AThe Sydney Morning Herald Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sunday, October 31, 1971 - Page 105
Chess Challenge Here? by G. Koshnitsky, Chess Editor
After a shaky start and steady middle the American genius, Bobby Fischer, crashed home with four straight wins to defeat former world champion, Tigran Petrosian, 6½-2½.
Fischer is the first non-Soviet player to become the challenger for the world title since the World Chess Federation (FIDE) took control of the contest in 1948.
He went through the quarter finals and semi-finals of the Candidates' matches with two 6-0 scores against such renowned grandmasters as Mark Taimanov of USSR and Bent Larsen of Denmark.
His only loss was in the second game of the final to Petrosian, which was followed by three drawn games.
Fischer final and the most difficult hurdle on the road to the world chess crown will be the 24 game match against the reigning champion, Boris Spassky of USSR scheduled for April-May next year.
This will be not only a match between two great players, but also a test between two cultures. It will create greater interest than any chess contest in the history of chess.
According to FIDE regulations, the challenger has the right to have the first part of the match played in his country and the second part in the country of the holder, but it is unlikely that this arrangement will be agreed to and it is almost certain that a neutral venue will be chosen.
Because of interest in the unique contest many countries will make offers to stage the match which will carry a substantial purse, probably $50,000.
The tremendous publicity value of the world championship makes a commercial sponsorship of the match a distinct possibility and approaches to prospective sponsors are being made in Australia.
The successful country will become the centre of the chess world for the duration of the match which may last two months.
