The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, Wednesday, January 05, 1977 - Page 10
Chess Group Disqualifies Fischer
Amsterdam, The Netherlands (UPI) — Bobby Fischer was disqualified from the 1978 world chess championship Tuesday and his place given to the Russian he beat for the world title — Boris Spassky.
The International Chess Federation said Fischer failed to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to notify the federation of his intent to take part in an elimination tournament to find a challenger to meet world champion Anatoly Karpov next year.
“We did not hear from Fischer,” federation secretary Ineke Bakker told newsmen. “As a result his place in the candidates tournament will be taken by Boris Spassky.”
She said this was the formula the federation decided to follow if Fischer failed to register.
Fischer, who lives in Pasadena, Calif., was unavailable for comment, according to his attorney Stan Rader.
“Bobby is a very private person and I'm sure he has his own reasons but I don't think he'd want to make a public statement,” Rader said.