The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, November 20, 1971 - Page 48
He Makes Them Sick
All three of Bobby Fischer's opponents in the recent Knockout Challengers match series (Taimanov, Larsen and Petrosian) became indisposed half way through and had to have their next scheduled game postponed a few days. They all recovered but there was marked listlessness in their further efforts, as if they had given everything earlier and had reached the point of no return.
Cried All the Way to the Bank
The results against Taimanov and Larsen (6-0 in both cases), have been noted in some quarters as unnecessarily brutal. But Fischer, a no nonsense professional doesn't waste time on misplaced sentiment. The idea is to win, and as quickly as possible. In the best of ten games match with Taimanov, the Vancouver organizers asked the principals if they would complete the last four games as 'exhibitions'. The Russian was willing but Fischer refused, unless paid 'pro rata'.
In that match he was awarded a $2,000 prize. Each session lasted an approximate five hours, a total of 30 hours for the whole match, for a return of roughly $65.00 per hour. The same applies to his match with Larsen at Denver. At Buenos Aires in his nine game match with Petrosian he did even better. His prize was $7,500 for 45 hours work, a return of $165 per hour. If he could keep this up on a 40 hour per week basis for a year it would put him in the millionaire class (6% interest on a million). But the Croesus of the chess world has other ideas, as he is reported to have said in a public statement after the match that when he becomes champion he will set the prices. Wonder what the controlling body, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) will do about that if he is not satisfied with the bids offered and refuses to play?
