The Province Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Friday, June 11, 1971 - Page 55
World Champ Confirms Visit Here by Paul Raugust
World chess champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union has confirmed he will play in the Canadian open championship in Vancouver this summer.
About 100 players are expected to compete in the tournament, to be held Aug. 24 to Sept. 3 at the University of B.C.
The Canadian open, to be held in Vancouver for the first time, will be held in conjunction with the world congress of the International Chess Federation (F.I.D.E.)
A total of $4,100 in prize money will be offered to the finalists in four divisions, with first place in the first division being worth $1,000, second $6000 and third $350. Entry fee will be $25 for seniors and $15 for juniors (under age 19).
The Vancouver tournament follows the conclusion of the U.S. open, being held in Ventura, Calif., and it is hoped that many of the international grandmasters competing there will come to Canada as well.
The Swiss system of competition will be employed in the Canadian open, with one round scheduled each day over the 11 days of competition. Rate of play will be 45 moves in 2½ hours and 18 moves an hour thereafter.
Canadian champion Duncan Suttles of Vancouver has indicated he will be playing.
In confirming his intention to play in Vancouver, Spassky said U.S. grandmaster Bobby Fischer has the best chance to challenge him for the world title.
The challengers for the world title have been whittled down to four in a qualification tournament. Fischer meets Bent Larsen of Denmark in one semi-finals and two Soviet players, Tigran Petrosian and Viktor Korchnoi, clash in the other.
Spassky said Larsen is a seasoned fighter “whose sporting, fighting qualities are even superior to those of his opponent.” (Both Fischer and Larsen refuse to offer or accept draws in international competition.) But Spassky said Fischer “has an advantage as a master of chess.”
