And because at that time I did not make any announcements in public nobody could know about my changed intentions. Moreover, I belong to such a category of people who prefer to work more than to promise.
And, of course, I am glad that the title of the world champion came back to our country, which gave a lot to chess. But I do not feel the moral satisfaction because I wanted to win this title in open sport fight with Fischer. But it’s not my fault that Fischer refused to prove his title of the world champion. The only thing to be sorry about is that everything happened as it did.
The Executive Director of the US Chess Federation Mr. Edmondson made up a term for me ” a paper champion”. I think that this term is more appropriate for Fischer who since the match with Spassky in 1972 has not been participating anywhere for 3 years and really is a “paper king”. At the same time the whole chess world was watching the challengers’ match with much attention and there were no claims towards me or my play.
As for Fischer we will hope that he will not leave chess, that he will show his outstanding skills, his talent.
Having won the world champion title I reached the sports peak. As they say there is nowhere to go further. My aim is to keep this honorable title as long as possible. But chess is not limited by the sport side. Chess is an art and in this sphere one can and should make progress. I hope that my chess life will be full and I’ll manage to play many interesting games.
As the world champion, I should promote chess in our country and abroad. I want to participate in different tournaments.”
Many questions were asked to Karpov about the possibility of his match with Fischer in the future.
Karpov said: “Not so long ago we received a telegram from the President of the Chess Federation of Philippines Mr. Campomanes in which he informed us about his telephone call with Fischer. As if Fischer made a proposal to meet with me personally in order to discuss the possibility of the organization of the match between us. Then Campomanes sent me another telegram suggesting me to call Pasadena where, according to his information, Fischer is now and make an appointment with him.
I respect Mr. Campomanes as an energetic and fine organizer but I would like Mr. Fischer to contact me personally because I am not sure whether I can believe his statements told to other people. The problem is that the history of the negotiations with Fischer knows many cases when he refused from the agreements signed by his representatives. For example, in Reykjavik.
If Fischer offers me to play a match personally, I am ready to meet with him and discuss all the conditions of the competition. However, the American Grand Master will have to take into consideration my proposals.
Fischer brought muddle to the world of chess. However, there is a definite procedure for winning the world champion title, and in 3 years I must prove this title in the match with a new challenger. I think that the world champion must respect law. I will personally work for the strengthening of the unity of FIDE and will not break the principles supported by the whole chess world.
As far as the right of the ex-champion for the return match was abolished long ago we can speak only about the unofficial match with the American Champion. This is my first condition. Further, this match should be limited to 24-30 games. Without this limit I will not play because I do not want to risk my health. I hope to live a long and fruitful chess life. And, at last, all the conditions with all the details should be mentioned in our agreement in order to avoid conflict situations.
If Fischer accepts my proposals I am ready to play with him. I think our match will raise a big interest and will lead to further development of chess”.
Anatoly Karpov’s biography is relatively short, but in the course of the five years since he began to take intensive part in international chess, he has recorded major success.
He was born on May 23, 1951 in the Ural town of Zlatoust. Later his parents moved to Tula and now he is a student at the Faculty of Economics in Leningrad. His chess career evolved rapidly. He learned chess when he was four and a half years old. By the age of 7 he was a third category player, by the age of nine a first category player, by the age of 11 he held the title of master candidate, and at the age of 15 he became a master. He was 18 years old when he earned the title of international master and 19 when he became a grandmaster.
In 1969, he won the World Junior Championship in Stockholm. The following year he won the RSFSR Championship in Kuibyshev. In 1971, he finished first in the strong International Tournament in Moscow, in 1972, International Tournament in Hastings and the International Tournament in San Antonio. In 1973 he won the International tournament of Madrid.