AThe Miami Herald Miami, Florida Monday, November 01, 1971 - Page 51
Fischer 'Ready' By May or June
Belgrade (UPI) — Bobby Fischer, the American chess wizard, said Sunday he will be ready to face Boris Spassky, the world chess champion, from Russia, next May or June.
Fischer, 28, from Brooklyn, N.Y., became the first American to reach the final step in the elimination series for the world chess championship when he beat Russia's Tigran Petrosian last week in Buenos Aires.
Fischer, interviewed by Belgrade Radio, said Spassky “may be” his toughest opponent yet.
He said he would like their meeting to take place next May or June, preferably in the United States.
Spassky, interviewed by the Yugoslav newspaper Vus in Moscow, said he “was neither impressed nor surprised” by Fischer's win over Petrosian because the Russian played “a petty game.”
When asked to list the world's five best chess players, Spassky placed Fischer first and himself fourth.
